Beaver County, Pennsylvania

Beaver County
Beaver County
County
	Beaver County Courthouse
	Flag Seal Logo
	Motto(s): Divided by its Rivers, United by its People
	Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
	Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 40°41′N 80°21′W / 40.69°N 80.35°W
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
Founded	March 12, 1800
Named for	Beaver River
Seat	Beaver
Largest city	Aliquippa
Area
• Total	444 sq mi (1,150 km2)
• Land	435 sq mi (1,130 km2)
• Water	9.3 sq mi (24 km2) 2.1%
Population (2020)
• Total	168,215
• Estimate (2023)	165,677
• Density	380/sq mi (150/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	17th
Website	www.beavercountypa.gov
Pennsylvania Historical Marker
Designated	July 5, 1982

Beaver County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 168,215.^[3] Its county seat is Beaver, and its largest city is Aliquippa.^[4] The county is part of the Greater Pittsburgh region of the state.^[a]

History

Beaver County was created on March 12, 1800, from parts of Allegheny and Washington counties.^[5] It took its name from the Beaver River.^[6]

The original townships at the date of the erection of Beaver County (1800) were North Beaver, east and west of the Big Beaver Creek; South Beaver, west of the Big Beaver; and Sewickley, east of the Big Beaver—all north of the Ohio River; and Hanover, First Moon, and Second Moon, south of the Ohio.^[7]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 444 square miles (1,150 km²), of which 435 square miles (1,130 km²) is land and 9.3 square miles (24 km²) (2.1%) is water.^[8] It has a humid continental climate (Dfa/Dfb) and average monthly temperatures in the Beaver/Rochester vicinity range from 29.4 °F in January to 73.2 °F in July.^[9] Beaver County is one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission,^[10] 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.^[11]

Bodies of water

The Ohio River flows north through Beaver County from a point near Ambridge, then turns west near Beaver and on to the Ohio and West Virginia borders. It divides the southern third of the county from the northern two-thirds.
The Beaver River flows south from Lawrence County entering Beaver County near Koppel and continuing south to its confluence with the Ohio near Beaver.

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge (part)
Raccoon Creek State Park, a Pennsylvania state park
Brady’s Run Park
Brush Creek Park
Old Economy Park

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1800	5,776	—
1810	12,168	110.7%
1820	15,340	26.1%
1830	24,183	57.6%
1840	29,368	21.4%
1850	26,689	−9.1%
1860	29,140	9.2%
1870	36,148	24.0%
1880	39,605	9.6%
1890	50,077	26.4%
1900	56,432	12.7%
1910	78,253	38.7%
1920	111,621	42.6%
1930	149,062	33.5%
1940	156,754	5.2%
1950	175,192	11.8%
1960	206,948	18.1%
1970	208,418	0.7%
1980	204,441	−1.9%
1990	186,093	−9.0%
2000	181,412	−2.5%
2010	170,539	−6.0%
2020	168,215	−1.4%
2022 (est.)	165,677	−1.5%
^[12]

As of the census^[13] of 2000, there were 181,412 people, 72,576 households, and 50,512 families residing in the county. The population density was 418 inhabitants per square mile (161/km²). There were 77,765 housing units at an average density of 179 units per square mile (69/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.55% White, 5.96% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 0.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 23.0% were of German, 17.4% Italian, 9.9% Irish, 6.5% English, 6.4% Polish and 5.8% American ancestry.

There were 72,576 households, out of which 28.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.50% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.40% were non-families. Of all households 26.90% 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 2.96.

In the county, the age distribution of the population shows 22.60% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 18.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.20 males.

2020 census

Beaver County Racial Composition^[14]
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	143,881	85.53%
Black or African American (NH)	11,069	6.6%
Native American (NH)	195	0.12%
Asian (NH)	1,022	0.61%
Pacific Islander (NH)	53	0.03%
Other/Mixed (NH)	8,384	5%
Hispanic or Latino	3,611	2.15%

Government and politics

**2020 Presidential Election by Township and City**
**Biden:** 50–60% 60–70%
**Trump:** 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90%

United States presidential election results for Beaver County, Pennsylvania^[15]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	56,835	59.93%	37,195	39.22%	810	0.85%
2020	54,759	58.01%	38,122	40.38%	1,516	1.61%
2016	48,167	57.03%	32,531	38.52%	3,764	4.46%
2012	42,344	52.41%	37,055	45.86%	1,394	1.73%
2008	42,895	50.45%	40,499	47.63%	1,638	1.93%
2004	39,916	48.36%	42,146	51.06%	481	0.58%
2000	32,491	44.12%	38,925	52.85%	2,233	3.03%
1996	26,048	35.07%	39,578	53.28%	8,653	11.65%
1992	21,361	25.94%	44,877	54.50%	16,102	19.56%
1988	25,764	33.69%	50,327	65.81%	378	0.49%
1984	32,052	36.79%	54,765	62.86%	300	0.34%
1980	30,496	38.23%	43,955	55.11%	5,314	6.66%
1976	33,593	41.40%	46,117	56.83%	1,440	1.77%
1972	43,637	56.42%	31,570	40.82%	2,130	2.75%
1968	28,264	34.46%	45,396	55.34%	8,368	10.20%
1964	23,174	27.59%	60,492	72.02%	327	0.39%
1960	36,796	43.71%	47,182	56.04%	212	0.25%
1956	38,263	51.21%	36,373	48.68%	79	0.11%
1952	31,700	45.18%	38,136	54.35%	334	0.48%
1948	22,324	43.83%	26,629	52.28%	1,983	3.89%
1944	23,555	41.57%	32,743	57.79%	360	0.64%
1940	24,324	41.78%	33,609	57.73%	282	0.48%
1936	20,223	34.68%	37,205	63.80%	884	1.52%
1932	19,751	47.87%	19,805	48.00%	1,704	4.13%
1928	27,949	69.50%	11,868	29.51%	400	0.99%
1924	16,768	64.14%	3,220	12.32%	6,153	23.54%
1920	11,691	62.90%	4,771	25.67%	2,124	11.43%
1916	6,864	48.67%	5,805	41.16%	1,434	10.17%
1912	2,759	21.89%	3,037	24.10%	6,806	54.01%
1908	7,008	55.95%	4,200	33.53%	1,318	10.52%
1904	7,122	68.88%	2,342	22.65%	876	8.47%
1900	6,759	60.11%	4,076	36.25%	409	3.64%
1896	6,842	59.95%	4,322	37.87%	248	2.17%
1892	4,890	52.04%	3,822	40.68%	684	7.28%
1888	5,552	58.23%	3,706	38.87%	276	2.89%
1884	5,075	56.51%	3,546	39.48%	360	4.01%
1880	4,700	56.40%	3,498	41.97%	136	1.63%

