Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Bedford County is a county
located in the U.S. state
of Pennsylvania
. As of the 2010 census, the population was 49,762. The county seat
is Bedford
. It is part of the Altoona, Pennsylvania
, Metropolitan Statistical Area.
(which is now Bedford) on the land that is now Bedford County in 1750. The settlers had a difficult time dealing with raids from Indians and the fighting between the French and the British.
In 1759, after the capture of Fort Duquesne
in Allegheny County
, a road was built between the fort (which was renamed to Fort Pitt
) to the newly built Fort Bedford
in Raystown. This road followed Indian trails and became "Forbes Road" which passed through Bedford and is now Route 30
. When the Pennsylvania Turnpike
was built, this interstate toll road became the main highway through Bedford County.
Bedford County was created on March 9, 1771 from part of Cumberland County
and named in honor of the Fort Bedford.
The area quickly increased in population once safety became more established. The land with its lush farmland and woodland became an attractive site. It also formed an important center on the way to Pittsburgh and farther west of Pennsylvania. George Washington
stayed in the county in response to the Whiskey Rebellion
in 1794.
The Bedford Springs Hotel
became an important site for the wealthy. Under President James Buchanan
, the hotel became the summer White House
. The U.S. Supreme Court met at the hotel once. It was the only time that the high court met outside of the Capital.
The 19th century featured a population boom in the county with the population doubling in size between 1870 and 1890. Railroads passing through the town connected the county with the mining
industry. The story of the Lost Children of the Alleghenies
originates from Blue Knob State Park in the county.
is a public use airport
in Bedford County. It is owned by the Bedford County Airport Authority and is located four nautical miles (7.4 km) north of the central business district
of the borough of Bedford, Pennsylvania
.
physiographic province
, which is characterized by folded
and faulted sedimentary rock
s of early to middle Paleozoic
age. The northwestern border of the county is approximately at the Allegheny Front
, a geological boundary between the Ridge and Valley
Province and the Allegheny Plateau
(characterized by relatively flat-lying sedimentary rock
s of late Paleozoic
age). (PA Geological Survey Map 13)
The stratigraphic record
of sedimentary rocks within the county spans from the Cambrian
Warrior Formation
to the Pennsylvanian
Conemaugh Group (in the Broad Top
area). No igneous
or metamorphic
rocks of any kind exist within the county.
The primary mountains within the county (From west to east: Wills
, Evitts
, Dunning, and Tussey
mountains) extend from the southern border with Maryland
to the northeast into Blair County
, and are held up by the Silurian
Tuscarora Formation
, made of quartz
sandstone
and conglomerate
. Chestnut Ridge
is a broad anticline
held up by the Devonian
Ridgeley Member
of the Old Port Formation
, also made of sandstone
and conglomerate
. Broad Top
, located north of Breezewood, is a plateau of relatively flat-lying rocks that are stratigraphically higher, and thus younger (Mississippian and Pennsylvanian
), than most of the other rocks within the county (Cambrian
through Devonian
). Broad Top extends into Huntingdon County
to the north and Fulton County
to the east.
The Raystown Branch of the Juniata River
is the main drainage in the northern two-thirds of the county. The river flows to the east through the mountains within the county through several water gaps caused by a group of faults trending east-west through the central part of the county. The river then turns north and flows into Raystown Lake
in Huntingdon County. The southern third of the county is drained by several tributaries of the Potomac River
. Both the Potomac and Juniata rivers are part of the Chesapeake Bay
Watershed.
Several limestone quarries exist in Bedford County, most of which are owned and operated by New Enterprise Stone and Lime Company. Quarry locations include Ashcom, New Paris, Kilcoin, and Sproul. http://www.nesl.com/Default.aspx?tabid=280&portalid=2000&Pageid=Blair-Bedford.
Two coal fields exist within Bedford County. One is the Broad Top Field in the northeastern corner of the county, and the other is the Georges Creek Field along the southwestern border http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/maps/map11.pdf. Both fields contain bituminous coal. There are abandoned mines in both areas and acid mine drainage
is an environmental problem in the Broad Top area, where several fishless streams exist as a result of the discharge from the abandoned mines. http://bedford.sapdc.org/bedford/lib/bedford/AcidMineDrainage.pdf.
