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Clearfield County, Pennsylvania

Coordinates: 41°00′N 78°28′W / 41.00°N 78.47°W / 41.00; -78.47
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Clearfield County
County
Clearfield County Courthouse
Clearfield County Courthouse
Flag of Clearfield County
Flag
Official seal of Clearfield County
Seal
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Clearfield County
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Map of the United States highlighting Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°00′N 78°28′W / 41°N 78.47°W / 41; -78.47
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
FoundedJanuary 29, 1822
SeatClearfield
Largest cityDuBois
Area
 • Total1,154 sq mi (2,990 km2)
 • Land1,145 sq mi (2,970 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total80,562
 • Density70/sq mi (27/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district15th
Websitewww.clearfieldco.org
DesignatedSeptember 17, 1982[1]

Clearfield County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 80,562.[2] The county seat is Clearfield,[3] and the largest city is DuBois. The county was created in 1804 and later organized in 1822.[4]

Clearfield County comprises the DuBois, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the State College–DuBois, PA Combined Statistical Area. The county is part of the North Central Pennsylvania region of the state.[a]

History

[edit]
Clearfield, the county seat

Clearfield County was formed by the Act of Assembly by the second Governor of Pennsylvania at the time, Thomas McKean on March 26, 1804. The county was created from parts of the already created counties of Huntingdon and Lycoming. The name for the county was most likely derived from the many cleared fields of the valleys surrounding Clearfield Creek and West Branch of the Susquehanna River, formed by the bison herds and also by old corn fields of prior Native Americans tribes.

Location of county government

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The first board of county commissioners to the county were Roland Curtin, James Fleming and James Smith, all appointed by Governor McKean in 1805. The first act the commissioners did was to create a local government or seat of the newly created county. They came upon land owned at the time by Abraham Witmer at a village known as Chincleclamousche, named after the Native American chief of the Cornplanter's tribe of Senecas. Clearfield became the new name of the old village.

Early industry

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The two major industries of the county from the mid-1800s until the early 1900s were lumber and coal. Lumber was still being floated down the West Branch of the Susquehanna up until 1917. Coal remains the main industry of the county to this day. Founded in 1955, the Hepburnia Coal Company mines and ships coal in addition to several other lines of business.[5]

Clearfield County Conspiracy Trials

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No case tried in the county has caused as much comment as the union conspiracy trials. In all there were fifty-six persons, primarily miners in the Houtzdale region, who were charged with conspiracy as organized strikers.

The first case, against John Maloney and fifty-three others, was tried in 1875, before a jury with Judge Orvis presiding. All were found guilty, although they seem to have been solely peacefully picketing.[6] Four were sentenced to one year's imprisonment and eight, to six months; the others' sentences were suspended. As every organized labor society in the United States was interested in the result, the events of the trial and verdict were telegraphed throughout the country[7]

This proceeding was followed by the trial of the remaining two offenders, who were union representatives, John Siney and Xingo Parks. Siney was then the President of the Miners' National Association (MNA); he had come to Houtzdale and delivered an address of support for the union strike, for which he was arrested. Parks was an able organizer for the MNA. Federal Senator Matthew H. Carpenter of Wisconsin defended both men. At trial, Siney was acquitted; Parks was found guilty of inciting unlawful assembly and sentenced to one year's imprisonment, but pardoned within a month from the time sentence was pronounced.[8]

These cases led in the next year to a liberalization of the Pennsylvania conspiracy law, through amendment providing that only "force, threat, or menace of harm to person or property" would be illegal.[9]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,154 square miles (2,990 km2), of which 1,145 square miles (2,970 km2) is land and 9.2 square miles (24 km2) (0.8%) is water.[10] It is the third-largest county in Pennsylvania by land area and fourth-largest by total area. The West Branch Susquehanna River flows through the county, bisecting the county seat along the way. Clearfield County is one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission,[11] and it is identified as part of the "Midlands" by Colin Woodard in his book American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America.[12]

The mountainous terrain of the county made traffic difficult for early settlers. Various Native American paths and trails crossing the area were used intermittently by settlers, invading armies, and escaped slaves travelling north along the Underground Railroad. A major feature located in Bloom Township, within the county, is known as Bilger's rocks and exhibits fine examples of exposed sandstone bedrock that was created during the formation of the Appalachian Mountains.

