Schuylkill County is located in mid-eastern Pennsylvania in the heart of the coal region. Ridges and valleys cut throughout the county; the famous Appalachian trail cuts along the southeastern border of the county and earns its “Rocksylvania” nickname. (1). Schuylkill County has a rich cultural and industrial history from its influx of German immigrants or “Pennsylvania Dutch,” to the anthracite coal mining that had the area booming in the 1800s to early 1900s. The lasting effects of coal mining and industry makes the county a rich place to study sustainability, since it seems to get overlooked in the modern day.
Schuylkill County’s climate, like all of Pennsylvania, is considered a humid continental climate due to its fluctuating temperatures, muggy summers, and chilling winters. (2). Schuylkill County’s average annual temperature is 48.4F and its annual precipitation is about 47.3 total inches. The figures from USA Facts below highlight specifics. A fact of note is that the average temperature of Schuylkill County has increased 4.1F in the past 20 years, highlighting the increasing problem of global warming. (3).
What kind of habitats does this climate suit? Currently, 70% of Schuylkill County is covered in trees, which is wonderful considering that most of the trees are second generation forests; many PA forests were clear-cut in the early 1900s to accommodate expanding agriculture. (2). Now, the main forest types present in Schuylkill County are Northern Hardwoods, Oak-Hickory, Oak-Pine, Floodplain (4). Among these forests, habitats like streams, rivers, edge fields, urban, and suburban ecosystems occupy the 778.63 square miles of land that make up Schuylkill County. (5). The figure below shows a Google Earth view of the county, highlighting the lush forests. (6).
History & Population Information
Schuylkill County has a rich history with extreme highs and lows of innovation and immigration. The original people of the land were the Lenape and Susquehannock nations, many of whom were massacred or forced out of the area after the Walking Purchase in 1737 before the county officially existed (7). In 1754, many German immigrants moved to the area, establishing the strong cultural roots of the “Pennsylvania Dutch” that still exist today. (8). Pennsylvania Dutch people are really Germanic descendants; in time the word for German–Deutsch–had been confused for “Dutch.” (9). The county was officially created in 1811, roughly twenty years after a resident of the area, frontiersman Necho Allen, “discovered” a vein of Anthracite Coal on Broad Mountain. (8).
The existence of Anthracite coal in the region caused a boom of both business and immigration. (Port Carbon 2024). Among many ethnicities of immigrants responding to the boom were Irish, English, and Welsh immigrants, followed by Polish, Lithuanian, Slovak, Ruthenian, Italian, Russian,Ukrainian, and Hungarian immigrants (7). 1820-1950 was the height of anthracite coal mining, which shaped the majority of the county as we know it. (7 With the industrialization of coal mining came many new towns in the area with infrastructure like the Reading Railroad and the Schuylkill Canal, which were mainly used to transport anthracite coal to other industries as fuel. Other notable Schuylkill County history includes the Yuengling brewery, textiles, and shoemaking factories. (1).
Coal mining was a common occupation, but a treacherous one. Grassroots beginnings in fights for better conditions began in the county, an example being the controversial Molly MgGuires that were tried in Pottsville for using violence against those enforcing oppressive conditions in coal mines. (10), An interesting swap in mindset in modern times finds many “Skook” locals voting against the very unions they fought to create. As of 2023, the main registered party is Republican: 49,025 (55.31%), followed by Democratic: 27,924 (31.50%). In the previous election, 69% of citizens voted for Trump, whose history shows him to be pro-industry and anti-union. (11).
The current population of Schuylkill County is 142,678 according to Lehigh Valley Health Network’s assessment in 2022. Folks aged 65 and above make up the largest age group in the county. Diversity is not one of Schuylkill County’s strength’s: white people make up 91% of the population, followed by 4.4% Hispanic, 2.9% Black, and 1.7% being of another race. (12). A majority of this white population are likely descendants of early settlers, as many generations stayed in Schuylkill County (9).
However, an important note of context shows that the upcoming generation is much more diverse; white people only account for 19.33% of Schuylkill County Citizens under 18, while 99% of folks above 65 are white. (12).