Natural gas
fields and storage areas exist in southeastern Bedford County, primarily within folded Devonian
rocks south of Breezewood
. Another deep gas field exists in the vicinity of Blue Knob on the border with Blair County
to the north. (PA Geological Survey Map 10)
of 2000, there were 49,984 people, 19,768 households, and 14,489 families residing in the county. The population density
was 49 people per square mile (19/km²). There were 23,529 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.54% White
, 0.36% Black
or African American
, 0.11% Native American
, 0.29% Asian
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
, 0.16% from other races
, and 0.54% from two or more races. 0.53% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. 42.8% were of German, 17.4% American
, 8.1% English
and 8.1% Irish
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 19,768 households out of which 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.70% were married couples
living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.70% were non-families. 23.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the county, the population was spread out with 23.60% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 16.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.40 males.
), towns. The following boroughs and townships are located in Bedford County:
County (United States)
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...
located in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. As of the 2010 census, the population was 49,762. The county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Bedford
Bedford, Pennsylvania
Bedford is a borough in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, west of the State Capital, Harrisburg. It is the county seat of Bedford County. Bedford was established in the mid-18th century. Population counts follow: 1890, 2,242; 1900, 2,167; 1910, 2,385. The population was 3,141 at the 2000...
. It is part of the Altoona, Pennsylvania
Altoona, Pennsylvania
-History:A major railroad town, Altoona was founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1849 as the site for a shop complex. Altoona was incorporated as a borough on February 6, 1854, and as a city under legislation approved on April 3, 1867, and February 8, 1868...
, Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Robert MacRay opened the first trading post in RaystownBedford, Pennsylvania
Bedford is a borough in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, west of the State Capital, Harrisburg. It is the county seat of Bedford County. Bedford was established in the mid-18th century. Population counts follow: 1890, 2,242; 1900, 2,167; 1910, 2,385. The population was 3,141 at the 2000...
(which is now Bedford) on the land that is now Bedford County in 1750. The settlers had a difficult time dealing with raids from Indians and the fighting between the French and the British.
In 1759, after the capture of Fort Duquesne
Fort Duquesne
Fort Duquesne was a fort established by the French in 1754, at the junction of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers in what is now downtown Pittsburgh in the state of Pennsylvania....
in Allegheny County
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
, a road was built between the fort (which was renamed to Fort Pitt
Fort Pitt (Pennsylvania)
Fort Pitt was a fort built at the location of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.-French and Indian War:The fort was built from 1759 to 1761 during the French and Indian War , next to the site of former Fort Duquesne, at the confluence the Allegheny River and the Monongahela River...
) to the newly built Fort Bedford
Fort Bedford
Fort Bedford was a French and Indian War-era British military fortification located at the present site of Bedford, Pennsylvania. The fort was a star-shaped log fortress erected in the summer of 1758.-Background:...
in Raystown. This road followed Indian trails and became "Forbes Road" which passed through Bedford and is now Route 30
U.S. Route 30 in Pennsylvania
In the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, U.S. Route 30 runs east–west across the southern part of the state, passing through Pittsburgh and Philadelphia on its way from the West Virginia state line east to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge over the Delaware River into New Jersey...
. When the Pennsylvania Turnpike
Pennsylvania Turnpike
The Pennsylvania Turnpike is a toll highway system operated by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. The three sections of the turnpike system total . The main section extends from Ohio to New Jersey and is long...
was built, this interstate toll road became the main highway through Bedford County.
Bedford County was created on March 9, 1771 from part of Cumberland County
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is one of three counties comprising the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 235,406.-History:...
and named in honor of the Fort Bedford.
The area quickly increased in population once safety became more established. The land with its lush farmland and woodland became an attractive site. It also formed an important center on the way to Pittsburgh and farther west of Pennsylvania. George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
stayed in the county in response to the Whiskey Rebellion
Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion, or Whiskey Insurrection, was a tax protest in the United States in the 1790s, during the presidency of George Washington. Farmers who sold their corn in the form of whiskey had to pay a new tax which they strongly resented...
in 1794.
The Bedford Springs Hotel
Bedford Springs Hotel
The Bedford Springs Hotel is a resort hotel outside of Bedford, Pennsylvania. It is a contributing property to the Bedford Springs Hotel Historic District, a designated National Historic Landmark...
became an important site for the wealthy. Under President James Buchanan
James Buchanan
James Buchanan, Jr. was the 15th President of the United States . He is the only president from Pennsylvania, the only president who remained a lifelong bachelor and the last to be born in the 18th century....
