2025/26 Online
Community Profile
Welcome to the Huntingdon County Online Community Profile! We hope you enjoy learning more about our wonderful community. If there is any other information that you need, please visit our website Huntingdonchamber.com or give us a call at 814-643-1110.
2025/26 Online
Community Profile
Welcome to the Huntingdon County Online Community Profile! We hope you enjoy learning more about our wonderful community. If there is any other information that you need, please visit our website Huntingdonchamber.com or give us a call at 814-643-1110.
Welcome to
Huntingdon
County
Welcome to
Huntingdon
County
Situated in south-central Pennsylvania’s Appalachian heartland, Huntingdon County blends natural splendor, rich history, and vibrant communities. With 44,092 residents (2020 census) across 890 square miles, its 18 boroughs and 30 townships range from quaint hamlets to the lively county seat, Huntingdon Borough (6,827 residents). Established on September 20 in 1787, from parts of Bedford and Cumberland Counties, Huntingdon County encompasses 875 square miles of land and 15 square miles (1.6%) of water.
Huntingdon Borough, on the Juniata River’s banks, thrives with Juniata College’s energy. This acclaimed liberal arts school fuels collegiate sports, arts, and cultural events, from theater to gallery shows.
Historic landmarks, like the 1883 French Renaissance courthouse and Standing Stone Monument, blend with local shops, cafes, and festivals, creating a dynamic, welcoming hub.
Raystown Lake, an 8,300-acre reservoir, anchors the county’s outdoor appeal, drawing visitors for boating, water-skiing, tubing, and world-class fishing for striped and smallmouth bass. Surrounded by 29,000 acres of parkland with nearly a dozen public access points, it’s ideal for camping and hiking. The Juniata River and its tributaries – Little Juniata and Raystown Branch – support recreation and a hydroelectric dam. State parks like Trough Creek, Greenwood Furnace, and Whipple Dam offer trails and scenic vistas amidst Sideling Hill, Tussey, and Jacks Mountains.
Historically, the area was inhabited by the Susquehannock people before European settlement. By the mid-18th century, disease, warfare, and settler violence had decimated or displaced the indigenous population. In 1768, Rev. William Smith founded Huntingdon Borough, naming it after Standing Stone, a 14-foot Native American monolith near the Juniata River. The 19th-century iron industry, Pennsylvania Canal, and railroads drove prosperity. John Chalmers Blair’s J.C. Blair Company, with its iconic paper tablet, shaped the skyline until its factory’s demolition. Historic sites like Barree Forge and the Broad Top Area Coal Miners Museum preserve this heritage.
Historically, the area was inhabited by the Susquehannock people before European settlement. By the mid-18th century, disease, warfare, and settler violence had decimated or displaced the indigenous population. In 1768, Rev. William Smith founded Huntingdon Borough, naming it after Standing Stone, a 14-foot Native American monolith near the Juniata River. The 19th-century iron industry, Pennsylvania Canal, and railroads drove prosperity. John Chalmers Blair’s J.C. Blair Company, with its iconic paper tablet, shaped the skyline until its factory’s demolition. Historic sites like Barree Forge and the Broad Top Area Coal Miners Museum preserve this heritage.
From agriculture and natural resources – lumber, coal, and limestone – to modern education, healthcare, and manufacturing, the economy evolves. Employers like ACCO Brands, Bonney Forge, Mutual Benefit Group, and NOV Fiberglass Systems provide stable jobs. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College and Penn Highlands Huntingdon hospital anchor key sectors, while tourism flourishes at Raystown Lake. A committed workforce, active churches, and well-supported community organizations define a tight-knit community.
The county has produced luminaries like Governor Martin Grove Brumbaugh and Purdue University’s John Purdue, plus five Medal of Honor recipients. Its blend of rural roots and academic opportunity fosters actors, scientists, and philanthropists.
Whether you are here for a visit or you plan to move to the area, the Chamber of Commerce is here to help. This publication is designed to answer many of the most common questions about our community, but if you need more information, please don’t hesitate to visit our office at 500 Allegheny Street in Huntingdon, or call us at 814-643-1110.
Mount Union
