Information about Indiana County Extension

Indiana County Cooperative Extension Association Board of Directors - 2008

Indiana County Staff

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County Facts and Statistics

Need some stats for your county? Check out these resources.

Government information site on demographics, economics, and educational information:
http://govinfo.library.orst.edu/

US Census Bureau
United States Department of Commerce

• To find timely, relevant, and quality data about the people and economy of the United States, click here:
  http://www.census.gov/
  • USDA Home Page:
    http://www.usda.gov/
    http://www.nass.usda.gov/pa/

  Facts about Indiana County

  Indians and traders were the first visitors to this naturally scenic region of woodlands, streams and rolling hills. Indiana County was formed March 30, 1803 from Westmoreland and Lycoming counties. Its name memorializes the first inhabitants. Indiana, the county seat, was laid out in 1805 on land given by George Clymer who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. It is a region of striking variety-Christmas Tree Capital of the World and a major national center for electric power generation. More than 14,000 IUP students prepare for the future and the Amish in Smicksburg continue their traditional lifestyle. The County remains a recreation mecca with a major state park, many county parks, natural areas, and state game lands abounding in wildlife. One of America's most beloved screen stars, Jimmy Stewart, was born and grew up in Indiana. Indiana County covers 830 square miles of which 5 are water. The population is 89,605 (2000 Census). The estimated 2005 population is 88,703. The market value of agricultural products sold in the year 2004 by farms in the county is $56,666,000 according to the 2004 - 2005 Pennsylvania Agricultural Statistics. Indiana is a great place to live, visit and work! "Indiana County Growing Right Here".

• Program Highlights

  Penn State Cooperative Extension helps individuals, families, businesses, and communities throughout Pennsylvania with information and a broad range of educational programs designed to:

  • Support productive, profitable, and competitive businesses and a strong agriculture and food system

  • Enable people to better understand and deal with complex public issues.

  • Strengthen families, children and youth, and the elderly

  • Build caring, safe, and healthy communities

  • Ensure the long-term vitality of Pennsylvania's natural resources

  Program Opportunities

  Here are just a few of the many ways Cooperative Extension can help:

  Individuals

  • Managing time and stress
  • Improving financial and consumer skills
  • Enhancing employment opportunities
  • Maintaining your home
  • Improving nutrition, diet, and health
  • Developing the potential of youth through 4-H
  • Becoming a master gardener
  • Improving the lives of the elderly

  Families

  • Managing family resources
  • Making sound and economical nutrition and food choices
  • Preparing and preserving food safely
  • Improving your parenting skills
  • Caring for children and seniors
  • Balancing work and family
  • Gardening and landscaping

  Businesses

  • Increasing agricultural profitability
  • Evaluating community and regional resources
  • Delivering quality child care
  • Certifying food safety
  • Troubleshooting production problems
  • Starting home-based businesses
  • Preparing tax forms properly
  • Using technology appropriately
  • Supporting the food and forest products industries

  Communities

  • Strengthening community leadership
  • Revitalizing communities through economic development
  • Expanding and retaining businesses
  • Educating county and local officials
  • Improving community relations
  • Managing water, soil and forest resources
  • Promoting cooperation among agencies