Fulton County, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Fulton County is a county
located in the U.S. state
of Pennsylvania
. As of 2010, the population was 14,845.
Fulton County was created on April 19, 1850, from part of Bedford County
and named for inventor Robert Fulton
.
Its county seat
is McConnellsburg
.
, the county has a total area of 438 square miles (1,134.4 km²), of which 0.11% is water. It is in the watershed of the Chesapeake Bay
and, although most of the county is drained by the Potomac River
, some northern and northeastern areas are drained by the Juniata River
into the Susquehanna River
.
physiographic province
, which is characterized by folded
and faulted sedimentary rock
s of early to middle Paleozoic
age. (PA Geological Survey Map 13)
The stratigraphic record
of sedimentary rocks within the county spans from the Cambrian
Shadygrove Formation outcropping just south of McConnelsburg to the Pennsylvanian
Allegheny Group at the northernmost tip of the county. No igneous
or metamorphic
rocks of any kind exist within Fulton county.
Mountain ridges within Fulton County include Rays Hill
(along the eastern border with Bedford County), Town Hill
, Sideling Hill
, Scrub Ridge, and Meadow Grounds Mountain, and all these are held up by the Mississippian Pocono Formation
, made of quartz
sandstone
and conglomerate
. Rays Hill and Town Hill form a syncline
, as do Scrub Ridge and Meadow Grounds Mountain, and Sideling Hill itself is a syncline. Dickeys Mountain and Tuscarora Mountain
(along the western border with Franklin County) also form a syncline, but these ridges are held up by the Tuscarora Formation
. Broad Top
, located in the northeast corner of the county, is a plateau of relatively flat-lying rocks that are stratigraphically
higher, and thus younger (Mississippian and Pennsylvanian
), than most of the other rocks within the county. Broad Top extends into Huntingdon County
to the north and Bedford County
to the west.
All of Fulton County lies far to the south of the glacial boundary
, and thus it was never glaciated (PA Geological Survey Map 59). However, during the Pleistocene
epoch, or "Ice Age," periglacial
(meaning "around glacier" or simply "cold") processes dominated. Most of the county was most likely a tundra
during the Pleistocene.
The Broad Top Coal
Field is located in Wells Township
in the northwestern corner of the county (PA Geologic Survey Map 11). The field contains bituminous coal
. There are a few abandoned mines in the area, although acid mine drainage
is not as much of an environmental problem in Fulton County as it is in adjacent Bedford
and Huntingdon
Counties.
Interesting geologic features within Fulton County include some of the following:
of 2000, there were 14,261 people, 5,660 households, and 4,097 families residing in the county. The population density
was 33 people per square mile (13/km²). There were 6,790 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.25% White
, 0.66% Black
or African American
, 0.20% Native American
, 0.11% Asian
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
, 0.04% from other races
, and 0.72% from two or more races. 0.36% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. 40.8% were of German, 20.4% American
, 8.3% Irish
and 6.9% English
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 5,660 households out of which 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were married couples
living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the county, the population was spread out with 24.60% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 28.40% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.60 males.
as their first language. The dominant form of speech in Fulton County is the Central Pennsylvania accent
.
. In the 2004 U.S. Presidential election
, George W. Bush
carried the county by a massive 52.6% margin over John Kerry
, making it Bush's strongest county in the slightly Democratic state, which Kerry won by a 2.5% margin over Bush. Furthermore, in 2008
, John McCain
carried Fulton by a 48.6% margin over Barack Obama
, McCain's best showing in the Keystone State, which Obama won by a 10.3% margin over McCain. The county has voted for the Republican in every presidential election
since 1964. In 2006, Rick Santorum
and Lynn Swann
received more than 60% of the Fulton County vote despite their defeats statewide.
County (United States)
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...
located in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. As of 2010, the population was 14,845.
Fulton County was created on April 19, 1850, from part of Bedford County
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 49,762. The county seat is Bedford. It is part of the Altoona, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
and named for inventor Robert Fulton
Robert Fulton
Robert Fulton was an American engineer and inventor who is widely credited with developing the first commercially successful steamboat...
