Juniata County, Pennsylvania

Juniata County was historically a part of Cumberland County and later Mifflin County. Eight additional places are eligible for a listing on the National Register of Historic Places. There are five Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission historical markers in Juniata County. They commemorate the Tuscarora Path, the Tuscarora Academy, Patterson's Fort, Fort Bingham, and Juniata County itself. ==Geography==

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.6%) is water. Juniata County is located between two major metropolitan areas. One is State College, which is northwest of the county. The other is Harrisburg, which is to the southeast of the county. Juniata County is one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission, and it is identified as part of the "Midlands" by Colin Woodard in his book American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America. There are two locations in Juniata County that the Juniata County Comprehensive Plan describes as "outstanding and unique scenic features". These are Hawstone Overlook and the Concord Narrows. Hawstone Overlook is an overlook in Milford Township on Pennsylvania Route 333, from which the Juniata River between Shade Mountain and Blue Mountain can be seen, as well as the Lewistown Narrows. The Concord Narrows are a narrow water gap where the Juniata River flows past Tuscarora Mountain. Quartizite from the Silurian Period can be found in this water gap. Land devoted to recreation in Juniata County makes up 0.5%, or 1000 acres, of its area. Agricultural land comprises 41% (101,000 acres) of the county. Adjacent counties • Mifflin County (northwest) • Snyder County (north) • Northumberland County (northeast) • Dauphin County (southeast) • Perry County (south) • Franklin County (south) • Huntingdon County (southwest) ==Geology==

Juniata County lies over 16 different rock formations, some of which contain limestone. These rock formations come from the Ordovician Period, the Silurian Period, and the Devonian Period. The northernmost part of the county contains rocks of the Juniata Formation, the Bald Eagle Formation, and undivided Juniata and Bald Eagle formations. All of these formations primarily consist of sandstone. South of these formations lie the Bloomsburg and Mifflintown Formation undivided, the Clinton Group, and the Tuscarora Formation. The first two of these consist mainly of shale, while the third is composed of quartzite. The rock formations in the southwestern part of the county include the Brallier and Harrell Formations undivided, the Hamilton Group, the Irish Valley member of the Catskill Formation, and others. The eastern part of the county lies almost entirely over the Hamilton Group, the Tuscarora Formation, and the Irish Valley member of the Cataskill Formation. Other rock formations found in Juniata County include the Keyser through Mifflintown Formation undivided, the Keyser and Tonoloway Formation undivided, the Onondaga and Old Port Formations undivided, the Reedsville Formation, the Trimmers Rock Formation, the Wills Creek Formation, and the Wills Creek Formation through Mifflintown Formation undivided. Four of the rock formations found in Juniata County come from the Ordovician Period, seven come from the Silurian Period, and seven come from the Devonian Period. There are seven soil associations in Juniata County. One of these is the Hazelton-Laidig-Buchanan Association. It is a deep and fairly well-drained soil that is found in 24% of the county. It is mostly found in the county's forested areas. The Berks-Weikert-Bedington Association is also found in the county. It is found in 33% of the county's area and is not as deep as the Hazelton-Laidig-Buchanan Association, but is well-drained. The soil is mostly found in agricultural lands and some forested areas. Another soil association in the county is the Edon-Opequon-Weikert Association, which is a well-drained soil that occupies 17% of the county. The Elliber-Kreamer-Mertz Association is a deep and well-drained soil that makes up 12% of the county. The Chenango-Pope-Holly Association and the Morrison-Hazelton-Clymer Association make up 7% and 6% of the county, respectively. They are both deep and occur on gentle slopes. However, the former is poorly drained, while the latter is well-drained. The Hazelton-Laidig-Buchanan Association is well-drained and makes up 1% of the county's area. There are 51 different soil types in Juniata County, of which 18 are considered prime farmland. There are few agricultural soils on the northern and southern edges of the county. The main rock formations in the boroughs of Mifflin and Mifflintown are the undivided Keyser and Tonoloway Formations and the Irish Valley Member of the Catskill Formation. The same rock formations are found in the borough of Port Royal, along with the Clinton Group and the Hamilton Group to the northwest and southeast of the borough, respectively. The Hamilton Group, the Keyser and Tonoloway Formations, and the Irish Valley Member of the Catskill Formation are found in or near the borough of Thompsontown. ==Climate==