Voter registration

In November 2008, there were 118,269 registered voters in Beaver County.^[16]

Democratic: 70,819 (59.88%)
Republican: 36,239 (30.64%)
Other parties/non-partisan: 11,211 (9.48%)

By April 2016, there were 109,091 registered voters, a decrease of 7.7% since 2008.

The county is divided into 129 precincts.^[17]

Democratic: 58,828 (53.93%)
Republican: 38,015 (34.85%)
Other parties/non-partisan: 12,248 (11.23%)

As of January 8, 2024, there were 111,767 registered voters in Beaver county. Republicans hold a plurality of voters by a margin of just 190 voters (less than 1% of the total registered), after overtaking Dems at the end of December 2023. There were 48,229 registered Republicans, 48,039 registered Democrats, 10,390 registered non-affiliated voters and 5,109 voters registered to other parties.^[18]

Voter registration and party enrollment
Party		Number of voters	Percentage
	Republican	51,030	43.15%
	Democratic	48,008	42.98%
	Independent	10,390	9.30%
	Third Party	5,109	4.57%
Total		111,767	100%

Chart of Voter Registration

Republican (43.15%)

Democratic (42.98%)

Independent (9.30%)

Third Party (4.57%)

Political history

Beaver County used to be a Democratic stronghold, and had a slight Democratic edge in registration until 2023. ^[19] In 2015, the GOP took majority status in the Commissioners' Office for the first time since 1955. In 2004, Democrat John Kerry won Beaver County over Republican George W. Bush 51% to 48%. In 2008, Republican John McCain defeated Democrat Barack Obama 50% to 47%, becoming the first Republican to win there since 1972 and only the third since 1928. Mitt Romney and Donald Trump (twice) carried the county in the next three elections. In 2010, Republican Governor Tom Corbett and Republican Senator Pat Toomey both carried Beaver in their successful statewide bids, and Toomey won the county again in 2016. However, Democrats have still seen recent success in Beaver County in non-presidential races, with Democrats often being competitive in the county in Senate and gubernatorial elections. Beaver County voted for Bob Casey Jr. in his reelection bid in 2012 50% to 47%, and again voted to re-elect Casey in 2018, as well as Democrat Tom Wolf.

In 2022, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro defeated Republican Doug Mastriano in the county, but was the only Democrat that cycle to do so.

County commissioners

Commissioner^[20]	Party	Title
Daniel C. Camp III^[21]	Republican	Chairman
Tony Amadio^[22]	Democratic
Jack Manning^[23]	Republican

County officials

Office	Official	Party
Clerk of Courts	Judy R. Enslen^[24]	Democratic
Controller	Maria Longo^[25]	Republican
Coroner	Trent Liptak	Republican
District Attorney	Nathan Bible	Democratic
Prothonotary	Jodi Janicki-Jones^[26]	Republican
Recorder of Deeds	Ronald Alberti^[27]	Republican
Register of Wills	Tracey Antoline Patton^[28]	Democratic
Sheriff	Tony Guy	Republican
Treasurer	Sandie Egley^[29]	Republican

State representatives

District	Representative	Party
8	Aaron Bernstine	Republican
14	Jim Marshall	Republican
15	Josh Kail	Republican
16	Robert Matzie	Democratic

State senators

District	Senator	Party
46	Camera Bartolotta	Republican
47	Elder Vogel	Republican

United States House of Representatives

District	Representative	Party
17	Chris Deluzio	Democratic

United States Senate

Senator	Party
Bob Casey Jr.	Democratic
John Fetterman	Democratic

Recreation

Near Koppel there is Buttermilk Falls, a naturally occurring waterfall.^[30] In Brighton Township there is Brady's Run Park.^[31] Racoon Creek State Park is one of Pennsylvania's largest and most visited state parks.^{[citation needed]} The park encompasses 7,572 acres (3,064 ha) and features the 101 acres (41 ha) Raccoon Lake. Additionally, there are many riverfront parks throughout the county. The North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT) passes through the county's northern end. The NCT has an 11-mile point-to-point off-road section near Darlington to the Ohio state line and a 2.5 mile off-road section near New Galilee and Enon Valley, Pennsylvania.^[32]

Transportation

Major roads and highways

Public transit

Beaver County Transit Authority

Airports

Education

Colleges and universities

Community, junior, and technical colleges

Community College of Beaver County

Public school districts

High schools

Charter schools

As reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Education – EdNA, as of April 2010.

Baden Academy Charter School (grades K–6)^[33]
Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School (grades 7–12)
Midland Innovation + Technology Charter School (grades 9-12)

Private schools