SECTION 2: COUNTY PROFILE 2 COUNTY PROFILE This section discusses the geography and environment, community facts, population and demographics, land use and development, and critical facilities in Bedford County (County). 2.1 GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENT Bedford County is a rural county located in in the south-central portion of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, encompassing just over 1,000 square miles. It shares its southern border with the state of Maryland and is bordered to the east by Fulton County, to the northeast by Huntingdon County, to the north by Blair County, to the northwest by Cambria County, and to the west by Somerset County. Bedford County’s landscape is largely composed of aged mountain ridges and small valleys. These valleys are fertile and productive enough to support the primarily rural lifestyle of the County’s residents. Approximately 67 percent of the County’s land area is categorized as forested/woodland, and roughly 23 percent is categorized under various agricultural uses (Bedford County Comprehensive Plan Update, 2006). Less than 8 percent of the County’s land area is classified as something other than agricultural or forest, and much of that area is composed of residential development in boroughs and along major roadways. The northern three-quarters of the County drain into the Susquehanna River Basin, while the southern quarter drains into the Potomac River Basin. Bedford County has an extensive transportation network, including five highways: U.S. Route 30 (also known as the Lincoln Highway), U.S. Route 220, and Interstates 70, 76, and 99, which provide east-west access to Pittsburgh and Philadelphia via I-76, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, with interchanges in both Bedford and Breezewood. Additionally, I-70 offers access to Washington/Baltimore and other points east, while I-99 provides access north to Altoona, State College, and I-80. Bedford County is strategically located within 100 miles of Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, and 140 miles from the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. metropolitan areas (excerpted from the Bedford County Comprehensive Plan Update, 2006). Figure 2-1 shows a base map of Bedford County. Bedford County Hazard Mitigation Plan 2-1 October 2017 SECTION 2: COUNTY PROFILE Figure 2-1. Bedford County Base Map Source: PASDA, Bedford County Bedford County Hazard Mitigation Plan 2-2 October 2017 SECTION 2: COUNTY PROFILE 2.2 COMMUNITY FACTS Bedford County was created on March 9, 1771 from part of Cumberland County. It consists of 38 municipalities: 25 townships and 13 boroughs. Bedford County’s seat is Bedford Borough, which has a population of 2,841. Bedford County’s economy and settlement patterns have historically been guided and supported by the rich natural resources in the region. Like many other American communities, settlement originally occurred along waterways, followed by rail lines and the interstate highway system in more recent history. The construction of the Pennsylvania Turnpike through the County in October 1940 marked a turning point in the County’s economy, ushering in a dramatic increase in commercial activity, particularly surrounding its interchanges at Breezewood and Bedford. Today, most Bedford County residents enjoy a predominantly rural landscape of forested hills and mountains and agricultural valleys, with most of the population residing in small towns and villages. 2.3 POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHICS Population and demographic data provide baseline information about residents. Changes in demographics or population may be used to identify higher-risk populations. Maintaining up-to-date data on demographics will allow the County to better assess magnitudes of hazards and develop more specific mitigation plans. Baseline demographic information for Bedford County is provided in Table 2-1. Table 2-1. Demographics 2010 Census - Demographics 2010 Census Pennsylvania Total population 49,762 12,702,379 Male 24,705 6,190,363 Female 25,057 6,512,016 Median age (years) 43.9 40.4 Under 5 years 2,627 719,941 18 years and over 39,023 9,910,224 65 years and over 9,476 1,959,307 Total households 20,233 5,018,904 Group quarters population 551 429,126 Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2010, General Population and Housing Characteristics, Bedford County Bedford County has a smaller population than more than half of counties in the Commonwealth (49,762) and is ranked 57th of 67 counties)for its population density, with a density of only 49.2 people per square mile, as compared to 283.9 people per square mile in Pennsylvania as a whole (U.S. Census Bureau 2013). A low population density means that people are spread throughout the County rather than clustered in groups. Dispersing information, instructions, and resources to residents in low-density areas is more difficult than in more densely populated areas because individuals are not centralized. While low-density areas provide challenges