According to Educationvv, Centre County is located in the Central Region of Pennsylvania, and is home to a population of approximately 159,000 people. It is bordered by Clinton County to the north, Union County to the east, Mifflin County to the south, Clearfield County to the west and Huntingdon and Juniata counties to the northwest. The county seat is Bellefonte, and its largest city is State College.
Centre County is made up of 12 townships: Benner Township, Boggs Township, Burnside Township, College Township, Ferguson Township, Halfmoon Township, Harris Township, Howard Township, Huston Township, Liberty Township, Marion Township and Potter township. It also contains several boroughs: Bellefonte Borough; State College Borough; Boalsburg Borough; Centre Hall Borough; Milesburg Borough; Millheim Borough; Snow Shoe Borough; Port Matilda Borough; Rebersburg Borough; Spring Mills Borough and Woodward Borough.
The county was established in 1800 from parts of Mifflin and Northumberland counties. It was named for its central location in Pennsylvania. The county’s economy has traditionally been based on agriculture and tourism with some industry as well. More recently however it has become more reliant on higher education due to Penn State University being located there.
The climate in Centre County ranges from hot summers with temperatures reaching up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) during July and August to cold winters with temperatures dropping down as low as -10 degrees Fahrenheit (-23 degrees Celsius). There are also four distinct seasons that bring varying amounts of precipitation throughout the year ranging from an average annual rainfall of 41 inches (104 centimeters) per year in Bellefonte to an average snowfall of 50 inches (127 centimeters).
The natural resources found within Centre County include forests such as Hemlock-Juniper stands which provide habitat for many species of wildlife including white-tailed deer and black bear as well as a variety of birds including bald eagles. There are also numerous streams running through the county that provide habitat for fish such as brook trout and smallmouth bass.
Centre County provides residents with a great quality of life due to its close proximity to major cities such as Philadelphia which can be reached within two hours by car or train while still offering a rural atmosphere where one can enjoy nature at its finest all year round while experiencing all that central Pennsylvania has to offer.
History of Centre County, Pennsylvania
Centre County, Pennsylvania is located in the center of the state and is part of the State College Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county was established in 1800 from portions of Mifflin and Northumberland counties. It was named for its central location in Pennsylvania and has a population of over 159,000 people as of 2020.
The county’s earliest settlers were mostly Scots-Irish and German immigrants who arrived in the early 18th century. The area soon became an important agricultural center as well as a popular tourist destination due to its picturesque scenery. In 1855, Centre County was officially formed from parts of Huntingdon, Mifflin and Northumberland counties.
The development of railroads throughout the 19th century saw Centre County become increasingly connected to other parts of Pennsylvania. This allowed for more efficient transportation of goods and people throughout the region, which further helped to develop the county’s economy.
In 1880, Centre County’s first college opened in Bellefonte: Bellefonte Academy. This school eventually led to the founding of Penn State University in 1892, which has since become one of the largest universities in the United States with over 100,000 students enrolled annually. Penn State’s presence has had a major impact on Centre County’s economy as it provides jobs for many local residents as well as brings numerous visitors to the area each year who contribute to local businesses such as restaurants and hotels.
In addition to Penn State University, Centre County is home to several other educational institutions including Lock Haven University; Central Pennsylvania College; and South Hills School of Business & Technology, among others. These schools provide job opportunities for many locally as well as furthering education opportunities for those living in or near Centre County.
Centre County has always been primarily an agricultural area with dairy farming being one of its main industries until recent decades when tourism overtook it due to its scenic landscapes and abundance of outdoor activities such as hiking trails, hunting grounds, fishing spots etcetera that can be found throughout the county making it a great destination for nature lovers all year round.
Major cities and towns in Centre County, Pennsylvania
Centre County, Pennsylvania is home to several cities and towns, each with its own unique character and charm. The largest city in the county is State College, which is also the county seat. State College has a population of over 42,000 and is known as “Happy Valley” due to its vibrant atmosphere and friendly residents. It is the home of Penn State University, which brings many visitors to the area every year for sporting events, cultural activities, and other attractions.
The second largest city in Centre County is Bellefonte with a population of around 6,000 people. Bellefonte was originally founded in 1795 and served as the county seat until 1895 when it was replaced by State College. Bellefonte is known for its picturesque downtown area that features Victorian-style architecture and a variety of shops and restaurants along Allegheny Street. Every year, Bellefonte hosts an annual Victorian Christmas celebration that features carolers, horse-drawn carriage rides around town, and even a visit from Santa Claus.
Other cities in Centre County include Philipsburg (population 2,500) which was founded in 1812; Milesburg (population 1,200); Boalsburg (population 1,100); Millheim (population 700); Port Matilda (population 500); Lamar (population 200); Pine Grove Mills (population 200), Lemont (population 150), and Spring Mills (population 100). All of these communities have something unique to offer visitors including historical sites such as the Boal Mansion Museum or outdoor recreation areas like Bald Eagle State Park or Black Moshannon State Park.
In addition to these cities and towns, there are also several unincorporated communities located throughout Centre County such as Aaronsburg; Beech Creek; Cedar Springs; Lamar Township; Marion Township; Snow Shoe; Unionville; Walker Township; West Decatur; Whitehall Township; Woolrich Township; Woodward Township; and Worth Township among others. Each of these places has its own unique character from small-town charm to rural beauty making them great places to visit or live in Centre County.
Airports in Centre County, Pennsylvania
According to countryaah.com, Centre County, Pennsylvania is home to several airports that serve the area. The three main airports in Centre County are University Park Airport (UNV), Bellefonte Airport (BLF), and State College Airport (SCE). All three airports provide convenient access to the county and its surrounding areas.
University Park Airport (UNV) is the largest airport in Centre County and is located just outside of State College. The airport serves as the primary hub for commercial flights to and from Centre County, offering daily flights to major cities such as Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington D.C., and New York City. In addition to commercial flights, University Park also offers private flight services and a variety of general aviation services such as aircraft fueling, ground handling, maintenance, repair, storage, and more.
Bellefonte Airport (BLF) is a small regional airport located in Bellefonte that serves both private aircrafts and general aviation traffic. The airport has a single runway with an asphalt surface that measures 4200 feet long by 100 feet wide. It also offers a variety of services including aircraft fueling, ground handling, maintenance & repair facilities for small aircrafts up to twin-engine jets. In addition to these services Bellefonte Airport also offers flight training for pilots of all experience levels as well as sightseeing tours of the area.
State College Airport (SCE) is another regional airport located near State College that serves both private aircrafts and general aviation traffic. This airport has two runways with asphalt surfaces measuring 3100 feet long by 60 feet wide and 5000 feet long by 75 feet wide respectively. It also offers a variety of services including aircraft fueling, ground handling, maintenance & repair facilities for small aircrafts up to twin-engine jets as well as flight training for pilots of all experience levels.
In addition to these three main airports, there are several other smaller airfields scattered throughout Centre County such as the Philipsburg-Osceola Airport (PSB), Lamar Township Airport (LAM), Boalsburg Airpark (BOA), Pine Grove Mills Airpark (PGM), Snow Shoe Airpark (SSH), Woodward Township Airpark (WTW). These airfields are mainly used for recreational purposes such as skydiving or sightseeing tours but can be used for other purposes when necessary.
Centre County’s airports offer visitors convenient access to all parts of the county while providing a variety of services from commercial flights to scenic tours or pilot training classes so no matter what your needs may be there’s sure to be an option nearby.
