Snyder County, Pennsylvania

Snyder County Education, Geography, and History

Snyder County is a county in the state of Pennsylvania. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 39,702. The county seat is Middleburg. Snyder County was formed in 1855 from parts of Union County.

Snyder County comprises the Selinsgrove, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Bloomsburg-Berwick-Sunbury, PA Combined Statistical Area.

Etymology - Origin of Snyder County Name

Named for Governor Simon Snyder.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts

Snyder County History

Created on March 2, 1855, from part of Union County and named for Governor Simon Snyder. Middleburg, the county seat, was laid out in 1800 and incorporated as a borough on September 25, 1860. It was on Middle Creek near the middle of former Centre Township, so its name became even more appropriate after the creation the county.

The lower Penns Creek Valley was settled about 1744. The area was included in the Albany Purchase of 1754. The Penns Creek Massacre of October 1755 was the start of Indian raids in the French and Indian War. The last Indian raid occurred in 1781. The population had a strong German element that continues to the present. The Susquehanna Division of Pennsylvania Canal opened in 1831, providing jobs and a means to market products. Gov. Simon Snyder lived in Selinsgrove. A disagreement about a new Union County courthouse led to separation from Union. A railroad arrived through Middlecreek Valley to Selinsgrove in 1871. The canal flourished for fifty years until it was destroyed by ice in 1904; the Middlecreek rail system was discontinued in the 1930s. There is a tradition of craft industries such as muzzleloaders, furniture, leather, boats, and shoes. Tanning, lumber, iron mining, and dredging for coal were all profitable in the past. Crushed stone and timber are still profitably extracted. Farms cover 45 percent of the land and are strong in swine, cattle, poultry, tobacco, and apples.

Geography: Land and Water

As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 332 square miles (860 km²), of which, 331 square miles (858 km²) of it is land and 1 square miles (2 km²) of it (0.29%) is water. Snyder County is in the Appalachian Mountain Section of the Ridge and Valley Province. Two parallel mountain ridges run southwest to northeast. The Susquehanna River is the eastern border. Between the ridges are steep hills, gently rolling hills, and flat creek valleys. With over 400 active farms in the county, agriculture plays an important role in the economy and environment. Roughly half the county remains forested with both softwoods and hardwoods.

Neighboring Counties

Bordering counties are as follows:

• Union County (north)
• Northumberland County (east)
• Juniata County (south)
• Mifflin County (west)

Education

Colleges and universities

Susquehanna University

Public school districts

Midd-West School District
Selinsgrove Area School District
SusQ Cyber Charter School

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