.
Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is McConnellsburg
McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania
McConnellsburg is a borough in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,073 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Fulton County....
.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the county has a total area of 438 square miles (1,134.4 km²), of which 0.11% is water. It is in the watershed of the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
and, although most of the county is drained by the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
, some northern and northeastern areas are drained by the Juniata River
Juniata River
The Juniata River is a tributary of the Susquehanna River, approximately long, in central Pennsylvania in the United States. The river is considered scenic along much of its route, having a broad and shallow course passing through several mountain ridges and steeply-lined water gaps...
into the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
.
Adjacent counties
- Huntingdon CountyHuntingdon County, PennsylvaniaHuntingdon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. In 2010, its population was 45,913.Huntingdon County was created on September 20, 1787, from part of Bedford County. Its county seat is Huntingdon.-Geography:According to the U.S...
(north) - Franklin CountyFranklin County, PennsylvaniaAs of the census of 2000, there were 129,313 people, 50,633 households, and 36,405 families residing in the county. The population density was 168 people per square mile . There were 53,803 housing units at an average density of 70 per square mile...
(east) - Washington County, MarylandWashington County, MarylandWashington County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of Maryland, bordering southern Pennsylvania to the north, northern Virginia to the south, and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia to the south and west. As of the 2010 Census, its population is 147,430...
(south) - Allegany County, MarylandAllegany County, MarylandAllegany County is a county located in the northwestern part of the US state of Maryland. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 75,087. Its county seat is Cumberland...
(southwest) - Bedford CountyBedford County, PennsylvaniaBedford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 49,762. The county seat is Bedford. It is part of the Altoona, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
(west)
Geology
Fulton County is situated within the Ridge and ValleyRidge-and-valley Appalachians
The Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, also called the Ridge and Valley Province or the Valley and Ridge Appalachians, are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division and are also a belt within the Appalachian Mountains extending from southeastern New York through northwestern New...
physiographic province
United States physiographic region
The list of continental United States Physiographic regions identifies the 8 regions, 25 provinces, and 85 sections. The system dates to Nevin Fenneman's paper Physiographic Subdivision of the United States, published in 1917...
, which is characterized by folded
Fold (geology)
The term fold is used in geology when one or a stack of originally flat and planar surfaces, such as sedimentary strata, are bent or curved as a result of permanent deformation. Synsedimentary folds are those due to slumping of sedimentary material before it is lithified. Folds in rocks vary in...
and faulted sedimentary rock
Sedimentary rock
Sedimentary rock are types of rock that are formed by the deposition of material at the Earth's surface and within bodies of water. Sedimentation is the collective name for processes that cause mineral and/or organic particles to settle and accumulate or minerals to precipitate from a solution....
s of early to middle Paleozoic
Paleozoic
The Paleozoic era is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon, spanning from roughly...
age. (PA Geological Survey Map 13)
The stratigraphic record
Stratigraphy
Stratigraphy, a branch of geology, studies rock layers and layering . It is primarily used in the study of sedimentary and layered volcanic rocks....
of sedimentary rocks within the county spans from the Cambrian
Cambrian
The Cambrian is the first geological period of the Paleozoic Era, lasting from Mya ; it is succeeded by the Ordovician. Its subdivisions, and indeed its base, are somewhat in flux. The period was established by Adam Sedgwick, who named it after Cambria, the Latin name for Wales, where Britain's...
Shadygrove Formation outcropping just south of McConnelsburg to the Pennsylvanian
Pennsylvanian
The Pennsylvanian is, in the ICS geologic timescale, the younger of two subperiods of the Carboniferous Period. It lasted from roughly . As with most other geochronologic units, the rock beds that define the Pennsylvanian are well identified, but the exact date of the start and end are uncertain...