The shape of Clearfield County bears an amazing resemblance to that of the state of Arkansas.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Climate

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The county has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Dfb). Average monthly temperatures in DuBois range from 24.6 °F in January to 68.6 °F in July, while in Clearfield borough they range from 23.8 °F in January to 69.3 °F in July and in Osceola Mills they range from 24.4 °F in January to 69.1 °F in July.[13]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1810875—
18202,342167.7%
18304,803105.1%
18407,83463.1%
185012,58660.7%
186018,75949.0%
187025,74137.2%
188043,40868.6%
189069,56560.3%
190080,61415.9%
191093,76816.3%
1920103,23610.1%
193086,727−16.0%
194092,0946.2%
195085,957−6.7%
196081,534−5.1%
197074,619−8.5%
198083,57812.0%
199078,097−6.6%
200083,3806.8%
201081,642−2.1%
202080,562−1.3%
[14]

As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 83,382 people, 32,785 households, and 22,916 families residing in the county. The population density was 73 people per square mile (28 people/km2). There were 37,855 housing units at an average density of 33 units per square mile (13/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.40% White, 1.49% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. 0.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 22.9% were of German, 13.6% American, 10.2% English, 9.9% Irish, 9.1% Italian and 6.0% Polish ancestry.

There were 32,785 households, out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.70% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 16.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.50 males.

2020 census

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Clearfield County Racial Composition[16]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 73,338 91%
Black or African American (NH) 1,760 2.2%
Native American (NH) 78 0.1%
Asian (NH) 450 0.56%
Pacific Islander (NH) 0 0%
Other/Mixed (NH) 2,299 2.9%
Hispanic or Latino 2,637 3.27%

Micropolitan Statistical Area

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Map of the State College-DuBois, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA), composed of the following parts:
  State College, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area
  DuBois, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area

The United States Office of Management and Budget[17] has designated Clearfield County as the DuBois, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area (μSA). As of the 2010 census[18] the micropolitan area ranked sixth most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 65th most populous in the United States, with a population of 81,642. Clearfield County is also a part of the State College–DuBois, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA), which combines the populations of both Clearfield and Centre County areas, along with the State College area. The combined statistical area ranked the ninth most populous in Pennsylvania and 125th most populous in the U.S. with a population of 235,632.

Politics and government

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Voter registration

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As of February 6, 2024, there were 47,456 registered voters in Clearfield County.[19]

Chart of Voter Registration

  Republican (61.34%)
  Democratic (27.02%)
  Independent (7.65%)
  Other Parties (4.00%)

The county trends Republican in statewide and federal elections. The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, while Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton winning pluralities in the county, with the former by 88 votes. In 2006, Democrat Bob Casey Jr. received 55% of its vote when he unseated incumbent Republican US Senator Rick Santorum and Ed Rendell received 50.2% of the vote against Lynn Swann. Each of the three row-office statewide winners carried Clearfield in 2008.

United States presidential election results for Clearfield County, Pennsylvania[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 29,203 73.94% 9,673 24.49% 620 1.57%
2016 24,932 72.16% 8,200 23.73% 1,418 4.10%
2012 20,347 63.34% 11,121 34.62% 654 2.04%
2008 18,662 54.85% 14,555 42.78% 805 2.37%
2004 20,533 59.98% 13,518 39.49% 182 0.53%
2000 18,019 58.82% 11,718 38.25% 896 2.92%
1996 12,987 44.85% 11,991 41.41% 3,977 13.74%
1992 11,553 37.45% 12,247 39.70% 7,047 22.85%
1988 14,296 53.52% 12,235 45.80% 182 0.68%
1984 18,653 60.62% 11,963 38.88% 153 0.50%
1980 15,299 54.27% 11,647 41.31% 1,246 4.42%
1976 13,626 49.22% 13,714 49.54% 345 1.25%
1972 16,780 63.54% 9,246 35.01% 383 1.45%
1968 14,471 49.62% 12,369 42.41% 2,323 7.97%
1964 11,338 36.99% 19,211 62.67% 103 0.34%
1960 18,911 56.97% 14,212 42.81% 72 0.22%
1956 17,519 57.51% 12,852 42.19% 89 0.29%
1952 16,045 54.25% 13,376 45.22% 156 0.53%
1948 11,810 49.95% 11,347 47.99% 487 2.06%
1944 13,986 50.24% 13,617 48.92% 233 0.84%
1940 15,407 46.30% 17,705 53.21% 163 0.49%
1936 14,531 40.31% 20,799 57.69% 720 2.00%
1932 10,500 46.47% 11,209 49.60% 888 3.93%
1928 16,719 67.26% 7,870 31.66% 270 1.09%
1924 13,745 60.32% 5,027 22.06% 4,015 17.62%
1920 9,615 52.28% 5,987 32.55% 2,791 15.17%
1916 5,676 42.68% 6,180 46.47% 1,443 10.85%
1912 1,523 11.81% 4,670 36.20% 6,707 51.99%
1908 7,726 51.68% 5,954 39.82% 1,271 8.50%
1904 9,541 64.12% 4,291 28.84% 1,047 7.04%
1900 7,955 53.55% 6,066 40.84% 833 5.61%
1896 7,395 50.97% 6,460 44.53% 653 4.50%
1892 4,765 40.72% 6,108 52.20% 829 7.08%
1888 5,297 44.51% 6,266 52.66% 337 2.83%

