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Lycoming County, Pennsylvania

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Lycoming County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 114,188.[1] Its county seat is Williamsport.[2] The county is part of the Central Pennsylvania region of the state.[a]

Lycoming County
County
The Lycoming County courthouse in Williamsport
The Lycoming County courthouse in Williamsport
Flag of Lycoming County
Flag
Official seal of Lycoming County
Seal
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Lycoming County
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Map of the United States highlighting Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°21′N 77°04′W / 41.35°N 77.06°W / 41.35; -77.06
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
FoundedApril 13, 1795
Named forLycoming Creek
SeatWilliamsport
Largest cityWilliamsport
Area
 • Total
1,244 sq mi (3,220 km2)
 • Land1,229 sq mi (3,180 km2)
 • Water15 sq mi (40 km2)  1.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
114,188
 • Density93/sq mi (36/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts9th, 15th
Websitewww.lyco.org

Lycoming County comprises the Williamsport metropolitan statistical area.

About 130 miles (210 km) northwest of Philadelphia and 165 miles (270 km) east-northeast of Pittsburgh, Lycoming is Pennsylvania's largest county by land area.

History

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Main article: History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania

Formation of the county

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Lycoming County was formed from Northumberland County on April 13, 1795. The county was larger than it is today. It took up most of the land that is now north central Pennsylvania. The following counties have been formed from land that was once part of Lycoming County: Armstrong, Bradford, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Indiana, Jefferson, McKean, Potter, Sullivan, Tioga, Venango, Warren, Forest, Elk and Cameron.

Lycoming County was originally named Jefferson County in honor of Thomas Jefferson. This name proved to be unsatisfactory. The name change went through several steps. First a change to Lycoming County was rejected, next the name Susquehanna County was struck down as was Muncy County, before the legislature revisited and settled on Lycoming County for Lycoming Creek, the stream that was the center of the pre-Revolutionary border dispute.

County "firsts"

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1615: The first European in Lycoming County was Étienne Brûlé. He was a voyageur for New France. Brule descended the West Branch Susquehanna River and was held captive by a local Indian tribe near what is now Muncy before escaping and returning to Canada.[3]

1761: The first permanent homes were built in Muncy. Three log cabins were built by Bowyer Brooks, Robert Roberts and James Alexander.[3]

1772: The first gristmill is built on Muncy Creek by John Alward[3]

1775: The first public road is built along the West Branch Susquehanna River. The road followed the Great Shamokin Path from Fort Augusta in what is now Sunbury to Bald Eagle Creek near modern-day Lock Haven.[3]

1786: The first church built in the county was Lycoming Presbyterian church in what was known as Jaysburg and is now the Newberry section of Williamsport.[3]

1792: The first sawmill was built on Lycoming Creek by Roland Hall.[3]

1795: The first elections for Lycoming County government are held soon after the county was formed from Northumberland County. The elected officers were Samuel Stewart, county sheriff and the first county commissioners were John Hanna, Thomas Forster and James Crawford. Andrew Gregg was elected to represent Lycoming County in the United States Congress, William Hepburn was voted to the Pennsylvania State Senate and Flavel Roan, Hugh White and Robert Martin served as representatives in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.[3]

1823: The county government funded the construction of the first bridges over Loyalsock and Lycoming Creeks.[3]

1839: The first railroad is built. It connected Williamsport with Ralston in northern Lycoming County. The railroad followed Lycoming Creek.[3]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,244 square miles (3,220 km2), of which 1,229 square miles (3,180 km2) is land and 15 square miles (39 km2) (1.2%) is water.[4] Lycoming County is the largest county in Pennsylvania by land area and second-largest by total area; it is larger than the state of Rhode Island. The county has a humid continental climate which is warm-summer (Dfb) except in lower areas near the river which are hot-summer (Dfa). Average monthly temperatures in downtown Williamsport average from 26.5 °F in January to 72.4 °F in July, while in Trout Run they average from 25.5 °F in January to 71.2 °F in July.[5]

Appalachian Mountains and Allegheny Plateau

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Major fault at the dividing line between the Allegheny Plateau and the true Appalachian Mountains near Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Lycoming County is divided between the Appalachian Mountains in the south, the dissected Allegheny Plateau (which also appears mountainous) in the north and east, and the valley of the West Branch Susquehanna River between these.

