Centre County, PA elected officials: county commissioners, sheriff, school board and cities

Who holds every elected county, school board, city and special-district office in Centre County: 269 seats on 113 elected bodies.

Board of County Commissioners

Centre County Board of Commissioners

Every member is elected countywide.

OfficeWho holds it now
County CommissionerMark Higgins Democratic source
County CommissionerAmber Concepcion Democratic source
County CommissionerSteven Dershem Republican source

County officers

Centre County Jury Commissioners

OfficeWho holds it now
Jury CommissionerHope Miller Republican source
Jury CommissionerShelley Thompson Democratic source

Also elected countywide

OfficeWho holds it now
County ControllerJason Moser Democratic source
CoronerScott Sayers Democratic source
District AttorneyBernie Cantorna Democratic source
Prothonotary and Clerk of CourtsJeremy Breon Democratic source
Recorder of DeedsJoseph L. Davidson Republican source
Register of WillsChristine Millinder Republican source
SheriffBryan Sampsel Republican source
County TreasurerColleen Kennedy Democratic source

Cities and towns

How many local governments Centre County has

The Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments counts 75 local governments in Centre County. This page lists the ones whose offices are elected.

Kind of governmentCensus count (2022)Listed on this page
County government11
Cities, towns, villages and townships (10 municipal, 25 township)3535
School districts (school boards)40
Special districts (elected boards)350

Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Government Units Listing (census.gov).

About these counts

The Census Bureau counts every independent local government once, in the county it assigns it to: the one it mostly serves or where it's based. A city or district that crosses county lines is counted in only one county, so it may be listed on this page but counted elsewhere, or the other way around. Many special districts, such as housing authorities, have appointed boards, and some places have more than one elected body, so the two columns measure different things. School systems run by a county, city or the state aren't counted as separate governments, though their boards may be listed here; in some states the Bureau counts community or state colleges as school districts. The counts are as of 2022.

Who lives in Centre County

158,576people
34.2median ageU.S.: 38.9
$74,291 household incomeU.S.: $80,734
16.3%below the U.S.: 12.5%
46.2%of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degreeU.S.: 35.7%
$323,500median home valueU.S.: $332,700
4.3%unemployed (of the labor force)U.S.: 5.2%
8%born outside the U.S.U.S.: 14.1%
5%of adults are veteransU.S.: 6.2%
5.2%U.S.: 8.4%
57%of renting households pay of income on rentU.S.: 51.1%
22.8%of homeowners with a mortgage pay of income on housing costsU.S.: 28.1%

Race and Hispanic origin: Hispanic or Latino 3.7% · White 82.8% · Black 3.2% · Asian 5.7% · Other or more than one race 4.7% (Hispanic or Latino people can be of any race; the other groups are non-Hispanic.)

Census Bureau, 2020–2024 5-year estimates (data.census.gov).

About these figures

The American Community Survey asks about 3.5 million households a year about who lives there, their work, income, schooling and housing. The 5-year estimates pool 2020–2024 answers so that every county and district has enough of them. They're estimates with a (larger for smaller places), and they're different from the once-a-decade census count. "Median" means half are above and half below. Household income is before taxes and includes everyone in the household. The unemployment share here is the survey's five-year average, so it differs from the monthly rate in the BLS jobs report. Race and Hispanic origin are as people describe themselves.

Health insurance means any coverage, private or public (such as Medicaid or Medicare), when people answered; the share is of everyone except people on active military duty and people living in institutions such as prisons and nursing homes. The housing shares are of renting households, and of homeowners with a mortgage, for whom the Census Bureau can compute them (households with no income, or renters who pay no cash rent, are left out). Rent here is gross rent, rent plus utilities; owner costs include the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities and fees.

Jobs in Centre County

2.6%September 2026, preliminary. A year earlier: 3.4%. Pennsylvania: 3.2%.
2,054people unemployedSeptember 2026, preliminary.
76,733people employedSeptember 2026, preliminary. Counted where they live, not where they work.
78,787in the September 2026, preliminary.
Unemployment rate, yearly average, Centre County 0.0%1.5%3.0%4.6%6.1% 20162018202020222024

Yearly average unemployment rate, 2016–2025.

