Blossburg, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Blossburg is a borough
in Tioga County
, Pennsylvania
, in the United States. The population was 1,480 at the 2000 census.
, in Lycoming County
, to Painted Post
in New York
under the leadership of Robert and Benjamin Patterson discovered coal
within the present town limits of Blossburg. When the group reached the Tioga River
, they established a supply camp upon its banks.
In 1801, Aaron Bloss moved to Tioga County
and in 1802, moved to the area known as "Peter’s Camp". He is considered the first settler of Blossburg. Sometime between 1818 and 1820, Aaron Bloss made the first attempt to found a town by changing the name of Peter’s Camp to Blossburg. Blossburg was finally recognized and incorporated a borough in August 1871.
The real mining history of Blossburg Coal began shortly after 1810 when David Clemens made the first effort to mine and market coal. Clemens opened a mine on Bear Run between 1812 and 1815, serving only the Painted Post area. Around the same time a lower vein was opened on Bear Run by Aaron Bloss. This vein is known as the Bloss Vein but was used only to satisfy local demands.
The first efforts of coal shipping were on a small scale due to the poor road conditions and the poor navigating ability along the Tioga River. In 1817, a coalition of Bloss and the other miners asked the legislature for funds to improve these routes. In the meantime, Blossburg Coal was being shipped to Painted Post, Elmira
, and Corning
.
More important than the local runs, Blossburg Coal was being shipped to Albany
where it influenced railroad and canal navigation legislation, and also to Philadelphia where it attracted the enterprising businessmen.
In 1826, Judge John H. Knapp erected an iron ore smelting works within the borough limits. Knapp also opened coal mines on Coal Run and ore mines on "Barney Hill".
In July 1840, the railroad found its way through Covington from Corning, and was opened for locomotives to Blossburg in September. This railroad allowed the mines to be tapped and for their coal to be easily distributed through the Twin Tiers.
For more than 150 years, coal has played a vital role in the development of Blossburg. Today many of the mines that still exist are dormant. However Ward Manufacturing is a descendant of the Blossburg Coal mining industry and is currently the largest business operating in the Blossburg area.
On June 23, 1967, Mohawk Airlines Flight 40
crashed outside of Blossburg with a loss of all 34 passengers and crew. Flight 40 was a regularly scheduled passenger flight between Elmira, New York and Washington, DC. The aircraft was a BAC 1-11
-204AF.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,480 people, 647 households, and 390 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 311.8 people per square mile (120.3/km²). There were 694 housing units at an average density of 146.2 per square mile (56.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.05% White, 0.27% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.14% from other races
, and 0.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population.
There were 647 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples
living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.6% were non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the borough the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 21.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $29,449, and the median income for a family was $41,563. Males had a median income of $27,625 versus $21,133 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $17,375. About 7.0% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.7% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.
Borough (Pennsylvania)
In the U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a borough is a self-governing municipal entity that is usually smaller than a city. There are 958 boroughs in Pennsylvania. All municipalities in Pennsylvania are classified as either cities, boroughs, or townships...
in Tioga County
Tioga County, Pennsylvania
Tioga County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 41,981. Tioga County was created on March 26, 1804, from part of Lycoming County and named for the Tioga River. Its county seat is Wellsboro....
, 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...
, in the United States. The population was 1,480 at the 2000 census.
History
In 1792 a party of immigrants who were building the Williamson Road from WilliamsportWilliamsport, Pennsylvania
Williamsport is a city in and the county seat of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania in the United States. In 2009, the population was estimated at 29,304...
, in Lycoming County
Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
-Appalachian Mountains and Allegheny Plateau:Lycoming County is divided between the Appalachian Mountains in the south, the dissected Allegheny Plateau in the north and east, and the valley of the West Branch Susquehanna River between these.-West Branch Susquehanna River:The West Branch of the...
