Indiana, Pennsylvania

Indiana is a borough in and the county seat of Indiana County in the U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.[3] The population was 13,975 at the 2010 census, and since 2013 has been part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area[4] after being a long time part of the Pittsburgh and Johnstown television markets. Indiana is also the principal city of the Indiana, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area.

This article is about the Pennsylvania borough. For other uses, see Indiana, Pennsylvania (disambiguation).

Indiana, Pennsylvania
Borough
Downtown Indiana
Location of Indiana in Indiana County, Pennsylvania.
Indiana
Location of Indiana in Indiana County, Pennsylvania.
Indiana
Indiana (the United States)
Coordinates: 40°37′N 79°9′W
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountyIndiana
Settled1805
Incorporated1816
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager
 • MayorGeorge Hood
 • ManagerBradley Gotshall
Area
 • Total1.76 sq mi (4.57 km2)
 • Land1.76 sq mi (4.56 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
1,301 ft (397 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total13,975
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
13,167
 • Density7,485.50/sq mi (2,889.70/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Zip code
15701
FIPS code42-36816
WebsiteIndiana Borough

The borough and the region as a whole promotes itself as the "Christmas Tree Capital of the World" because the national Christmas Tree Grower's Association was founded there. There are still many Christmas tree farms in the area. The largest employer in the borough today is Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the second-largest of 14 PASSHE schools in the state.[5]

History

The Indiana Weekly Messenger was published in the town between 1874 and 1946.[6]

The Downtown Indiana Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. Also listed on the National Register are Breezedale, Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railway Indiana Passenger Station, Silas M. Clark House, Graff's Market, James Mitchell House, Old Indiana County Courthouse, Indiana Borough 1912 Municipal Building, Indiana Armory, Old Indiana County Jail and Sheriff's Office, and John Sutton Hall.[7]

Indiana Mall is the area's major shopping center.

Industry

For decades the major industry of the town was coal mining, but as mines closed throughout the latter half of the 20th-century the area has had ongoing economic difficulty. Natural gas surveying and production have picked up some of the slack, and Indiana serves as the home of the largest privately owned drilling company in the United States, S.W. Jack Drilling Company. It counts a number of other production and service firms as members of the community, as well as three publicly traded companies: S&T Bancorp, Inc., First Commonwealth Financial Corporation, and Superior Well Services Inc. As well, it holds one of the nation's largest independent insurance agencies: The Reschini Group, which was founded by the nation's first female insurance agent, Rose Reschini, in 1938.

A large section of the southern part of the town, and bordering the university is occupied by Kovalchick Salvage Co. The land was recently purchased by the university and it plans to rejuvenate part of what is considered the largest eyesore in the community. Kovalchick holds large amounts of railroad salvage and aluminum. As of December 2008, roughly fifty percent of the salvage materials held by Kovalchick Corporation have been cleared or otherwise removed from publicly viewable land.

Notable people
James Stewart (1948)

Indiana was the birthplace and hometown of actor Jimmy Stewart (1908–1997),[8] who was born there and lived at 104 North 7th Street. Despite the fact that he left the area upon graduating from high school, the town always followed his career closely, with the local newspaper periodically publishing rumors in his later years that Stewart planned to return there to live. On May 20, 1983, Stewart was given a 75th birthday celebration by the town. Before Stewart's death, a museum to his memory was opened on the third floor of the local public library, and a bronze statue of Stewart was erected in his honor at the county courthouse during his 75th birthday. The town annually holds a Jimmy Stewart film festival as part of the town's "It's a Wonderful Life" holiday celebration. [9]

Environmentalist author Edward Abbey (1927–1989) was born at the Indiana hospital and raised in Indiana and near the Indiana County towns and villages of Saltsburg, Home, and Tanoma. His first novel, Jonathan Troy (1954), is set entirely in a thinly disguised Indiana, and his novel The Fool's Progress (1988), which he called his "fat masterpiece", is an autobiographical account of his growing up in this area and his imagined attempt to return home after a lifetime spent mostly in the desert Southwest. His nonfiction book Appalachian Wilderness (1970) lovingly describes Indiana and Home. There is a Pennsylvania state historical marker for Abbey.

