Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania

Huntingdon County Education, Geography, and History

Huntingdon County is a county located in the state of Pennsylvania. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 45,913. Its county seat is Huntingdon. The county was created on September 20, 1787, from part of Bedford County.

Huntingdon County comprises the Huntingdon, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Etymology - Origin of Huntingdon County Name

Named it for the Countess of Huntingdon, England.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts

Huntingdon County History

Created on September 20, 1787, from part of Bedford County and named for its county seat, Huntingdon. Dr. William Smith, provost of the University of Pennsylvania, owned the land where the town was laid out in 1767 and named it for the Countess of Huntingdon, England. Huntingdon was incorporated as a borough on March 29, 1796.

Fort Shirley, the reinforced trading post of the colorful Indian trader George Croghan, was an important defense post in 1755-1756. Iron ore and limestone are abundant, so the manufacture of a superior charcoal-made iron was the foundation of the economy until surpassed by competitors after 1850. Charcoal production denuded the forests, and later the state bought those areas as preserves. Brick making and pottery were major industries until recent decades. Paper, silk, and hosiery industries once flourished. The damning of the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River created a tourist recreation industry. There is a significant dairy industry; 24 percent of the county is farmed. Republican Martin Brumbaugh was the president of Juniata College both before and after his term as governor.

Geography: Land and Water

As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 889 square miles (2,303 km²), of which, 874 square miles (2,264 km²) of it is land and 15 square miles (39 km²) of it (1.68%) is water.

Neighboring Counties

Bordering counties are as follows:

• Centre County (north)
• Mifflin County (east)
• Juniata County (east)
• Franklin County (southeast)
• Fulton County (south)
• Bedford County (southwest)
• Blair County (west)

Education

Public school districts

Huntingdon Area School District
Juniata Valley School District
Mount Union Area School District (also in Mifflin County)
Southern Huntingdon County School District
Tussey Mountain School District (also in Bedford County)
Tyrone Area School District (also in Blair and Centre Counties)
Related entities[edit]
Huntingdon County Career and Technology Center: Mill Creek
Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11

Colleges and universities

Juniata College, a small, independent liberal arts college, is located in the county seat of Huntingdon.
DuBois Business College, Huntingdon County campus, located in the former Huntingdon High School building in the borough of Huntingdon.
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, Huntingdon center (located in Walker Township)

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