Blair County: Keystone's Crossroads
A comprehensive examination of Blair County, Pennsylvania, exploring its unique geographical position, demographic composition, governmental structure, and community fabric.
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County Overview
Foundational Details
Blair County, established on February 26, 1846, is situated within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It was formed from portions of Huntingdon and Bedford counties. The county seat is located in Hollidaysburg, while its largest municipality by population is Altoona. As per the 2020 United States Census, the county's population stood at 122,822 residents.
Regional Context
The county is geographically positioned within the southwestern region of Pennsylvania. It forms the Altoona, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area and is also part of the broader Altoona-Huntingdon, PA Combined Statistical Area. Furthermore, Blair County is recognized as part of \"Greater Appalachia\" within Colin Woodard's regional cultural framework.
Administrative Identity
Blair County operates under the framework of U.S. counties, serving as a fundamental administrative division within Pennsylvania. Its official web presence is maintained at www.blairco.org, providing access to governmental information and services.
Geographical Landscape
Area and Water Resources
The total area of Blair County encompasses approximately 527 square miles (1,360 km2). Of this total, 526 square miles (1,360 km2) consist of landmass, with a minimal 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2), or 0.2%, designated as water surface area.
Notable Features
The county's topography is characterized by significant geological formations, including Brush Mountain, Tussey Mountain, Logan Valley, and Morrison Cove. These features shape the region's landscape and historical development.
Adjacent Territories
Blair County shares borders with several neighboring counties: Centre County to the north, Huntingdon County to the east, Bedford County to the south, and Cambria County to the west. The northwestern boundary also touches Clearfield County.
Protected Areas
Within its boundaries, Blair County hosts a portion of the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site, preserving a significant piece of American industrial history.
Climate Characteristics
Classification and Data
Blair County experiences a warm-summer humid continental climate, classified under the Köppen climate classification as Dfb. The following table provides detailed climate data for Altoona, representative of the county's conditions.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record High °F (°C) | 78 (26) |
76 (24) |
85 (29) |
91 (33) |
94 (34) |
97 (36) |
103 (39) |
102 (39) |
96 (36) |
90 (32) |
82 (28) |
12 (−11) |
103 (39) |
| Mean Daily Max °F (°C) | 31.9 (−0.1) |
34.6 (1.4) |
44.7 (7.1) |
57.8 (14.3) |
67.6 (19.8) |
77.1 (25.1) |
81.4 (27.4) |
80.3 (26.8) |
72.3 (22.4) |
61.3 (16.3) |
49.4 (9.7) |
37.1 (2.8) |
57.9 (14.4) |
| Mean Daily Min °F (°C) | 15.6 (−9.1) |
17.7 (−7.9) |
25.5 (−3.6) |
36.6 (2.6) |
46.8 (8.2) |
54.9 (12.7) |
60.2 (15.7) |
58.4 (14.7) |
51.3 (10.7) |
41.4 (5.2) |
32.1 (0.1) |
21.9 (−5.6) |
38.5 (3.6) |
| Record Low °F (°C) | −29 (−34) |
−25 (−32) |
−7 (−22) |
8 (−13) |
20 (−7) |
32 (0) |
38 (3) |
34 (1) |
26 (−3) |
15 (−9) |
0 (−18) |
−13 (−25) |
−29 (−34) |
| Average Precipitation inches (mm) | 2.64 (67) |
2.43 (62) |
3.48 (88) |
3.63 (92) |
4.30 (109) |
4.08 (104) |
4.14 (105) |
3.50 (89) |
3.85 (98) |
3.43 (87) |
3.71 (94) |
3.11 (79) |
42.64 (1,083) |
| Average Snowfall inches (cm) | 11.2 (28) |
14.3 (36) |
16.9 (43) |
2.5 (6.4) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0.2 (0.51) |
3.3 (8.4) |
12.1 (31) |
60.6 (154) |
| Source: Pennsylvania State Climatologist | |||||||||||||
Demographic Profile
Population Trends
The U.S. Census Bureau data indicates a population of 122,822 in 2020, reflecting a decrease from previous decades. The population density is approximately 234 individuals per square mile (90/km2). The historical population table illustrates demographic shifts over time.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 21,777 | — | |
| 1860 | 27,829 | 27.8% | |
| 1870 | 38,051 | 36.7% | |
| 1880 | 52,740 | 38.6% | |
| 1890 | 70,866 | 34.4% | |
| 1900 | 85,099 | 20.1% | |
| 1910 | 108,858 | 27.9% | |
| 1920 | 128,334 | 17.9% | |
| 1930 | 139,840 | 9.0% | |
| 1940 | 140,358 | 0.4% | |
| 1950 | 139,519 | −0.6% | |
| 1960 | 137,270 | −1.6% | |
| 1970 | 135,356 | −1.4% | |
| 1980 | 136,621 | 0.9% | |
| 1990 | 130,542 | −4.4% | |
| 2000 | 129,144 | −1.1% | |
| 2010 | 127,089 | −1.6% | |
| 2020 | 122,822 | −3.4% |
Composition (2020)
The racial and ethnic composition of Blair County, based on the 2020 Census, is detailed below. The majority of residents identify as White, with smaller percentages identifying with other racial groups or reporting multiple races.