, the hotel became the summer White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
. The U.S. Supreme Court met at the hotel once. It was the only time that the high court met outside of the Capital.
The 19th century featured a population boom in the county with the population doubling in size between 1870 and 1890. Railroads passing through the town connected the county with the mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
industry. The story of the Lost Children of the Alleghenies
Lost Children of the Alleghenies
The Lost Children of the Alleghenies is a folk story from the Appalachia region of the United States.Joseph and George Cox are known through the Allegheny Mountains as The Lost Children of the Alleghenies...
originates from Blue Knob State Park in the county.
- A road in New Paris boroughNew Paris, PennsylvaniaNew Paris is a borough in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 214 at the 2000 census. New Paris is located northwest of Bedford, north of Schellsburg and ENE of Somerset.-History:...
offers an example of the "Gravity hillGravity hillA gravity hill, also known as a magnetic hill , is a place where the layout of the surrounding land produces the optical illusion that a very slight downhill slope appears to be an uphill slope...
" phenomenon.
Pennsylvania State Senate
- John EichelbergerJohn EichelbergerJohn Eichelberger of Blair Township, Pennsylvania is a Pennsylvania State Senator. He is a member of the Republican Party. He represents the 30th district of the Pennsylvania State Senate....
, RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, Pennsylvania's 30th Senatorial District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Dick L. Hess, RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, Pennsylvania's 78th Representative District - Carl Walker MetzgarCarl Walker MetzgarCarl Walker Metzgar was first elected to serve the Pennsylvania 69th Legislative District in November 2008.-Career:In addition to serving as a state representative in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Metzgar is an attorney in Somerset and Bedford counties...
, RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, Pennsylvania's 69th Representative District
United States House of Representatives
- Bill ShusterBill ShusterWilliam Shuster is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party. He is a son of former Congressman Bud Shuster.-Early life, education and career:...
, Republican, Pennsylvania's 9th congressional districtPennsylvania's 9th congressional districtPennsylvania's 9th congressional district is a relatively safe seat for the Republicans. In 2004, for example, the Republican candidate, former businessman Bill Shuster, won a convincing majority over his Democratic opponent winning 70% of the vote. In 2006, he defeated teacher Tony Barr 60%-40%...
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1017 square miles (2,634 km²), of which 1015 square miles (2,628.8 km²) is land and 3 square miles (7.8 km²) (0.28%) is water.Adjacent counties
- Blair CountyBlair County, Pennsylvania-Significant Topographic Features:*Brush Mountain*Logan Valley*Morrison Cove*Tussey Mountain-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 129,144 people, 51,518 households, and 34,877 families residing in the county. The population density was 246 people per square mile . There were 55,061...
(north) - Huntingdon CountyHuntingdon County, PennsylvaniaHuntingdon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. In 2010, its population was 45,913.Huntingdon County was created on September 20, 1787, from part of Bedford County. Its county seat is Huntingdon.-Geography:According to the U.S...
(northeast) - Fulton CountyFulton County, PennsylvaniaFulton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 14,845.Fulton County was created on April 19, 1850, from part of Bedford County and named for inventor Robert Fulton.Its county seat is McConnellsburg....
(east) - Allegany County, MarylandAllegany County, MarylandAllegany County is a county located in the northwestern part of the US state of Maryland. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 75,087. Its county seat is Cumberland...
(southwest) - Somerset CountySomerset County, PennsylvaniaSomerset County is a county located in the state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 77,742. Somerset County was created on April 17, 1795, from part of Bedford County and named for Somerset, United Kingdom. Its county seat is Somerset. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania,...
(west) - Cambria CountyCambria County, PennsylvaniaCambria County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It comprises the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 143,679....
(northwest)
Significant Topographic Features
- Evitts MountainEvitts MountainEvitts Mountain is a stratigraphic ridge in the Ridge and Valley region of the Appalachian Mountains, located in Bedford County, Pennsylvania and Allegany County, Maryland-Geography:...
- Morrison CoveMorrison CoveMorrisons Cove , is an eroded anticlinal valley in Blair and Bedford counties of central Pennsylvania, United States, extending from Evitts Mountain near New Enterprise, north to the Frankstown Branch Juniata River at Williamsburg...
