Cameron County, Pennsylvania
CountyCameron County
StatePennsylvania
Founded dateMarch 29
Founded year1860
Seat wlEmporium
Largest city wlEmporium
City typeborough
Area total398.4 sq mi
Area land396.2 sq mi
Area water2.2 sq mi
Area percentage0.5%
Census yr2020
Pop4547
Pop est as of2025
Population est4211
Density11.4 sq mi
Ex imageCameron County Courthouse, Emporium, PA.jpg
Ex image size240
Ex image capCameron County Courthouse
Webwww.cameroncountypa.com
Time zoneEastern
Named forSimon Cameron
District15th

Cameron County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,547,[1] making it Pennsylvania's least populous county. Its county seat is Emporium.[2] The county was created on March 29, 1860, from parts of Clinton, Elk, McKean, and Potter counties. It is named for Senator Simon Cameron. The county is part of the North Central region of the commonwealth.[a]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 398.4 square miles (1,032 km2), of which 396.2 square miles (1,026 km2) is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2) (0.5%) is water.[3] It has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Dfb) and average monthly temperatures in Emporium range from 24.2 °F in January to 69.3 °F in July, while in Driftwood they range from 24.9 °F in January to 69.9 °F in July.[4]

Adjacent counties

Major roads

Cameron County is the only county in the state of Pennsylvania to not be crossed by either an interstate or U.S. Route.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 4,547. The median age was 51.3 years. 17.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 27.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 105.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 104.4 males age 18 and over.[5]

The racial makeup of the county was 94.2% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.9% from some other race, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.9% of the population.[6]

Cameron County, Pennsylvania – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000[7]Pop 2010[8][9]% 2000% 2010
White alone (NH)5,8824,985style='background: #ffffe6; |4,27198.45%98.03%style='background: #ffffe6; |93.93%
Black or African American alone (NH)2112style='background: #ffffe6; |120.35%0.23%style='background: #ffffe6; |0.26%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)813style='background: #ffffe6; |80.13%0.25%style='background: #ffffe6; |0.17%
Asian alone (NH)714style='background: #ffffe6; |290.11%0.27%style='background: #ffffe6; |0.63%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)00style='background: #ffffe6; |00.00%0.00%style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%
Other race alone (NH)20style='background: #ffffe6; |120.03%0.00%style='background: #ffffe6; |0.26%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)2042style='background: #ffffe6; |1290.33%0.82%style='background: #ffffe6; |2.83%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)3419style='background: #ffffe6; |860.56%0.37%style='background: #ffffe6; |1.89%
Total5,9745,085style='background: #ffffe6; |4,547100.00%100.00%style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[10]

There were 2,120 households in the county, of which 21.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.4% were married-couple households, 24.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[5]

There were 3,932 housing units, of which 46.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.2% were owner-occupied and 25.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.5%.[5]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,[11] there were 5,974 people, 2,465 households, and 1,624 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 /mi2. There were 4,592 housing units at an average density of 12 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 98.83% White, 0.35% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 0.47% from two or more races. 0.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.5% were of German, 15.7% Irish, 14.5% American, 13.1% Italian, 9.2% English and 5.7% Polish ancestry.

There were 2,465 households, out of which 27.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.40% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 30.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.50% under the age of 18, 6.00% from 18 to 24, 24.90% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 19.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.60 males.

Law and government

Voter registration

As of February 7, 2024, there are 2,931 registered voters in Cameron County.[12]

Law enforcement

As of 2016 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.[13]

County-row offices

  • County Commissioners: Jessica Herzing (R); James D. Moate (R); Josh Zucal (D)
  • Sheriff: Doug Homan (R)
  • Prothonotary/Clerk/Register/Recorder: Mary Grace Olay (R)
  • Treasurer: Tara Newton (R)
  • District Attorney: Paul J. Malizia (R)

State senate

State House of Representatives

United States House of Representatives

United States Senate

Education

There is a single K-12 school district, Cameron County School District.[14]

Recreation

There are three Pennsylvania state parks that are partly in Cameron County.

The West Creek Rail Trail has been built on the abandoned rail corridor between Emporium and St. Mary's in Elk County. It provides a paved surface with guard rails and is suitable for hiking or biking in the warm seasons or snowmobiling in winter.[15]

The Fred Woods Trail offers a 4.57 mile loop of blazed trail with scenic valley views and a challenging section running through unique rock formations. The trailhead is accessed off Mason Hill Road above Driftwood, PA.[16][17][18]

Communities

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following boroughs and townships are located in Cameron County:

Boroughs

Townships

Census-designated place

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Cameron County.[19]

† county seat

RankCity/Town/etc.Population (2010 Census)Municipal typeIncorporated
1† Emporium2,073Borough1864
2Prospect Park327CDP
3Driftwood67Borough1872

Notable people

References

  1. ^ Includes Clearfield, Jefferson, Tioga, McKean, Warren, Clarion, Elk, Potter, Forest and Cameron Counties
  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Cameron County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau. Archived November 27, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived September 4, 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  4. ^ "PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University". Archived July 25, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  5. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  6. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  7. ^ [https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?q=P004:+HISPANIC+OR+LATINO,+AND+NOT+HISPANIC+OR+LATINO+BY+RACE+[73]&g=050XX00US42023 "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Cameron County, Pennsylvania"]. United States Census Bureau
  8. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Cameron County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau
  9. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Cameron County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau
  10. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Archived December 27, 1996 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  12. ^ Pennsylvania Department of State (February 5, 2024). "Voter registration statistics by county". dos.pa.gov. Archived August 17, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  13. ^ Klibanoff, Eleanor (2016-05-04). "Half of Pa. municipalities rely fully on state police". WHYY-TV. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  14. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Cameron County, PA". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2024-07-23. - Text list
  15. ^ "PROJECT TRAIL: West Creek Recreational Trail | Pennsylvania Trails | TrailLink.com". Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  16. ^ "Fred Woods Trail", Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, archived September 23, 2015 at the Wayback Machine.
  17. ^ "Fred Woods Trail". VisitPA - #visitPA. Archived from the original on November 22, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  18. ^ "Fred Woods Trail Description". www.wapitiwoods.com. Archived from the original on November 22, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  19. ^ "2010 U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Archived May 22, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 10, 2013.