Port Carbon, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Port Carbon is a borough of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
, two miles (3 km) northeast of Pottsville, Pa.
It is in a coal-mining area; in the past, ironworks had been a feature of the borough. In 1900, 2,168 people lived here; in 1910, 2,678 people were inhabitants of Port Carbon. The population was 2,019 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 2,019 people, 846 households, and 577 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 2,638.6 people per square mile (1,012.4/km²). There were 927 housing units at an average density of 1,211.5 per square mile (464.8/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.11% White, 0.54% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races
, and 0.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population.
There were 846 households out of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples
living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the borough the population was spread out with 20.5% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $30,875, and the median income for a family was $37,939. Males had a median income of $30,165 versus $20,872 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $16,496. About 5.2% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.4% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
Port Carbon was the site of the first lock on the Schuylkill Canal
, on its route for transport of coal (mined in the region) to Philadelphia. Robert Allison a local industrialist, purchased the first commercially manufactured automobile, a Winton
.
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....
, two miles (3 km) northeast of Pottsville, Pa.
Pottsville, Pennsylvania
Pottsville is the only city in and the county seat of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 15,549 at the 2000 census. The city lies along the west bank of the Schuylkill River, north-west of Philadelphia...
It is in a coal-mining area; in the past, ironworks had been a feature of the borough. In 1900, 2,168 people lived here; in 1910, 2,678 people were inhabitants of Port Carbon. The population was 2,019 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Port Carbon is located at 40°41′50"N 76°10′0"W (40.697210, -76.166734).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 0.8 square miles (2.1 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 2,019 people, 846 households, and 577 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 2,638.6 people per square mile (1,012.4/km²). There were 927 housing units at an average density of 1,211.5 per square mile (464.8/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.11% White, 0.54% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.05% 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 0.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population.
There were 846 households out of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% 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, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the borough the population was spread out with 20.5% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $30,875, and the median income for a family was $37,939. Males had a median income of $30,165 versus $20,872 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 $16,496. About 5.2% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.4% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
History
Port Carbon was founded by Abraham Pott, son of John Pott who founded Pottsville in 1806.Port Carbon was the site of the first lock on the Schuylkill Canal
Schuylkill Canal
Schuylkill Canal is the common, but technically inaccurate, name for the Schuylkill Navigation, a 19th-century commercial waterway in and along the Schuylkill River in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The "canal" was actually a system of interconnected man-made canals and slack-water pools in the...
, on its route for transport of coal (mined in the region) to Philadelphia. Robert Allison a local industrialist, purchased the first commercially manufactured automobile, a Winton
Winton Motor Carriage Company
The Winton Motor Carriage Company was a pioneer United States automobile manufacturer based in Cleveland, Ohio. Winton was one of the first American companies to sell a motor car.-1896:...
.