Geography

Indiana, Pennsylvania is located at 40°37′16″N 79°9′18″W (40.6211, -79.1549).[10] The borough is an independent municipality surrounded by White Township. For some time in the 1990s there was discussion of merging the borough and township, but the matter was never acted upon.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2), all of it land.

Climate

Indiana has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb), with warm summers and cold, snowy winters. Precipitation is highest in the summer months, falling as snow usually between November and April.

Climate data for Indian, Pennsylvania (3mi SE) (1981–2010 normals, extremes 1946–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 75
(24)		 78
(26)		 86
(30)		 91
(33)		 91
(33)		 95
(35)		 98
(37)		 99
(37)		 97
(36)		 87
(31)		 81
(27)		 76
(24)		 99
(37)
Average high °F (°C) 36.2
(2.3)		 39.8
(4.3)		 49.7
(9.8)		 61.9
(16.6)		 71.2
(21.8)		 79.0
(26.1)		 82.4
(28.0)		 81.2
(27.3)		 74.3
(23.5)		 63.5
(17.5)		 52.1
(11.2)		 40.2
(4.6)		 61.0
(16.1)
Daily mean °F (°C) 26.6
(−3.0)		 29.0
(−1.7)		 37.5
(3.1)		 48.1
(8.9)		 58.1
(14.5)		 66.4
(19.1)		 70.3
(21.3)		 69.3
(20.7)		 62.2
(16.8)		 51.4
(10.8)		 41.2
(5.1)		 31.1
(−0.5)		 49.3
(9.6)
Average low °F (°C) 17.1
(−8.3)		 18.2
(−7.7)		 25.2
(−3.8)		 34.3
(1.3)		 44.9
(7.2)		 53.8
(12.1)		 58.2
(14.6)		 57.5
(14.2)		 50.1
(10.1)		 39.4
(4.1)		 30.3
(−0.9)		 22.1
(−5.5)		 37.6
(3.1)
Record low °F (°C) −24
(−31)		 −26
(−32)		 −10
(−23)		 10
(−12)		 16
(−9)		 31
(−1)		 35
(2)		 34
(1)		 25
(−4)		 11
(−12)		 −4
(−20)		 −19
(−28)		 −26
(−32)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.49
(89)		 2.82
(72)		 3.90
(99)		 3.79
(96)		 4.36
(111)		 4.59
(117)		 4.91
(125)		 4.10
(104)		 3.95
(100)		 3.09
(78)		 4.10
(104)		 3.38
(86)		 46.48
(1,181)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 14.0
(36)		 11.7
(30)		 6.8
(17)		 1.8
(4.6)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0.5
(1.3)		 2.3
(5.8)		 10.0
(25)		 47.1
(120)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 17 14 13 15 14 13 13 11 11 12 14 15 161
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 15 12 7 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 10 51
Source: NOAA[11]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1820317—
183043336.6%
184067455.7%
185096342.9%
18601,33138.2%
18701,60520.6%
18801,90718.8%
18901,9632.9%
19004,142111.0%
19105,74938.8%
19207,04322.5%
19309,56935.9%
194010,0505.0%
195011,74316.8%
196013,00510.7%
197016,10023.8%
198016,051−0.3%
199015,174−5.5%
200014,895−1.8%
201013,975−6.2%
Est. 201913,167[2]−5.8%
Sources:[12][13][14][15]

As of the census[14] of 2010, there were 13,975 people,[16] and 4,624 households residing in the borough. The population density in 2000 was 8,440.0 people per square mile (3,267.6/km2). There were 5,096 housing units at an average density of 2,887.6 per square mile (1,117.9/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 91.51% White, 5.19% African American, 0.07% Native American, 1.89% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.20% of the population.