Juniata County is in the Humid Continental climatic region. In the summer, highs are generally in between , but on occasion exceed . The lows in the summer are typically slightly below . High temperatures in the winter are usually between . On average, Juniata County receives of precipitation per year. An average of of snow fall on the county each winter. The county rarely experiences long-term droughts, but does experience short-term droughts often. ==Demographics==

2020 census As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 23,509. The median age was 43.2 years. 22.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.3 males age 18 and over. There were 9,249 households in the county, of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 56.5% were married-couple households, 17.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 19.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. 2010 census At the 2010 census, there were 24,636 people, 9,476 households, and 6,839 families residing in Juniata County. There were 10,978 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 96.8% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.3% Asian (0.1% Indian, 0.1% Chinese, and 0.1% Korean), 1.1% from other races, and 1% from two or more races. There are eight Filipino people, five Vietnamese people, and two Samoans in Juniata County. In 2000, there were 11,353 males and 11,468 females in Juniata County, or 98.99 males per 100 females. The highest percentage of males in any administrative division in the county was 52.07%, in Beale Township. The highest percentage of females in any township or borough in the county was 52.95%, in Fermanagh Township. Susquehanna Township's population was the fastest-growing population of any administrative division in Juniata County between 1990 and 2005, with an increase of 35.42%. Other fast-growing populations in the county include those of Milford Township (22.53%) and Thompsontown (20.1%). The populations of Mifflin and Mifflintown are the only administrative divisions in the county whose populations decreased in that time period (at a rate of -7.42% and -3.7%, respectively). However, between 2000 and 2005, eight administrative divisions experienced decreasing populations. Between 1990 and 2000, every borough and township in the county experienced an increase in population. ==Law and government==

Law enforcement all areas in the county use the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) in a law enforcement capacity, either with part-time police departments or with no other police departments. Voter registration As of August 27, 2025, there are 14,069 registered voters in the county. There are 10,030 registered Republicans, 2,596 registered Democrats, 1,107 voters registered non-affiliated voters, and 336 voters registered to other parties. State Senate • Judy Ward, Republican, Pennsylvania's 30th Senatorial District State House of Representatives • David H. Rowe, Republican, Pennsylvania's 85th Representative District • Perry A. Stambaugh, Republican, Pennsylvania's 86th Representative District United States House of Representatives • John Joyce, Republican, Pennsylvania's 13th congressional district United States Senate • Dave McCormick, Republican • John Fetterman, Democrat ==Infrastructure, industry, and economy==