West Branch Susquehanna River

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The West Branch of the Susquehanna enters Lycoming County from Clinton County just west of the borough of Jersey Shore, which is on the northwest bank of the river. The river then flows generally east and a little north with some large curves for 15 miles (24 kilometers) to the city of Williamsport, followed by the borough of Montoursville (both on the north bank) as well as the boroughs of Duboistown and South Williamsport (on the south bank).

The river flows just north of Bald Eagle Mountain (one of the northernmost ridges of the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians) through much of its course in Lycoming County, but it passes the end of the mountain and turns south just before the borough of Muncy (on the east bank). It continues south past the borough of Montgomery and leaves Lycoming County, where it forms the border between Union and Northumberland Counties. From there the West Branch merges with the North Branch Susquehanna River at Northumberland, Pennsylvania, and then flows south to the Chesapeake Bay.

Major creeks and watersheds

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Map of the West Branch Susquehanna River (dark blue) and Major Streams in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. From west to east (left to right) the watersheds are: Pine Creek (red); Larrys Creek (orange); Lycoming Creek (yellow); Loyalsock Creek (green); Muncy Creek (light blue); and White Deer Hole Creek (purple, south of the river).

The major creeks of Lycoming County are all tributaries of the West Branch Susquehanna River. On the north or left bank of the river they are (from west to east): Pine Creek (and its tributary Little Pine Creek) which the river receives just west of Jersey Shore; Larrys Creek, which the river receives about 7 km (4.3 mi) south of Salladasburg; Lycoming Creek which the river receives in western Williamsport; Loyalsock Creek which the river receives between Williamsport and Montoursville; and Muncy Creek (and its tributary Little Muncy Creek), which the river receives just north of Muncy. Loyalsock and Muncy Creeks are also the major watersheds of Sullivan County.

Finally there is White Deer Hole Creek, the only major creek in Lycoming County on the right bank (i.e. south and west) of the river. It is south of Bald Eagle Mountain, and flows from west to east. The river receives it at the village of Allenwood in Gregg Township in Union County. Other creeks found on the right bank (south and west) of the West Branch Susquehanna River in Lycoming County are relatively minor, including Antes Creek in the Nippenose valley (in Limestone and Nippenose Townships), Mosquito Creek (at Duboistown), Hagermans Run (at South Williamsport), and Black Hole Creek (at Montgomery).

The entire county is in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The percent of the county drained by each creek's watershed is as follows: Pine Creek, 15.27%; Little Pine Creek, 11.25% (if these two are considered together, 26.52%); Larry's Creek, 7.17%; Lycoming Creek, 17.80%; Loyalsock Creek, 13.23%; Muncy Creek, 4.82%; Little Muncy Creek, 5.86% (if these two are considered together, 10.68%); and White Deer Hole Creek, 4.40%.[6] Minor creeks account for the rest.

Adjacent counties

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Lycoming County is one of the few US counties to border nine counties, a result of its large area.

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18005,414—
181011,006103.3%
182013,51722.8%
183017,63630.5%
184022,64928.4%
185026,25715.9%
186037,39942.4%
187047,62627.3%
188057,48620.7%
189070,57922.8%
190075,6637.2%
191080,8136.8%
192083,1002.8%
193093,42112.4%
194093,6330.2%
1950101,2498.1%
1960109,3678.0%
1970113,2963.6%
1980118,4164.5%
1990118,7100.2%
2000120,0441.1%
2010116,111−3.3%
2020114,188−1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2019[11][12]

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 120,044 people, 47,003 households, and 31,680 families residing in the county. The population density was 97 people per square mile (37 people/km2). There were 52,464 housing units at an average density of 42 units per square mile (16/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.9% White, 4.3% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. 0.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.5% were of German, 11.7% American, 9.0% Irish, 7.4% Italian and 7.3% English ancestry.

There were 47,003 households, out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.3% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.

2020 census

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Lycoming County Racial Composition[14]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 99,687 87.3%
Black or African American (NH) 5,672 5%
Native American (NH) 191 0.2%
Asian (NH) 923 0.81%
Pacific Islander (NH) 27 0.02%
Other/Mixed (NH) 5,314 4.7%
Hispanic or Latino 2,374 2.1%

Law and government

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For the past century, Lycoming County has been reliably Republican, going Democrat only in the Democratic landslides of 1936 and 1964.