to disseminating hazard mitigation information, a low population density also helps prevent hazards from affecting as many people. For example, diseases may not spread as quickly because citizens are in contact with less people. Similarly, fires are less likely to spread to other structures because of the large distances between them. The magnitude of an event is typically smaller in a less populated area because each event affects fewer people and properties. Bedford County Hazard Mitigation Plan 2-3 October 2017 SECTION 2: COUNTY PROFILE Figure 2-2. Bedford County 2010 Population Distribution Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2010 Bedford County Hazard Mitigation Plan 2-4 October 2017 SECTION 2: COUNTY PROFILE Approximately 19 percent of Bedford’s population is age 65 or older, compared with 15.4 percent across Pennsylvania. These residents may have special needs. For example, many residents in this age bracket may be unable to drive; therefore, special evacuation plans may need to be created for them. They may also have hearing or vision impairments that could make receiving emergency instructions difficult. Both older and younger populations have higher risks for contracting certain diseases. Bedford County’s combined under-5-years-of-age and over-65 populations represent approximately 24.3 percent of its population. Figure 2-3 illustrates population distribution for residents age 65 and older. Figure 2-3. Bedford County Population Over 65 Years Source: US Census 2010 Bedford County Hazard Mitigation Plan 2-5 October 2017 SECTION 2: COUNTY PROFILE Only 1.1 percent of Bedford’s population lives in group quarters, compared to 3.4 percent across Pennsylvania. The term group quarters refers to people living in communal settings, which can include inmates in a prison, students in a dorm, or elderly or mentally disabled individuals living in group care homes. Residents living in group quarters are often special needs populations. It is important to ensure that each group quarters facility has its own emergency plan to account for the unique needs of its residents during a hazard event. Table 2-2 below provides population estimates for each municipality in Bedford County and for the County as a whole. The population of the entire County is estimated to be 48,779 by the year 2040, which represents a net population decrease of just over 950 people in a 30-year period. While the County will experience an overall population loss, some individual municipalities are expecting to experience a slight increase in population. Population loss typically means that some structures may become vacant and infrastructure will age, as little new development (and subsequent infrastructure updates) will be necessary. It is important for Bedford County to properly maintain its existing infrastructure and develop plans to manage or redevelop vacant properties. Table 2-2. Population Estimates per Municipality in Bedford County 2000 2020 2030 2040 Municipality Name 2010 Census Census Projected Projected Projected Bedford B 3,141 2,841 2,715 2,470 2,294 Bedford T 5,417 5,395 5,655 5,754 5,945 Bloomfield T 973 1,016 1,153 1,236 1,350 Broad Top T 1,827 1,687 1,575 1,447 1,328 Coaldale B 146 161 169 181 191 Colerain T 1,147 1,195 1,266 1,324 1,390 Cumberland Valley T 1,494 1,597 1,653 1,736 1,804 East Providence T 1,858 1,854 1,894 1,909 1,938 East Saint Clair T 3,123 3,048 3,220 3,251 3,363 Everett B 1,905 1,834 1,877 1,854 1,869 Harrison T 1,007 972 980 963 961 Hopewell B 222 230 249 262 279 Hopewell T 1,894 2,010 2,040 2,120 2,171 Hyndman B 1,005 910 861 784 723 Juniata T 1,016 954 1,014 1,004 1,034 Kimmel T 1,609 1,616 1,621 1,628 1,633 King T 1,264 1,238 1,249 1,238 1,240 Liberty T 1,477 1,368 1,321 1,238 1,176 Lincoln T 380 425 436 467 486 Londonderry T 1,760 1,856 1,821 1,861 1,858 Mann T 481 500 508 522 533 Manns Choice B 291 300 328 345 368 Monroe T 1,372 1,336 1,359 1,348 1,357 Napier T 2,145 2,198 2,273 2,335 2,404 New Paris B 214 186 169 154 138 Pavia T 325 295 299 283 279 Pleasantville B 211 198 190 179 170 Rainsburg B 146 133 121 110 99 Saint Clairsville B 86 78 73 67 61 Saxton B 803 736 687 625 571 Schellsburg B 316 338 388 422 465 Snake Spring T 1,482 1,639 1,690 1,801 1,878 South Woodbury T 2,000 2,155 2,313 2,470 2,627 Bedford County Hazard Mitigation Plan 2-6 October 2017 SECTION 2: COUNTY PROFILE 2000 2020 2030 2040 Municipality Name 2010 Census Census Projected Projected Projected Southampton T 1,010 976 1,013 1,009 1,029 West Providence T 3,323 3,210 3,213 3,150 3,124 West Saint Clair T 1,647 1,730 1,825 1,913 2,005 Woodbury B 269 284 308 326 348 Woodbury T 1,198 1,263 1,330 1,396 1,463 Source: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) 2012 Notes: B: Borough T: Township According to the 2010–2014 American Community Survey, less than 1 percent of Bedford’s population speaks English less than “very well.” While currently a low percentage, future hazard mitigation strategies should consider addressing language barriers to ensure that all residents can receive emergency instructions.