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (Non-Hispanic) | 113,016 | 92.0% |
| Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) | 2,463 | 2.0% |
| Native American (Non-Hispanic) | 134 | 0.1% |
| Asian (Non-Hispanic) | 868 | 0.7% |
| Pacific Islander (Non-Hispanic) | 12 | 0.01% |
| Other/Mixed Race (Non-Hispanic) | 4,621 | 3.76% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,708 | 1.4% |
Societal Structure
In 2020, the county had 55,061 housing units. The average household size was 2.43 individuals, with an average family size of 2.96. Approximately 21.1% of the population was under 18, while 17.7% were aged 65 or older, indicating a median age of 40 years.
Governance and Administration
County Structure
Blair County is governed by a board of three county commissioners: David Kessling (Chair, Republican), Laura Burke (Vice-Chair, Democrat), and Amy Webster (Secretary, Republican). Numerous other county offices, including Clerk of Courts, Controller, Coroner, District Attorney, Register of Wills, Sheriff, and Treasurer, are predominantly held by Republican officials.
Law Enforcement
A comprehensive range of police agencies serves the county, including municipal police departments (Altoona, Bellwood, Duncansville, Hollidaysburg, Martinsburg, Roaring Spring, Tyrone, Williamsburg), township police, county sheriff and probation offices, state police, federal agencies like Amtrak Police and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and specialized departments such as the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Fish and Boat Commission.
State and Federal Representation
State legislative representation includes Senator Judy Ward (Republican) for the 30th Senatorial District and Representatives Louis C. Schmitt Jr. and Scott Barger (both Republican) for the 79th and 80th Representative Districts, respectively. Federally, the county is represented by Representative John Joyce (Republican) in the U.S. House (13th Congressional District) and Senators John Fetterman (Democrat) and David McCormick (Republican) in the U.S. Senate.
Political Landscape
Electoral Trends
Blair County has historically demonstrated a strong preference for the Republican Party, particularly since the party's inception. While Democratic presidential candidates Franklin D. Roosevelt (1936) and Lyndon B. Johnson (1964) secured victories, their margins were modest. The county's voting patterns, as reflected in presidential election results dating back to 1880, consistently show a Republican majority, with notable third-party performances in specific elections.
Voter Registration
As of April 23, 2025, Blair County has 81,144 registered voters. The registration distribution indicates a significant Republican majority (62.52%), followed by Democrats (24.28%), Independents (9.79%), and other parties (3.41%).
- Republican (62.5%)
- Democratic (24.3%)
- Independent (9.8%)
- Other Parties (3.4%)
Educational Institutions
Higher Education
Blair County is served by several institutions of higher learning, including Penn State Altoona, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, YTI Career Institute, and the South Hills School of Business and Technology.
K-12 Education
The county's public education system comprises multiple school districts, such as Altoona Area, Bellwood-Antis, Claysburg-Kimmel, Hollidaysburg Area, Penn Cambria, Spring Cove, Tyrone Area, and Williamsburg Community. Additionally, charter schools like Agora Cyber Charter School and Central Pennsylvania Digital Learning Foundation Charter School operate within the county, alongside various private institutions and the Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center.
Library System
A unified library system serves the county, comprising nine branches. This network facilitates resource sharing, allowing patrons to access materials from any branch within the system, fostering broad community access to information and literature.
Municipalities and Communities
Incorporated Places
Blair County includes one city, Altoona, and nine boroughs: Bellwood, Duncansville, Hollidaysburg (county seat), Martinsburg, Newry, Roaring Spring, Tunnelhill (partially in Cambria County), Tyrone, and Williamsburg.
Townships and CDPs
Fifteen townships structure the county's unincorporated areas: Allegheny, Antis, Blair, Catharine, Frankstown, Freedom, Greenfield, Huston, Juniata, Logan, North Woodbury, Snyder, Taylor, Tyrone, and Woodbury. Additionally, numerous Census-Designated Places (CDPs) represent significant unincorporated communities.
Population Rankings
Altoona stands as the most populous municipality with 42,989 residents according to the 2020 Census. Hollidaysburg, the county seat, follows with 5,632 residents. The table below ranks the primary municipalities by population.
| Rank | Municipality | Population (2020) | Type | Incorporated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Altoona | 42,989 | City | 1854 (borough) 1868 (city) |
| 2 | † Hollidaysburg | 5,632 | Borough | 1836 |
| 3 | Tyrone | 5,095 | Borough | 1857 |
| 4 | Roaring Spring | 2,399 | Borough | 1888 |
| 5 | Martinsburg | 1,858 | Borough | 1832 |
| 6 | Bellwood | 1,751 | Borough | 1898 |
| 7 | Lakemont | 1,803 | CDP | |
| 8 | Duncansville | 1,148 | Borough | 1891 |
| 9 | Greenwood | 3,597 | CDP | |
| 10 | Williamsburg | 1,167 | Borough | 1827 |
| 11 | Claysburg | 1,196 | CDP | |
| 12 | Tipton | 688 | CDP | |
| † County Seat | ||||
Recreational Opportunities
State Park
Canoe Creek State Park, situated in Frankstown Township, represents the primary Pennsylvania state park within Blair County, offering natural landscapes and recreational activities for residents and visitors.
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References
References
- Includes Westmoreland, Cambria, Fayette, Blair, Indiana, Somerset, Bedford, Huntingdon, Greene and Fulton Counties
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Disclaimer
Important Notice
This document was generated by an AI model and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is synthesized from publicly available data, primarily Wikipedia, and may not reflect the most current information or nuances of Blair County. It is not intended as a substitute for official county resources or professional consultation.
This is not official advice. Information regarding demographics, government, or statistics should be verified with official sources. The creators assume no liability for errors, omissions, or actions taken based on the information presented herein.