Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Huntingdon is a borough in Huntingdon County
, Pennsylvania
. It is the county seat
of Huntingdon County
. It is located along the Juniata River
, 98 miles (157.7 km) west of Harrisburg
, about halfway between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, in an agricultural and fruit-growing region, with valuable forests and deposits of iron, coal, fire clay, and limestone. In the past, Huntingdon had manufactures of flour, machinery, radiators, furniture, stationery, woolen goods, lumber, etc. It also was the junction of the Huntington & Broad Top Mountain RR with the Pennsylvania Railroad
, and a port on the Main Line of Public Works
of the Pennsylvania Canal
. Huntingdon is home to Juniata College
, originally founded by the Church of the Brethren
in 1876. It is also the largest borough located closest to Raystown Lake
. Its population was 6,918 people at the 2000 census.
on the site of a famous Indian
council ground, near the spot where Standing Stone Creek
flows into the Juniata River. The spot was marked by the erection of a "Standing Stone Monument" erected at the borough centenary and rumored to exist before the founding of the original village which was called Standing Stone. The land was purchased by Dr. Smith in 1766 for 300 British Pounds. He later renamed the settlement in honor of Selina, the Countess of Huntingdon, England
. The original charter of incorporation to a borough was adopted in 1796. In 1900, Huntingdon was the home of 6,053 people; in 1910, 6,861 people; and in 1940, 7,170 people.
in 2004, the borough was hit hard with flooding. The high school football field, Route 26
underpass under the railroad tracks, and many other areas in and around Huntingdon were flooded. The only way in an out of the borough was a township-owned road located in Oneida Township
that goes up on top of Stone Creek Ridge. It was the worst flooding since Hurricane Agnes
in 1972.
, April 15, 2009 with Budget Travel's editor in chief, Nina Willdorf with Harry Smith
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²), of which, 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.55%) is water.
of 2000, there were 6,918 people, 2,626 households, and 1,491 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 2,006.2 people per square mile (774.2/km²). There were 2,817 housing units at an average density of 816.9 per square mile (315.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.41% White, 1.40% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.30% from other races
, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.66% of the population.
There were 2,626 households out of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples
living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.2% were non-families. 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the borough the population was spread out with 18.5% under the age of 18, 22.5% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 84.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.0 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $31,261, and the median income for a family was $42,684. Males had a median income of $33,269 versus $21,327 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $15,744. About 10.1% of families and 13.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.5% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.
-Altoona
-State College, PA
media market.
, home of the Bearcats.
Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania
Huntingdon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. In 2010, its population was 45,913.Huntingdon County was created on September 20, 1787, from part of Bedford County. Its county seat is Huntingdon.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Huntingdon County
Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania
Huntingdon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. In 2010, its population was 45,913.Huntingdon County was created on September 20, 1787, from part of Bedford County. Its county seat is Huntingdon.-Geography:According to the U.S...
. It is located along the Juniata River
Juniata River
The Juniata River is a tributary of the Susquehanna River, approximately long, in central Pennsylvania in the United States. The river is considered scenic along much of its route, having a broad and shallow course passing through several mountain ridges and steeply-lined water gaps...
, 98 miles (157.7 km) west of Harrisburg
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
, about halfway between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, in an agricultural and fruit-growing region, with valuable forests and deposits of iron, coal, fire clay, and limestone. In the past, Huntingdon had manufactures of flour, machinery, radiators, furniture, stationery, woolen goods, lumber, etc. It also was the junction of the Huntington & Broad Top Mountain RR with the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
, and a port on the Main Line of Public Works
Main Line of Public Works
The Main Line of Public Works was a railroad and canal system built by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the 19th century. It ran from Philadelphia west through Harrisburg and across the state to Pittsburgh and connected with other divisions of the Pennsylvania Canal...
of the Pennsylvania Canal
Pennsylvania Canal
Pennsylvania Canal refers generally to a complex system of canals, dams, locks, tow paths, aqueducts, and other infrastructure including, in some cases, railroads in Pennsylvania...
. Huntingdon is home to Juniata College
Juniata College
Juniata College is a private liberal arts college located in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. It is named after the Juniata River — one of the principal tributaries of the Susquehanna River. In 1876 it became the first college founded by the Church of the Brethren and has been co-educational since...