- Tussey MountainTussey Mountain]Tussey Mountain is a stratigraphic ridge in central Pennsylvania, United States, trending east of the Bald Eagle, Brush, Dunning and Evitts Mountain ridges...
- Blue KnobBlue Knob (Pennsylvania)Blue Knob is a Pennsylvania summit with a broad dome that is the most northern of the 3,000 footers in the range of Allegheny Mountains. The mountain covers of Blue Knob State Park and contains approximately 18 miles of hiking trails and numerous overlooks. A ski area is located on the...
Major Highways
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Interstate 70Interstate 70Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...
/Interstate 76Interstate 76 (east)Interstate 76 is an Interstate Highway in the United States, running 435 miles from an interchange with Interstate 71 west of Akron, Ohio, east to Interstate 295 near Camden, New Jersey....
(PA Turnpike)Pennsylvania TurnpikeThe Pennsylvania Turnpike is a toll highway system operated by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. The three sections of the turnpike system total . The main section extends from Ohio to New Jersey and is long...- Interstate 99Interstate 99Interstate 99 is an intrastate Interstate Highway located in central Pennsylvania in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at exit 146 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike north of Bedford, where the road continues south as U.S. Route 220 . The northern terminus is at...
U.S. Route 30U.S. Route 30U.S. Route 30 is an east–west main route of the system of United States Numbered Highways, with the highway traveling across the northern tier of the country. It is the third longest U.S. route, after U.S. Route 20 and U.S. Route 6. The western end of the highway is at Astoria, Oregon; the...
U.S. Route 220U.S. Route 220U.S. Route 220 is a long U.S. Route in the eastern United States.US 220 is a spur route of U.S. Route 20 but at present, the two routes do not intersect nor do they connect via other spurs of US 20. The former U. S. Route 120, which was signed in Pennsylvania between 1926 and 1967, intersected...
State Route 26Pennsylvania Route 26Pennsylvania Route 26 is a highway in the south-central area of Pennsylvania. Its northern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 150 northwest of Howard, Pennsylvania; its southern terminus is at the Maryland state line near Barnes Gap in Union Township...
State Route 36Pennsylvania Route 36Pennsylvania Route 36 is a long state highway located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The southern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 26 near the Hopewell Township community of Yellow Creek...
State Route 56Pennsylvania Route 56Pennsylvania Route 56 is a major long state highway located in central Pennsylvania. Its western terminus is at the eastern approach to the C.L. Schmitt Bridge in New Kensington. Its eastern terminus is U.S. Route 30 west of Bedford.- Route description :...
State Route 96Pennsylvania Route 96Pennsylvania Route 96 is a long state highway located in southwestern Pennsylvania. The southern terminus of the route is at the Mason-Dixon Line in Londonderry Township, where PA 96 continues to the south as Maryland Route 35...
Airports
Bedford County AirportBedford County Airport
Bedford County Airport is a public use airport in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is owned by the Bedford County Airport Authority and is located four nautical miles north of the central business district of the borough of Bedford, Pennsylvania. It opened in 1994.Although most U.S...
is a public use airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
in Bedford County. It is owned by the Bedford County Airport Authority and is located four nautical miles (7.4 km) north of the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of the borough of Bedford, Pennsylvania
Bedford, Pennsylvania
Bedford is a borough in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, west of the State Capital, Harrisburg. It is the county seat of Bedford County. Bedford was established in the mid-18th century. Population counts follow: 1890, 2,242; 1900, 2,167; 1910, 2,385. The population was 3,141 at the 2000...
.
Geology
Bedford County is situated along the western border of the Ridge and ValleyRidge-and-valley Appalachians
The Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, also called the Ridge and Valley Province or the Valley and Ridge Appalachians, are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division and are also a belt within the Appalachian Mountains extending from southeastern New York through northwestern New...
physiographic province
United States physiographic region
The list of continental United States Physiographic regions identifies the 8 regions, 25 provinces, and 85 sections. The system dates to Nevin Fenneman's paper Physiographic Subdivision of the United States, published in 1917...