There were 4,804 households, out of which 14.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.5% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 65.3% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 8.2% under the age of 18, 59.4% from 18 to 24, 13.7% from 25 to 44, 10.5% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.3 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $21,279, and the median income for a family was $47,768. Males had a median income of $32,333 versus $27,831 for females.[17] The per capita income for the borough was $12,317. About 11.2% of families and 44.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.3% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Postcard depicting Sutton Hall at IUP

Indiana University of Pennsylvania (or IUP) is a public university founded in 1875. It offers over 100 undergraduate majors and is the only doctoral degree-granting institution in the system.

For public K-12 education, the Indiana Area School District supports four neighborhood elementary schools (Eisenhower Elementary, Horace Mann, East Pike, Ben Franklin), a junior high school (Indiana Area Junior High School) and high school (Indiana Area Senior High School), which are accredited and recognized for quality. A Catholic-affiliated Pre-K through grade 6 program is offered at the St. Bernard School,[18] in addition to other various parochial schools for different denominations.

Early care and education programs for pre-k children are available. The non-profit IndiKids or (Indiana County Child Day Care Centers) offers NAEYC-accredited care for children of students and community members on the campus of IUP and throughout the community.

Local media

Indiana's local newspaper is the Indiana Gazette. Indiana is also home to several radio stations:

FM stations
Call lettersFrequencyFormatLocationOwner
WFRJ88.9ReligiousJohnstownFamily Stations, Inc.
WQEJ89.7ClassicalJohnstownWQED Multimedia
WIUP90.1CollegeIndianaIndiana University of Pennsylvania
WQMU92.5Hot ACIndianaSt. Pier Group, LLC
WFGI95.5CountryJohnstownForever Broadcasting
WKYE96.5Adult ContemporaryJohnstownForever Broadcasting
WFGY98.1CountryAltoonaForever Broadcasting
WRKW99.1RockEbensburgForever Broadcasting
WFSJ103.7Christian ContemporaryIndianaGodstock Ministries, Inc.
WMUG105.1ReligiousIndianaThe Christian Witness, Inc.
WLCY106.3CountryBlairsvilleSt. Pier Group, LLC
AM stations
Call lettersFrequencyFormatLocationOwner
WKHB620OldiesIrwinBroadcast Communications, Inc.
KDKA1020News/TalkPittsburghRadio.com
WCCS1160News/TalkHomer CitySt. Pier Group, LLC
WDAD1450OldiesIndianaRenda Broadcasting Corporation

As mentioned earlier, Indiana receives Television stations from both Pittsburgh and Johnstown-Altoona markets.

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. "Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas" (PDF). Whitehouse.gov. February 28, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 19, 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  5. Swetnam, George (1991). A Guideline to Historic Western Pennsylvania. University of Pittsburgh Press. ISBN 0822936305. ISBN 9780822936305, ISBN 0822954249, ISBN 9780822954248.
  6. "About The Indiana weekly messenger. (Indiana, Pa.) 1874-1946". Library of Congress. Archived from the original on January 19, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  7. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  8. "Jimmy Stewart - Biography on Bio". December 8, 2009. Archived from the original on December 8, 2009.
  9. "Indiana County Holiday Season".
  10. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Archived from the original on May 27, 2002. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  11. "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  12. "Number of Inhabitants: Pennsylvania" (PDF). 18th Census of the United States. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 8, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  13. "Pennsylvania: Population and Housing Unit Counts" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 8, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  14. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  15. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  16. Wells, Randy. "Census finds more losses than gain in Indiana County". Indiana Gazette.
  17. "Source: 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-year estimates released December 2011" (PDF). US Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 20, 2013. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
  18. "St. Bernard Regional Catholic School". stbernardlc.org. October 14, 2016. Archived from the original on January 19, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.