625 Forster St, Room 902

Health and Welfare Building

Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 787-9555

www.rural.palegislature.us

Jonathan JohnsonSenior Policy Analyst

Center’s Database

• Pennsylvania’s most comprehensive database on rural trends and conditions

• Grants program “feeds” the database

• Data available on Center’s website or via email

0

2,000,000

4,000,000

6,000,000

8,000,000

10,000,000

12,000,000

14,000,000

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2005 (est )

Cities

Boroughs

1st Class Twps

2nd Class Twps

1st C lass Twps

1.5 Million 12%

Boros2.5 Million

20%

Cities3.0 Million

24%

2nd Class Twps

5.4 Million 44%

Rural and Urban Municipalities in South Central Pennsylvania

187 Rural Municipalities

600,000 Population

3,952 Sq. Land Miles

129 Urban Municipalities

1.287 million Population

1,170 Sq. Land Miles

Urban RuralA rural municipality has a population density of less than 274 persons per square mile or the municipality’s total

population is less than 2,500 unless more than 50 percent of the population lives in an urbanized area, as defined by

the U.S. Census Bureau. All other municipalities are considered urban.

Data source: U.S. Census Bureau

Rural and Urban Municipalities in Pennsylvania

Data source: U.S. Census Bureau

Rural and Urban Population in South Central Pennsylvania,

1960-2010

Population

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

289,988336,743

431,323489,853

536,398600,073

828,841

923,454982,149

1,059,885

1,171,613

1,288,412

Rural Urban

Municipalities that Doubled Population, 1960 to 2010

Data source: U.S. Census Bureau

Age Cohorts in Rural and UrbanSouth Central Pennsylvania, 2010

Urban(Avg. Age = 38.7)

Rural (Avg. Age = 39.0)

<5

5 to 10

10 to 14

15 to 19

20 to 24

25 to 29

30 to 34

35 to 39

40 to 44

45 to 49

50 to 54

55 to 59

60 to 64

65 to 69

70 to 74

75 to 79

80 to 84

85+

<5

5 to 10

10 to 14

15 to 19

20 to 24

25 to 29

30 to 34

35 to 39

40 to 44

45 to 49

50 to 54

55 to 59

60 to 64

65 to 69

70 to 74

75 to 79

80 to 84

85+

MaleMale Female Female

Data source: U.S. Census Bureau

Rural and Urban Households in South Central Pennsylvania, 2010

Urban Households (n=509,512)

Rural Households (n=223,391)

Married Couples

No Chil-dren40%

Married Couples With Children

24%

Single Parent

6%

Single Person Households20%

Other Types of Households

10%

Married Couples

No Chil-dren31%

Married Couples

With Children

19%Single Parent

9%

Single Person Households28%

Other Types of House-holds13%

Data source: U.S. Census Bureau

Rural–Urban Comparison, 2006-10

Avg.Housing ValuesRural = $221,399Urban = $197,14

HomeownershipRural = 82%

Urban = 67%

Data source: 2006-10 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau

Average Household Income

Rural = $69,600Urban = $66,855

Poverty RateRural = 7%Urban = 10%

Avg. Commute TimeRural = 27 min.Urban = 22 min.

Rural–Urban Comparison Cont., 2006-10

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher

Rural = 18%Urban = 26%

Women in Labor ForceRural = 45%Urban = 48%

Data source: 2006-10 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau

Rural and Urban School Expenditures in South Central RegionInflation Adjusted

Expenditure Per Student, 1990-2010 Total Expenditure Per

Student, 2009-10

$5,000

$5,500

$6,000

$6,500

$7,000

$7,500

$8,000

$8,500

$9,000

$9,500

$10,000

$10,500

$11,000

$11,500

$12,000

$12,500

$13,000

$13,500

Rural2009-10$12,637

Urban2009-10$13,031

Rural

Urban

Business Establishments by Zip Code, 2009

Data source: U.S. Census Bureau

Rural and Urban Municipalities in South Central Region

Rural Urban

% Municipal Police Department, 2012 18% 60%

% Regional Police/Contract Services, 2012 13% 33%

% State Police Coverage Only, 2012 69% 8%

Rural Urban

% With Comprehensive Plan, 2012 81% 93%

% With Planning Commission, 2012 84% 92%

% With Zoning Ordinance, 2012 85% 98%

% With Zoning Hearing Board, 2012 73% 97%

Rural Urban

Median Total Revenues, 2010 $738,000 $4.29 Million

Taxes per Capita, 2010 $155 $288

Total # Municipal Owned Road Miles, 2010 5,583 5,041

% Expenditures for Streets & Highways, 2010

31% 10%

Data source: Gov. Center for Local Govt. Services

Summary• Within South Central Pennsylvania there

are rural and urban differences.

• Rural South Central Pennsylvania is different than the rest of rural Pennsylvania.

• Over the last 50 years, rural South Central Pennsylvania has seen significant population growth– this growth may challenge the rural character of some areas.