United States presidential election results for Lycoming County, Pennsylvania[15][16][17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 41,961 70.11% 17,216 28.77% 669 1.12%
2020 41,462 69.80% 16,971 28.57% 964 1.62%
2016 35,627 69.68% 13,020 25.46% 2,484 4.86%
2012 30,658 65.69% 15,203 32.58% 808 1.73%
2008 30,280 61.24% 18,381 37.17% 786 1.59%
2004 33,961 67.81% 15,681 31.31% 439 0.88%
2000 27,137 62.83% 14,663 33.95% 1,393 3.23%
1996 21,535 54.88% 13,516 34.44% 4,190 10.68%
1992 20,536 47.57% 13,315 30.84% 9,321 21.59%
1988 24,792 64.00% 13,528 34.92% 415 1.07%
1984 28,498 68.02% 13,147 31.38% 250 0.60%
1980 23,415 57.74% 14,609 36.02% 2,529 6.24%
1976 22,648 53.82% 18,635 44.28% 799 1.90%
1972 28,913 68.70% 11,999 28.51% 1,175 2.79%
1968 23,830 54.70% 16,888 38.76% 2,848 6.54%
1964 19,011 42.30% 25,879 57.58% 55 0.12%
1960 30,083 62.05% 18,351 37.85% 48 0.10%
1956 27,030 66.67% 13,490 33.28% 20 0.05%
1952 25,753 61.60% 15,870 37.96% 184 0.44%
1948 19,118 57.18% 13,692 40.95% 626 1.87%
1944 19,886 55.64% 15,658 43.81% 197 0.55%
1940 21,423 53.62% 18,363 45.96% 167 0.42%
1936 18,315 47.83% 19,376 50.60% 599 1.56%
1932 16,212 55.43% 11,499 39.31% 1,539 5.26%
1928 28,720 79.48% 7,132 19.74% 285 0.79%
1924 14,039 58.70% 6,857 28.67% 3,020 12.63%
1920 10,570 56.72% 5,853 31.41% 2,212 11.87%
1916 6,010 41.53% 6,640 45.88% 1,823 12.60%
1912 1,631 11.00% 6,039 40.73% 7,157 48.27%
1908 8,708 50.78% 7,144 41.66% 1,298 7.57%
1904 8,928 52.89% 6,424 38.06% 1,527 9.05%
1900 7,750 47.53% 7,427 45.55% 1,127 6.91%
1896 8,097 48.58% 7,340 44.04% 1,231 7.39%
1892 5,736 40.30% 7,532 52.92% 966 6.79%
1888 6,591 45.34% 7,467 51.37% 478 3.29%
1884 5,355 45.25% 5,900 49.86% 579 4.89%
1880 4,955 41.41% 6,416 53.61% 596 4.98%

County commissioners

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  • Scott L. Metzger (R)[18]
  • Marc C. Sortman (R)[18]
  • Mark A. Mussina (D)[18]

Law enforcement agencies

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  • Pennsylvania State Police
  • Williamsport Police Department
  • Lycoming County Sheriff's Office
  • South Williamsport Police Department (and DuBoistown borough)
  • Lycoming Regional Police Department (Cummings, McHenry, Porter, Piatt, Nippenose, Old Lycoming, Hepburn, Lycoming Townships and Jersey Shore borough)
  • Montoursville Police Department
  • Muncy Police Department (and Brady Township)
  • Muncy Township Police Department
  • Hughesville Police Department (and Picture Rocks Borough)
  • Pennsylvania College of Technology Police Department
  • Lycoming County Probation and Parole Department