, which is characterized by folded
Fold (geology)
The term fold is used in geology when one or a stack of originally flat and planar surfaces, such as sedimentary strata, are bent or curved as a result of permanent deformation. Synsedimentary folds are those due to slumping of sedimentary material before it is lithified. Folds in rocks vary in...
and faulted sedimentary rock
Sedimentary rock
Sedimentary rock are types of rock that are formed by the deposition of material at the Earth's surface and within bodies of water. Sedimentation is the collective name for processes that cause mineral and/or organic particles to settle and accumulate or minerals to precipitate from a solution....
s of early to middle Paleozoic
Paleozoic
The Paleozoic era is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon, spanning from roughly...
age. The northwestern border of the county is approximately at the Allegheny Front
Allegheny Front
The Allegheny Front is the major southeast- or east-facing escarpment in the Allegheny Mountains in southern Pennsylvania, western Maryland, and eastern West Virginia, USA. The Allegheny Front delineates the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians to its east from the Appalachian Plateau to its west...
, a geological boundary between the Ridge and Valley
Ridge-and-valley Appalachians
The Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, also called the Ridge and Valley Province or the Valley and Ridge Appalachians, are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division and are also a belt within the Appalachian Mountains extending from southeastern New York through northwestern New...
Province and the Allegheny Plateau
Allegheny Plateau
The Allegheny Plateau is a large dissected plateau area in western and central New York, northern and western Pennsylvania, northern and western West Virginia, and eastern Ohio...
(characterized by relatively flat-lying sedimentary rock
Sedimentary rock
Sedimentary rock are types of rock that are formed by the deposition of material at the Earth's surface and within bodies of water. Sedimentation is the collective name for processes that cause mineral and/or organic particles to settle and accumulate or minerals to precipitate from a solution....
s of late Paleozoic
Paleozoic
The Paleozoic era is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon, spanning from roughly...
age). (PA Geological Survey Map 13)
The stratigraphic record
Stratigraphy
Stratigraphy, a branch of geology, studies rock layers and layering . It is primarily used in the study of sedimentary and layered volcanic rocks....
of sedimentary rocks within the county spans from the Cambrian
Cambrian
The Cambrian is the first geological period of the Paleozoic Era, lasting from Mya ; it is succeeded by the Ordovician. Its subdivisions, and indeed its base, are somewhat in flux. The period was established by Adam Sedgwick, who named it after Cambria, the Latin name for Wales, where Britain's...
Warrior Formation
Warrior Formation
The Cambrian Warrior Formation is a mapped limestone bedrock unit in Pennsylvania.-Description:The Warrior Formation is described by Berg and others as gray, thin- to medium-bedded, fossiliferous, cyclic limestone bearing stromatolites, interbedded with shale, siltstone, and sandstone.-Fossils:*...
to the Pennsylvanian
Pennsylvanian
The Pennsylvanian is, in the ICS geologic timescale, the younger of two subperiods of the Carboniferous Period. It lasted from roughly . As with most other geochronologic units, the rock beds that define the Pennsylvanian are well identified, but the exact date of the start and end are uncertain...
Conemaugh Group (in the Broad Top
Broad Top
Broad Top is a plateau located in south-central Pennsylvania. It extends into Huntingdon County to the north, Fulton County to the southeast, and Bedford County to the southwest. It is bounded to the west by Saxton Mountain and Terrace Mountain, and to the east by Sideling Hill. In Bedford...
area). No igneous
Igneous rock
Igneous rock is one of the three main rock types, the others being sedimentary and metamorphic rock. Igneous rock is formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava...
or metamorphic
Metamorphic rock
Metamorphic rock is the transformation of an existing rock type, the protolith, in a process called metamorphism, which means "change in form". The protolith is subjected to heat and pressure causing profound physical and/or chemical change...
rocks of any kind exist within the county.
The primary mountains within the county (From west to east: Wills
Wills Mountain
Wills Mountain is a quartzite-capped ridge in the Ridge and Valley physiographic province of the Appalachian Mountains in Pennsylvania and Maryland, USA, extending from near Bedford, Pennsylvania to near Cumberland, Maryland...
, Evitts
Evitts Mountain
Evitts Mountain is a stratigraphic ridge in the Ridge and Valley region of the Appalachian Mountains, located in Bedford County, Pennsylvania and Allegany County, Maryland-Geography:...