Allegheny Group at the northernmost tip of the county. No igneous
Igneous rock
Igneous rock is one of the three main rock types, the others being sedimentary and metamorphic rock. Igneous rock is formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava...
or metamorphic
Metamorphic rock
Metamorphic rock is the transformation of an existing rock type, the protolith, in a process called metamorphism, which means "change in form". The protolith is subjected to heat and pressure causing profound physical and/or chemical change...
rocks of any kind exist within Fulton county.
Mountain ridges within Fulton County include Rays Hill
Rays Hill
Rays Hill is a mountain ridge in Pennsylvania's Ridge and Valley Appalachians region. Rays Hill is bordered to the east by Sideling Hill. About halfway along its run, the west side of Rays Hill ties into Broad Top Mountain, a large plateau...
(along the eastern border with Bedford County), Town Hill
Town Hill
Town Hill is a mountain range located in Allegany County, Maryland and Bedford and Fulton Counties in Pennsylvania. Its southern end is 2.25 miles northwest of Kiefer in Allegany County. It trends northeasterly, and ends about 1.5 miles south of the town of Emmaville in Fulton County...
, Sideling Hill
Sideling Hill
Sideling Hill is a long, steep, narrow mountain ridge in the Ridge-and-Valley physiographic province of the Appalachian Mountains, located in Washington County in western Maryland and adjacent West Virginia and Pennsylvania, USA...
, Scrub Ridge, and Meadow Grounds Mountain, and all these are held up by the Mississippian Pocono Formation
Pocono Formation
The Mississippian Pocono Formation is a mapped bedrock unit in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia, USA. It is also known as the Pocono Group in Maryland and West Virginia,...
, made of quartz
Quartz
Quartz is the second-most-abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. It is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2. There are many different varieties of quartz,...
sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
and conglomerate
Conglomerate (geology)
A conglomerate is a rock consisting of individual clasts within a finer-grained matrix that have become cemented together. Conglomerates are sedimentary rocks consisting of rounded fragments and are thus differentiated from breccias, which consist of angular clasts...
. Rays Hill and Town Hill form a syncline
Syncline
In structural geology, a syncline is a fold, with younger layers closer to the center of the structure. A synclinorium is a large syncline with superimposed smaller folds. Synclines are typically a downward fold, termed a synformal syncline In structural geology, a syncline is a fold, with younger...
, as do Scrub Ridge and Meadow Grounds Mountain, and Sideling Hill itself is a syncline. Dickeys Mountain and Tuscarora Mountain
Tuscarora Mountain
Tuscoarora Mountain is a mountain ridge of the Appalachian Mountains in the Ridge and Valley province in central Pennsylvania. It reaches its highest point on Big Mountain at 2,458 feet above sea level....
(along the western border with Franklin County) also form a syncline, but these ridges are held up by the Tuscarora Formation
Tuscarora Formation
The Silurian Tuscarora Formation — also known as Tuscarora Sandstone or Tuscarora Quartzite — is a mapped bedrock unit in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia.-Description:...
. Broad Top
Broad Top
Broad Top is a plateau located in south-central Pennsylvania. It extends into Huntingdon County to the north, Fulton County to the southeast, and Bedford County to the southwest. It is bounded to the west by Saxton Mountain and Terrace Mountain, and to the east by Sideling Hill. In Bedford...
, located in the northeast corner of the county, is a plateau of relatively flat-lying rocks that are stratigraphically
Stratigraphy
Stratigraphy, a branch of geology, studies rock layers and layering . It is primarily used in the study of sedimentary and layered volcanic rocks....
higher, and thus younger (Mississippian and Pennsylvanian
Pennsylvanian
The Pennsylvanian is, in the ICS geologic timescale, the younger of two subperiods of the Carboniferous Period. It lasted from roughly . As with most other geochronologic units, the rock beds that define the Pennsylvanian are well identified, but the exact date of the start and end are uncertain...
), than most of the other rocks within the county. Broad Top extends into Huntingdon County
Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania
Huntingdon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. In 2010, its population was 45,913.Huntingdon County was created on September 20, 1787, from part of Bedford County. Its county seat is Huntingdon.-Geography:According to the U.S...
to the north and Bedford County
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 49,762. The county seat is Bedford. It is part of the Altoona, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
to the west.
