County Information

Centre County Government 

Mission Statement

The Mission of Centre County Cooperative Extension of The Penn State University is to extend informal educational opportunitites to both youth and adults. Educational programs provide information and knowledge that will enhance income producing skills, improve quality of life, and develop leadership abilities.

Educational programs are based on the latest scientific research. Programs are conducted in the areas of agriculture, natural resources, family living, 4-H and youth development, and community development.

County Facts

Centre County is located in the geographical center of Pennsylvania and is the home of Penn State's University Park campus, the second oldest land-grant institution in the United States. The county's largest borough, State College, is the quintessential college town with a mix of shops, restaurants and accommodations.

Bellefonte is the county seat and is renowned for its restored Georgian and Victoria architecture. Bellefonte's proud history allows it to boast that it is the home of seven governors. Many of our small towns such as Boalsburg, Centre Hall, and Lemont, have craft and antique shops, some featuring work by local artists and craftspeople. Scenic routes such as Route 192 through Madisonburg and Rebersburg, pass Amish farms unchanged for nearly two centuries.

Forested parts of the county teem with game and are a favorite destination for folks who like to hunt and fish. Penn's Creek, Spruce Creek, and Spring Creek are internationally known trout streams, and beautiful Fisherman's Paradise is maintained year-round as a "fish for fun" project by the State Fish Commission. Penn's Cave is America's only all-water cavern.

Early development of Centre County focused on its material resources--only agriculture, coal, and limestone remain of these early industries. The county's economy has come to rely on other activities, principally education, high-tech light manufacturing, and high-tech research and development. Only about ten percent of the land in the county is used for residential, commercial or industrial purposes. About 65 percent is forested, 24 percent is agricultural and less than one percent is mined.

County Statistics

Need some stats for your county? Check out these resources.

US Census Bureau
United States Department of Commerce

• To find timely, relevant, and quality data about the people and economy of the United States, click here: http://www.census.gov/

USDA Home Page: http://www.usda.gov/

Program Highlights

Penn State Cooperative Extension helps individuals, families, businesses, and communities throughout Pennsylvania with information and a broad range of educational programs designed to:

• Support productive, profitable, and competitive businesses and a strong agriculture and food system
• Enable people to better understand and deal with complex public issues.
• Strengthen families, children and youth, and the elderly
• Build caring, safe, and healthy communities
• Ensure the long-term vitality of Pennsylvania's natural resources
  

Northcentral Region 2000 Impact Updates

Agricultural Profitability and Natural Resources
Community and Economic Development
Family and Consumer Sciences
4-H and Youth Development