County commissioners

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Commissioners Party First Elected
David Glass Democratic 2019
Tim J. Winters Republican 2023
John Sobel Republican 2007

Other county offices

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Office Official Party First Elected
Controller Robert Edwards Republican 2021
Coroner Kim Shaffer Snyder Republican 2017 (appointed)
District Attorney Ryan P. Sayers Republican 2019
Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Brian K. Spencer Republican 2013
Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds Heather Olson-Desmott Republican 2023
Sheriff Michael Churner Republican 2017
Treasurer Jay Siegel Republican 2023

State House of Representatives

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District Representative Party
73 Dallas Kephart Republican
75 Mike Armanini Republican

United States House of Representatives

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District Representative Party
15 Glenn "G.T." Thompson Republican

United States Senate

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Senator Party
John Fetterman Democrat
Bob Casey Democrat

Correctional facilities

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Education

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Colleges and universities

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Map of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts

Community, junior and technical colleges

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Public school districts

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Intermediate unit

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  • Central IU 10 – West Decatur

Correctional institution schools

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  • Quehanna Boot Camp – Karthaus
  • SCI-Houtzdale – Houtzdale
  • Clearfield County Jail-Clearfield

Private schools

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  • Butchers Run Amish School
  • Clearfield Alliance Christian School
  • DuBois Area Catholic Elementary School
  • DuBois Area Catholic High School
  • DuBois Christian Schools
  • Golden Yoke School
  • Milestones Achievement Center
  • Mount Calvary Christian Academy
  • New Story (DuBois)
  • Otterbein Christian Academy
  • Paint & Play School (DuBois)
  • Scenic View School
  • St Francis Grade School
  • Weber Road School

Libraries

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  • Clearfield County Public Library – Curwensville
  • Curwensville Public Library
  • DuBois Public Library –
  • Glendale Public Library – Coalport
  • Joseph and Elizabeth Shaw Public Library – Clearfield

Recreation

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There are two Pennsylvania state parks in Clearfield County.

Clearfield County is also home to the largest wild area in Pennsylvania, the Quehanna Wild Area. A culturally and historically significant natural formation of massive sandstone megaliths can be found at Bilger's rocks.

Camping

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Lodging/Camping[21]

Campground # Name Location Campsites Swimming Fishing Hunting
2515 Woodland Campground Woodland 70 yes yes yes

Hunting/fishing

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Hunting[22]

SGL# Location Hunting Area Acreage Species
34 Medix Run Benezette, Covington, Girard, Goshen Townships 8,000 bear, deer, turkey
77 Clear Run Sandy Township 3,038 bear, deer, rabbit, squirrel
78 Bigler Bradford & Graham Townships 721 bear, deer, turkey
87 Irishtown Bell & Penn Townships 10,422 deer, grouse, turkey
90 Goshen Goshen & Lawrence Townships 3,958 bear, deer, turkey
93 Sabula Union & Huston Townships 4,876 bear, deer, turkey
94 Lecontes Mills Goshen & Lawrence Townships 2,108 bear, deer, turkey
98 Blue Ball (West Decatur) Boggs & Decatur Townships 1,172 deer, rabbit, turkey

Fishing

Lake/stream Location Tributary of
Bear Run Reservoir Pike Township West Branch of the Susquehanna River
Chest Creek Chest Township West Branch of the Susquehanna River
Clearfield Reservoir Pike Township West Branch of the Susquehanna River
Curwensville Lake Pike Township West Branch of the Susquehanna River
DuBois Reservoir Union Township near Home Camp
Duck Marshes northern Girard Township near Elk County line
Irvona Reservoir Chest Township Clearfield Creek
Lake Sabula Sandy Township near Sabula
Laurel Run (Bennett Branch Sinnemahoning Creek) Huston Township in Parker Dam State Park Bennett Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek
Moose Creek Reservoir Lawrence Township near Mt. Joy West Branch of the Susquehanna River
Parker Lake Huston Township in Parker Dam State Park Bennett Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek
Penfield Reservoir Huston Township near Hoovertown Bennett Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek
Treasure Lake Sandy Township Treasure Lake
Tyler Reservoir Huston Township near Tyler Bennett Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek
West Branch of the Susquehanna River Most of central & eastern Clearfield County including Mahaffey, Curwensville, and Clearfield Susquehanna River

Sporting

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Golf

Course # Name Location Holes Website
3133 Chetremon Golf Course 2 miles north of Cherry Tree in Burnside Township Clearfield County 10 https://web.archive.org/web/20111117163225/http://www.chetremon.com/
3274 Grandview Golf Club 1 mile south of Lumber City 18 http://www.golfnow.com/course-directory/pennsylvania-golf-courses/curwensville-golf-courses/grandview-golf-club

Points of interest

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Communities

[edit]
Map of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels, showing Cities and Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Clearfield County:

City

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Boroughs

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Townships

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Census-designated places

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Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well.