All of Fulton County lies far to the south of the glacial boundary
Glacial boundary
A glacial boundary is a line on a map representing the farthest advance of a glacier that has retreated. It generally refers to the extent of continental, rather than alpine, glaciers....
, and thus it was never glaciated (PA Geological Survey Map 59). However, during the Pleistocene
Pleistocene
The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and ....
epoch, or "Ice Age," periglacial
Periglacial
Periglacial is an adjective originally referring to places in the edges of glacial areas, but it has later been widely used in geomorphology to describe any place where geomorphic processes related to freezing of water occur...
(meaning "around glacier" or simply "cold") processes dominated. Most of the county was most likely a tundra
Tundra
In physical geography, tundra is a biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. The term tundra comes through Russian тундра from the Kildin Sami word tūndâr "uplands," "treeless mountain tract." There are three types of tundra: Arctic tundra, alpine...
during the Pleistocene.
The Broad Top Coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
Field is located in Wells Township
Wells Township, Fulton County, Pennsylvania
Wells Township is a township in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 529 at the 2000 census. Wells Township was initially settled in 1760. It was originally known as Aughwick Township when it was incorporated in 1849...
in the northwestern corner of the county (PA Geologic Survey Map 11). The field contains bituminous coal
Bituminous coal
Bituminous coal or black coal is a relatively soft coal containing a tarlike substance called bitumen. It is of higher quality than lignite coal but of poorer quality than Anthracite...
. There are a few abandoned mines in the area, although acid mine drainage
Acid mine drainage
Acid mine drainage , or acid rock drainage , refers to the outflow of acidic water from metal mines or coal mines. However, other areas where the earth has been disturbed may also contribute acid rock drainage to the environment...
is not as much of an environmental problem in Fulton County as it is in adjacent Bedford
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 49,762. The county seat is Bedford. It is part of the Altoona, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
and Huntingdon
Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania
Huntingdon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. In 2010, its population was 45,913.Huntingdon County was created on September 20, 1787, from part of Bedford County. Its county seat is Huntingdon.-Geography:According to the U.S...
Counties.
Interesting geologic features within Fulton County include some of the following:
- The Meadow Grounds synclineSynclineIn structural geology, a syncline is a fold, with younger layers closer to the center of the structure. A synclinorium is a large syncline with superimposed smaller folds. Synclines are typically a downward fold, termed a synformal syncline In structural geology, a syncline is a fold, with younger...
west of McConnellsburg. - A transpressionTranspressionTranspression is a geological term used to describe a region of the Earth's crust that experiences strike-slip shear and a component of shortening, resulting in oblique shear. Transpression typically occurs at a regional scale, such as plate boundaries that have an oblique convergence. More...
structure is located on the east side of the Meadow Grounds syncline. This structure consists of a complex set of up-thrust fault blocks of SilurianSilurianThe Silurian is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Ordovician Period, about 443.7 ± 1.5 Mya , to the beginning of the Devonian Period, about 416.0 ± 2.8 Mya . As with other geologic periods, the rock beds that define the period's start and end are well identified, but the...
and DevonianDevonianThe Devonian is a geologic period and system of the Paleozoic Era spanning from the end of the Silurian Period, about 416.0 ± 2.8 Mya , to the beginning of the Carboniferous Period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Mya...
rocks bounded on all sides by north-trending faults.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 14,261 people, 5,660 households, and 4,097 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 33 people per square mile (13/km²). There were 6,790 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.25% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.66% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.20% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.11% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.04% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.72% from two or more races. 0.36% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 40.8% were of German, 20.4% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 8.3% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
and 6.9% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 5,660 households out of which 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the county, the population was spread out with 24.60% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 28.40% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.60 males.
