Census Data for Old Forge
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Old Forge a population of 7,880 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Old Forge a population of 8,313 people.
The community of Old Forge is located in Lackawanna County. The 2010 Census gave Lackawanna County; a population of 214,437 people. This means that Old Forge had 3.88% of the county's total population, making it Lackawanna's 4th most populous community.
At the same time, Pennsylvania had a population of 12,702,379 people, meaning that Old Forge had 0.07% of the total population of Pennsylvania - making it the state's 97th most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Old Forge has a total area of 3.42 square miles [8.8 km²].
Lackawanna County has a land area of 459.1 square miles [1,189 km²]. At 3.42 square miles [8.8 km²], Old Forge has 0.74% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a community like Old Forge, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the community.
- Things like population, area and housing for Old Forge reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Old Forge might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
- Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
- Lat: 41° 22' 13" (or 41.37°)
- Lon: -75° 44' 27" (or -75.74°)
- More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Housing Units ...
At the time of the 2010 Census, Old Forge had 4,040 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 8,313 people, this averages 2.06 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Old Forge had a land area of 3.42 square miles [8.8 km²]. This translates to 1,183 Housing Units per square mile [456.8 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Old Forge had 3,981 Housing Units, a population of 8,798 people and a land area of 3.45 square miles [8.9 km²]. This gives a density of 2.21 people per Housing Unit and 1,152 Housing Units per square mile [445 housing units/km²].
- Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 Census and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for Old Forge and you need to be careful when comparing values between the censuses. More information about the nature of these the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Lackawanna County ...
Old Forge is located in Lackawanna County<4>.
The county had a population of 214,437 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 8,313 people, Old Forge represented 3.88% of the county's total.
In addition, where the community of Old Forge has a population density of 2,434 people per square mile [939 people/km²], Lackawanna County averages 467.1 people per square mile [180.3 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Lackawanna County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Old Forge, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of Old Forge. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
- Continue Reading ...
- Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for Old Forge or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
- If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
Location ...
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of Old Forge, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Old Forge.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 41.370479° (or 41°22'13" N)
- Lon: -75.740855° (or -75°44'27" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 41.369679° (or 41°22'10" N)
- Lon: -75.738297° (or -75°44'17" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 758 feet to the west<5> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#1215326) to Old Forge. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Old Forge. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 41.369246° (or 41°22'9" N)
- Lon: -75.737137° (or -75°44'13" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 1,112 feet to the northwest<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Old Forge. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Old Forge.
Miscellaneous Information for Old Forge ...
The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either Lackawanna County or the community of Old Forge:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 42 (Pennsylvania)
- County Code: 069 (Lackawanna County)
- Place Code: 56576 (Old Forge)
- State & County Code: 42/069 (Pennsylvania / Lackawanna County)
- State & Place Code: 42/56576 (Pennsylvania / Old Forge)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Old Forge is located in Census Region #1 (the Northeast Region) and Division #2 (the Middle Atlantic Division).
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Old Forge.
Off-the-Road Links ...
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Old Forge. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for Lackawanna County: www.lackawannacounty.org/
The official website for State of Pennsylvania: https://www.pa.gov/
The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau
The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2019. |
| <2> | Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020. |
| <3> | A Housing Unit is a broad term for those places where people live (whether occupied or temporarily vacant), such as a house, an apartment, a mobile home, or an area that is considered as a separate living quarter. Separate living quarters (consisting of one or more rooms) are considered to be those places where people live, sleep and eat separately from others and that have access to the outside (either directly or by a shared hallway). |
| <4> | If you're interested in how the shape of Pennsylvania's counties, including Lackawanna, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 67 degrees and a distance of 758 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 66 degrees and a distance of 1,112 feet. |