Unincorporated communities

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Unincorporated areas are region of land that are not parts of any incorporated boroughs, cities, or towns.

Population ranking

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The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Clearfield County.[18]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Population (2010 Census) Municipal type
1 DuBois 7,794 City
2 † Clearfield 6,215 Borough
3 Treasure Lake 3,861 CDP
4 Curwensville 2,542 Borough
5 Sandy 1,429 CDP
6 Hyde 1,399 CDP
7 Osceola Mills 1,141 Borough
8 Falls Creek (mostly in Jefferson County) 1,037 Borough
9 Plymptonville 981 CDP
10 Chester Hill 883 Borough
11 Houtzdale 797 Borough
12 Oklahoma 782 CDP
13 Morrisdale 754 CDP
14 Irvona 647 Borough
15 Hawk Run 534 CDP
16 West Decatur 533 CDP
17 Coalport 523 Borough
18 Grassflat 511 CDP
19 Ramey 451 Borough
20 Brisbin 411 Borough
21 Bigler 398 CDP
22 Westover 390 Borough
23 Mahaffey 368 Borough
24 Grampian 356 Borough
25 Kylertown 340 CDP
26 Wallaceton 313 Borough
27 Allport 264 CDP
28 Troutville 243 Borough
29 Burnside 234 Borough
30 Glen Hope 142 Borough
31 Newburg 92 Borough
32 New Washington 59 Borough

Notable people

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  • Mary Elizabeth Willson (1842–1906), gospel singer, singer, composer, evangelist
  • Willie Adams, major league baseball pitcher (1912–1919)
  • Howie Bedell, major league baseball player
  • William Bigler (January 1, 1814 – August 9, 1880), American politician, 12th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1852 to 1855, later U.S. Senator for Pennsylvania from 1856 until 1861.
  • Earl Caldwell, former reporter and columnist for The New York Times; first African-American to have a regular column in a major national newspaper. Central figure in a major Supreme Court case about the protection of journalists' sources. Currently hosts Pacifica's WBAI radio (New York City)
  • Otto Eppers, cartoonist/illustrator who as part of a stunt successfully jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge at 17 years old
  • Howard Fargo, former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (1981–2000)
  • Anthony A. Mitchell, clarinetist, composer and conductor. Led the United States Navy Band from 1962 to 1968.
  • Rembrandt Cecil Robinson (1924–1972) was a United States Navy officer (Rear admiral)[17]
  • Edward Scofield, governor of Wisconsin (1897–1901)
  • William Irvin Swoope, Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1923–27)
  • William A. Wallace, Democratic U.S. senator who served from 1875 to 1881
  • Powell Weaver, composer and organist
  • Zenas Leonard (1809 - 1857), American mountain man, explorer and trader, known for his journal "Narrative of the Adventures of Zenas Leonard"

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ Includes Clearfield, Jefferson, Tioga, McKean, Warren, Clarion, Elk, Potter, Forest and Cameron Counties
  1. ^ "PHMC Historical Markers Search". Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Archived from the original (Searchable database) on March 21, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  2. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Clearfield County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "Pennsylvania: Individual County Chronologies". Pennsylvania Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on March 25, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  5. ^ "Hepburnia Coal Company". greatmining.com. Great Mining. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  6. ^ Witte, Edwin E., Early American Labor Cases, 35 Yale Law Journal 7, 1926, pp. 830
  7. ^ Aldrich, Lewis Cass (ed.), History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Mason:Syracuse, 1887, p.81
  8. ^ Aldrich, Clearfield County, 1887, p. 81
  9. ^ Witte, Labor Cases, p. 831
  10. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  11. ^ "About the Appalachian Region". Appalachian Regional Commission. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  12. ^ Woodard, Colin (July 30, 2018). "The Maps That Show That City vs. Country Is Not Our Political Fault Line". New York Times. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  13. ^ "PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University".
  14. ^ "Census 2020".
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  16. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Clearfield County, Pennsylvania".
  17. ^ "Office of Management and Budget – The White House". Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  18. ^ a b "2010 U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
  19. ^ Pennsylvania Department of State (February 5, 2024). "Voter registration statistics by county". dos.pa.gov. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  20. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  21. ^ "Visit Clearfield County: Camp Sites". Archived from the original on December 23, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  22. ^ "Visit Clearfield County: Hunting / Fishing". Archived from the original on October 31, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  23. ^ "New Castle Populated Place Profile / Clearfield County, Pennsylvania Data". pennsylvania.hometownlocator.com. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
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