Fire departments

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  • Williamsport Bureau of Fire - Station 1
  • Woodward Township VFC - Station 2
  • Independent Hose of Jersey Shore - Station 3
  • South Williamsport VFC - Station 5
  • Nippenose Valley VFC - Station 6
  • Nisbet VFC - Station 7
  • DuBoistown VFC Station - 8
  • Clinton Township VFC - Station 12
  • Montgomery VFC - Station 13
  • Old Lycoming Township VFC - Station 14
  • Hepburn Township VFC - Station 15
  • Trout Run VFC - Station 16
  • Ralston VFC - Station 17
  • Loyalsock VFC - Station 18
  • Williamsport Regional Airport - Station 19
  • Montoursville Fire Department - Station 20
  • Washington Township VFC - Station 21
  • Eldred TWP VFC - Station 22
  • Muncy Township VFC - Station 23
  • Hughesville VFC - Station 24
  • Pluntetts Creek VFC - Station 25
  • Picture Rocks VFC - Station 26
  • Lairdsville VFC - Station 27
  • Waterville VFC - Station 28
  • Antes Fort VFC - Station 31
  • Brown Township VFC - Station 35
  • Black Forest VFC - Station 36
  • Muncy Area VFC - Station 39
  • Citizens Hose of Jersey Shore - Station 45

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

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Pennsylvania State Senate

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United States House of Representatives

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United States Senate

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Education

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Colleges

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Public school districts

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Map of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts

Other public entities

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Non public entities

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  • Bald Eagle School - Montgomery
  • Brookside School - Montgomery
  • Countryside School - Jersey Shore
  • Fairfield Academy - Montoursville
  • LCCCs Children's Development Center - Williamsport
  • Mountain View Christian School - South Williamsport
  • Mountain View School - Williamsport
  • Pine Woods Nippenose Valley - Jersey Shore
  • Scenic Mountain Parochial School - Allenwood
  • St John Neumann Regional Academy - Williamsport (accepting OSTC students)
  • St John Neumann Regional Academy at Faxon - Williamsport
  • St John Neumann Regional Academy High School Campus - Williamsport (accepting OSTC students)
  • Valley Bell School - Montgomery
  • West Branch School - Williamsport
  • White Deer Valley School - Montgomery
  • Williamsport Christian School - Williamsport

Data from EdNA database maintained by Pennsylvania Department of Education, July 2012

Libraries

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There are six public libraries in Lycoming County:

There are also four Link libraries in the county.

Transportation

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Primary highways

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Airports

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There are only two public use airports in the county. The Williamsport Regional Airport has commercial flights to Washington D.C.,[20] and a FBO for private jets and charters. There is also the Jersey Shore Airport, which only has a grass runway and can only handle light aircraft.

Recreation

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There are three Pennsylvania state parks in Lycoming County:

There are parts of two Pennsylvania state forests in Lycoming County:

Communities

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Map of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Cities and Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).
See also: List of municipalities in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania and List of villages in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Lycoming County:

City

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Boroughs

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Townships

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Census-designated places

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Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well.

Unincorporated communities

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Population ranking

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The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Lycoming County.[21]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
1 † Williamsport City 29,381
2 South Williamsport Borough 6,379
3 Montoursville Borough 4,615
4 Jersey Shore Borough 4,361
5 Kenmar CDP 4,124
6 Garden View CDP 2,503
7 Muncy Borough 2,477
8 Hughesville Borough 2,128
9 Montgomery Borough 1,579
10 Faxon CDP 1,395
11 Duboistown Borough 1,205
12 Rauchtown (mostly in Clinton County) CDP 726
13 Picture Rocks Borough 678
14 Oval CDP 361
15 Salladasburg Borough 238

See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.

References

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Specific
  1. ^ Includes Centre, Lycoming, Northumberland, Columbia, Mifflin, Union, Snyder, Clinton, Juniata and Montour Counties
  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Robin Van Auken, Lou Hunsinger Jr. "Lycoming County: Williamsport Firsts". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  5. ^ "PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University".
  6. ^ [1] Archived September 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  9. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  11. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
  12. ^ "Census 2020".
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  14. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lycoming County, Pennsylvania".
  15. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  16. ^ Burnham, Walter Dean. "Presidential ballots, 1836-1892". archive.org. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  17. ^ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 5,208 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 1,523 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 423 votes, and Socialist Labor candidate Arthur Reimer received 3 votes.
  18. ^ a b c Pauling, Carrie (January 2, 2024). "Induction ceremony brings new leadership in government, law enforcement, and judicial roles". Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Find Your Legislator". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  20. ^ Maroney, Mark (January 8, 2024). "Southern Airways Express to launch commuter service at Williamsport Regional Airport". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  21. ^ "Decennial Census by Decades". www.census.gov. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
General

41°21′N 77°04′W / 41.35°N 77.06°W / 41.35; -77.06

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