Every month, last two years
MonthRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
September 2026 (preliminary)2.6%2,05476,73378,787
August 20263.0%2,32274,01876,340
July 20263.0%2,23072,59574,825
June 20263.2%2,41772,70875,125
May 20263.2%2,59578,42781,022
April 20262.8%2,24377,72779,970
March 20263.2%2,52877,17179,699
February 20263.2%2,54276,34978,891
January 20263.0%2,33974,65576,994
December 20252.7%2,12476,62378,747
November 20252.8%2,24577,19979,444
October 2025not collected (2025 federal shutdown)
September 20253.4%2,58874,43277,020
August 20254.5%3,28370,36173,644
July 20254.0%2,91669,78772,703
June 20253.7%2,67169,35172,022
May 20253.1%2,36875,06077,428
April 20252.6%1,98675,71477,700
March 20253.5%2,69674,77277,468
February 20253.3%2,53374,09276,625
January 20253.5%2,55671,39673,952
December 20242.7%2,07773,80475,881
November 20242.7%2,11574,90777,022
October 20242.9%2,20874,93877,146
Yearly averages
YearRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
2025 (11 months)3.3%2,54273,52676,068
20243.0%2,30673,87476,180
20232.9%2,25774,59476,851
20223.4%2,58572,67775,262
20214.4%3,24070,40973,649
20205.8%4,32070,49874,818
20193.3%2,58075,26177,841
20183.4%2,60974,85177,460
20173.8%2,89673,90976,805
20164.2%3,21773,65176,868

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, : BLS publishes county figures only that way, so they rise and fall with the seasons; compare a month with the same month a year earlier rather than with the month before. Pennsylvania's figure above is on the same basis; seasonally adjusted, as in BLS's monthly state release, it was 3.6% in September 2026. The latest month is preliminary and is revised the next month, and BLS revises earlier years each spring. People are counted where they live. October 2025 wasn't collected during the 2025 federal government shutdown, so 2025's yearly average covers 11 months.

Crime reported in Centre County

91.8 per 100,0002025. Pennsylvania: 226.8.
543.1 per 100,0002025. Pennsylvania: 1,323.8.
1murders2025, 166 violent crimes in all.
Earlier years
YearViolentRatePropertyRate
202516691.8982543.1
202415384.8958530.8
202316189.1851470.9
201912869.41,109601.1
201810154.71,016550.4
201711059.91,265689.2
201610256.11,209664.6
By police agency (5)
AgencyYearViolentPropertyPeople served
State College Police Department20259149757,940
Ferguson Township Police Department2025167119,198
Patton Township Police Department2025614015,934
Spring Township Police Department, Centre County20250168,270
Bellefonte Police Department2025125,968

Crimes to the county's city and county police agencies (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, Return A), per 100,000 people they serve. Years with incomplete reporting are left out. Crime in Pennsylvania · the U.S.

Police staffing

1.05 per 1,000 residents2025, 5 agencies serving 107,310 people.
113sworn officers2025, full-time, as of October 31.
17civilian staff2025, full-time.
Agencies counted (5), 2025
AgencyOfficersCiviliansPeople served
State College Police Department531157,940
Ferguson Township Police Department22219,198
Patton Township Police Department20215,934
Bellefonte Police Department915,968
Spring Township Police Department, Centre County918,270
Earlier years
YearOfficersPer 1,000CiviliansAgencies
20251131.05175
20241201.13165
20231171.09155
20221191.13175
20211151.07165
20201151.06165
20181191.09185
20171181.09185
20161131.05185

Full-time employees of the county's city police departments and sheriff's office, as each reported them to the FBI (Uniform Crime Reporting, Law Enforcement Employees), per 1,000 people in the areas those agencies serve (the FBI's population figures). A year is shown only when every one of these agencies sent a count; a count under half or over double the agency's own counts in nearby years is treated as not sent. Towns policed under contract by another agency are counted through that agency. State police, campus and other agencies aren't included. Sheriffs' offices often also run the county jail and courthouse security, so their staff counts include those jobs.

