Clarion County’s population decline in the 2020 census may change the county’s status from a sixth class county to a seventh class county.
The county’s population stood at 37,241 in the 2020 census, a decrease of about 2,000 from the 2010 population of about 39,000.
Commissioner Ted Tharan said the county has been notified it could become a seventh-class county.
“We really have been a sixth class county for quite a while,” said commissioner Wayne Brosius. “We just never changed it.”
The Pennsylvania County Code says a sixth class county has a population of 45,000 to 90,000 and a seventh class county has a population of 20,000 to 45,000.
The commissioners would decide the change in status.
Tharan questioned if every county resident was accounted for.
“Did they count the Amish?” he asked. “With the COVID did they knock on every door?”
Tharan said Clarion University students could have registered either as residents in Clarion or at their homes. When the census was taken many students were taking classes virtually and were not physically at the university.
Brosius said the county is also involved with tourism.
“We feel that if we can get people to visit the area then they may consider moving here,” he said. “We have a lot to offer. We have natural beauty and a good transportation network.”
Community Development Block Grant allocations are linked to census numbers, and the county applied Tuesday for CDBG funds in the amount of $447,925.
Clarion Borough and Clarion Township are considered entitlement communities and receive CDBG funds directly. Population numbers determine entitlement communities.
The remaining CDBG funds are distributed among the county’s other municipalities.