St. Marys, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
St. Marys is a city in Elk County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 14,502 at the 2000 census. Originally a small, Bavarian Catholic town, St. Marys was founded December 8, 1842. It is home to Straub Brewery
and the first Benedictine
convent
in the United States. In 1992, the borough of St. Marys absorbed the surrounding township of Benzinger and incorporated as a city, though much of the city's area remains wild.
St. Marys lies in the center of Pennsylvania's elk
country. It is one of the few places east of the Mississippi River
that allows hunting of wild elk. The area is known for its access to outdoor activities, including trout streams and state hunting lands inside the city limits.
, added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1998. The Decker's Chapel
and John E. Weidenboerner House
are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 99.5 square miles (257.7 km²), of which 99.3 sq mi (257.2 km²) is land and 0.2 sq mi (0.517997622 km²) (0.16%) is water. It is at a relatively high elevation of 1,666 ft (508 m) above sea level. Due to its incorporation of Benzinger Township in 1992, it is the second largest city, in land area, in the state, behind Philadelphia . It is also ranked as the 89th largest United States city by area.
The city is bordered by Jones Township
to the north, Cameron County
to the east, Fox
and Jay Township
s to the south, and Ridgway Township
to the west.
of 2000, there were 14,502 people, 5,723 households, and 4,000 families residing in the city. The population density
was 146.0 people per square mile (56.4/km2). There were 6,092 housing units at an average density of 61.3 per square mile (23.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.75% White, 0.23% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.12% from other races
, and 0.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.30% of the population.
There were 5,723 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples
living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $41,593, and the median income for a family was $51,263. Males had a median income of $36,432 versus $22,947 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $19,885. About 2.9% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.
The city's main highway is PA 255. Bus service is provided by ATA.
The St. Marys Area Middle School and the St. Marys Area High School are located next to each other on a large complex near the edge of the city. Grades 6-8 are taught at the middle school, and grades 9-12 are taught at the high school.
St. Marys Catholic Middle School, which has one building, was built in the early 1950s and houses grades 6-8. Elk County Catholic High School
, known prior to the early 2000s as Elk County Christian High School, has classes for grades 9-12. It was built in 1961.
Until the early 2000s, the Catholic school system's elementary and middle schools, then known respectively as the Queen of the World School and the St. Marys Parochial School, each served all students up through eighth grade who attended their respective Catholic churches, as did the Sacred Heart School. When the school system was reworked into its current format due to declining attendance, the Sacred Heart School was closed.
, built by Michael Decker after a back injury, has been called the smallest chapel in America. It is located on South St. Marys Road.
St. Joseph's Monastery, home of the Benedictine Sisters of Elk County
, is the oldest Benedictine
women's religious order
in the United States, founded in 1852. Sisters still serve the community today.
Straub Brewery, was founded in 1831 in the Pittsburgh area and moved to St. Marys in the 1850s. Tours of the brewery include a stop at the "Eternal Tap," at which a person can drink a free glass of Straub beer.
Elk County, Pennsylvania
Elk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 31,946.Elk County was created on April 18, 1843, from parts of Jefferson, Clearfield and McKean Counties, and is named for the Eastern elk that historically inhabited the region. Its county...
, 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 14,502 at the 2000 census. Originally a small, Bavarian Catholic town, St. Marys was founded December 8, 1842. It is home to Straub Brewery
Straub Beer
Straub Brewery in St. Marys, Pennsylvania, brews the award-winning Straub Beer, Straub Light Beer, and Peter Straub's Special Dark.- History :...
and the first Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
in the United States. In 1992, the borough of St. Marys absorbed the surrounding township of Benzinger and incorporated as a city, though much of the city's area remains wild.
St. Marys lies in the center of Pennsylvania's elk
Elk
The Elk is the large deer, also called Cervus canadensis or wapiti, of North America and eastern Asia.Elk may also refer to:Other antlered mammals:...
country. It is one of the few places east of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
that allows hunting of wild elk. The area is known for its access to outdoor activities, including trout streams and state hunting lands inside the city limits.
History
Many historic structures are located within the boundaries of the St. Marys Historic DistrictSt. Marys Historic District (St. Marys, Pennsylvania)
St. Marys Historic District is a national historic district located at St. Marys in Elk County, Pennsylvania. It includes 399 contributing buildings, two contributing sites, one contributing structure, and five contributing objects. It encompasses the historic central business district, adjacent...
, added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1998. The Decker's Chapel
Decker's Chapel
Decker's Chapel is a historic chapel on Earth Road and PA 255 in St. Mary's, Elk County, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1856 and is a one story gable-end oriented and clapboard clad wood frame structure. It measures 12 feet by 18 feet and contains a single, plastered room. It features a...
and John E. Weidenboerner House
John E. Weidenboerner House
John E. Weidenboerner House is a historic home located at St. Mary's in Elk County, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1881 in the Italianate style. It is located within the St. Marys Historic District....
are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Geography
St. Marys is located at 41.437600°N 78.542724°W (41.437600, -78.542724).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 city has a total area of 99.5 square miles (257.7 km²), of which 99.3 sq mi (257.2 km²) is land and 0.2 sq mi (0.517997622 km²) (0.16%) is water. It is at a relatively high elevation of 1,666 ft (508 m) above sea level. Due to its incorporation of Benzinger Township in 1992, it is the second largest city, in land area, in the state, behind Philadelphia . It is also ranked as the 89th largest United States city by area.