Quick answers

Who is the Centre County County Controller?
Jason Moser (Democratic) is the County Controller of Centre County, Pennsylvania.
Who is the Centre County Coroner?
Scott Sayers (Democratic) is the Coroner of Centre County, Pennsylvania.
Who is the Centre County District Attorney?
Bernie Cantorna (Democratic) is the District Attorney of Centre County, Pennsylvania.
Who is the Centre County Jury Commissioner?
Hope Miller (Republican) is the Jury Commissioner of Centre County, Pennsylvania.
Who is the Centre County Jury Commissioner?
Shelley Thompson (Democratic) is the Jury Commissioner of Centre County, Pennsylvania.
Who is the Centre County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts?
Jeremy Breon (Democratic) is the Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts of Centre County, Pennsylvania.
Who is the Centre County Recorder of Deeds?
Joseph L. Davidson (Republican) is the Recorder of Deeds of Centre County, Pennsylvania.
Who is the Centre County Register of Wills?
Christine Millinder (Republican) is the Register of Wills of Centre County, Pennsylvania.
Who is the Centre County Sheriff?
Bryan Sampsel (Republican) is the Sheriff of Centre County, Pennsylvania.
Who is the Centre County County Treasurer?
Colleen Kennedy (Democratic) is the County Treasurer of Centre County, Pennsylvania.
Who are the Centre County commissioners?
Mark Higgins (County Commissioner); Amber Concepcion (County Commissioner); Steven Dershem (County Commissioner).
What is the population of Centre County?
About 158,576 people, with a median age of 34.2; the median household income is $74,291 and 16.3% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
What is the unemployment rate in Centre County?
2.6% in September 2026 (preliminary): 2,054 people unemployed in a labor force of 78,787, against 3.4% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).
How many local governments are there in Centre County?
75 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 10 municipal, 25 township, 4 school district and 35 special district governments.
What cities and towns are in Centre County?
103: Bellefonte Borough, Bellefonte Borough, Bellefonte Borough, Benner Township, Benner Township, Benner Township, Boggs Township, Boggs Township, Boggs Township, Burnside Township, Burnside Township, Centre Hall Borough, Centre Hall Borough, Centre Hall Borough, Centre Hall Borough, College Township, College Township, Curtin Township, Curtin Township, Curtin Township, Ferguson Township, Ferguson Township, Gregg Township, Gregg Township, Gregg Township, Haines Township, Haines Township, Haines Township, Halfmoon Township, Halfmoon Township, Halfmoon Township, Harris Township, Harris Township, Harris Township, Howard Borough, Howard Borough, Howard Borough, Howard Borough, Howard Township, Howard Township, Howard Township, Huston Township, Huston Township, Huston Township, Liberty Township, Liberty Township, Liberty Township, Marion Township, Marion Township, Miles Township, Miles Township, Miles Township, Milesburg Borough, Milesburg Borough, Milesburg Borough, Millheim Borough, Millheim Borough, Millheim Borough, Patton Township, Patton Township, Penn Township, Penn Township, Penn Township, Philipsburg Borough, Philipsburg Borough, Philipsburg Borough, Port Matilda Borough, Port Matilda Borough, Port Matilda Borough, Potter Township, Potter Township, Potter Township, Rush Township, Rush Township, Rush Township, Snow Shoe Borough, Snow Shoe Borough, Snow Shoe Borough, Snow Shoe Township, Snow Shoe Township, Snow Shoe Township, Spring Township, Spring Township, Spring Township, State College Borough, State College Borough, State College Borough, Taylor Township, Taylor Township, Taylor Township, Union Township, Union Township, Union Township, Unionville Borough, Unionville Borough, Unionville Borough, Unionville Borough, Walker Township, Walker Township, Walker Township, Worth Township, Worth Township, Worth Township. Each has its own page with its mayor and council.

Officeholders as of November 6, 2026, from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development's Municipal Statistics officials list (self-reported by each county and municipality); each name links to its source. Officials change between elections (appointments, resignations), and the body's own website is the authority. Party is shown only for offices elected on a partisan ballot.

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