Clearfield County, Pennsylvania

Clearfield County was formed by the Act of Assembly by the second Governor of Pennsylvania at the time, Thomas McKean on March 26, 1804. The county was created from parts of the already created counties of Huntingdon and Lycoming. The name for the county was most likely derived from the many cleared fields of the valleys surrounding Clearfield Creek and West Branch of the Susquehanna River, formed by the bison herds and also by old corn fields of prior Native Americans tribes.

Clearfield County Conspiracy Trials

No case tried in the county has caused as much comment as the union conspiracy trials. In all there were fifty-six persons, primarily miners in the Houtzdale region, who were charged with conspiracy as organized strikers. The first case against John Maloney and fifty three others was tried in 1875, before a jury with Judge Orvis presiding. All were found guilty, although they seem to have been solely peacefully picketing.[5] Four were sentenced to one year's imprisonment, eight for six months, and sentences suspended as to the others. As every organized labor society in the USA was interested in the result, the events of the trial and verdict were telegraphed throughout the country[6] This proceeding was followed by the trial of the remaining two offenders who were union representatives, John Siney, and Xingo Parks. Siney was then the President of the Miners’ National Association (MNA). He came to Houtzdale and delivered an address of support for the union strike, for which he was arrested. Parks was an able organizer for the MNA. They were defended by US Senator Matthew H. Carpenter of Wisconsin. At trial Siney was acquitted, but Parks was found guilty of inciting unlawful assembly. He was sentenced to one year's imprisonment, but pardoned within a month from the time sentence was pronounced.[7] These cases led in the next year to a liberalization of the Pennsylvania conspiracy law, through amendment providing that only "force, threat, or menace of harm to person or property" should be considered illegal.[8]

Clearfield the county seat of Clearfield County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,154 square miles (2,990 km²), of which 1,145 square miles (2,970 km²) is land and 9.2 square miles (24 km²) (0.8%) is water.[9] It is the third-largest county in Pennsylvania by land area and fourth-largest by total area. The West Branch Susquehanna River flows through the county bisecting the county seat along the way.

The mountainous terrain of the county made traffic difficult for early settlers. Various Native American paths and trails crossing the area were used intermittently by settlers, invading armies, and escaped slaves travelling north along the Underground Railroad. A major feature located in Bloom Township, Pennsylvania within the county is known as Bilger's rocks and exhibits fine examples of exposed sandstone bedrock that was created during the formation of the Appalachian Mountains.

The shape of Clearfield County bears an amazing resemblance to that of the state of Arkansas.

As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 83,382 people, 32,785 households, and 22,916 families residing in the county. The population density was 73 people per square mile (28/km²). There were 37,855 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile (13/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.40% White, 1.49% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. 0.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 22.9% were of German, 13.6% American, 10.2% English, 9.9% Irish, 9.1% Italian and 6.0% Polish ancestry.

There were 32,785 households out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out with 22.70% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 16.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.50 males.

Map of the State College-DuBois, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA), composed of the following parts:

  State College, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area

  DuBois, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area

The United States Office of Management and Budget[16] has designated Clearfield County as the DuBois, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area (µSA). As of the 2010 census[17] the micropolitan area ranked 6th most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 65th most populous in the United States with a population of 81,642. Clearfield County is also a part of the State College-DuBois, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA), which combines the populations of both Clearfield and Centre County areas, as well as the State College area. The Combined Statistical Area ranked 9th in the State of Pennsylvania and 125th most populous in the United States with a population of 235,632.

As of October 2014, there were 50,846 registered voters in Clearfield County.[18]

• Democratic: 21,565 (42.41%)
• Republican: 23,497 (46.21%)
• Libertarian: 272 (0.53%)
• No Party Affiliation: 2,492 (4.90%)
• Other parties: 3,020 (5.94%)

While the county registration tends to be evenly matched between Democrats and Republicans, the county trends Republican in statewide and federal elections. The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, while Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton winning pluralities in the county, with the former by 88 votes. In 2006, Democrat Bob Casey Jr. received 55% of its vote when he unseated incumbent Republican US Senator Rick Santorum and Ed Rendell received 50.2% of the vote against Lynn Swann. Each of the three row-office statewide winners carried Clearfield in 2008.

• Clearfield County Jail
• Quehanna Bootcamp
• SCI Houtzdale
• Moshannon Valley Correctional Center

There are two Pennsylvania state parks in Clearfield County.

• Parker Dam State Park
• S. B. Elliott State Park

Clearfield County is also home to the largest wild area in Pennsylvania, the Quehanna Wild Area. A culturally and historically significant natural formation of massive sandstone megaliths can be found at Bilger's rocks.

Map of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels, showing Cities and Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Clearfield County:

• Mary Elizabeth Willson (1842–1906), gospel singer, singer, composer, evangelist
• Spencer T. Folmar (1989–present), film director and producer, only ‘movies’ made in Clearfield, PA. Inherited financial windfall from parents/family. Frequently cited as “Hollywood’s Worst Filmmaker”.
• Willie Adams, major league baseball pitcher (1912-1919)
• Howie Bedell, major league baseball player
• William Bigler (January 1, 1814 – August 9, 1880), American politician, 12th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1852 to 1855, later U.S. Senator for Pennsylvania from 1856 until 1861.
• Earl Caldwell, former reporter and columnist for The New York Times; first African-American to have a regular column in a major national newspaper. Central figure in a major Supreme Court case about the protection of journalists' sources. Currently hosts Pacifica's WBAI radio (New York City)
• Otto Eppers, cartoonist/illustrator who as part of a stunt successfully jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge at 17 years of age
• Howard Fargo, former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (1981-2000)
• Anthony A. Mitchell, clarinetist, composer and conductor. Led the United States Navy Band from 1962-1968.
• Rembrandt Cecil Robinson (1924-1972) was a United States Navy officer (Rear admiral)[17]
• Edward Scofield, governor of Wisconsin (1897–1901)
• William Irvin Swoope, Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1923–27)
• William A. Wallace, Democratic U.S. senator who served from 1875–81
• Powell Weaver, composer and organist
• Robert Leon Hall III, Modern Dance choreographer with numerous Broadway/Off-Broadway Credits, 3-time Tony Award nominee.

• Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania#Highest Point on 80
• Indian old field
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Clearfield County, Pennsylvania.

• History of Townships in Clearfield County, PA
• History of Clearfield County
• Clearfield County Fair