Dialect, Accent, and Language
Almost everyone that lives in Fulton County speaks EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as their first language. The dominant form of speech in Fulton County is the Central Pennsylvania accent
Central Pennsylvania accent
Central Pennsylvania speech is closely related to Western Pennsylvania speech, which is generally referred to as Pittsburgh English, although the speech extends beyond just the city of Pittsburgh, and also is closely related to the Southern accent, spoken in the Southeastern United States...
.
Municipalities
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 Fulton County:Boroughs
- McConnellsburgMcConnellsburg, PennsylvaniaMcConnellsburg is a borough in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,073 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Fulton County....
- Valley-HiValley-Hi, PennsylvaniaValley-Hi is a borough in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 20 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Valley-Hi is located at ....
Townships
|
Taylor Township, Fulton County, Pennsylvania Taylor Township is a township in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,237 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 32.7 square miles , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there... Thompson Township, Fulton County, Pennsylvania Thompson Township is a township in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 998... Todd Township, Fulton County, Pennsylvania Todd Township is a township in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,488 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 29.0 square miles , of which, 28.9 square miles of it is land and... Union Township, Fulton County, Pennsylvania Union Township is a township located in Fulton County, Pennsylvania. As of the 2000 census, the township had a total population of 634.-Geography:... Wells Township, Fulton County, Pennsylvania Wells Township is a township in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 529 at the 2000 census. Wells Township was initially settled in 1760. It was originally known as Aughwick Township when it was incorporated in 1849... |
Politics
Fulton County is possibly the most Republican county in the American NortheastNortheastern United States
The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...
. In the 2004 U.S. Presidential election
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
, George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
carried the county by a massive 52.6% margin over John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
, making it Bush's strongest county in the slightly Democratic state, which Kerry won by a 2.5% margin over Bush. Furthermore, in 2008
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
, John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
carried Fulton by a 48.6% margin over Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, McCain's best showing in the Keystone State, which Obama won by a 10.3% margin over McCain. The county has voted for the Republican in every presidential election
Presidential election
A presidential election is the election of any head of state whose official title is president.- United States :The United States has elections on the state and local levels...
since 1964. In 2006, Rick Santorum
Rick Santorum
Richard John "Rick" Santorum is a lawyer and a former United States Senator from the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Santorum was the chairman of the Senate Republican Conference -making him the third-ranking Senate Republican from 2001 until his leave in 2007. Santorum is considered both a social...
and Lynn Swann
Lynn Swann
-Collegiate:Swann attended the University of Southern California, where he was an All-American on the Trojans football team. He played under legendary coach John McKay, including the 1972 undefeated and national championship season. McKay said of Swann, "He has speed, soft hands, and grace." He...
received more than 60% of the Fulton County vote despite their defeats statewide.
Public School Districts
- Central Fulton School DistrictCentral Fulton School DistrictThe Central Fulton School District covers the Borough of McConnellsburg and Ayr Township, Licking Creek Township and Todd Township in Fulton County, Pennsylvania. It encompasses approximately 135 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 6,075...
- Forbes Road School DistrictForbes Road School DistrictThe Forbes Road School District is a rural public school district located in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, U.S. It serves the townships of Dublin, Taylor and Wells. The district encompasses approximately 105 square miles. According to 2000 federal census data, it serves a resident population of 3,043...
- Southern Fulton School DistrictSouthern Fulton School DistrictThe Southern Fulton School District is a public school district serving parts of Fulton County, Pennsylvania. It encompasses the rural townships of Belfast, Bethel, Brush Creek, Thompson, and Union, as well as Valley-Hi Boro. The district encompasses approximately 211 square miles. According to...
Highway Infrastructure
Pennsylvania Route 16Pennsylvania Route 16Pennsylvania Route 16 is a long east–west state route located in southern Pennsylvania, United States. The western terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 522 in McConnellsburg. The eastern terminus is at the Mason-Dixon Line in Liberty Township, where PA 16 continues into Maryland as...
- known as the Buchanan trail, meets its western terminus in McConnellsburgMcConnellsburg, PennsylvaniaMcConnellsburg is a borough in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,073 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Fulton County....
