Jennerstown, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Jennerstown is a borough in Somerset County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 714 at the 2000 census. The borough is the home of Jennerstown Speedway
. The town was named for Edward Jenner
.
Jennerstown is located north of Somerset
and south of Johnstown
. It is also west of Boswell
.
It is connected with Route 30 (Pennsylvania
).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 2 square miles (5.2 km²), of which 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (3.50%) is water.
of 2000, there were 714 people, 302 households, and 212 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 369.4 people per square mile (142.8/km²). There were 343 housing units at an average density of 177.5 per square mile (68.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 100.00% White.
There were 302 households out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples
living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.77.
In the borough the population was spread out with 19.2% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $39,886, and the median income for a family was $46,111. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $22,273 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $19,540. About 4.2% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.
Jennerstown was first settled in the late 18th century as a stage coach stop on the Forbes Road, one of the first roads constructed by English-speaking settlers over the Allegheny Mountains. The town, originally named Laurel Hill, was later renamed Jennerville in honor of Dr. Edward Jenner
, discoverer of the smallpox vaccine. Later, Jennerville became Jennerstown. The town and vicinity boast several buildings about 200 years old, which is not common in the surrounding area.
Throughout its history, Jennerstown has served primarily as a wayside for travelers and as a farming community. Its post office was established in 1832, initially under the name of Laurel Hill. The village contained seven or eight houses, a store and a tavern at that time. Jennerstown incorporated as a borough in 1874. Jennerstown has never been a large town, and its current population represents a peak.
Jennerstown is home to the Mountain Playhouse, one of the oldest venues for summer stock theatre in the United States. The Mountain Playhouse has maintained a full schedule of live theatre productions nightly from May through October each year for the last sixty years. Jennerstown Speedway is a popular summer destination for stock car racing.
Somerset County, Pennsylvania
Somerset County is a county located in the state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 77,742. Somerset County was created on April 17, 1795, from part of Bedford County and named for Somerset, United Kingdom. Its county seat is Somerset. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania,...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown, 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...
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 714 at the 2000 census. The borough is the home of Jennerstown Speedway
Jennerstown Speedway
Jennerstown Speedway is a racetrack in Jennerstown, Pennsylvania, United States.-Track layout:The track is a asphalt oval. The straightaways are banked 6°, and turns are banked 9°.-Scheduled events:...
. The town was named for Edward Jenner
Edward Jenner
Edward Anthony Jenner was an English scientist who studied his natural surroundings in Berkeley, Gloucestershire...
.
Jennerstown is located north of Somerset
Somerset, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 6,762 people, 3,035 households, and 1,717 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,466.0 people per square mile . There were 3,313 housing units at an average density of 1,208.2 per square mile...
and south of Johnstown
Johnstown, 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...
. It is also west of Boswell
Boswell, Pennsylvania
Boswell is a borough in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,364 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
.
It is connected with Route 30 (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...
).
Geography
Jennerstown is located at 40°9′42"N 79°3′46"W (40.161763, -79.062686).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 2 square miles (5.2 km²), of which 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (3.50%) 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 714 people, 302 households, and 212 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 369.4 people per square mile (142.8/km²). There were 343 housing units at an average density of 177.5 per square mile (68.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 100.00% White.
There were 302 households out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% 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, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.77.
In the borough the population was spread out with 19.2% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $39,886, and the median income for a family was $46,111. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $22,273 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 $19,540. About 4.2% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.
History
Edward Jenner
Edward Anthony Jenner was an English scientist who studied his natural surroundings in Berkeley, Gloucestershire...
, discoverer of the smallpox vaccine. Later, Jennerville became Jennerstown. The town and vicinity boast several buildings about 200 years old, which is not common in the surrounding area.
Throughout its history, Jennerstown has served primarily as a wayside for travelers and as a farming community. Its post office was established in 1832, initially under the name of Laurel Hill. The village contained seven or eight houses, a store and a tavern at that time. Jennerstown incorporated as a borough in 1874. Jennerstown has never been a large town, and its current population represents a peak.
Jennerstown is home to the Mountain Playhouse, one of the oldest venues for summer stock theatre in the United States. The Mountain Playhouse has maintained a full schedule of live theatre productions nightly from May through October each year for the last sixty years. Jennerstown Speedway is a popular summer destination for stock car racing.