Jessup, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Jessup is a borough in Lackawanna County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 4,676 at the 2010 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 6.75 square miles (17.5 km²), of which, 6.7 square miles (17.4 km²) of it is land and 0.05 square mile (0.1294994055 km²) of it (0.74%) is water.
fields.
It was mostly Italian
immigrants that came to Jessup in search of jobs in the coal mines, among others. They arrived via Ellis Island
, New York
in the late 19th century. The Italians who settled in Jessup, and the immediate surrounding communities, came mostly from small towns in the Region of Umbria
, Province of Perugia
. Gubbio
, Gualdo Tadino
, Scheggia
, and Sassoferrato
, for example, sent many hard working individuals to the Lackawanna Valley for economic opportunity. It was from Gubbio, Italy that the immigrants brought the annual festival known as Saint Ubaldo Day
. This festival is still held to this day in only Jessup and Gubbio
.
Gubbio, incidentally, is "Sister City" to Jessup resulting from a process that began in May, 1978 and was completed formally in May, 2004. As customary in Italy, Gubbio refers to Jessup as its "Citta Gemellata" or "Twinned City". 2009 will be celebrated as the 100th year anniversary of Saint Ubaldo Day in Jessup and numerous commemorative celebrations were planned by the Saint Ubaldo Society to mark the occasion.
of 2010, there were 4,676 people, 2,007 households, and 1,272 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 697.9 people per square mile (269.5/km²). There were 2,134 housing units at an average density of 318.5 per square mile (124.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.9% White, 0.8% African American, 0.2% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.4% from other races
, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9% of the population.
There were 2,007 households out of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples
living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the borough the population was spread out with 20.2% under the age of 18, 61.6% from 18 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.5 years.
The median income for a household in the borough was $32,201, and the median income for a family was $43,013. Males had a median income of $36,339 versus $25,267 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $17,189. About 8.0% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.
Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 213,295 people, 86,218 households, and 55,783 families residing in the county. The population density was 465 people per square mile . There were 95,362 housing units at an average density of 208 per square mile...
, 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...
. The population was 4,676 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Jessup is located at 41°28′16"N 75°33′44"W (41.471131, -75.562171).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 6.75 square miles (17.5 km²), of which, 6.7 square miles (17.4 km²) of it is land and 0.05 square mile (0.1294994055 km²) of it (0.74%) is water.
History
Settled in 1849, the town of Jessup was named after Judge William Jessup. It was presented to the Luzerne County Court for incorporation as the Borough of Winton in December 1876. Two years later, Lackawanna County was incorporated. The early 1890s were very significant for the little town, as numerous new mining operations were opened. Shortly after these were opened, immigrants from Europe were lured to the area by the work available in the booming anthracite coalAnthracite coal
Anthracite is a hard, compact variety of mineral coal that has a high luster...
fields.
It was mostly Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
immigrants that came to Jessup in search of jobs in the coal mines, among others. They arrived via Ellis Island
Ellis Island
Ellis Island in New York Harbor was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States. It was the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. The island was greatly expanded with landfill between 1892 and 1934. Before that, the much smaller original island was the...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in the late 19th century. The Italians who settled in Jessup, and the immediate surrounding communities, came mostly from small towns in the Region of Umbria
Umbria
Umbria is a region of modern central Italy. It is one of the smallest Italian regions and the only peninsular region that is landlocked.Its capital is Perugia.Assisi and Norcia are historical towns associated with St. Francis of Assisi, and St...
, Province of Perugia
Province of Perugia
The Province of Perugia is the larger of the two provinces in the Umbria region of Italy, comprising two-thirds of both the area and population of the region. Its capital is the city of Perugia...
. Gubbio
Gubbio
Gubbio is a town and comune in the far northeastern part of the Italian province of Perugia . It is located on the lowest slope of Mt. Ingino, a small mountain of the Apennines. See also Mount Ingino Christmas Tree.-History:...
, Gualdo Tadino
Gualdo Tadino
Gualdo Tadino, an ancient town of Italy, in the province of Perugia in northeastern Umbria, on the lower flanks of Mt. Penna, a mountain of the Apennines. It is 47 km NE of Perugia and 30 km SE of Gubbio....
, Scheggia
Scheggia e Pascelupo
Scheggia e Pascelupo is a comune in the Province of Perugia in the Italian region Umbria, located about 40 km northeast of Perugia...
, and Sassoferrato
Sassoferrato
Sassoferrato is a town and comune of the province of Ancona in the Marche region of Italy.-History:To the south of the town lie the ruins of the ancient Sentinum, on the Via Flaminia...
, for example, sent many hard working individuals to the Lackawanna Valley for economic opportunity. It was from Gubbio, Italy that the immigrants brought the annual festival known as Saint Ubaldo Day
Saint Ubaldo Day
Saint Ubaldo Day is Jessup, Pennsylvania's observance of Gubbio, Italy's La Festa dei Ceri. Both celebrations honor the life of Bishop Ubaldo Baldassini who was canonized as Protector of Gubbio. The eve of his death anniversary, May 15, is marked in Gubbio by a procession known as La Corsa dei Ceri...
. This festival is still held to this day in only Jessup and Gubbio
Gubbio
Gubbio is a town and comune in the far northeastern part of the Italian province of Perugia . It is located on the lowest slope of Mt. Ingino, a small mountain of the Apennines. See also Mount Ingino Christmas Tree.-History:...
.
Gubbio, incidentally, is "Sister City" to Jessup resulting from a process that began in May, 1978 and was completed formally in May, 2004. As customary in Italy, Gubbio refers to Jessup as its "Citta Gemellata" or "Twinned City". 2009 will be celebrated as the 100th year anniversary of Saint Ubaldo Day in Jessup and numerous commemorative celebrations were planned by the Saint Ubaldo Society to mark the occasion.
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 2010, there were 4,676 people, 2,007 households, and 1,272 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 697.9 people per square mile (269.5/km²). There were 2,134 housing units at an average density of 318.5 per square mile (124.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.9% White, 0.8% African American, 0.2% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.4% 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 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9% of the population.
There were 2,007 households out of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% 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, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the borough the population was spread out with 20.2% under the age of 18, 61.6% from 18 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.5 years.
The median income for a household in the borough was $32,201, and the median income for a family was $43,013. Males had a median income of $36,339 versus $25,267 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 $17,189. About 8.0% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.