Mifflin County, Pennsylvania

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Mifflin County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 46,143.[1] Its county seat is Lewistown.[2][1] The county was created on September 19, 1789, from parts of Cumberland County and Northumberland County. It was named for Thomas Mifflin, the first Governor of Pennsylvania. Mifflin County comprises the Lewistown, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area. The county is part of the Central Pennsylvania region of the state.[a]

Geography

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". The county terrain is formed by the folded Appalachian Mountain ridges which run from southwest to northeast across the county. The terrain slopes to the northeast,[3] with its highest point (Broad Mtn) 1.25 miles (2.01 km) East Northeast from the county's Northwest corner, just south of the county's border with Centre County. It measures 2,339 ft (713 m) Above sea level.[4] The Juniata River flows northeast through the lower part of the county, exiting northeastward into Juniata County near Hawstone.[5] The county has a total area of 415 square miles (1,070 km2), of which 411 square miles (1,060 km2) is land and 3.7 square miles (9.6 km2) (0.9%) is water.[6]

Mifflin County is located in, and has its boundaries defined by, the Ridge-and Valley Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania. The county is one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission,[7] 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.[8]

US Route 322, a major divided highway, connects the county to the rest of the state on its route between Harrisburg and State College. US Route 522 also connects the county to the rest of the state on its route between Selinsgrove and Mount Union.

The county has a humid continental climate (Dfa/Dfb) and average temperatures in downtown Lewistown range from 27.8 °F in January to 72.7 °F in July.[9]

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Protected areas

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Template:Sronly
17907,562
180013,60980.0%
181012,132−10.9%
182016,61837.0%
183021,69030.5%
184013,092−39.6%
185014,98014.4%
186016,3409.1%
187017,5087.1%
188019,57711.8%
189019,9962.1%
190023,16015.8%
191027,78520.0%
192031,43913.2%
193040,33528.3%
194042,9936.6%
195043,6911.6%
196044,3481.5%
197045,2682.1%
198046,9083.6%
199046,197−1.5%
200046,4860.6%
201046,6820.4%
202046,143−1.2%
2025 (est.)46,127[10] Decrease0.0%
US Decennial Census:[11][12][13][14][15][16][17]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 46,143. The median age was 44.0 years. 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.5 males age 18 and over.[18]

The racial makeup of the county was 94.6% White, 0.8% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.8% from some other race, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.1% of the population.[19]

45.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 54.5% lived in rural areas.[20]

There were 18,823 households in the county, of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.8% were married-couple households, 17.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[18]

There were 21,313 housing units, of which 11.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.2% were owner-occupied and 28.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.2%.[18]

Mifflin County, Pennsylvania – Racial and ethnic composition
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Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[21] Pop 2010[22] Pop 2020[23] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 45,644 45,199 43,343 98.18% 96.82% 93.93%
Black or African American alone (NH) 216 282 350 0.46% 0.60% 0.75%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 34 52 51 0.07% 0.11% 0.11%
Asian alone (NH) 135 167 160 0.29% 0.35% 0.34%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 2 6 0 0.00% 0.01% 0.00%
Other race alone (NH) 13 26 78 0.02% 0.05% 0.16%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 179 416 1,182 0.38% 0.89% 2.56%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 263 534 979 0.56% 1.14% 2.12%
Total 46,486 46,682 46,143 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2010 census

As of the 2010 U.S. census, there were 46,682 people and 18,743 households in the county. The population density was 113.6 people per square mile (43.9 people/km2). There were 21,537 housing units at an average density of 52.4 units per square mile (20.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.53% White, 0.64% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. 1.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.8% were of German, 19.2% American, 8.0% Irish and 7.5% English ancestry. 5.7% report speaking Pennsylvania Dutch, Dutch, or German at home.[24]

There were 18,743 households, out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.60% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.99.

The county population contained 23.1% under the age of 18, 2.2% from 18 to 19, 5.1% from 20 to 24, 10.4% from 25 to 34, 20.1% from 35 to 49, 20.6% from 50 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. The population was 48.93% male, and 51.07% female.

Amish community

The Amish community in Mifflin County, established in 1791, had a total population of 3,905 people (in 30 congregations) in 2017,[25] or 8.5% of the county's population.

Dialect

The dominant form of speech in Mifflin County is the Central Pennsylvania accent. Almost everyone in Mifflin County speaks English. The Amish and some Mennonites speak Pennsylvania German, also known as Pennsylvania Dutch, a West Central German dialect, which is quite different from modern Standard German. The Amish and Mennonites can also speak English. Few non-Amish or Mennonites in Mifflin County today speak Pennsylvania German, but this was not true in the past.

Micropolitan Statistical Area

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". The United States Office of Management and Budget[26] has designated Mifflin County as the Lewistown, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area (μSA).[27] As of the 2010 United States census[28] the micropolitan area ranked 10th most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 237th most populous in the United States with a population of 46,682.

