Carbon County, Pennsylvania

Carbon County
Carbon County
U.S. county
	Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
	Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
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Country	United States ;
State	Pennsylvania
Founded	March 13, 1843
Seat	Jim Thorpe
Area
• Total	387 sq mi (1,000 km2)
• Land	381 sq mi (990 km2)
• Water	5.9 sq mi (15 km2)
Population (2020)
• Total	64,749
• Density	170/sq mi (70/km2)
Website	[[1] www.carboncounty.com/%20www.carboncounty.com]]

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Carbon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 64,749. The county seat is Jim Thorpe. The county was created on March 13, 1843, from parts of Northampton and Monroe counties and was named for the extensive deposits of anthracite coal in the region.

History[edit | edit source]

Carbon County was formed during the height of the Industrial Revolution in the United States. The discovery of anthracite coal in the region led to the development of the Lehigh Canal and the Lehigh Valley Railroad, which were crucial in transporting coal to markets. The county played a significant role in the early industrialization of the United States.

Geography[edit | edit source]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 387 square miles (1,000 km²), of which 381 square miles (990 km²) is land and 5.9 square miles (15 km²) (1.5%) is water. The county is part of the Pocono Mountains region and features a mix of mountainous terrain and river valleys.

Demographics[edit | edit source]

As of the 2020 census, there were 64,749 people, 25,290 households, and 17,000 families residing in the county. The population density was 170 people per square mile (66/km²). The racial makeup of the county was predominantly White, with small percentages of other racial and ethnic groups.

Government and Politics[edit | edit source]

Carbon County is governed by a board of three county commissioners. The county is part of Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district. The political landscape of the county has historically leaned towards the Republican Party, although there are significant numbers of Democrats and Independents.

Economy[edit | edit source]

The economy of Carbon County has transitioned from its historical reliance on coal mining to a more diversified mix of industries, including manufacturing, retail, and tourism. The county's natural beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities, such as hiking, skiing, and white-water rafting, attract visitors year-round.