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County in Pennsylvania, United States

Centre County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 158,172. Its county seat is Bellefonte. Centre County comprises the State College, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county is part of the Central Pennsylvania region of the state.

The lands of the future Centre County were first recorded by James Potter in 1764. Potter, having reached the top of Nittany Mountain, and " seeing the prairies and noble forest beneath him, cried out to his attendant, 'By heavens, Thompson, I have discovered an empire!'" After the American Revolutionary War, Centre County was created on February 13, 1800, from parts of Huntingdon, Lycoming, Mifflin, and Northumberland counties; it was named for its central location in the state.

According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1113 square miles (2,883 km2), of which 1110 square miles (2,875 km2) is land and 3.0 square miles (8 km2) (0.3%) is water. It is the fifth largest county in Pennsylvania by area and uses area code 814. Centre County has a humid continental climate (Dfb/Dfa at lower elevations).

As of the 2010 census, there were 153,990 people, 57,573 households, and 31,256 families residing in the county. The population density was There were 63,297 housing units at an average density of The racial makeup of the county was 89.4% White, 3.0% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 5.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. 2.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 57,573 households, out of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.7% were non families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.91. In the county, 15.9% of the population was under the age of 18, 28.9% was from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 107.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.1 males.

+Centre County Racial CompositionRaceCountPercentWhite (non hispanic)129,66882%Black or African American (non Hispanic)5,3063.35%Native American (non Hispanic)1200.08%Asian (non Hispanic)11,3737.2%Pacific Islander (non Hispanic)390.02%Other/Mixed (non Hispanic)6,0153.8%Hispanic or Latino5,6513.6%

The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Centre County as the State College, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). As of the 2010 U. S. Census the metropolitan area ranked 13th most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 259th most populous in the United States with a population of 155,403. Centre County is also a part of the larger State College–DuBois, PA Combined Statistical Area (CSA), which combines the populations of Centre County as well as Clearfield County to the west. The Combined Statistical Area ranked ninth in the State of Pennsylvania and 123rd most populous in the United States with a population of 236,577.

Glenn "G. T." Thompson, Republican, Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district

University Park Airport operates daily commercial and general aviation flights.

There are six Pennsylvania state parks in Centre County. Bald Eagle State Park is the largest state park in Centre County with It is on Pennsylvania Route 150 between Milesburg and Lock Haven. Black Moshannon State Park west of State College has a bog with three species of carnivorous plants and 17 orchid varieties. McCalls Dam State Park is a small park on a dirt road in the extreme eastern tip of the county. Penn Roosevelt State Park is the site of a former segregated CCC camp for African American men. Poe Paddy State Park is at the confluence of Big Poe Creek and Penns Creek. Poe Valley State Park is in an isolated valley surrounding 25 acre Poe Lake.

Centre County's main daily newspaper is the Centre Daily Times (part of the McClatchy Company chain). Alternative newspapers include the Centre County Gazette and State College City Guide. Newspapers of Pennsylvania State University's main campus include the student run Daily Collegian. Numerous magazines are also published including Town & Gown, State College Magazine, Good Life in Happy Valley, Blue White Illustrated, Pennsylvania Business Central, and Voices of Central Pennsylvania. The radio market of Centre County is ranked #257 in the nation. Some of the more popular stations include WPSU, WKPS, WZWW, WLEJ, WFGE, WNLI, WRSC FM, WBHV, WOWY, and WBUS. Centre County is part of the Johnstown/Altoona/State College television market, which is currently ranked #99 in the nation. Television stations broadcasting out of State College include WPSU (PBS) and WHVL LD (MyNetworkTV) as well as C NET, Centre County's Government and Education Access Television Network, which broadcasts on two channels: CGTV (Government Access TV) and CETV (Educational Access TV). Johnstown based WJAC TV (NBC) and Altoona based WTAJ TV (CBS) also maintain satellite studios and offices here.

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