Statistics of note in Schuylkill County include its amount of rural areas and number of veterans. Over a third of Schuylkill County Citizens live in rural areas, compared to the state average of 21.34%. 9.4% of Schuylkill County’s population are veterans, which is almost 30% higher than the national average. Most of Schuylkill County’s veterans are male and are aged 65 or older. (12). Research finds that many veterans in Schuylkill County have difficulty getting their needs met.
Government
Schuylkill County is organized according to the authority of the Pennsylvania Constitution to carry out services required by the Commonwealth. (13). In addition, the County administration provides services for local needs. Schuylkill County’s government includes a sheriff, treasurer, register of wills, prothonotary, district attorney, coroner, controller, clerk of counts, and commissioners. (13). Schuylkill County follows federal law, but specifically the law outlined by the Pennsylvania Constitution. Schuylkill County is included within the 9th Congressional district of Pennsylvania, and our recently elected federal representative was Daniel Meuser (Republican), and the current senators are Robert “Bob” Casey and John Fetterman, who are both Democratic. (11).
The Schuylkill County government provides services to citizens through their many departments, such as the agricultural extension, the conservation district, domestic relations, human resources, judicial system, and many many more. Schuylkill County’s borough map on their website is an extremely handy tool; using ARCGIS technology, one can find the location of a borough, click on it, and it provides the council information like when borough meetings occur, along with numbers to call to get in touch with local governments. (14).
Economy
Historic economic sectors of Schuylkill County were mainly coal mining and beer production, as in the Yuengling Brewery. In modern times, mining operations continue, but not to the extent of a century ago. Schuylkill County includes a plethora of farms and agricultural operations, specifically Christmas tree farms. Other large industries include manufacturing, transportation (truck driving), and warehouses, likely due to the proximity of route 81 and 78. (1). Schuylkill County also has several mom-and pop shops and family run restaurants.
According to the Center for Workforce Information & Analysis, currently the largest employers in Schuylkill County include the following: Wal-Mart Associates Inc, State Government, Sapa Extrusions Inc, Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street, Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation, Jeld-Wen Inc, Wegmans Food Markets Inc, Lowe’s Home Centers LLC, County of Schuylkill, Federal Government. (15). Many of these employers are involved in manufacturing, transportation, etc, aligning with the data from Schuylkill County. Furthermore, Schuylkill County’s website includes a business directory for further investigation. (1).
Over the past twenty years, Schuylkill County has had a consistently higher rate of unemployment compared to the national or state rates, and the average worker earned $10,000 less than the state or national average. (12).
Natural Resources
One of Schuylkill County’s biggest draws is the large amount of natural areas throughout the county like Sweet Arrow Lake County Park, Tuscarora State Park, the Appalachian trail, Weiser state forest, and state gamelands. These parks and lands are excellent for recreation, walking, and hunting, drawing both locals and tourists to the nearby nature. Hunting itself spurs interest in local conservation; even early federal conservation was spurred due to wishing to protect hunting grounds with Theadore Roosevelt.
Schuylkill County is rich with both terrestrial and aquatic resources. Schuylkill county’s rivers, lush forests, and anthracite coal veins are huge resources that became the epicenter of industry, especially in the 1800s. (8). The anthracite coal mining operations were most significant and had the largest outreach; anthracite coal was a preferred fuel source of nearby industry, so it would be sent out via the reading railroad or Schuylkill Canal (8). Most mining occurred in upper levels of the county, especially around Mahanoy City and Shenandoah, though coal beds extended throughout most of the county. (7).
Included in the county government, the Schuylkill Conservation District helps to protect resources and nature county wide. (14). A specific conservation effort of note is the founding of Hawk Mountain, a hawk and research preserve dedicated to saving raptor species. Located on the border of Schuylkill County and the Kittatinny Ridge, it is a prime spot to observe raptor migration. In the past, raptors were hunted excessively and had almost gone extinct. Since the help of Rosalie Edge, Hawk Mountain’s founder, raptor populations have been on the increase. (16).
