Central City, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Central City is a borough
in Somerset County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 1,258 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is located ENE of Stoystown
and northeast of Somerset
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), all of it land.
The actual center of Pennsylvania is in Centre County
.
Central City has the eighth-highest elevation of towns in Pennsylvania, at 2200 feet.
The inhabitants of Central City borough and the surrounding area are served by nine churches, sixteen stores, one hotel, five garages and service stations, three barber shops, a printing house, a photo studio, two funeral homes, a greenhouse, two veterans' organizations-American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, and one financial institution—Central City Bank, a branch of AmeriServ Financial Bank of Johnstown.
The Central City Volunteer Fire Company provides efficient fire protection for both the borough and the surrounding area. The Central City post office was established in 1919, with Joseph Lohr as the first postmaster. A new post-office building was erected in 1962, and Joseph Kudasik, Jr., is the present postmaster. Free mail service was established in the borough in 1955. Free public recreation facilities are owned by the borough, such as a tennis court, baseball held, swimming pool, and a well-maintained park. The Municipal Building, owned by the borough, contains a mayor's office, an office for the chief of police, a council chamber, a large community hall, and a prison room. It also houses the equipment of the fire company.
of 2000, there were 1,258 people, 538 households, and 362 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 2,325.6 people per square mile (899.5/km²). There were 595 housing units at an average density of 1,099.9 per square mile (425.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.36% White, 0.08% African American, 0.16% Asian, 0.08% from other races
, and 0.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.08% of the population.
There were 538 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples
living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the borough the population was spread out with 21.6% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 22.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $26,581, and the median income for a family was $32,455. Males had a median income of $26,700 versus $17,833 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $13,263. About 8.2% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
in Somerset County
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 1,258 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania
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...
Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is located ENE of Stoystown
Stoystown, Pennsylvania
Stoystown is a borough in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 428 at the 2000 census...
and northeast of Somerset
Somerset, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 6,762 people, 3,035 households, and 1,717 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,466.0 people per square mile . There were 3,313 housing units at an average density of 1,208.2 per square mile...
.
Geography
Central City is located at 40°6′33"N 78°48′15"W (40.109094, -78.804121).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 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), all of it land.
The actual center of Pennsylvania is 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....
.
Central City has the eighth-highest elevation of towns in Pennsylvania, at 2200 feet.
History
Central City is situated on lands originally owned by Shade Township's first settlers, Casper Stotler and George Lambert. It was founded in 1894 by Anthony Wechtenhiser and received its name from its central location along the projected Midland Railroad. The objective was to build a railroad into the large coal field known to exist in this region. The projected railroad, under a preliminary survey made in 1894, would have extended the road southeast along Dark Shade Creek and Shingle Run valleys, across the mountain by way of Frazier's Gap, into Bedford County and eastward to the Atlantic seaboard. However, the project failed to develop. In 1913 an extension to the town was laid out by the Cook and Neasley Realty Company on lands then owned by John Wechtenhiser and Obadiah Lohr. The town was incorporated into the borough of Central City in 1918. The present population is about 2,700.The inhabitants of Central City borough and the surrounding area are served by nine churches, sixteen stores, one hotel, five garages and service stations, three barber shops, a printing house, a photo studio, two funeral homes, a greenhouse, two veterans' organizations-American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, and one financial institution—Central City Bank, a branch of AmeriServ Financial Bank of Johnstown.
The Central City Volunteer Fire Company provides efficient fire protection for both the borough and the surrounding area. The Central City post office was established in 1919, with Joseph Lohr as the first postmaster. A new post-office building was erected in 1962, and Joseph Kudasik, Jr., is the present postmaster. Free mail service was established in the borough in 1955. Free public recreation facilities are owned by the borough, such as a tennis court, baseball held, swimming pool, and a well-maintained park. The Municipal Building, owned by the borough, contains a mayor's office, an office for the chief of police, a council chamber, a large community hall, and a prison room. It also houses the equipment of the fire company.
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 1,258 people, 538 households, and 362 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 2,325.6 people per square mile (899.5/km²). There were 595 housing units at an average density of 1,099.9 per square mile (425.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.36% White, 0.08% African American, 0.16% Asian, 0.08% 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 0.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.08% of the population.
There were 538 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% 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, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the borough the population was spread out with 21.6% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 22.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $26,581, and the median income for a family was $32,455. Males had a median income of $26,700 versus $17,833 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 $13,263. About 8.2% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.