The city is bordered by Jones Township
Jones Township, Pennsylvania
Jones Township is a township in Elk County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,721 at the 2000 census. Bendigo State Park and part of Elk State Park, two Pennsylvania state parks are in Jones Township, on the East Branch of the Clarion River....
to the north, Cameron County
Cameron County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,974 people, 2,465 households, and 1,624 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile . There were 4,592 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
to the east, Fox
Fox Township, Elk County, Pennsylvania
Fox Township is a township in Elk County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,734 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which is land and is water....
and Jay Township
Jay Township, Pennsylvania
Jay Township is a township in Elk County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,094 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which is land and is water....
s to the south, and Ridgway Township
Ridgway Township, Pennsylvania
Ridgway Township is a township in Elk County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,802 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 87.8 square miles , of which 87.3 square miles is land and 0.5 square...
to the west.
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 14,502 people, 5,723 households, and 4,000 families residing in the city. 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 146.0 people per square mile (56.4/km2). There were 6,092 housing units at an average density of 61.3 per square mile (23.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.75% White, 0.23% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.12% 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 0.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.30% of the population.
There were 5,723 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% 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, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $41,593, and the median income for a family was $51,263. Males had a median income of $36,432 versus $22,947 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 city was $19,885. About 2.9% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
The city's airport is St. Marys Municipal Airport (IATA: STQ) about 3 miles (4.8 km) southeast of the city. Currently, it is a general aviation airport; however, commercial airlines are showing interest because of the new terminal building and equipment upgrades.The city's main highway is PA 255. Bus service is provided by ATA.
Public school district
St. Marys's public school district has three elementary schools, one of which, the South St. Marys Street Elementary School, is located within the city. It houses kindergarten through fifth grade classes for public school students within the city limits; similar services are provided to residents of Fox Township and Jay Township by, respectively, the Fox Township Elementary School in Kersey and the Bennett's Valley Elementary School in Weedville.The St. Marys Area Middle School and the St. Marys Area High School are located next to each other on a large complex near the edge of the city. Grades 6-8 are taught at the middle school, and grades 9-12 are taught at the high school.
Catholic school system
St. Marys Catholic Elementary School has one building, which is connected to Queen of the World Church. In 2002, an addition was built, adding four classrooms and a gymnasium. It also recently had a playground added. It houses grades pre-K through 5.St. Marys Catholic Middle School, which has one building, was built in the early 1950s and houses grades 6-8. Elk County Catholic High School
Elk County Catholic High School
Elk County Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in St. Marys, Pennsylvania. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie.-Background:...
, known prior to the early 2000s as Elk County Christian High School, has classes for grades 9-12. It was built in 1961.
Until the early 2000s, the Catholic school system's elementary and middle schools, then known respectively as the Queen of the World School and the St. Marys Parochial School, each served all students up through eighth grade who attended their respective Catholic churches, as did the Sacred Heart School. When the school system was reworked into its current format due to declining attendance, the Sacred Heart School was closed.
Landmarks
Decker's ChapelDecker's Chapel
Decker's Chapel is a historic chapel on Earth Road and PA 255 in St. Mary's, Elk County, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1856 and is a one story gable-end oriented and clapboard clad wood frame structure. It measures 12 feet by 18 feet and contains a single, plastered room. It features a...
, built by Michael Decker after a back injury, has been called the smallest chapel in America. It is located on South St. Marys Road.
St. Joseph's Monastery, home of the Benedictine Sisters of Elk County
Benedictine Sisters of Elk County
The Benedictine Sisters of Elk County is the oldest Benedictine women's religious order in the United States and is located in St. Marys, Pennsylvania at St. Joseph's Monastery....
, is the oldest Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
women's religious order
Religious order
A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of its founder's religious practice. The order is composed of initiates and, in some...
in the United States, founded in 1852. Sisters still serve the community today.
Straub Brewery, was founded in 1831 in the Pittsburgh area and moved to St. Marys in the 1850s. Tours of the brewery include a stop at the "Eternal Tap," at which a person can drink a free glass of Straub beer.
Notable people
- Dr. George AlbeeGeorge AlbeeGeorge Wilson Albee was a pioneer in clinical psychology, who believed societal factors were the major cause of mental illness. He was one of the leading figures in the development of community psychology.-Career:...
- psychologist - Edward C. MeyerEdward C. MeyerEdward Charles "Shy" Meyer was a United States Army general and Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army.-Early Life and Career:...
- former general, US Army - Joe BeimelJoe BeimelJoseph Ronald Beimel is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-Amateur career:...
, professional baseball athlete; pitcherPitcherIn baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
, Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh PiratesThe Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions... - Dan ConnersDan ConnersDan Conners is a graduate of St. Marys Area High School and a former American college and professional football player who played linebacker for the American Football League's Oakland Raiders from 1964 through 1969, and for the NFL Raiders from 1970 through 1974...
, professional football athlete; linebackerLinebackerA linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
, Oakland RaidersOakland RaidersThe Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Chuck DalyChuck DalyCharles Jerome "Chuck" Daly was an American basketball head coach. He led the Detroit Pistons to consecutive National Basketball Association Championships in 1989 and 1990, and the Dream Team to the men's basketball gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics. He had a 14-year NBA coaching...
- basketball coach (high school, college, NBA, Olympics)
External links
- Saint Marys Area Chamber of Commerce
- Saint Marys at City-Data.com