Girardville, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Girardville is a borough
in Schuylkill County
, Pennsylvania
, 58 miles (93.3 km) northwest of Reading
. Anthracite coal
deposits are in the region. Coal-mining provided employment and incomes for many of the 3,666 people who lived there in 1900. In 1910, 4,396 individuals called it home. The population was 1,742 at the 2000 census. It was founded in 1832 and is named after Stephen Girard
of Philadelphia who purchased large land holdings in and around the town. It was incorporated as a borough in 1872. It is known to many in Schuylkill County as "Gun-Town", for reasons unknown.
Girardville is the site of an annual St. Patrick's Day parade that is one of the largest in Pennsylvania. It made history on March 29, 2008 when former President Bill Clinton joined the marchers to the delight of 30,000 parade goers that lined the streets of the small coal town.
Girardville has five churches, one New Community Fellowship Church, one Methodist Episcopal, one Lutheran and two Roman Catholic Churches, St. Vincent de Paul and St. Joseph. The Reverend Father Edward B. Connolly is Pastor of both Catholic Churches. Father Connolly has appeared on EWTN in the series "Road to Cana".
Girardville is home to radio station WQDD - 107.9 FM.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), of which, 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it is land and 1.85% is water.
of 2000, there were 1,742 people, 767 households, and 486 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 3,327.4 people per square mile (1,293.4/km²). There were 886 housing units at an average density of 1,692.4 per square mile (657.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.43% White, 0.11% Native American, 0.06% from other races
, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.17% of the population.
There were 767 households out of which 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples
living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the borough the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $23,702, and the median income for a family was $30,000. Males had a median income of $26,906 versus $20,433 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $13,735. About 10.5% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.7% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.
A citizen who became famous in the "wild west" is "Captain Jack" Crawford
, (also known as the "Poet Scout") western actor, scout for General George Crook's campaign in the Black Hills, native of Carndonagh
, Ireland
and performer with William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill), was postmaster and had a small general store in Girardville in 1869-1874, leaving town to go out west to find Gold. His poem "Only a Miner Killed" about his experiences as a miner in the region was said to be used by Bob Dylan
as the basis for his song "Only a Hobo"
Another of Girardville's most famous citizens was John "Black Jack" Kehoe, the high constable of Girardville during the 1870s, whose charismatic leadership in the fight for labor rights by the coal miners of the period earned him a place in local, state, national and world history. Jack Kehoe was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians
and several divisions of the AOH now proudly bear his name.
Black Jack has gone down in history as a member of the Molly Maguires
, a group of Irish immigrants who allegedly committed acts against the mine and railroad owners for their own gains and was hung along with 19 other alleged Molly Maguires in a series of trials that today would be considered travesties of justice. These hangings are popularly known as "The Day of the Rope."
Today, Black Jack's tavern in Girardville, The Hibernian House, continues to be operated by his great grandson, Joseph Wayne and is a popular destination for historians, genealogists, and tourists searching for information on the Molly Maguires, the coal region culture, and their Irish roots. Through Joe Wayne's exhaustive efforts in the 1970s, he secured pardon for his great grandfather through then Pennsylvania governor, Milton Schapp.
John Kehoe, a native of Wicklow
, Ireland
, was buried in old St. Jerome's Cemetery in Tamaqua
. His gravesite is a historical site maintained by the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
The town of Girardville is alluded to in the comic book series Amelia Rules!
Created by Girardville native Jimmy Gownley
, the series, begun in 2001, has won several awards, been translated into numerous languages, and even turned into a stage musical.
In 2008, it was named the Pennsylvania Library Associations One Book Award Winner.
Although Gownley is no longer a resident of Girardville, his work references the town in many ways, including being set in a fictional version of Connerton, a town formerly located between Girardville, and Lost Creek
, as well as mentioning landmarks such as Centiole's Pizza
The Amelia Rules! series is currently published by Simon and Schuster.
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 Schuylkill County
Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
-Notable people:*Boxing heavyweight great Muhammad Ali had his training camp in Deer Lake.*Charles Justin Bailey, commanding general of the 81st Division in World War I, was born in Tamaqua on June 21, 1859....
, 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...
, 58 miles (93.3 km) northwest of Reading
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
. Anthracite coal
Anthracite coal
Anthracite is a hard, compact variety of mineral coal that has a high luster...
deposits are in the region. Coal-mining provided employment and incomes for many of the 3,666 people who lived there in 1900. In 1910, 4,396 individuals called it home. The population was 1,742 at the 2000 census. It was founded in 1832 and is named after Stephen Girard
Stephen Girard
Stephen Girard was a French-born, naturalized American, philanthropist and banker. He personally saved the U.S. government from financial collapse during the War of 1812, and became one of the wealthiest men in America, estimated to have been the fourth richest American of all time, based on the...
of Philadelphia who purchased large land holdings in and around the town. It was incorporated as a borough in 1872. It is known to many in Schuylkill County as "Gun-Town", for reasons unknown.
Girardville is the site of an annual St. Patrick's Day parade that is one of the largest in Pennsylvania. It made history on March 29, 2008 when former President Bill Clinton joined the marchers to the delight of 30,000 parade goers that lined the streets of the small coal town.
Girardville has five churches, one New Community Fellowship Church, one Methodist Episcopal, one Lutheran and two Roman Catholic Churches, St. Vincent de Paul and St. Joseph. The Reverend Father Edward B. Connolly is Pastor of both Catholic Churches. Father Connolly has appeared on EWTN in the series "Road to Cana".