, Dunning, and Tussey
Tussey Mountain
]Tussey Mountain is a stratigraphic ridge in central Pennsylvania, United States, trending east of the Bald Eagle, Brush, Dunning and Evitts Mountain ridges...
mountains) extend from the southern border with Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
to the northeast into Blair County
Blair County, Pennsylvania
-Significant Topographic Features:*Brush Mountain*Logan Valley*Morrison Cove*Tussey Mountain-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 129,144 people, 51,518 households, and 34,877 families residing in the county. The population density was 246 people per square mile . There were 55,061...
, and are held up by the Silurian
Silurian
The Silurian is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Ordovician Period, about 443.7 ± 1.5 Mya , to the beginning of the Devonian Period, about 416.0 ± 2.8 Mya . As with other geologic periods, the rock beds that define the period's start and end are well identified, but the...
Tuscarora Formation
Tuscarora Formation
The Silurian Tuscarora Formation — also known as Tuscarora Sandstone or Tuscarora Quartzite — is a mapped bedrock unit in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia.-Description:...
, made of quartz
Quartz
Quartz is the second-most-abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. It is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2. There are many different varieties of quartz,...
sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
and conglomerate
Conglomerate (geology)
A conglomerate is a rock consisting of individual clasts within a finer-grained matrix that have become cemented together. Conglomerates are sedimentary rocks consisting of rounded fragments and are thus differentiated from breccias, which consist of angular clasts...
. Chestnut Ridge
Chestnut Ridge, Bedford County
Chestnut Ridge is an elongate hill trending northeast-southwest in west-central Bedford County, Pennsylvania. It is partially forested with rural homes, farms, and notably apple orchards. Four small towns surround it: Schellsburg, New Paris, Fishertown, and Pleasantville...
is a broad anticline
Anticline
In structural geology, an anticline is a fold that is convex up and has its oldest beds at its core. The term is not to be confused with antiform, which is a purely descriptive term for any fold that is convex up. Therefore if age relationships In structural geology, an anticline is a fold that is...
held up by the Devonian
Devonian
The Devonian is a geologic period and system of the Paleozoic Era spanning from the end of the Silurian Period, about 416.0 ± 2.8 Mya , to the beginning of the Carboniferous Period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Mya...
Ridgeley Member
Ridgeley sandstone
The Ridgeley sandstone is a sandstone or quartzite of Devonian age found in the Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia, USA. The Ridgeley is fine-grained, siliceous, calcareous in its lower strata, sometimes fossiliferous, and sometimes locally pebbly or...
of the Old Port Formation
Old Port Formation
The Devonian Old Port Formation is a mapped bedrock unit in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia. Members of the unit are also mapped in New Jersey and Virginia as parts of other formations or groups.-Description:...
, also made of sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
and conglomerate
Conglomerate (geology)
A conglomerate is a rock consisting of individual clasts within a finer-grained matrix that have become cemented together. Conglomerates are sedimentary rocks consisting of rounded fragments and are thus differentiated from breccias, which consist of angular clasts...
. Broad Top
Broad Top
Broad Top is a plateau located in south-central Pennsylvania. It extends into Huntingdon County to the north, Fulton County to the southeast, and Bedford County to the southwest. It is bounded to the west by Saxton Mountain and Terrace Mountain, and to the east by Sideling Hill. In Bedford...
, located north of Breezewood, is a plateau of relatively flat-lying rocks that are stratigraphically higher, and thus younger (Mississippian and Pennsylvanian
Pennsylvanian
The Pennsylvanian is, in the ICS geologic timescale, the younger of two subperiods of the Carboniferous Period. It lasted from roughly . As with most other geochronologic units, the rock beds that define the Pennsylvanian are well identified, but the exact date of the start and end are uncertain...
), than most of the other rocks within the county (Cambrian
Cambrian
The Cambrian is the first geological period of the Paleozoic Era, lasting from Mya ; it is succeeded by the Ordovician. Its subdivisions, and indeed its base, are somewhat in flux. The period was established by Adam Sedgwick, who named it after Cambria, the Latin name for Wales, where Britain's...
through Devonian
Devonian
The Devonian is a geologic period and system of the Paleozoic Era spanning from the end of the Silurian Period, about 416.0 ± 2.8 Mya , to the beginning of the Carboniferous Period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Mya...
). Broad Top extends into Huntingdon County
Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania
Huntingdon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. In 2010, its population was 45,913.Huntingdon County was created on September 20, 1787, from part of Bedford County. Its county seat is Huntingdon.-Geography:According to the U.S...
to the north and Fulton County
Fulton County, Pennsylvania
Fulton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 14,845.Fulton County was created on April 19, 1850, from part of Bedford County and named for inventor Robert Fulton.Its county seat is McConnellsburg....
to the east.
