Fulton County, Pennsylvania

Fulton County Education, Geography, and History

Fulton County is a county located in the state of Pennsylvania. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 14,845, making it the fourth-least populous county in Pennsylvania. Its county seat is McConnellsburg. The county was created on April 19, 1850, from part of Bedford County and named for inventor Robert Fulton

Etymology - Origin of Fulton County Name

Named for Robert Fulton, the inventor who pioneered in the use of the steamboat.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts

Fulton County History

Created on April 19, 1851, from part of Bedford County and named for Robert Fulton, the inventor who pioneered in the use of the steamboat. McConnellsburg, the county seat, was named for Daniel McConnell who laid it out in 1786. It was incorporated as a borough on March 26, 1814.

Because the first settlers were trespassers, violence characterized the early years of the society in this area. Both Indians and proprietary officials harried them. The area that became the county was included in the 1754 Albany Purchase from the Indians. The Great and Little Coves, which make up most of the county, lay along the Forbes Road and that brought an early prosperity. Gristmills and tanneries were successful. But the Main Line Canal and the Pennsylvania Railroad route bypassed Fulton and isolation resulted. Fulton never established railroad contact with outside markets and was a remote area until the Pennsylvania Turnpike appeared in 1940. The timber industry was strong until about 1930. Much of the county is now held as state forests, parks, and game lands. Thirty-six percent of the area is farmed, although agricultural cash receipts are relatively low. Manufacturing, especially of hydraulic equipment, employs many, but others commute to jobs outside Fulton.

Geography: Land and Water

As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 438 square miles (1,134 km²), of which, 438 square miles (1,133 km²) of it is land and 0 square miles (1 km²) of it (0.11%) is water.

Neighboring Counties

Bordering counties are as follows:

• Huntingdon County (north)
• Franklin County (east)
• Washington County, Maryland (south)
• Allegany County, Maryland (southwest)
• Bedford County (west)

Education

Public school districts

Central Fulton School District
Forbes Road School District
Southern Fulton School District

Compare More Colleges and Universities

Find more schools to match to your needs.

Start Now