Law and government

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County Commissioners

  • Rob Postal (R)
  • Noah Wise (R)
  • Kevin Kodish (D)

County Auditors

  • Helen Kirk (R)
  • Barbara Clemmons (R)
  • Kendra Dunmire (D)

Other County Officers

  • District Attorney: Christopher Torquato (R)
  • Sheriff: James Aumiller (Acting)
  • Treasurer: Diane Griffith (R)
  • Register & Recorder: Ellen Amspacker (R)
  • Coroner: Andrea Alcalde (R)
  • Prothonotary: Tammy Stuck (R)

State Representatives

Source:[29]

(as of January 2023)

State Senator

Source:[29]

(as of January 2023)

United States Representative

United States Senators

Mifflin County voters have been reliably Republican. In only one national election since 1940 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate. Template:U.S. SenHead Template:U.S. SenRow Template:U.S. SenRow Template:U.S. SenFoot Template:U.S. SenHead Template:U.S. SenRow Template:U.S. SenRow Template:U.S. SenFoot

Economy

Major employers in Mifflin County include:

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  • Asher’s Chocolates
  • First Quality
  • Geisinger Health
  • Giant Food
  • Jarden Plastics
  • Lowe’s
  • Marlette Homes
  • Mifflin County School District
  • Overhead Door Corporation
  • Philips
  • Standard Steel
  • Trinity Packaging
  • Walmart

Education

File:Map of Mifflin County Pennsylvania School Districts.png
Map of Mifflin County Pennsylvania Public School Districts

Public school districts

Most of the county is served by the Mifflin County School District, with the exception of Wayne Township and the boroughs of Newton-Hamilton and Kistler, which are part of the Mount Union Area School District.

Head Start preschool programs

Head Start is a federally and state funded preschool program for low income children. The program serves 3- and 4-year-olds. In order to participate the family income must be below federal poverty guidelines.

  • Coleman Head Start Center[30]
  • McVeytown Head Start Center

Private schools

  • Sacred Heart provides a private, Catholic education from kindergarten through fifth grade.[31]
  • Belleville Mennonite School, Beth-El Christian Day School, and Valley View Christian School provide Mennonite education through grade twelve.
  • Mifflin County Christian Academy located in Decatur Township provides Christian education from kindergarten through grade twelve as well as day care.
  • Several Old Order Amish schools provide education through grade eight.

Colleges and universities

Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology located in Lewistown provides post high school degrees in nursing, auto mechanics and electrical services and other technology driven careers.

The Lewistown branch of the South Hills School of Business and Technology offers associate degrees and other certifications in various areas of business, technology, and some health care. (Closed 2019)

The Penn State Learning Center in Lewistown offers both two-year and four-year degrees. Recently, the Learning Center opened a state-of-the-art science lab to be used by students attending the Lewistown Hospital School of Nursing.

Media

Radio stations

AM

FM

Television

Mifflin County does not have a local television station but it is provided with local coverage from the following stations outside of the county from both the Harrisburg and Johnstown/Altoona markets:

  • WHTM 27 Harrisburg (27.1 ABC, 27.2 ION, 27.3 GetTV, 27.4 Laff)
  • WPMT 43 York (43.1 FOX, 43.2 AntennaTV)
  • WHP 21 Harrisburg (21.1 CBS, 21.2 MyNetworkTV, 21.3 CW)
  • WGAL 8 Lancaster (8.1 NBC, 8.2 MeTV)
  • WTAJ 10 Altoona (10.1 CBS, 10.2 Escape, 10.3 Laff, 10.4 Grit)
  • WJAC 6 Johnstown (6.1 NBC, 6.2 MeTV, 6.3 Comet, 6.4 CW)
  • WATM 23 Altoona (23.1 ABC, 23.2 FOX, 23.3 ThisTV, 23.4 AntennaTV)
  • WWCP 8 Johnstown (8.1 FOX, 8.2 ABC)
  • WHVL 29 State College (29.1 MyNetworkTV, 29.2 Buzzr)

Newspapers

  • Lewistown Sentinel
  • County Observer[32]
  • The Valley Newspaper

Communities

File:Map of Mifflin County Pennsylvania With Municipal and Township Labels.png
Mifflin County, showing 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.

Boroughs

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Census-designated places and unincorporated communities

Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the US Census Bureau for the purpose of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities are listed here as well.

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Townships

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Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Mifflin County.[28]

county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
1 Lewistown Borough 8,338
2 Burnham Borough 2,054
3 Belleville CDP 1,827
4 Church Hill CDP 1,627
5 Milroy CDP 1,498
6 Highland Park CDP 1,380
7 Yeagertown CDP 1,050
8 Strodes Mills CDP 757
9 Reedsville CDP 641
10 Juniata Terrace Borough 542
11 Allensville CDP 503
12 Granville CDP 440
13 Maitland CDP 357
14 McVeytown Borough 342
15 Kistler Borough 320
16 Mattawana CDP 276
17 Lumber City CDP 255
18 Longfellow CDP 215
19 Newton Hamilton Borough 205
20 Cedar Crest CDP 195
21 Atkinson Mills CDP 174
22 Potlicker Flats CDP 172
23 Barrville CDP 160
24 Alfarata CDP 149
25 Wagner CDP 128
26 Siglerville CDP 106

