Columbia County (1983: Doomsday)

Columbia is one of the counties in the nation of the Commonwealth of Susquehanna. It hosts the capital of the nation, and is a major industrial hub.

History
The county was formed from parts of Northumberland County on March 22nd, 1813. It was named after Columbia, the poetic name given to the United States at the time, which alluded to Christopher Columbus. It was part of the Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area, and the larger Bloomsburg-Berwick-Sunbury, PA Combined Statistical Area.

At the last census in 1980, the population stood at 61,967; and it was higher in 1983 at the time that Doomsday occurred, although like the rest of the nation, the population plummeted.

Doomsday
The entire area was shocked about the news of the nuclear war, and many fled. There was no strike on any part of Columbia County, although there were fears in Berwick over a conventional strike against the nearby nuclear power plant.

Government
The county is led by an elected County Commissioner, as well as a three man Board of Supervisors, who each serve a term of six years. Commissioners serve for four years, and elections for the Board of Supervisors is staggered every two years.

Municipalities

 * Boroughs
 * Benton
 * Berwick
 * Briar Creek
 * Catawissa
 * Centralia
 * Millville
 * Orangeville
 * Stillwater
 * Townships
 * Beaver Township
 * Benton Township
 * Briar Creek Township
 * Catawissa Township
 * Cleveland Township
 * Conyngham Township
 * Fishing Creek Township
 * Franklin Township
 * Greenwood Township
 * Hemlock Township
 * Jackson Township
 * Locust Township
 * Madison Township
 * Main Township
 * Mifflin Township
 * Montour Township
 * Mount Pleasant Township
 * North Centre Township
 * Orange Township
 * Pine Township
 * Roaring Creek Township
 * Scott Township
 * South Centre Township
 * Sugarloaf Township

Economy
Like Susquehanna in general, much of the economy is agrarian in nature with major crops being fruit, corn, and wheat. The Red Deer Farm and Krum's Orchard are important agriculture based companies. There is some coal mining in the southern parts, as well as some light manufacturing in Berwick.

The government provides many jobs to the people and Columbia County Community College. They are important employers, with hundreds relying on them for a paycheck. Wise Foods and Catawissa Bottling Company employ many in production and packaging the products.

A natural gas processing facility has been constructed outside of Millville, providing 600 new jobs to a fairly impoverish area. The structure and piping have been constructed, but the electronics and internal equipment is being installed and wiring is occurring.

Education
Columbia County is covered by four school districts as well as Montour-Columbia Vocational Technical School. Bloomsburg University is based in Bloomsburg, and is the largest university in the nation. Columbia County Community College is based in Berwick as well.

National Register of Historical Places
There are twenty nine registered places in Columbia County. All but two (Bloomsburg Historical District, and Catawissa Friends Meetinghouse) are covered bridges, kept intact for transportation following Doomsday.