, to Painted Post
Painted Post, New York
Painted Post is a village in Steuben County, New York, United States. The village is in the town of Erwin, west of the city of Corning. The population was 1,842 at the 2000 census. The name comes from a painted and carved post found by explorers at the junction of three local rivers...
in 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...
under the leadership of Robert and Benjamin Patterson discovered coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
within the present town limits of Blossburg. When the group reached the Tioga River
Tioga River (Chemung River)
The Tioga River is a tributary of the Chemung River, approximately long, in northern Pennsylvania and western New York in the United States...
, they established a supply camp upon its banks.
In 1801, Aaron Bloss moved to Tioga County
Tioga County, Pennsylvania
Tioga County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 41,981. Tioga County was created on March 26, 1804, from part of Lycoming County and named for the Tioga River. Its county seat is Wellsboro....
and in 1802, moved to the area known as "Peter’s Camp". He is considered the first settler of Blossburg. Sometime between 1818 and 1820, Aaron Bloss made the first attempt to found a town by changing the name of Peter’s Camp to Blossburg. Blossburg was finally recognized and incorporated a borough in August 1871.
The real mining history of Blossburg Coal began shortly after 1810 when David Clemens made the first effort to mine and market coal. Clemens opened a mine on Bear Run between 1812 and 1815, serving only the Painted Post area. Around the same time a lower vein was opened on Bear Run by Aaron Bloss. This vein is known as the Bloss Vein but was used only to satisfy local demands.
The first efforts of coal shipping were on a small scale due to the poor road conditions and the poor navigating ability along the Tioga River. In 1817, a coalition of Bloss and the other miners asked the legislature for funds to improve these routes. In the meantime, Blossburg Coal was being shipped to Painted Post, Elmira
Elmira, New York
Elmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. It is the principal city of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses Chemung County, New York. The population was 29,200 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County.The City of Elmira is located in...
, and Corning
Corning (city), New York
Corning is a city in Steuben County, New York, United States, on the Chemung River. The population was 10,842 at the 2000 census. It is named for Erastus Corning, an Albany financier and railroad executive who was an investor in the company that developed the community.- Overview :The city of...
.
More important than the local runs, Blossburg Coal was being shipped to Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
where it influenced railroad and canal navigation legislation, and also to Philadelphia where it attracted the enterprising businessmen.
In 1826, Judge John H. Knapp erected an iron ore smelting works within the borough limits. Knapp also opened coal mines on Coal Run and ore mines on "Barney Hill".
In July 1840, the railroad found its way through Covington from Corning, and was opened for locomotives to Blossburg in September. This railroad allowed the mines to be tapped and for their coal to be easily distributed through the Twin Tiers.
For more than 150 years, coal has played a vital role in the development of Blossburg. Today many of the mines that still exist are dormant. However Ward Manufacturing is a descendant of the Blossburg Coal mining industry and is currently the largest business operating in the Blossburg area.
On June 23, 1967, Mohawk Airlines Flight 40
Mohawk Airlines Flight 40
Mohawk Airlines Flight 40 was a scheduled passenger flight between Elmira, New York and Washington, DC. On June 23, 1967 it suffered a loss of control and crashed, killing all 30 passengers and 4 crew on board. It was the deadliest disaster in the airline's history.-Aircraft:This particular BAC...
crashed outside of Blossburg with a loss of all 34 passengers and crew. Flight 40 was a regularly scheduled passenger flight between Elmira, New York and Washington, DC. The aircraft was a BAC 1-11
BAC One-Eleven
The British Aircraft Corporation One-Eleven, also known as the BAC-111, BAC-1-11 or BAC 1-11, was a British short-range jet airliner of the 1960s and 1970s...
-204AF.
Geography
Blossburg is located at 41°40′39"N 77°3′56"W (41.677615, -77.065519).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 4.8 square miles (12.4 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 1,480 people, 647 households, and 390 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 311.8 people per square mile (120.3/km²). There were 694 housing units at an average density of 146.2 per square mile (56.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.05% White, 0.27% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.14% 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 0.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population.
There were 647 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% 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, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.6% were non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the borough the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 21.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $29,449, and the median income for a family was $41,563. Males had a median income of $27,625 versus $21,133 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 $17,375. About 7.0% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.7% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.