The Raystown Branch of the Juniata River
Juniata River
The Juniata River is a tributary of the Susquehanna River, approximately long, in central Pennsylvania in the United States. The river is considered scenic along much of its route, having a broad and shallow course passing through several mountain ridges and steeply-lined water gaps...
is the main drainage in the northern two-thirds of the county. The river flows to the east through the mountains within the county through several water gaps caused by a group of faults trending east-west through the central part of the county. The river then turns north and flows into Raystown Lake
Raystown Lake
Raystown Lake is a reservoir in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. The largest lake that is entirely within Pennsylvania, it was created by the United States Army Corps of Engineers around 1913 by the damming of the Raystown Branch Juniata River which created a shallow lake in the river valley. ...
in Huntingdon County. The southern third of the county is drained by several tributaries of the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
. Both the Potomac and Juniata rivers are part of the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
Watershed.
Several limestone quarries exist in Bedford County, most of which are owned and operated by New Enterprise Stone and Lime Company. Quarry locations include Ashcom, New Paris, Kilcoin, and Sproul. http://www.nesl.com/Default.aspx?tabid=280&portalid=2000&Pageid=Blair-Bedford.
Two coal fields exist within Bedford County. One is the Broad Top Field in the northeastern corner of the county, and the other is the Georges Creek Field along the southwestern border http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/maps/map11.pdf. Both fields contain bituminous coal. There are abandoned mines in both areas and acid mine drainage
Acid mine drainage
Acid mine drainage , or acid rock drainage , refers to the outflow of acidic water from metal mines or coal mines. However, other areas where the earth has been disturbed may also contribute acid rock drainage to the environment...
is an environmental problem in the Broad Top area, where several fishless streams exist as a result of the discharge from the abandoned mines. http://bedford.sapdc.org/bedford/lib/bedford/AcidMineDrainage.pdf.
Natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
fields and storage areas exist in southeastern Bedford County, primarily within folded Devonian
Devonian
The Devonian is a geologic period and system of the Paleozoic Era spanning from the end of the Silurian Period, about 416.0 ± 2.8 Mya , to the beginning of the Carboniferous Period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Mya...
rocks south of Breezewood
Breezewood, Pennsylvania
Breezewood is an unincorporated town in Bedford County in south-central Pennsylvania.Along a traditional pathway for Native Americans, European settlers, and British troops during colonial times, in the early 20th century, the small valley that became known as Breezewood was a popular stopping...
. Another deep gas field exists in the vicinity of Blue Knob on the border with Blair County
Blair County, Pennsylvania
-Significant Topographic Features:*Brush Mountain*Logan Valley*Morrison Cove*Tussey Mountain-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 129,144 people, 51,518 households, and 34,877 families residing in the county. The population density was 246 people per square mile . There were 55,061...
to the north. (PA Geological Survey Map 10)
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 49,984 people, 19,768 households, and 14,489 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 49 people per square mile (19/km²). There were 23,529 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.54% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.36% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.11% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.29% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.16% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.54% from two or more races. 0.53% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 42.8% were of German, 17.4% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 8.1% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
and 8.1% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 19,768 households out of which 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.70% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.70% were non-families. 23.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the county, the population was spread out with 23.60% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 16.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.40 males.
Municipalities
Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in only one case (Bloomsburg, Columbia CountyBloomsburg, Pennsylvania
Bloomsburg is a town in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, 40 miles southwest of Wilkes Barre along the Susquehanna River. In 1900, the population of Bloomsburg stood at 6,170; in 1910, 7,413; in 1940, 9,799, and in 1990, 12,439. The population was 14,855 at the 2010 census...
