A Guide to Understanding the Well-Being of Children & Families in Erie County, Pennsylvania
Children Under Age 18 in Single-Parent Homes
CHARTS
Children Under Age 18 in Single-Parent Homes - By MunicipalityChildren Under Age 18 in Single-Parent Homes - City of Erie Census Tracts
MEASUREMENT
Population figures are the 100-percent enumeration counts from the SF1 file, tables P28A - P121 of the 2000 Census. Comparisons are made to figures from table P21 of the STF 1 file of the 1990 Census. The percentage of children in single parent homes is the total number of children in single parent homes divided by the total number of children in households, and multiplied by 100.
DESCRIPTION
Over the decades, there has been a trend towards more children growing up in single parent households. Children growing up in these households are less likely to have the financial and human resources available to them compared to children living in two parent households.
DATA ANALYSIS
- The Erie County percentage of children living in single parent households increased almost 22.99% since 1990 to 25.8% in 2000. This is a 62.3% increase from the 1980 proportion of 15.9%.
- The only comparable county with a higher rate of single parent households is Dauphin County at 28.7%.
- All municipalities had increases between 1990 to 2000 except Cranesville, Edinboro, and Franklin Township.
- Although single parenthood is usually thought of as single mothers, over 20% of Erie County children living in single parent householders live in a male-headed household.
- Over 5% of all children living in Erie County live with their grandparent(s).
- The City of Erie has the second highest proportion of single parent households among comparable cities, second only to Harrisburg's rate of 53.6%.
- Over 50% of children living in the City of Erie Census tacts 1, ,3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, and 18 live in single parent homes.