, originally founded by the Church of the Brethren
Church of the Brethren
The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination originating from the Schwarzenau Brethren organized in 1708 by eight persons led by Alexander Mack, in Schwarzenau, Bad Berleburg, Germany. The Brethren movement began as a melding of Radical Pietist and Anabaptist ideas during the...
in 1876. It is also the largest borough located closest to Raystown Lake
Raystown Lake
Raystown Lake is a reservoir in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. The largest lake that is entirely within Pennsylvania, it was created by the United States Army Corps of Engineers around 1913 by the damming of the Raystown Branch Juniata River which created a shallow lake in the river valley. ...
. Its population was 6,918 people at the 2000 census.
History
Huntingdon was settled in 1767 by the Rev. Dr. William SmithWilliam Smith (Anglican priest)
William Smith was the first provost of the University of Pennsylvania.thumb|300px|right|Dr William Smith's residence as it appeared circa 1919-Biography:...
on the site of a famous Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
council ground, near the spot where Standing Stone Creek
Standing Stone Creek
Standing Stone Creek is a tributary of the Juniata River in Huntingdon and Centre counties, Pennsylvania, in the United States.Allegedly, when the first European visitors arrived at the creek's mouth, they found a Native American camp whose lodges were arranged in a circle, centered by a...
flows into the Juniata River. The spot was marked by the erection of a "Standing Stone Monument" erected at the borough centenary and rumored to exist before the founding of the original village which was called Standing Stone. The land was purchased by Dr. Smith in 1766 for 300 British Pounds. He later renamed the settlement in honor of Selina, the Countess of Huntingdon, England
Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon
Selina, Countess of Huntingdon was an English religious leader who played a prominent part in the religious revival of the 18th century and the Methodist movement in England and Wales, and has left a Christian denomination in England and Sierra Leone.-Early life:Selina Hastings was born as Lady...
. The original charter of incorporation to a borough was adopted in 1796. In 1900, Huntingdon was the home of 6,053 people; in 1910, 6,861 people; and in 1940, 7,170 people.
Hurricane Ivan
During Hurricane IvanHurricane Ivan
Hurricane Ivan was a large, long-lived, Cape Verde-type hurricane that caused widespread damage in the Caribbean and United States. The cyclone was the ninth named storm, the sixth hurricane and the fourth major hurricane of the active 2004 Atlantic hurricane season...
in 2004, the borough was hit hard with flooding. The high school football field, Route 26
Pennsylvania Route 26
Pennsylvania Route 26 is a highway in the south-central area of Pennsylvania. Its northern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 150 northwest of Howard, Pennsylvania; its southern terminus is at the Maryland state line near Barnes Gap in Union Township...
underpass under the railroad tracks, and many other areas in and around Huntingdon were flooded. The only way in an out of the borough was a township-owned road located in Oneida Township
Oneida Township, Pennsylvania
Oneida Township is a township in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,129 at the 2000 census. The township includes the villages of Donation and Center Union.-Geography:...
that goes up on top of Stone Creek Ridge. It was the worst flooding since Hurricane Agnes
Hurricane Agnes
Hurricane Agnes was the first tropical storm and first hurricane of the 1972 Atlantic hurricane season. A rare June hurricane, it made landfall on the Florida Panhandle before moving northeastward and ravaging the Mid-Atlantic region as a tropical storm...
in 1972.
2009 America's Coolest Small Towns
Huntingdon was named by Budget Travel magazine's readers as 5th Coolest Small Town in the United States in a poll conducted by them. Results were announced on The Early ShowThe Early Show
The Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
, April 15, 2009 with Budget Travel's editor in chief, Nina Willdorf with Harry Smith
Harry Smith (television)
Harry Smith is an American television journalist. He hosted the CBS News morning programs, The Early Show and its predecessor, CBS This Morning, for 17 years...
.
Geography
Huntingdon is located at 40°29′43"N 78°0′47"W (40.495187, -78.013147).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the borough has a total area of 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²), of which, 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.55%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 6,918 people, 2,626 households, and 1,491 families residing in the borough. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,006.2 people per square mile (774.2/km²). There were 2,817 housing units at an average density of 816.9 per square mile (315.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.41% White, 1.40% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.30% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.66% of the population.
There were 2,626 households out of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.2% were non-families. 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the borough the population was spread out with 18.5% under the age of 18, 22.5% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 84.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.0 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $31,261, and the median income for a family was $42,684. Males had a median income of $33,269 versus $21,327 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the borough was $15,744. About 10.1% of families and 13.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.5% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.
Radio
Huntingdon's only radio stations are WHUN Hunny 106.3FM and WLLI Willy 1150AM, and the college station 92.3 but radio broadcasts from other markets can also be heard:Television
Huntingdon receives television programming from the JohnstownJohnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County...