Education
Schuylkill County serves over 19,000 students across fourteen K-12 districts. (18). 93% of students K-12 are enrolled in public schools in Schuylkill County, but schools in Schuylkill County have an unfortunate average ranking of 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Pennsylvania public schools. (17). This is not the only area in education that Schuylkill County appears to be below average in; only 39% of children in Schuylkill County get enrolled in preschool, compared to 47% as the state average. (12). An even greater gap in postsecondary education can be observed; only 16.6% of Schuylkill County’s population above 25 had a bachelor’s degree or higher, which is nearly half the state average of 31%. (12).
Other notable figures include the 10.68% of the population that does not possess a high school diploma, and the 86% literacy rate. (18).
Because most students attend Public School, most education funds are derived from a “combination of income taxes, corporate taxes, sales taxes, and fees to provide about 48% of the budget for elementary and secondary schools. Local districts contribute around 44%, drawn mostly from local property taxes. The federal government provides for about 8% of state education budgets.” (19). Essentially, most of Schuylkill County’s education is funded by local citizens and the taxpayer money of the government.
Healthcare
Access to Healthcare and Insurance is necessary to maintain personal and community health. Unfortunately, Schuylkill County is ranked among the least healthy Pennsylvania counties considering overall health and outcomes of procedures (12. Almost 6% of Schuylkill County citizens are uninsured. Schuylkill County has a social vulnerability index score of 0.45, greater than the state average of 0.41. (12). Since 20% of Schuylkill County’s population is 65 and above, it is safe to assume that at least 20% of citizens are on Medicare, or federal funded healthcare. Other citizens use private forms of healthcare (12). According to a U.S. news report, Schuylkill County scores a 52/100 for access to healthcare. (20).
Over a fifth of adults in Schuylkill County report excessive drinking, which is related to poor health, behavioral issues, and injury. A similar amount of the population also report smoking heavily in the past or present, which is also tied to negative health outcomes. (12)).
Schuylkill County’s reports of poor health, lung disease, diabetes, and cancer incidences surpass the average of the state and national level, consistent with the above average in harmful behaviors reported. Schuylkill County’s obesity rate sits at 36.7%, higher than the rate of 29.5% across the country. (12). Alarmingly, LVHN found that 178 people per 100,000 of Schuylkill’s population die from heart disease, which is essentially double the state rate of 96.2 per 100,000 people. (12). The suicide rate in the county is almost double the state or average, indicating a need for increased mental health care in the region.
Stated Sustainability Commitment/Priorities (if any)
Schuylkill County does not have a direct statement on sustainability, but their conservation district’s mission statement comes close. It is as follows: “”The Schuylkill Conservation District protects and restores the county’s natural resources through education, cooperation, guidance, and technical assistance that promotes wise stewardship, responsible development, and sustainability.” (21). The Conservation district includes departments such as agricultural conservation, agricultural land preservation, erosion and sediment control program, and environmental education (21)
More relevant agents concerning sustainability are Schuylkill County’s Vision and the Schuylkill County Conservancy, as well as the state’s DEP (Department of Environmental Protection). Schuylkill County’s VISION focuses on mostly sustainability of Schuylkill County’s community, rather than the land. (22).
Projects include:
- Healthy Schuylkill Communities
- Improve community health with projects that stem directly from the local community, like refurbishing a park or creating a farmer’s market
- Schuylkill on the Move
- Organization that promotes fitness through walking by establishing walking pronouns, advocating for walkable communities, and encouraging citizens to get their step counts in.
- The Schuylkill County Youth Summit
- I attended this event myself when I was a young lad.
- Led by VISION themselves, it is a conference where student representatives from all highschools identify county wide issues and solutions for these problems.
- Healthy Schuylkill Youth
- This program cooperates with local libraries and agencies to reinforce healthy habits in youth
- The Motor Vehicle Safety Coalition
- Coalition that highlights the problems of distracted driving
- Runs programs during all local varsity football games.
- Rural Communities Opioid Response
- Project goal is to reduce opioid death.