See also

References

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  1. ^ Includes Centre, Lycoming, Northumberland, Columbia, Mifflin, Union, Snyder, Clinton, Juniata and Montour Counties

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  1. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."QuickFacts: Mifflin County, Pennsylvania". Census.gov. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  2. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.""Find an Altitude/Mifflin County PA" - Google Maps (accessed 23 May 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  4. ^ "Broad Mountain Pennsylvania" - PeakBagger.com (accessed 23 May 2019)
  5. ^ Mifflin County PA - Google Maps (accessed 23 May 2019)
  6. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  7. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."About the Appalachian Region". Appalachian Regional Commission. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  8. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Woodard, Colin. "The Maps That Show That City vs. Country Is Not Our Political Fault Line". New York Times. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University".
  10. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  11. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  12. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  13. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  14. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  15. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  16. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Census 2020".
  17. ^ Cite error: The named reference qf was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  19. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  20. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  21. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Mifflin County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau.
  22. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Mifflin County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau.
  23. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Mifflin County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau.
  24. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Language Map Data Center". www.mla.org. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  25. ^ The 12 Largest Amish Communities (2017) at Amish America
  26. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Office of Management and Budget". White House. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  27. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Businesses that Received Forms in 2012: Pennsylvania - U.S. Census Bureau". Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  28. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Promotions, Center for New Media and. "US Census Bureau 2010 Census". www.census.gov. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  29. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "Find Your Legislator". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
  30. ^ Snyder, Union, Mifflin Child Development Report. Feb 2010
  31. ^ Sacred Heart School/Academics (accessed 23 May 2019)
  32. ^ County Observer (Manta, accessed 23 May 2019)
  33. ^ Anderson PA - Google Maps (accessed 23 May 2019)
  34. ^ Anderson PA (MapQuest, accessed 23 May 2019)
  35. ^ Belltown PA - Google Maps (accessed 23 May 2019)
  36. ^ Belltown PA (MapQuest, accessed 23 May 2019)
  37. ^ Hawstone PA - Google Maps (accessed 23 May 2019)
  38. ^ Hawstone, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania (Hometown Locator, accessed 23 May 2019)
  39. ^ Little Kansas PA - Google Maps (accessed 23 May 2019)
  40. ^ Little Kansas PA (MapQuest, accessed 23 May 2019)
  41. ^ Menno PA - Google Maps (accessed 23 May 2019)
  42. ^ Menno PA (MapQuest, accessed 23 May 2019)
  43. ^ Naginey, Mifflin County PA (Roadside Thoughts Gazeteer; accessed 23 May 2019)
  44. ^ Naginey PA - Google Maps (accessed 23 May 2019)
  45. ^ Ryde PA - Google Maps (accessed 23 May 2019)
  46. ^ Ryde PA (MapQuest, accessed 23 May 2019)
  47. ^ Shindle PA - Google Maps (accessed 23 May 2019)
  48. ^ Shindle PA (MapQuest, accessed 23 May 2019)
  49. ^ Union Mills PA - Google Maps (accessed 23 May 2019)
  50. ^ Union Mills PA (MapQuest, accessed 23 May 2019)
  51. ^ Woodland PA - Google Maps (accessed 23 May 2019)
  52. ^ Woodland PA (MapQuest, accessed 23 May 2019)

Further reading

  • Raymond Martin Bell, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania: Families and Records before 1800. Washington PA (1987)
  • Raymond Martin Bell, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, in the Revolution, 1775-1783. Washington PA (1993)
  • Raymond Martin Bell, The Houses of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. Washington PA (1970)
  • Forest K Fisher, Mifflin County. Charleston SC: Arcadia Publishing (2008)
  • I. Daniel Rupp, History of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. Laughlintown PA: Southwest Pennsylvania Genealogical Services, n.d. [1983].
  • John Martin Stroup, The Amish of the Kishacoquillas Valley, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania: When Did They Come, and Why? What of the Future? Lewistown PA: Mifflin County Historical Society (1965)
  • John Martin Stroup and Raymond Martin Bell, The Genesis of Mifflin County Pennsylvania: Its Aborigines, Explorers, Early Settlement and Development, Indian Wars and The Revolution, and Formation as a County. Lewistown PA: Mifflin County Historical Society (1957)
  • John Martin Stroup and Raymond Martin Bell, The People of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, 1755-1798: Pioneer Settlers and Defenders of the Frontier During the Revolution. Lewistown, PA: Mifflin County Historical Society (1973)
  • John Martin Stroup and Raymond Martin Bell, The Pioneers of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania: Who's Who in the Early Records with an Account of the Growth of the County before 1790. Lewistown PA: Mifflin County Historical Society (1942)
  • The Cemeteries of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. Lewistown PA: Mifflin County Historical Society (1977)
  • Two Hundred Years: A Chronological List of Events in the History of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. Lewistown PA: Mifflin County Historical Society (1957)

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