In 2000, the agricultural, hunting/fishing, forestry, and mining industries made up 5.46% of the industry in Juniata County. Livestock farming was more popular in the county than crop cultivation. In 2002, the egg and poultry industry in the county generated $32 million in sales (the 7th highest of the Pennsylvania counties) and the dairy industry generated $17 million in sales (the 23rd highest of the Pennsylvania counties). The hog and pig industry generated $7 million and the cattle industry generated $4 million in sales (the 10th and 27th highest of Pennsylvania counties, respectively). The county's grain industry generated $1 million (the 35th highest of Pennsylvania counties). The county is the fourth most prolific poultry-producing county in Pennsylvania. In 2000, a total of 1,955 households in Juniata County made less than $20,000 per year and 3036 households made $20,000 to $39,999 per year. 1,940 households made $40,000 to $59,999 per year, 1,308 households made $60,000 to $99,999 per year, and 216 households made $100,000 to $149,999 per year. 125 households made more than $150,000 per year. In 1999, the median household income for the county was $34,698 per year and the median family income was $39,757 per year. Both of these figures are lower than the average for Pennsylvania. In 2000, 14.43% of the houses in Juniata County were vacant. 9.42% of the county's houses were vacant for seasonal or recreational reasons. The county's vacancy rate is higher than average for Pennsylvania. Mifflintown had the lowest vacancy rate of any township or borough in the county (5.18%). Lack Township had the highest vacancy rate (48.77%). 66.49% of the county's houses are occupied by their owner and 19.08% are occupied by a renter. Many of the houses in the southwestern part of the county are seasonally occupied. 13.11% of the houses in Juniata County cost less than $50,000 and 51.07% cost $50,000 to $99,999. 17.51% of the county's houses cost $100,000 to $124,999 and 9.74% cost from $125,000 to $149,999. 4.62% of the houses cost between $150,000 and $174,999 and 1.21% cost between $175,000 and $199,999. 1.92% of the houses in the county cost between $200,000 and $249,999, 0.39% cost between $250,000 and $299,999, and 0.43% cost more than $300,000. Of the administrative divisions in the county, Fermanagh Township has the highest percentage of houses costing over $300,000 (1.34%) and numerous townships and boroughs in the county do not have any houses costing over $300,000. Mifflin has the highest percentage of houses costing less than $50,000 (56.48%) and Delaware Township has the lowest percentage of such houses (4.73%). In 1990, the median house value in Juniata County was $51,500. This rose to $87,000 by 2000. Crime The most common crimes committed in Juniata County between 2005 and November 2007 were property crimes, with 996 recorded offenses. Other common crimes in the county are assaults, with 383 offenses between 2005 and 2007 and alcohol-related crimes, with 306 offenses between 2005 and 2007. Rarer crimes in the county include drug violations (71 offenses between 2005 and 2007), sex offenses (64 offenses between 2005 and 2007) and arson, with only 12 offenses between 2005 and 2007. There were no homicides in the county in these years. Recreation There are municipal parks in all four boroughs of Juniata County. There are also five boat launches in the county, all of which are on or near the Juniata River. There are two golf courses in the central part of the county and one campground in the southern part of the county. ==Transportation==

Roads The main roads in the eastern part of Juniata County are Pennsylvania Route 235, Pennsylvania Route 35, Pennsylvania Route 104, and U.S. Route 11/U.S. Route 15. The main roads in western Juniata County are U.S. Route 22/U.S. Route 322, Pennsylvania Route 74, Pennsylvania Route 850, and Pennsylvania Route 333. It and U.S. Route 11/U.S. Route 15 are considered major arterial roads. Pennsylvania Route 75 and Pennsylvania Route 35 northeast of U.S. Route 22/U.S. Route 322 are minor arterial roads. Major rural collector roads in the county include Pennsylvania Route 850 Pennsylvania Route 74, Pennsylvania Route 235, and Pennsylvania Route 35 southwest of U.S. Route 22/U.S. Route 322. Minor rural collector roads include Pennsylvania Route 333 and numerous less prominent roads. There are also many local roads throughout the county, most of which are in its northeastern and central parts. Other transportation For air travel, Juniata County is served by the privately owned Mifflintown Airport and the Stottle Memorial Heliport in Tuscarora Township. The BicyclePA Route J runs through Juniata County on U.S. Route 11 and U.S. Route 15. ==Education==

Schools and school districts There are two public school districts in Juniata County: the Juniata County School District and the Greenwood School District. Both of these are K-12 school districts. The Greenwood School District serves Greenwood Township and parts of Perry County and the Juniata County School District serves the rest of Juniata County. The Juniata County School District previously consisted of nine elementary schools, one junior high school, and two high schools. In the 2006–2007 school year, there were 3,123 students in the school district. The largest high school in the district is the Juniata High School, with 637 students. The largest elementary school in the district is the Fermanagh-Mifflintown Elementary School, with 238 students and the smallest one is the Susquehanna Township Elementary School, with 63 students. In the 2018–2019 academic year, the Juniata County School District consolidated into two elementary additions, centered on the existing schools of Fermanagh-Mifflintown Elementary School and Monroe Township Elementary School. Respectively, these schools were renamed as Juniata Elementary and East Juniata Elementary Schools. The Greenwood School District has an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school. They have 449, 137, and 278 students, respectively. Additionally, there are 12 private schools in Juniata County, most of which are religious schools run by groups such as the Amish or other types of Mennonites. Nearly all are based in Mifflintown, McAlisterville, or Thompsontown, although one is based in Port Royal. In May 2014, the largest private school in the county was the Juniata Christian School, which had 220 students, and the smallest private school was the Breezy Hollow Amish School, which had 18 students. There are no colleges in Juniata County, although there are twelve in the county's general vicinity. Statistics In 1990, 16.91% of Juniata County residents over 25 years of age had less than a ninth-grade education. 17.93% of residents over 25 years of age had a ninth-grade education to a twelfth-grade education and 46.35% had graduated from high school. 7.80% of the residents had attended college, but did not have a degree and 3.76% had an associate degree. 4.67% of Juniata County residents aged 25 years or more had a bachelor's degree and 2.59% had a graduate or professional degree. By 2000, the percentage of people with less than a ninth-grade education had decreased to 5% and the percentage with a ninth-grade to twelfth-grade education had decreased to 13%. The percentage of people who graduated high school decreased to 38%, but the percentage of people who attended college but did not get a degree increased to 16%. The percentage of people with an associate degree increased to 6%, the percentage of people who had a bachelor's degree increased to 14%, and the percentage of people with a graduate or professional degree increased to 8%. Of the townships and boroughs in Juniata County, Lack Township has the highest percentage of people without a high school diploma (42.43%). Spruce Hill Township has the lowest percentage of people without a high school diploma (18.00%). Mifflintown has the highest percentage of people with a higher education. ==Biology==

