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

History

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

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 444 sqmi, of which 435 sqmi is land and 9.3 sqmi (2.1%) is water. 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. Beaver County is one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission, 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.

Bodies of water

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 181,412 people, 72,576 households, and 50,512 families residing in the county. The population density was 418 PD/sqmi. There were 77,765 housing units at an average density of 179 /mi2. 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

Government and politics

[2020 Presidential Election by Township and City

Biden: Trump: | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Results///of///the///2020///Presidential///Election///in///Beaver///County%2C///PA.svg]

Voter registration

In November 2008, there were 118,269 registered voters in Beaver County. By April 2016, there were 109,091 registered voters, a decrease of 7.7% since 2008. The county is divided into 129 precincts. 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.

Political history

Beaver County used to be a Democratic stronghold, and had a slight Democratic edge in registration until 2023. 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

County officials

State representatives

State senators

United States House of Representatives

United States Senate

Recreation

Near Koppel there is Buttermilk Falls, a naturally occurring waterfall. In Brighton Township there is Brady's Run Park. Racoon Creek State Park is one of Pennsylvania's largest and most visited state parks. The park encompasses 7572 acre and features the 101 acre 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.

Transportation

Major roads and highways

Public transit

Beaver County Transit Authority

Airports

Education

Colleges and universities

Community, junior, and technical colleges

Public school districts

High schools

Charter schools

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

Private schools

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

Former school districts

In 2009, Center Area School District and Monaca School District merged to form Central Valley School District.

Communities

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

Cities

Boroughs

Townships

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Former community

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Beaver County. † county seat

Notable people