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| Cumberland County, Pennsylvania | |
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| Map | |
 Location in the state of Pennsylvania |
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 Pennsylvania's location in the U.S. |
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| Statistics | |
| Founded | January 27, 1750 |
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| Seat | Carlisle |
| Largest city | Carlisle |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
551 sq mi (1,427 km²) 550 sq mi (1,424 km²) 1 sq mi (3 km²), 0.18% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
213,674 388/sq mi (150/km²) |
| Website: www.ccpa.net | |
Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is one of the four counties comprising the greater Harrisburg metropolitan area. As of 2004, the population was estimated at 221,397.
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History and Importance
Cumberland County was created on January 27, 1750, and named after Cumberland, England. Its county seat is Carlisle[1]. The county also lies within the Cumberland Valley adjoining the Susquehanna River at its eastern border, stretching approximately 42 miles from the borough of Shippensburg on the west to the Susquehanna River in east Cumberland County.
Cumberland County was first settled by Scotch Irish immigrants who arrived in this area in about 1730. The Scotch Irish were the earliest settlers on the Pennsylvania frontier of the early 1700s. As one author puts it:
| “ | The Cumberland Valley was dotted with Scotch-Irish settlements throughout its entire area, a district which had become almost exclusively the possession of this racial group, with whom were mingled small numbers of English and German settlers constituting perhaps ten percent of the population. It was well adapted to farming, and the Scotch-Irish, in this early period, were mostly farmers, but later they developed a marked aptitude for trade and the professions.[2] | ” |
| “ | As pioneers, they were the advance guard blazing the trail through the wilderness far out on the frontier. They were the first line of defense against the savages, bearing the brunt of the Indian wars, and courageously enduring the hardships of pioneer life as the typical frontiersmen of provincial Pennsylvania. Step by step they had advanced along a perilous path, surmounting whatever difficulties arose, moving ever farther into the wilderness and reclaiming it to the new civilization.[3] | ” |
These settlers built the Middle Spring Presbyterian Church in 1738 near present day Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, which is one of the oldest churches in central Pennsylvania.
The oldest towns in the county are Shippensburg and Carlisle, and although both were settled in the 18th century, they each have their own unique history. Shippensburg is home to Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, one of 14 universities of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. The United States Army War College is a United States Army school located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on the 500 acre (2 km²) campus of the historic Carlisle Barracks, a military post dating back to the 1770s. It caters to high-level military personnel and civilians and prepares them for strategic leadership responsibilities. It is the U. S. Army's most senior military educational institution.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 551 square miles (1,427 km²), of which, 550 square miles (1,425 km²) of it is land and 1 square miles (3 km²) of it (0.18%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Perry County (north)
- Dauphin County (east)
- York County (southeast)
- Adams County (southwest)
- Franklin County (west)
Major highways
Recreation
There are three Pennsylvania state parks in Cumberland County.
- Colonel Denning State Park
- Kings Gap Environmental Education and Training Center
- Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Demographics
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 213,674 people, 83,015 households, and 56,118 families residing in the county. The population density was 388 people per square mile (150/km²). There were 86,951 housing units at an average density of 158 per square mile (61/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.40% White, 2.36% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 1.67% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races. 1.35% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 35.3% were of German, 10.6% American, 10.1% Irish, 7.5% English and 6.8% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000. 94.7% spoke English and 1.4% Spanish as their first language.
There were 83,015 households out of which 29.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.50% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.40% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the county, the population was spread out with 22.00% under the age of 18, 10.60% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.70 males.
Its per capita income is $31,627, making it the wealthiest Pennsylvania county outside greater Philadelphia, and fifth wealthiest overall.
Municipalities
Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following boroughs and townships are located in Cumberland County:
Boroughs
Townships
Unincorporated communities and Census-designated places
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.
Education
Colleges and universities
- Central Pennsylvania College
- Dickinson College
- Messiah College
- Penn State Dickinson School of Law
- Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
- U.S. Army War College
Community, Junior and Technical Colleges
Public School Districts
- Big Spring School District
- Camp Hill School District
- Carlisle Area School District
- Cumberland Valley School District
- East Pennsboro Area School District
- Mechanicsburg Area School District
- Shippensburg Area School District
- South Middleton School District
- West Shore School District
Area Vocational Technical School
Public Libraries
- Cumberland County Library System- An Investment for Life
- Amelia Givin Library
- Bosler Memorial Library
- East Pennsboro Branch Library
- Cleve J. Fredricksen Public Library
- John Graham Public Library
- New Cumberland Public Library
- Shippensburg Public Library
- Joseph T. Simpson Public Library
References
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Wayland F. Dunaway, The Scotch-Irish of Colonial Pennsylvania; University of North Carolina Press, 1944, p. 60.
- ^ Dunaway, p.70.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
External links
- County of Cumberland (official website)
- Cumberland County Economic Development
- Cumberland County Young Professionals
- Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau
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