CHAPTER 1

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

 

            The Bellefonte Area School District is situated in the central portion of Centre County, it covers approximately 118.6 square miles, and it is comprised of the Borough of Bellefonte and townships of Benner, Marion, Spring, and Walker.  It should be noted that a portion of Benner Township (known as “Benner Independent”) is part of the State College Area School District.  The principal subdivision in this area is Walnut Grove Estates which, according to various officials, has a very modest population.  In view of the small size of this area, all population, housing, birth, and related figures presented in this study reflect the entire township.  Given the nature of the parcel involved, it is not believed that the data or the findings and conclusions of the resulting analyses are in any way distorted.  (See Map 1‑1.)

            Between 1970 and 1990 the Bellefonte Area School District experienced an increase in population from 16,389 to 20,318—a gain of 3,929 or 24.0 percent.  Slightly more than half of the increase occurred in the 1980s.  The largest increases during the 20-year period were recorded in Benner Township  (2,632 or 106.2) and Walker Township (1,095 or 64.2 percent).  Bellefonte Borough recorded the only decrease (470 or 6.9 percent).

            During the 1970s the district experienced an increase in population of 1,697 or 10.4 percent.  The largest absolute increases were recorded in Benner Township (985) and Walker Township (949).  The largest proportionate increases occurred in Walker Township (55.6 percent) and Marion Township (47.9 percent).  The only decrease in population during the 1970s was recorded in Bellefonte Borough (528 or 7.7 percent).  Between 1980 and 1990, all of the district’s municipalities recorded increases in population.  The largest increase during this period  was experienced in Benner Township (1,647) or (47.5 percent).  Bellefonte Borough recorded the smallest increase—58 or 0.9 percent.

            Centre County’s population rose from 99,267 in 1970 to 124,812 in 1990, or by 25,545 or 25.7 percent.  Unlike the district, slightly more than half of the county’s growth occurred during the 1970s.  The rate of growth in the school district was slightly slower than that of the county as a whole in the 1970s but slightly faster than the county during the 1980s.  (See Table 1‑1 and Graph 1-1.)

 

            Given the presence in the district of the several significant institutions (e.g., Rockview State Penitentiary in Benner Township and the county home and jail in Bellefonte Borough) which contribute noticeably to the district’s population, it is important to analyze “household population” in the district; that is, the population exclusive of those residing in group quarter (e.g., nursing homes, correctional institutions, dormitories,  etc.) which represented 2,213 persons or 10.9 percent of the district’s total population in 1990.

            Between 1970 and 1990 the district experienced an increase in household population from 15,636 to 18,105, a gain of 2,469 people or 15.8 percent.  Benner Township recorded the largest increase (1,284 or 67.8 percent) followed by Walker Township with (1,095 or 64.2 percent).  The only decrease in household population during the 20-year period was recorded in Bellefonte Borough which declined by 607 (9.1 percent).  During the 1970s the household population in the Bellefonte Area School District experienced an increase of 1,295 or 8.3 percent.  The largest growth occurred in Walker Township (949 or 55.6 percent).  Once again, Bellefonte Borough recorded the only decrease (615 or 9.2 percent).   Between 1980 and 1990, the district’s household population rose by 1,174 people or 6.9 percent.  Benner Township recorded the largest increase (624 or 24.4 percent); Bellefonte Borough recorded the smallest (8 or 0.1 percent).

            The other component of the population—those residing in group quarters—rose from 753 in 1970 to 2,213 in 1990, or by 1,460 or 193.9 percent.  During this period the number of people living in group quarters in Benner Township grew by 1,322 (225.6 percent) and the number in Bellefonte Borough rose by 137 (87.3 percent).  The change in the remaining three townships was negligible.  During the 1970s the number of people in group quarters grew by 402 (53.4 percent) districtwide; Benner Township experienced an increase of 325 (55.5 percent) and Bellefonte Borough rose by 87 (55.4 percent).  From 1980 to 1990 the district’s population in group quarters grew by 1,058 (91.6 percent).  Benner Township recorded an increase of 997 (109.4 percent) while Bellefonte Borough gained 50 (20.5 percent).  These figures clearly indicate that more than one-third of the district’s growth in total population between 1970 and 1990 was due to the increase in the number of people in group quarters (largely, those incarcerated at the state prison).  (See Table 1-2.)