-Altoona
Altoona, Pennsylvania
-History:A major railroad town, Altoona was founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1849 as the site for a shop complex. Altoona was incorporated as a borough on February 6, 1854, and as a city under legislation approved on April 3, 1867, and February 8, 1868...
-State College, PA
State College, Pennsylvania
State College is the largest borough in Centre County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is the principal city of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Centre County. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 42,034, and roughly double...
media market.
Colleges and Universities
- Juniata CollegeJuniata CollegeJuniata College is a private liberal arts college located in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. It is named after the Juniata River — one of the principal tributaries of the Susquehanna River. In 1876 it became the first college founded by the Church of the Brethren and has been co-educational since...
- founded 1876 - DuBois Business CollegeDuBois Business CollegeDuBois Business College is one of the oldest private business colleges in the United States. It opened in 1885 and is located in DuBois, Pennsylvania...
- Huntingdon Campus
School District
Huntingdon is served by Huntingdon Area School DistrictHuntingdon Area School District
The Huntingdon Area School District, commonly abbreviated HASD, is a large rural public school district based in the borough of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania...
, home of the Bearcats.
High Schools
- Huntingdon Area High School- opened in 1960 (renovated 2004)- Grades 9-12
Elementary Schools
- Standing Stone Elementary School- opened in 1999- Grades K-5-Huntingdon borough
- Southside Elementary School- opened in 1997 - Grade K-5-Walker TownshipWalker Township, Huntingdon County, PennsylvaniaWalker Township is a township in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,747 at the 2000 census. The township includes the village of McConnellstown.-Geography:...
Private Education
- Calvary Christian AcademyCalvary Christian AcademyCalvary Christian Academy is a non-profit private school located in Cresaptown, Maryland in Allegany County. It was established as an outreach of Calvary Baptist Church of Cresaptown in 1973.-Purpose:...
- Grades K-12 - Huntingdon Christian Academy- Grades K-12
Notable people
- Dylan LaneDylan LaneDylan Lane is an American television game show host. Although he was born in Tyrone, he was raised in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Huntingdon Area High School in Huntingdon....
(born 1977), game show host (hosted Chain ReactionChain Reaction (game show)Chain Reaction is an American game show created by Bob Stewart, in which players compete to form chains composed of two-word phrases.The show aired three separate runs: Bill Cullen hosted the original series on NBC from January 14 to June 20, 1980...
in 2006 and 2007 and the National Vocabulary ChampionshipNational Vocabulary ChampionshipThe National Vocabulary Championship was the first-ever U.S.-wide vocabulary competition for high school students created by GSN, in association with The Princeton Review. Thirty thousand high school students from across the United States participated in the inaugural year .The NVC aimed to...
) (born in TyroneTyrone, PennsylvaniaTyrone is a borough in Blair County, Pennsylvania, northeast of Altoona, on the Little Juniata River. Tyrone was of considerable commercial importance in the twentieth century. It was an outlet for the Clearfield coal fields, and it was noted for the manufacture of paper products. There were...
, spent whole childhood in Huntingdon) - Robert Elliott SpeerRobert Elliott SpeerRobert Elliott Speer was an American religious leader and authority on missions.He was born at Huntingdon, Pa., graduated from Phillips Academy in 1886 and from Princeton in 1889, and studied at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1890-91. In 1891 he was appointed secretary of the American...
(1867–1947), American religious leader - Horace PorterHorace PorterHorace Porter, was an American soldier and diplomat who served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War....
(1837–1921), Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
GeneralGeneralA general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
and US DiplomatDiplomatA diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and... - Chuck KnoxChuck KnoxCharles Robert "Chuck" Knox is a former American football coach at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. He is best remembered as head coach of three National Football League teams, the Seattle Seahawks, the Buffalo Bills, and the Los Angeles Rams, serving two separate stints with...
(born 1932), American football coach with the Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and Seattle SeahawksSeattle SeahawksThe Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
; attended Juniata College and married a Huntingdon native - Erich Eichensehr (born 1966), photographer, attended Juniata CollegeJuniata CollegeJuniata College is a private liberal arts college located in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. It is named after the Juniata River — one of the principal tributaries of the Susquehanna River. In 1876 it became the first college founded by the Church of the Brethren and has been co-educational since...
- Richard Murray Simpson (August 30, 1900–January 7, 1960) was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.
External links
- Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau Website
- Huntingdon Borough Website
- Huntingdon County Government Website
- Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce
- Huntingdon Area School District
- Huntingdon Pa Community Website
- Huntingdon, Pennsylvania (PA) Detailed Profile at City-Data.com
- Huntingdon County Facebook
- Huntingdon County Historical Society