), towns. The following boroughs and townships are located in Bedford County:
Boroughs
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Manns Choice, Pennsylvania Manns Choice is a borough in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 291 at the 2000 census.-Name:In 1848, Congressman Job Mann pressured to have a post office at an unnamed village in Harrison Township. The Post Office Department approved the new post office, but as the... New Paris, Pennsylvania New Paris is a borough in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 214 at the 2000 census. New Paris is located northwest of Bedford, north of Schellsburg and ENE of Somerset.-History:... Pleasantville, Bedford County, Pennsylvania Pleasantville is a borough in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 211 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pleasantville is located at... Rainsburg, Pennsylvania Rainsburg is a borough in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 146 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Rainsburg is located at , within Colerain Township.... |
St. Clairsville, Pennsylvania St. Clairsville is a borough in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 86 at the 2000 census.St. Clairsville was named after Northwest Territory Governor Arthur St. Clair and Revolutionary War Major-General.-Geography:St... Saxton, Pennsylvania Saxton is a borough in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 803 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Saxton is located at .... Schellsburg, Pennsylvania Schellsburg is a borough in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 316 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Schellsburg is located at... Woodbury, Pennsylvania Woodbury in Morrison Cove, is a borough in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 269 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Woodbury is located at .... |
Townships
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Juniata Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania Juniata Township is a township in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,016 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:... Liberty Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania Liberty Township is a township in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,477 at the 2000 census. Warriors Path State Park is a Pennsylvania State Park in Liberty Township.-Geography:... Lincoln Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania Lincoln Township is a township in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 380 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 16.2 square miles , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there... Londonderry Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania Londonderry Township is a township in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,760 at the 2000 census.-History:The Fischtner Covered Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.-Geography:... Monroe Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania Monroe Township is a township in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,372 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 88.1 square miles , of which, 88.0 square miles of it is land and 0.01%... |
Southampton Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania Southampton Township is a township in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,010 at the 2000 census.-History:The Hewitt Covered Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.-Geography:... Woodbury Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania Woodbury Township is a township in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 23.7 square miles , of which 23.7 square miles is land; 0.04 square miles of the township is... |
Public School Districts
- Bedford Area School DistrictBedford Area School DistrictThe Bedford Area School District covers the Boroughs of Bedford, Hyndman, Manns Choice and Rainsburg and Bedford Township, Colerain Township, Cumberland Valley Township, Harrison Township, Londonderry Township and Snake Spring Township in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. The district encompasses...
- Chestnut Ridge School DistrictChestnut Ridge School DistrictThe Chestnut Ridge School District covers the Boroughs of New Paris, Pleasantville, St. Clairsville and Schellsburg and East St. Clair Township, Juniata Township, King Township, Lincoln Township, Napier Township, Pavia Township and West St. Clair Township in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. It...
- Claysburg-Kimmel School DistrictClaysburg-Kimmel School DistrictThe Claysburg-Kimmel School District spans portions of two counties. In Bedford County it covers Kimmel Township. In Blair County it covers Greenfield Township.-Schools:...
(also in Blair County) - Everett Area School DistrictEverett Area School DistrictEverett Area School District is a school district in Pennsylvania. It serves a rural region and encompasses the borough of Everett and the townships of West Providence, East Providence, Monroe, Southampton, and Mann, all in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. EASD encompasses of rural southern...
- Northern Bedford County School DistrictNorthern Bedford County School DistrictThe Northern Bedford County School District is a public school district serving parts of Bedford County, Pennsylvania. The boroughs of Hopewell and Woodbury and the townships of Bloomfield, Hopewell, Woodbury, and South Woodbury are located within district boundaries. It encompasses approximately...
- Tussey Mountain School DistrictTussey Mountain School DistrictThe Tussey Mountain School District is a public school district serving parts of Bedford County, Pennsylvania and Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. The rural district serves a large number of communities. In Huntingdon County, it encompasses the boroughs of Broad Top City, Dudley, and Coalmont as...
(also in Huntingdon County)
Recreation
There are 3 Pennsylvania state parks in Bedford County.- Blue Knob State ParkBlue Knob State ParkBlue Knob State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Kimmel, Lincoln, and Pavia townships in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The average annual snowfall at the park is about . The park is named for Blue Knob, the second highest mountain in Pennsylvania at . It is the location...
site of the Blue Knob All Seasons Resort - Shawnee State Park
- Warriors Path State ParkWarriors Path State ParkWarriors Path State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on in Liberty Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is named for the Great Indian Warpath that was used by the Iroquois in war raids with the Cherokee and other tribes. Warriors Path State Park is surrounded on three...
See also
- List of municipal authorities in Bedford County, Pennsylvania
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Bedford County, PennsylvaniaNational Register of Historic Places listings in Bedford County, PennsylvaniaThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Bedford County, Pennsylvania.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States...