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Elk County
Elk County
County
	Elk County Courthouse in Ridgway, Pennsylvania
	Flag Logo
	Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
	Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 41°25′N 78°39′W / 41.42°N 78.65°W
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
Founded	April 18, 1843
Named for	Eastern elk
Seat	Ridgway
Largest city	St. Marys
Area
• Total	832 sq mi (2,150 km2)
• Land	827 sq mi (2,140 km2)
• Water	4.9 sq mi (13 km2) 0.6%
Population (2020)
• Total	30,990
• Density	37.5/sq mi (14.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	15th
Website	www.co.elk.pa.us

Elk County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 30,990.^[2] Its county seat is Ridgway.^[3] The county was created on April 18, 1843, from parts of Jefferson, Clearfield, and McKean Counties. Elk County is named for the now-extinct eastern elk (Cervus canadensis) that historically inhabited the region. The county is part of the North Central Pennsylvania region of the state.^[a]

The county is notable for having one of the highest concentrations of Roman Catholics in the United States, with 69% of the county's residents identifying as Catholic.

Geography

Elk County consists of low rolling hills, carved by frequent drainages and heavily wooded.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 832 square miles (2,150 km²), of which 827 square miles (2,140 km²) is land and 4.9 square miles (13 km²) (0.6%) is water.^[4] Elk has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Dfb) and average monthly temperatures in Ridgway range from 23.2 °F in January to 67.4 °F in July, while in Saint Marys they range from 22.6 °F in January to 66.8 °F in July.^[5]

Adjacent counties

McKean County - north
Cameron County - east
Clearfield County - south
Jefferson County - southwest
Forest County - west
Warren County - northwest

National protected area

Allegheny National Forest (part)

State protected areas

Major highways

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States Census,^[6] there were 30,990 people and 14,215 households. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15 people/km²). There were 16,855 housing units at an average density of 20 units per square mile (7.7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.9% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.4% Asian, and 1.0% from two or more races. 0.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 42.9% were of German, 17.7% Italian, 13.1% Irish, 6.4% English, 5.8% Polish, and 5.2% Swedish.

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1850	3,531	—
1860	5,915	67.5%
1870	8,488	43.5%
1880	12,800	50.8%
1890	22,239	73.7%
1900	32,903	48.0%
1910	35,871	9.0%
1920	34,981	−2.5%
1930	33,431	−4.4%
1940	34,443	3.0%
1950	34,503	0.2%
1960	37,328	8.2%
1970	37,770	1.2%
1980	38,338	1.5%
1990	34,878	−9.0%
2000	35,111	0.7%
2010	31,946	−9.0%
2020	30,990	−3.0%
^[7]

There were 14,124 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.00% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.00% were non-families. 27.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.99.

The county population contained 24.00% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 17.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.

Elk County has one of the highest concentrations of Roman Catholics in the United States. As of 2010, nearly 70% of the county's residents identified as Catholic.

2020 census

Elk County Racial Composition^[8]
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	30,339	97.9%
Black or African American (NH)	155	0.5%
Native American (NH)	62	0.2%
Asian (NH)	124	0.4%
Other/Mixed (NH)	310	1.0%
Hispanic or Latino	279	0.9%

Economy

As of the 2021 ACS 5-Year Estimates, Elk County's largest industry and source of employment is manufacturing, with the second largest being educational services, healthcare, and social services.