; serves as a major two-lane through route across South-Central Pennsylvania, as it travels toward WaynesboroWaynesboro, PennsylvaniaWaynesboro is a borough in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, located northwest of Baltimore, Maryland, 67 miles southwest of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and north of the Mason-Dixon Line. The population within the borough limits was 9,614 at the 2000 census. When combined with the surrounding...
in Franklin CountyFranklin County, PennsylvaniaAs of the census of 2000, there were 129,313 people, 50,633 households, and 36,405 families residing in the county. The population density was 168 people per square mile . There were 53,803 housing units at an average density of 70 per square mile...
Pennsylvania Route 26Pennsylvania Route 26Pennsylvania Route 26 is a highway in the south-central area of Pennsylvania. Its northern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 150 northwest of Howard, Pennsylvania; its southern terminus is at the Maryland state line near Barnes Gap in Union Township...
- this long Central Pennsylvania main street sees is final two miles run through the rural corner of Union TownshipUnion Township, Fulton County, PennsylvaniaUnion Township is a township located in Fulton County, Pennsylvania. As of the 2000 census, the township had a total population of 634.-Geography:...
, as it departs a long Bedford CountyBedford County, PennsylvaniaBedford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 49,762. The county seat is Bedford. It is part of the Altoona, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
stretch, before reaching the MarylandMarylandMaryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
border
U.S. Route 30U.S. Route 30U.S. Route 30 is an east–west main route of the system of United States Numbered Highways, with the highway traveling across the northern tier of the country. It is the third longest U.S. route, after U.S. Route 20 and U.S. Route 6. The western end of the highway is at Astoria, Oregon; the...
- a winding portion of the famous Lincoln Highway, the highway travels away from I-76, which it parallels through most of the state’s central mountains, to run across the county between the truck stop-lined Breezewood (East Providence Township) in Bedford County toward Franklin County’s ChambersburgChambersburg, PennsylvaniaChambersburg is a borough in the South Central region of Pennsylvania, United States. It is miles north of Maryland and the Mason-Dixon line and southwest of Harrisburg in the Cumberland Valley, which is part of the Great Appalachian Valley. Chambersburg is the county seat of Franklin County...
; although two-lane for its entire route, there is a limited access segment as the highway makes a short freeway bypass around McConnellsburg
Interstate 70Interstate 70Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...
- just prior to entering the county, the route breaks from its consignment with I-76, and it travels due south through a rural swath of the western portion of the county, as it connects with I-68 just across the Maryland line, along its way to BaltimoreBaltimoreBaltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
Interstate 76Interstate 76 (east)Interstate 76 is an Interstate Highway in the United States, running 435 miles from an interchange with Interstate 71 west of Akron, Ohio, east to Interstate 295 near Camden, New Jersey....
- a portion of the Pennsylvania TurnpikePennsylvania TurnpikeThe Pennsylvania Turnpike is a toll highway system operated by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. The three sections of the turnpike system total . The main section extends from Ohio to New Jersey and is long...
, this toll interstate has one exit as it crosses the northern portion of the county; the Sideling Hill travel center is located Taylor TownshipTaylor Township, Fulton County, PennsylvaniaTaylor Township is a township in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,237 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 32.7 square miles , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there...
Pennsylvania Route 475Pennsylvania Route 475Pennsylvania Route 475 is an long state highway located in Fulton and Huntingdon counties in Pennsylvania. The southern terminus is at US 522 in Dublin Township. The northern terminus is at PA 994 near Rockhill Furnace...
- a relatively short and highly rural range highway, it meets its southern terminus in Dublin TownshipDublin Township, Fulton County, PennsylvaniaDublin Township is a township in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,277 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000,...
, as it travels north through sparely populated portions of Huntingdon CountyHuntingdon County, PennsylvaniaHuntingdon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. In 2010, its population was 45,913.Huntingdon County was created on September 20, 1787, from part of Bedford County. Its county seat is Huntingdon.-Geography:According to the U.S...
