Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Rockhill is a borough in Huntingdon County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 414 at the 2000 census. It is the site of the East Broad Top Railroad
.
Although the community was long known as "Rockhill Furnace," its name has always officially been "Rockhill."
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 414 people, 173 households, and 119 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 1,323.8 people per square mile (515.6/km²). There were 186 housing units at an average density of 594.7 per square mile (231.7/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.28% White, 0.72% from other races
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.42% of the population.
There were 173 households out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% were married couples
living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the borough the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 84.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.7 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $27,639, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $31,125 versus $20,375 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $15,376. About 9.4% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.0% of those under age 18 and 21.3% of those age 65 or over.
was constructed through the community in 1873. Rockhill was selected as the location of the railroad's maintenance facility. The parent company Rockhill Iron and Coal, located their dual-stack coke fired iron furnace here. Rockhill as it exists today was created by the coal company and the railroad as a support community for their infrastructure.
The iron furnace shut down for the last time in 1907 and the railroad became the primary employer. The EBT shut down in 1956 but a portion from Rochill north to Shirleysburg
was reactivated in 1960 as a tourist operation. In the late 2000s the track to the south was rehabilitated to PA 475
sufficiently for speeders to operate and give rides to the public.
Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania
Huntingdon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. In 2010, its population was 45,913.Huntingdon County was created on September 20, 1787, from part of Bedford County. Its county seat is Huntingdon.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, 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 414 at the 2000 census. It is the site of the East Broad Top Railroad
East Broad Top Railroad
The East Broad Top Railroad and Coal Company is a for-profit heritage railroad headquartered in Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania, north of Interstate 76 and south of U.S. Route 22, the William Penn Highway. The railroad operates excursion trains on a seasonal schedule.-History:The East Broad Top...
.
Although the community was long known as "Rockhill Furnace," its name has always officially been "Rockhill."
Geography
Rockhill is located at 40°14′35"N 77°54′2"W (40.242927, -77.900433).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 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 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 414 people, 173 households, and 119 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 1,323.8 people per square mile (515.6/km²). There were 186 housing units at an average density of 594.7 per square mile (231.7/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.28% White, 0.72% 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...
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.42% of the population.
There were 173 households out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% 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, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the borough the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 84.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.7 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $27,639, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $31,125 versus $20,375 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 $15,376. About 9.4% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.0% of those under age 18 and 21.3% of those age 65 or over.
History
The narrow gauge East Broad Top RailroadEast Broad Top Railroad
The East Broad Top Railroad and Coal Company is a for-profit heritage railroad headquartered in Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania, north of Interstate 76 and south of U.S. Route 22, the William Penn Highway. The railroad operates excursion trains on a seasonal schedule.-History:The East Broad Top...
was constructed through the community in 1873. Rockhill was selected as the location of the railroad's maintenance facility. The parent company Rockhill Iron and Coal, located their dual-stack coke fired iron furnace here. Rockhill as it exists today was created by the coal company and the railroad as a support community for their infrastructure.
The iron furnace shut down for the last time in 1907 and the railroad became the primary employer. The EBT shut down in 1956 but a portion from Rochill north to Shirleysburg
Shirleysburg, Pennsylvania
Shirleysburg is a borough in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 140 at the 2000 census.-History:Shirleysburg was originally the site of, and takes its name from Fort Shirley, a French and Indian War fort...
was reactivated in 1960 as a tourist operation. In the late 2000s the track to the south was rehabilitated to PA 475
Pennsylvania Route 475
Pennsylvania Route 475 is an long state highway located in Fulton and Huntingdon counties in Pennsylvania. The southern terminus is at US 522 in Dublin Township. The northern terminus is at PA 994 near Rockhill Furnace...
sufficiently for speeders to operate and give rides to the public.