Shade Township, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Shade Township is a township in Somerset County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 2,886 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Johnstown
, Pennsylvania
Metropolitan Statistical Area. Shade township was incorporated in 1816. The township was first settled in 1772 and was formed from Stoneycreek Township, which was one of the six original townships in Somerset County. Shade Township is located in the north-eastern portion of the county. It is bounded to the north by Ogle and Paint Townships; to the west by Quemahoning Township; to the south by Stoneycreek Township; and to the east by Bedford County. The main Borough of Shade Township is Central City which was first settled in 1848 and was incorporated on 6 May 1918. Hooversville, which sits astride the border of Shade and Quemahoning Townships was first settled in 1836 and was incorporated in 1896.
, the township has a total area of 67.2 square miles (174.0 km²), of which, 67.1 square miles (173.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.10%) is water.
Cairnbrook, although not incorporated, owns and operates its own water company, sewers and disposal plant, and street lighting, under the management of the Cairnbrook Improvement Company, Inc. Each property owner is a stockholder in the company. All streets are hard-surfaced and lighted.
of 2000, there were 2,886. people, 1,171 households, and 832 families residing in the township. The population density
was 43.0 people per square mile (16.6/km²). There were 1,276 housing units at an average density of 19.0/sq mi (7.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 99.38% White, 0.07% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.03% Asian, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.52% of the population.
There were 1,171 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples
living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the township the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 103.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $28,802, and the median income for a family was $32,419. Males had a median income of $27,500 versus $18,472 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $13,497. About 11.6% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.3% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.
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...
. The population was 2,886 at the 2000 census. It is part of the 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...
, 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...
Metropolitan Statistical Area. Shade township was incorporated in 1816. The township was first settled in 1772 and was formed from Stoneycreek Township, which was one of the six original townships in Somerset County. Shade Township is located in the north-eastern portion of the county. It is bounded to the north by Ogle and Paint Townships; to the west by Quemahoning Township; to the south by Stoneycreek Township; and to the east by Bedford County. The main Borough of Shade Township is Central City which was first settled in 1848 and was incorporated on 6 May 1918. Hooversville, which sits astride the border of Shade and Quemahoning Townships was first settled in 1836 and was incorporated in 1896.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 township has a total area of 67.2 square miles (174.0 km²), of which, 67.1 square miles (173.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.10%) is water.
Cairnbrook
In the central part of Shade Township is a mining town laid out in 1912 by the Lolayhanna Coal and Coke Company on the Jacob McGregor Farm. It is located on the west bank of Dark Shade Creek along State Route 160. It is the largest unincorporated town in Shade Township, with a present population of 750. The Cairnbrook post office was established here in 1914. The first postmaster was Charles Severn and the present one is Jennings Reitz (as of 1964). The Shade-Central City Union, Junior-Senior High, and elementary schools are located here. The Graef Lutheran Church and parsonage were erected here in 1917-18 at the corner of McGregor Avenue and Third Street. Dorfman and Hoffman established a clothing factory here in 1955, which employs approximately 185 workers at the present time.Cairnbrook, although not incorporated, owns and operates its own water company, sewers and disposal plant, and street lighting, under the management of the Cairnbrook Improvement Company, Inc. Each property owner is a stockholder in the company. All streets are hard-surfaced and lighted.
Reitz #2
Reitz #2, a small mining town east of Cairnbrook, just off Route 160, was laid out on the Thomas Mock Farm in 1916 by the Reitz Coal Company.Reitz #3 and #4
Reitz #3 and #4 are small mining towns southeast of Central City, along Dark Shade Creek. Reitz #3 was laid out by John Lochrie in 1916 on the George Manges Farm. Reitz # 4 was laid laid out under the management of the Reitz Coal Company in 1918-19 on the Moses Walker Farm. It is the second largest town in Shade Township.Wilbur
Wilbur is a small mining town in the western part of the township, one-half mile off Route 53. The town was founded by the Wilbur Coal Mining Company in 1912 on lands formerly owned by Daniel Peterman and J. E. Johnson. The Otterbein United Brethren Church and cemetery are located here.Rockingham
Rockingham is a small mining village along Dark Shade Creek on State Route 160. The village is located on the site of the old Rockingham Iron Furnace, erected in 1841. The village was rebuilt in 1916 by William Gahagen. The Rockingham post office was established in 1922.Gahagen
Gahagen is a small mining village in the southeastern part of the township. It was established by the Gahagen Coal Company in 1919. The post office was established in 1922 and closed in 1956.Buckstown
Buckstown is a small village in the southern part of Shade Township Part of this village is in Stonycreek Township. The village is located along the Lincoln Highway, formerly known as the Pittsburgh-Philadelphia Turnpike and in colonial times as the "Pennsylvania Road."Shade Furnace
Shade Furnace was the first furnace built in Somerset County. George Lambert from 1805 to 1808 held a warrant for a tract land called "furnace seat". Thomas Vikroy was owner from 1808 to 1819. Construction was started in 1808 and first blast in 1809 (bf). Per s&t Gerehart and Reynolds were the builders in 1807 or 1808 (s&t). It was then operated by various owners; Mark Richards and Benjamin Jones 1819 to 1846, forge constructed, Henry Little for 6 months in 1846, John and William Shyrock 1846-47, Robert Bingham, William Shyrock and Andrew Royer 1847 to 1850, Daniel Weyand 1850 to 1880. The furnace and forge were abandoned about 1858. The heirs of Daniel Weyland estate owned the property from 1880 to 1975, when the furnace property and 350 acres surrounding it were obtained by the Historical and Genealogical Society of Somerset County, who are attempting preservation and minor archaeological work in the area.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 2,886. people, 1,171 households, and 832 families residing in the township. 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 43.0 people per square mile (16.6/km²). There were 1,276 housing units at an average density of 19.0/sq mi (7.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 99.38% White, 0.07% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.03% Asian, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.52% of the population.
There were 1,171 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% 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, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the township the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 103.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $28,802, and the median income for a family was $32,419. Males had a median income of $27,500 versus $18,472 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 township was $13,497. About 11.6% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.3% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.