Ferguson Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania Explained

Official Name:Ferguson Township,
Centre County,
Pennsylvania
Settlement Type:Home rule municipality
Mapsize:250x200px
Image Map1:Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Centre County.svg
Mapsize1:250x200px
Map Caption1:Map of Centre County, Pennsylvania
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Pennsylvania
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Centre
Government Type:Board of Supervisors
Leader Title:Chair (At Large)
Leader Name:Lisa Strickland
Leader Title1:Vice-Chair (Ward II)
Leader Name1:Jeremie Thompson
Leader Title2:Supervisor (At Large)
Leader Name2:Omari Patterson
Leader Title3:Supervisor (Ward I)
Leader Name3:Matthew Heller
Leader Title4:Supervisor (Ward III)
Leader Name4:Patricia Stephens
Established Title:Settled
Established Date:1791
Established Title1:Incorporated
Established Date1:1801
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:123.55
Area Land Km2:123.54
Area Water Km2:0.01
Area Total Sq Mi:47.70
Area Land Sq Mi:47.70
Area Water Sq Mi:0.01
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:19009
Population Density Km2:156.64
Population Density Sq Mi:405.69
Timezone:EST
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Postal Code Type:Zip Codes
Postal Code:16801, 16803, 16868 (Pine Grove Mills)
Area Code:814 and 582
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:42-027-25624

Ferguson Township is a township with home rule status in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 19,009 at the 2020 census. Most of the agricultural research for Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), based in adjacent State College, Pennsylvania, is taking place at the Russell E. Larson Research Center located in the western part of Ferguson Township. The headquarters of AccuWeather are also located within the township.

Ferguson Township is served by the Ferguson Township Police Department and the Alpha Fire Company for police and fire protection.

History

The Bucher Ayres Farm was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

The township adopted a home rule charter in May 1974, effective January 5, 1976, retaining "Township of Ferguson" as its official name.[2] Despite the "Township" designation, Ferguson is no longer governed under the state's Township Code.

Geography

The township has a total area of 123.4km2, all land.

Ferguson Township is bordered by Halfmoon Township and Patton townships to the northwest, the borough of State College and College Township to the northeast, Harris Township to the east and Huntingdon County[3] to the south.

Demographics

As of the census[4] of 2010, there were 17,690 people, 7,195 households, and 4,192 families residing in the township. The population density was 367.8sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 7,501 housing units at an average density of 155.9sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the township was 82.0% White, 3.2% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 11.4% Asian, 1.0% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.0% of the population.

There were 7,195 households, out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 2.4% had a male householder with no wife present, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.7% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.94.

The age distribution was 19.6% under 18, 18.0% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.3 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $57,459, and the median income for a family was $72,339. The per capita income for the township was $31,016. About 5.6% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The Township of Ferguson is governed by a five-member Board of Supervisors with two serving at-large and three serving by ward. Supervisors each serve four-year terms for a maximum of two-terms before a minimum two-year break. The Supervisors are chosen by plurality elections every two years alternating between at-large and ward elections.

The Township of Ferguson is represented in the Pennsylvania General Assembly by Senate, District 35 and House District 77. Federally, the Township of Ferguson is part of Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district.

References

  1. Web site: 2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. Aug 13, 2017.
  2. [Pennsylvania Code]
  3. Web site: Ferguson Township . Township Information and Location . 22 December 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121114215215/http://www.twp.ferguson.pa.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B64A6B837-5AE7-437D-8365-A2EFBA2E8C6D%7D . 14 November 2012 .
  4. Web site: Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Ferguson township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. April 9, 2015. https://archive.today/20150409132231/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/0600000US4202725624. April 9, 2015. dead.

External links

40.7333°N -77.9497°W