Girardville is home to radio station WQDD - 107.9 FM.
Geography
Girardville is located at 40°47′32"N 76°17′4"W (40.792104, -76.284555).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), of which, 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it is land and 1.85% is water.
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 1,742 people, 767 households, and 486 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 3,327.4 people per square mile (1,293.4/km²). There were 886 housing units at an average density of 1,692.4 per square mile (657.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.43% White, 0.11% Native American, 0.06% 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 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.17% of the population.
There were 767 households out of which 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% 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, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the borough the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $23,702, and the median income for a family was $30,000. Males had a median income of $26,906 versus $20,433 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 $13,735. About 10.5% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.7% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
Probably the most famous native of Girardville was Dennis Cardinal Dougherty, a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He was born in the village of Homesville on the outskirts of Girardville in 1865 and reigned as Archbishop of Philadelphia from 1918 until his death in 1951.A citizen who became famous in the "wild west" is "Captain Jack" Crawford
John Wallace Crawford
John Wallace Crawford , known as "The Poet Scout", was an American Civil War veteran, an American Old West scout, and a poet of western lore. He was a scout for General George Crook and General Phil Sheridan, friend of Wild Bill Hickok and co-actor, performer and scout with William F. Cody...
, (also known as the "Poet Scout") western actor, scout for General George Crook's campaign in the Black Hills, native of Carndonagh
Carndonagh
Carndonagh is a town on the Inishowen peninsula in County Donegal, Ireland and is home to the Irish Space Exploration Mission. The town is located near Malin Head, the most northerly point of Ireland and lies close to the shores of Trawbeaga Bay...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and performer with William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill), was postmaster and had a small general store in Girardville in 1869-1874, leaving town to go out west to find Gold. His poem "Only a Miner Killed" about his experiences as a miner in the region was said to be used by Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
as the basis for his song "Only a Hobo"
Another of Girardville's most famous citizens was John "Black Jack" Kehoe, the high constable of Girardville during the 1870s, whose charismatic leadership in the fight for labor rights by the coal miners of the period earned him a place in local, state, national and world history. Jack Kehoe was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians
Ancient Order of Hibernians
The Ancient Order of Hibernians is an Irish Catholic fraternal organization. Members must be Catholic and either Irish born or of Irish descent. Its largest membership is now in the United States, where it was founded in New York City in 1836...
and several divisions of the AOH now proudly bear his name.
Black Jack has gone down in history as a member of the Molly Maguires
Molly Maguires
The Molly Maguires were members of an Irish-American secret society, whose members consisted mainly of coal miners. Many historians believe the "Mollies" were present in the anthracite coal fields of Pennsylvania in the United States from approximately the time of the American Civil War until a...
, a group of Irish immigrants who allegedly committed acts against the mine and railroad owners for their own gains and was hung along with 19 other alleged Molly Maguires in a series of trials that today would be considered travesties of justice. These hangings are popularly known as "The Day of the Rope."
Today, Black Jack's tavern in Girardville, The Hibernian House, continues to be operated by his great grandson, Joseph Wayne and is a popular destination for historians, genealogists, and tourists searching for information on the Molly Maguires, the coal region culture, and their Irish roots. Through Joe Wayne's exhaustive efforts in the 1970s, he secured pardon for his great grandfather through then Pennsylvania governor, Milton Schapp.
John Kehoe, a native of Wicklow
Wicklow
Wicklow) is the county town of County Wicklow in Ireland. Located south of Dublin on the east coast of the island, it has a population of 10,070 according to the 2006 census. The town is situated to the east of the N11 route between Dublin and Wexford. Wicklow is also connected to the rail...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, was buried in old St. Jerome's Cemetery in Tamaqua
Tamaqua, Pennsylvania
Tamaqua is a borough in eastern Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The borough, located in Northeastern Pennsylvania's Coal Region, had a population of 7,107 as of the 2010 U.S...
. His gravesite is a historical site maintained by the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
The town of Girardville is alluded to in the comic book series Amelia Rules!
Amelia Rules!
Amelia Rules! is the title of a comic book series written and drawn by Jimmy Gownley. Amelia Rules! follows the life of Amelia Louise McBride as she adjusts to life in a new town after her parents' divorce causes her to leave life in Manhattan...
Created by Girardville native Jimmy Gownley
Jimmy Gownley
Jimmy Gownley is an American comic book writer/artist best known for his award winning comic book Amelia Rules. He grew up in the small town of Girardville, Pennsylvania and started to write and draw his own comics at an early age. His first published work was Shades of Gray, which he...
, the series, begun in 2001, has won several awards, been translated into numerous languages, and even turned into a stage musical.
In 2008, it was named the Pennsylvania Library Associations One Book Award Winner.
Although Gownley is no longer a resident of Girardville, his work references the town in many ways, including being set in a fictional version of Connerton, a town formerly located between Girardville, and Lost Creek
Lost Creek (Pennsylvania)
Lost Creek is a tributary of the Juniata River in central Pennsylvania in the United States.Lost Creek joins the Juniata River at the community of Cuba Mills in Juniata County.-References:...
, as well as mentioning landmarks such as Centiole's Pizza
The Amelia Rules! series is currently published by Simon and Schuster.