- Folk Art Project
- The Walk in Art Center, located in Schuylkill Haven, employs a folklorist to document folk art traditions and cultural heritage of Schuylkill county, like hex signs.
The Schuylkill County Conservancy, not to be confused with the Conservation District, was founded in 1997. Their mission is: “to protect and enhance the quality of life in Schuylkill County by conserving farmland, open spaces, rural heritage, streams, wetlands, waterways, forests and other natural resources.” So far, their most notable project is their database of old growth trees. (23).
Project goals/objectives
I aim to assess Schuylkill County’s Air Quality, Water Resources, Agriculture, Energy & Transportation, Natural Resource Extraction, and Waste Management. I specifically look forward to assessing Schuylkill County’s resource extraction and what we can sustainably do to turn the county away from mining the coal that it historically extracted. In addition I will create an asset map in order to demonstrate Schuylkill County’s sustainability strengths, weaknesses, and challenges. I will determine what levels of sustainability each of the above by the class definition, including if Schuylkill county’s practices, processes, or entities serve to meet the community without exceeding planetary boundaries, as well as ensuring that local ecosystems are protected from industry in a way that limits pollution and maximizes renewal. I hope to also assess sustainability by observing if processes elevate the community in ethical economic development and social justice.
Bibliography
- Schuylkill County Pennsylvania. 2024. “History.” https://schuylkillpa.com/schuylkill-tourism/historic/
- Britannica. 2024. “Pennsylvania Climate.”Pennsylvania – Humid, Temperate, Atlantic | Britannica
- USA Facts. 2023. “Climate in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.”https://usafacts.org/issues/climate/state/pennsylvania/county/schuylkill-county/
- Envirothon PA. 2023. “Habitat Adaptations of Some Common Trees of Pennsylvania.” https://www.envirothonpa.org/documents/HabitatAdaptations.pdf
- United States Census. 2023. “QuickFacts: Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.” https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/schuylkillcountypennsylvania/RTN130217#RTN130217
- Google Earth. 2024. Map showing location of Schuylkill County. Earth, earth.google.com/web/.
- Knies, Jennie Levine. Penn State. 2023. “Anthracite Coal Mining Region of Northeastern Pennsylvania.” https://guides.libraries.psu.edu/anthracite
- The Borough of Port Carbon. 2024. “History. “https://portcarbonborough.org/history
- Cappel, Dianna, personal communication, January, 2024.
- W. W. Munsell & Co. 1881. History of Schuylkill County, PA. schuylkillusgwarchives.net
- Wikipedia. 2024. “Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.”Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania – Wikipedia
- Lehigh Valley Health Network. 2022. “2022 Community Health Needs Assessment Health Profile Schuylkill County.” https://www.lvhn.org/sites/default/files/2022-06/N17519_CHNA_Schuylkill_County_2022.pdf
- Schuylkill County Government. 2024. “Government.” Welcome to Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania (schuylkillcountypa.gov)
- GIS Map Viewer. 2024. “Schuylkill County, PA.” SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA
- Pennsylvania Government Work Statistics. 2024. “Schuylkill County Profile. Schuylkill County.pdf (pa.gov)
- Hawk Mountain. 2023. “Who We Are.”Who We Are | Hawk Mountain Sanctuary: Learn Visit Join
- Public School Review. 2024. “Top 10 Best Schuylkill County Public Schools.” https://www.publicschoolreview.com/pennsylvania/schuylkill-county
- NCES. 2003. “Schuylkill County PA Estimates of Low Literacy.” https://nces.ed.gov/NAAL/estimates/StateEstimates.aspx
- PSU Education. 2022. “The Inequities of Public School Funding.”The Inequities of Public School Funding (psu.edu)
- US NEWS. 2022. “How Healthy Is Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania?” How Healthy Is Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania? | US News Healthiest Communities
- Schuylkill Conservation District. 2024. “Our Purpose.” https://www.schuylkillcd.com/
- Schuylkill County’s VISION. 2024. “Welcome.” https://www.schuylkillvision.com/
- Schuylkill County Conservancy. 2021. “Home.” https://www.ourschuylkill.org/home