There are five areas in Juniata County that are protected by the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy: the Baker Easement, the Brady Bryner Preserve, the Gregory Alan Grening Preserve, the Grening Preserve Addition, the McLaughlin Easement, and the Port Royal Wetlands. The combined area of these lands is 415 acres. There are State Game Lands in the northwestern part of the county and state forests in the county's northern and southern portions. The largest remaining intact wetland in Juniata County may be the Cedar Spring Run Wetland, which is in Walker Township. The Juniata County Natural Heritage Inventory considers it to be an "exceptional significance" site. Numerous wetland plants that are rare in the area inhabit this wetland, including Quercus shumardii. The wetland is a red maple-black ash palustrine forest community. Another wetland on the Natural Heritage Inventory's list of exceptional significance sites is the Locust Run Wetlands, which is in Walker Township and Delaware Township. These wetlands consist of two large groups of temporary pools and several permanent ones. The West Branch Mahantango Creek Vernal Pools are also in the county. This system consist of dozens of temporary pools that are inhabited by Leucothoe racemosa. The Slim Valley Wetlands are in Fayette Township and Fermanagh Township. They contain spotted pondweed and serve as a breeding ground for amphibians. There are four sites on Tuscarora Creek and its tributaries on the "exceptional significance" list in the Juniata County Natural Heritage Inventory. The Doyle Run Floodplain is located on the creek in Beale Township. It contains a silver maple floodplain forest and is home to Ranunculus flabellaris and many species that are rare in Pennsylvania. Barton Hollow, a tributary of Tuscarora Creek in Lack Township, is home to plant species such as Carex careyana and Pinus echinata and animal species such as the Emperor Butterfly and a mussel species known as the Triangle Floater. Tuscarora Creek supports Carex shortiana downstream of Blair Hollow in Lack Township, as well as 350 plant species and 50 animal species. The creek's valley downstream of Pennybaker Island in Lack Township is home to Samolus parviflorus and Quercus shumardii. A woodland known as the Kurtz Valley Woodland is located in Delaware Township, Juniata County. It is listed as an "exceptional significance" site on the Juniata County Natural Heritage Inventory and contains a red cedar–redbud shrubland community, which is rare in Pennsylvania. The McAlister Limestone Glade is another "exceptional significance" site in the county. It is located in Fayette Township and contains a side-oats grama calcareous grassland, which is described as a "very important" natural feature. The Westfall Prairie is also located in Fayette Township and is home to a number of rare species. Allegheny Woodrats live on the slopes of the Lewistown Narrows in Milford Township, Juniata County and Northern Myotis bats feed there. The Lewistown Narrows are an "exceptional significance" site according to the Juniata County Natural Heritage Inventory. ==Communities==

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. Boroughs Boroughs in Juniata County include: • Mifflin • Mifflintown (county seat) • Port Royal • Thompsontown Townships Townships in Juniata County include: † county seat ==See also==