625 Forster St, Room 902 Health and Welfare BuildingHarrisburg, PA 17120(717) 787-9555www.rural.palegislature.usJonathan 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 )
Cit iesBoroughs1st Class Twps2nd Class Twps
1st Class Twps
1.5 Million 12%
Boros2.5 Million
20%
Cities3.0 M illion
24%
2nd C lass 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
828,841923,454
982,1491,059,885
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)
<55 to 10
10 to 1415 to 1920 to 2425 to 2930 to 3435 to 3940 to 4445 to 4950 to 5455 to 5960 to 6465 to 6970 to 7475 to 7980 to 84
85+
<55 to 10
10 to 1415 to 1920 to 2425 to 2930 to 3435 to 3940 to 4445 to 4950 to 5455 to 5960 to 6465 to 6970 to 7475 to 7980 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
RuralUrban
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 UrbanMedian Total Revenues, 2010 $738,000 $4.29 MillionTaxes per Capita, 2010 $155 $288Total # 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.