Aaronsburg, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Aaronsburg is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Centre County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 613 at the 2010 census.
.
Aaronsburg is home to two churches (Salem Lutheran and Reformed), three cemeteries, a library, historical museum, and a pottery shop.
In 1949 a pageant was held to celebrate Aaronsburg's unique history and namesake. Aaron Levy, a Jewish merchant from Philadelphia, presented the town's residents with a pewter communion set as a gift. This unusual gesture inspired many, and 50,000 people descended upon Aaronsburg to commemorate it. Attendees included Ralph Bunche
, Cornell Wilde, and, later, Ronald Reagan
. A short film and book were written about this event.
The Aaronsburg Historic District
was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1980.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 485 people, 201 households, and 146 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 931.1 people per square mile (360.1/km²). There were 209 housing units at an average density of 401.2/sq mi (155.2/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 99.59% White, 0.21% Native American, and 0.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.82% of the population.
There were 201 households out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.7% were married couples
living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $40,833, and the median income for a family was $41,667. Males had a median income of $30,938 versus $28,036 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $21,011. About 3.2% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Centre County
Centre County, Pennsylvania
Centre County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 153,990....
, 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 State College, Pennsylvania
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...
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 613 at the 2010 census.
History
Founded by Aaron Levy in 1786, and named for him, The town's orderly planned and aligned streets were designed that the town might one day be the county seat. This, however never occurred due to the lack of water. The current county seat is BellefonteBellefonte, Pennsylvania
Bellefonte is a borough in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It lies about twelve miles northeast of State College and is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
Aaronsburg is home to two churches (Salem Lutheran and Reformed), three cemeteries, a library, historical museum, and a pottery shop.
In 1949 a pageant was held to celebrate Aaronsburg's unique history and namesake. Aaron Levy, a Jewish merchant from Philadelphia, presented the town's residents with a pewter communion set as a gift. This unusual gesture inspired many, and 50,000 people descended upon Aaronsburg to commemorate it. Attendees included Ralph Bunche
Ralph Bunche
Ralph Johnson Bunche or 1904December 9, 1971) was an American political scientist and diplomat who received the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize for his late 1940s mediation in Palestine. He was the first person of color to be so honored in the history of the Prize...
, Cornell Wilde, and, later, Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
. A short film and book were written about this event.
The Aaronsburg Historic District
Aaronsburg Historic District
Aaronsburg Historic District is a national historic district located at Aaronsburg, Centre County, Pennsylvania. The district includes 277 contributing buildings, 3 contributing sites, and 1 contributing object in Aaronsburg. The district is almost exclusively residential with one grocery store...
was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1980.
Geography
Aaronsburg is located at 40°54′3"N 77°27′12"W (40.900946, -77.453383).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 CDP has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), all of it land.
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 485 people, 201 households, and 146 families residing in the CDP. 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 931.1 people per square mile (360.1/km²). There were 209 housing units at an average density of 401.2/sq mi (155.2/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 99.59% White, 0.21% Native American, and 0.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.82% of the population.
There were 201 households out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.7% 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, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $40,833, and the median income for a family was $41,667. Males had a median income of $30,938 versus $28,036 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 CDP was $21,011. About 3.2% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- John H. Stover, (1833–1889), born in Aaronsburg, United States Congressman from MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
.
Further reading
- Aaron Levy, by Isabella H. Rosenbach and Abraham S. Wolf Rosenbach, in Publ. Am. Jew. Hist. Soc. No. 2, 1894, pp. 157–163.