Government and politics

United States presidential election results for Elk County, Pennsylvania^[9]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	12,543	72.87%	4,483	26.04%	187	1.09%
2020	12,140	71.64%	4,522	26.68%	284	1.68%
2016	10,025	68.91%	3,853	26.49%	669	4.60%
2012	7,579	57.08%	5,463	41.14%	237	1.78%
2008	6,676	46.48%	7,290	50.76%	396	2.76%
2004	7,872	54.10%	6,602	45.37%	76	0.52%
2000	7,347	54.10%	5,754	42.37%	479	3.53%
1996	4,889	37.57%	5,749	44.18%	2,375	18.25%
1992	4,908	35.48%	5,016	36.26%	3,908	28.25%
1988	6,737	52.86%	5,879	46.13%	128	1.00%
1984	8,470	60.47%	5,486	39.17%	51	0.36%
1980	7,175	52.49%	5,898	43.15%	596	4.36%
1976	6,159	46.98%	6,713	51.21%	237	1.81%
1972	7,900	61.20%	4,710	36.49%	298	2.31%
1968	6,193	44.09%	6,886	49.02%	967	6.88%
1964	4,354	29.36%	10,455	70.51%	19	0.13%
1960	7,155	45.96%	8,398	53.95%	14	0.09%
1956	8,947	61.84%	5,498	38.00%	23	0.16%
1952	7,702	54.26%	6,448	45.42%	45	0.32%
1948	5,148	48.98%	5,363	51.02%	0	0.00%
1944	5,645	47.80%	6,097	51.63%	67	0.57%
1940	6,949	49.99%	6,920	49.78%	31	0.22%
1936	5,489	35.12%	9,035	57.80%	1,107	7.08%
1932	5,797	46.39%	6,461	51.70%	239	1.91%
1928	5,234	40.23%	7,705	59.23%	70	0.54%
1924	6,626	70.85%	1,370	14.65%	1,356	14.50%
1920	5,267	66.14%	2,093	26.28%	604	7.58%
1916	2,829	52.34%	2,186	40.44%	390	7.22%
1912	603	10.50%	2,057	35.82%	3,082	53.67%
1908	2,991	51.52%	2,531	43.60%	283	4.88%
1904	3,820	55.25%	2,857	41.32%	237	3.43%
1900	3,254	50.06%	3,105	47.77%	141	2.17%
1896	2,807	49.57%	2,717	47.98%	139	2.45%
1892	1,438	38.94%	2,126	57.57%	129	3.49%
1888	1,321	41.09%	1,824	56.73%	70	2.18%

Voter demographics

Chart of Voter Registration

Republican (58.31%)

Democratic (29.78%)

Independent (7.95%)

Other Parties (3.94%)

As of November 4, 2024, there are 20,837 registered voters in Elk County.^[10]

Republican: 12,152 (58.31%)

Democratic: 6,206 (29.78%)
Independent: 1,657 (7.95%)
Third Party: 822 (3.94%)

Elk County used to be competitive in statewide and national elections. The county frequently voted with the eventual winner of national elections, from 1920 to 2008, except for 1928, 1940, and 1968. In the 21st century, its Catholic identity has been replaced by its rural identity in defining how it votes; its longtime Democratic voter registration advantage was taken over by Republicans in 2018.^[11] The county voted for Mitt Romney by 16 points in 2012, then swung over 25 points to the right and voted for Donald Trump by 42 points in 2016, before swinging further right in 2020 and voting for Trump by 45 points.

County commissioners

M. Fritz Lecker, Republican
Matthew G. Quesenberry, Democrat
Gregory J. Gebauer, Republican

Other county offices

Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary, Susanne Schneider, Republican
Coroner, Michelle Muccio, Republican
District Attorney, Beau Grove, Republican
Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds, Lee Neureiter, Republican
Sheriff, Todd Caltagarone, Republican
Treasurer, Matthew Frey, Republican
Board of Auditors, Sandra A. Caltagarone, Republican; Jean Zore, Republican; Siobhan Voss, Democrat

Education

Community education center

The Community Education Center of Elk and Cameron Counties (or CEC) provides credit, non-credit, and enrichment programs.

Public school districts

School districts include:^[13]

Private schools

Elk County Catholic High School
St Boniface School - Kersey
St Leo School - Ridgway
St Marys Catholic Elementary School = Saint Marys
St Marys Catholic Middle School = Saint Marys
North Central Workforce Investment Board - Ridgway
Anne Forbes Nursery School - Ridgway

Libraries

Elk County Library System - Saint Marys
Johnsonburg Public Library - Johnsonburg
Ridgway Free Public Library - Ridgway
Saint Marys Public Library - Saint Marys
Tri State Coll Library Co-Op - Rosemont
Wilcox Public Library - Wilcox

Communities

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 Elk County:

City

St. Marys

Boroughs

Johnsonburg
Ridgway (county seat)

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.

Unincorporated communities

Arroyo
Dagus Mines
Loleta
Portland Mills^[14]

Townships

Former Townships

Benzinger - consolidated with St. Marys borough in 1992.

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Elk County.^[15]

† county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2010 Census)
1	St. Marys	City	13,070
2	† Ridgway	Borough	4,078
3	Johnsonburg	Borough	2,483
4	Kersey	CDP	937
5	Weedville	CDP	542
6	Byrnedale	CDP	427
7	Wilcox	CDP	383
8	James City	CDP	287
9	Force	CDP	253