Pennsylvania Route 484Pennsylvania Route 484Pennsylvania Route 484 is a long state highway located in Fulton county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The western terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 26 in Union Township...
- this short highway runs entirely within the county, serving the purpose of connecting I-70 with PA 26, as it runs across Union and Bethel TownshipsBethel Township, Fulton County, PennsylvaniaBethel Township is a township in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,420 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and 0.03% is water.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000,...
U.S. Route 522U.S. Route 522U.S. Route 522 is a spur route of U.S. Route 22 in the eastern United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 60 in Powhatan, Virginia. The northern terminus is at U.S. Route 11 and U.S. Route 15 in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. US 522 passes through the states of Virginia, West...
- this routes enters from Maryland to the south as part of a brief consignment with I-70, which it departs three miles into the county; the road serves as the county’s major artery, as it runs through McConnellsburg, past the county’s only shopping center and through its only two stoplights, on its way to a junction with the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Dublin Township and toward Huntingdon County
Pennsylvania Route 643Pennsylvania Route 643Pennsylvania Route 643 is an long state highway located in Fulton county in Pennsylvania. The eastern terminus is at US 522 in Bethel Township. The western terminus is at I 70 in Brush Creek Township.-Route description:...
- just seven miles in length, this very short access route connects I-70 with the hills of Bethel and Brush Creek Townships
Pennsylvania Route 655Pennsylvania Route 655Pennsylvania Route 655 is an long north–south state highway located in central Pennsylvania. The southern terminus of the route is at the Mason-Dixon Line in Thompson Township, where PA 655 continues into Maryland as a local road. The northern terminus is at old U.S. Route 322 in...
- this highway serves as a long, rural ridge route through the state’s central mountains; its southern terminus is with the Maryland boundary in Thompson TownshipThompson Township, Fulton County, PennsylvaniaThompson Township is a township in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 998...
and it exits the county via Taylor Township toward Huntingdon County in the north
Pennsylvania Route 731Pennsylvania Route 731Pennsylvania Route 731 is a long state highway located in the southwest region of Fulton County, Pennsylvania. The route, known locally as Fairview Road and McKees Gap Road, begins at an intersection with Pennsylvania Route 484 in Union Township...
- one of the shortest numbered routes in Pennsylvania, this five mile road connects I-70 with Route 484, as it runs entirely through Union Township
Pennsylvania Route 913Pennsylvania Route 913Pennsylvania Route 913 is a long state highway located in Bedford, Huntingdon and Fulton counties in Pennsylvania. The western terminus is at PA 26 in Saxton. The eastern terminus is at PA 655 in Taylor Township.-Bedford County:...
- a very rural access route through Bedford and Huntingdon Counties, this road’s final miles are in WellsWells Township, Fulton County, PennsylvaniaWells Township is a township in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 529 at the 2000 census. Wells Township was initially settled in 1760. It was originally known as Aughwick Township when it was incorporated in 1849...
and Taylor Township
Pennsylvania Route 915Pennsylvania Route 915Pennsylvania Route 915 is a long state highway located in Fulton and Bedford counties in Pennsylvania. The southern terminus is at I 70 in Brush Creek Township. The northern terminus is at PA 26 in Hopewell.-Fulton County:...
- a mountain ridge cut-off road, this highway travels from rural Bedford County along a valley setting toward its terminus with I-70 in Brush Creek Township
Pennsylvania Route 928Pennsylvania Route 928Pennsylvania Route 928 is a long state highway located in Fulton county in Pennsylvania. The southern terminus is the Maryland state line in Thompson Township. The northern terminus is at US 522 in Ayr Township.-Route description:...
- a rural bi-state connector, this road travels from Ayr Township to the Maryland border via Thompson Township
See also
- List of municipal authorities in Fulton County, Pennsylvania
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Fulton County, PennsylvaniaNational Register of Historic Places listings in Fulton County, PennsylvaniaThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Fulton County, Pennsylvania.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, United States...