Williamsburg, Pennsylvania

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Williamsburg in Morrison Cove, is a borough in Blair County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,345 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Altoona, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Williamsburg is located at 40°27′42″N, 78°12′14″W (40.461587, -78.203954)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.0 km² (0.4 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 1,345 people, 562 households, and 349 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,403.5/km² (3,599.7/mi²). There were 583 housing units at an average density of 608.4/km² (1,560.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.96% White, 0.07% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.15% Asian, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.30% of the population.

There were 562 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the borough the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $29,375, and the median income for a family was $37,717. Males had a median income of $28,681 versus $20,526 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $14,019. About 10.1% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.0% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] General Information

  • Zip code: 16693
  • Area code: 814
  • Local code: 832

[edit] History

The borough was founded in 1790 by Jacob Ake[1]. Originally called Aketown, it is the oldest borough in the current confines of Blair County. Approximately 30 blocks, centered on High and Second Streets, comprise the Williamsburg Historic District, listed by the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. Nearby places also listed are: Etna Furnace and the Daniel Royer House.

Eddie Schneider landed and took off August 5, 1930 from Williamsburg during his transcontinental flight.

Williamsburg was the home of D. Raymond Sollenberger, a delegate to the 1956 Republican National Convention that re-nominated Dwight Eisenhower.

[edit] Geography

The borough limits include .4 square miles. Williamsburg is accessed by Pennsylvania Route 866, approximately fifteen miles from Altoona to the west and thirteen miles from Huntingdon to the east. The streets are laid out in a grid pattern; going from the Frankstown Branch Juniata River southward are First (or Front) Street, Second Street, Third Street, and Fourth Street (east side of the borough only). Union Street and Academy Alley/Sage Hill Drive follow the same direction of Fourth Street, if it continued. The main street is High Street, through the center of the borough (named for the High School, which used to stand on it.) Going east from High Street are Spring, Liberty, and Locust Streets; going west are Plum, Black, Taylor, and Dean Streets.

Union Street was named in honor of the federal union; Liberty Street for American liberty. Locust and Plum were named for trees. Black, Taylor and Dean were named for three Blair County judges born in Williamsburg. Academy Alley borders the school property. A small cross street along the eastern side of the high school, is named Blue Pirate Alley, after the high school mascot.

The Frankstown Branch Juniata River borders the borough. Piney Creek flows into this river to the east of the borough, and Clover Creek to the west. Across the river is Robeson Extension, usually considered part of Williamsburg, but actually lying in Catharine Township. Street names from the borough extend into the Extension, with the addition of Recreation Drive (borders the ballfields) and Home Street (borders Grace Pointe Community Church, former site of the Blair County Children's Home). The Williamsburg Farm show is held at the complex in Robeson Extension.

[edit] Government

Williamsburg has a mayor-council form of government. The current mayor is William Brantner; he succeeded Dennis Hammel, who succeeded Harold Mardis.

[edit] Education

The first school in Williamsburg was founded and taught by Jacob Ake, the borough's founder.

Williamsburg Community School District is one of Pennsylvania's smallest. The superintendent is Lee Swinsburg, and the school board is headed by Dr. Barry England. There are two buildings in use in the district; one for grades K-6, and one for grades 7-12. The high school mascot is the Blue Pirate. Sports offered at the high school include football, baseball, basketball for both sexes, and volleyball and softball for girls. Both the boys and girls basketball teams have won state championships. On October 13, 2006, the Blue Pirate football team won their first game since 2004. In addition to the public schools, students within the district also attend private schools in nearby Altoona and Huntingdon, as well as homeschooling.The girls junior basketball team has won the past two Juniata Valley league championships, only losing twice to the central/ Spring Cove Dragons both seasons. In 2005 the Junior High Boys won the Juniata Valley League championship to. The school districts website is http://www.Williamsburg.k12.pa./us.

The Williamsburg Public Library opened on January 28, 1950. The library was located in a back room of the Williamsburg Borough Building, and was open on Tuesdays and Saturday evenings from 7 to 9. Members of the Women's Civic Club served as volunteer librarians. In 1968 the library moved to the former Patterson home on West Second Street, and in December, 2001 it moved again to the former Presbyterian Church building. In 1966 the library became a member of the Blair County Library System. It currently serves the residents of Williamsburg, Catharine and Woodbury Townships, and parts of Huston and Frankstown Townships. The library provides a variety of programs, including story hours, book discussions, and poetry readings and is open five days a week. A Weight Watchers group meets weekly at the library. The library has a twelve station computer lab with high speed Internet and a community meeting room. The library's collection has thousands of books covering a wide variety of topics.

[edit] Recreation

The Lower Trail(pronounced like "power") is located in Williamsburg. This trailhead offers access to Alexandria, 11 miles east, and to Flowing Springs, five miles west. The trail is crushed limestone (paved in frequent flood areas) with grass on both sides. The trail offers access to the Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River along much of its length. This river is a prime fishing location for trout and other game fish. Many historical points of interest, especially involving the Pennsylvania Canal and the Pennsylvania Railroad, are located along the trail. This trail is popular for exercise, relaxation, and enjoyment of scenery.

[edit] Events

The Blair County Allied Firemens convention was held in Williamsburg at Riverside park on July 21-22. A parade and fireworks were on Saturday 7/22/06. The Williamsburg Community Farm Show is held annually, usually near the end of August. Rides and a midway are also provided; this event is known as Old Home Week. The Barnes and Carson Circus came to Williamsburg on 8/5/2006. This was the second time a big top in the last five years a big top has been raised.

[edit] The Arts

Residents of Williamsburg engage in many arts and crafts. Craft shows occur when artisans sell their work. Some of the media worked in include leathercraft, metal, and wood. Local cabinetmakers craft fine wood furniture.

Musically, the high school band has won awards. The band traveled to Dublin, Ireland, in the late 1970's to play in the St. Patrick's Day parade. Today, musicians, individually and in small groups, play everything from bluegrass to heavy metal.

The local library has sponsored a poetry coffeehouse on several occasions.

Painting and the fine arts are also practiced.

The Junior High Lady Pirates won the JVL championship. (17-2)

[edit] Businesses

The largest employer is the MeadWestvaco/Envelope Division, located just outside of the borough limits. In 2006, MeadWestvaco reopened the former Sweetheart/Fonda building as a new West Plant. Other business include a Martin General Store, a Williamsburg Hometown Market (groceries), branches of the Clearfield Trust and Omega banks, a resale shop, and Nic's Grab n Go. Past to Present offers bicycle rentals and ice cream at the trail head, and there is a video-rental shop and laundromat. In addition to sandwiches and groceries, two pizza shops (the Sizzler and OIP) are located in the borough. Several mechanics offer car repairs, and gasoline is available at two service stations. Dairy cattle and other agricultural farms surround Williamsburg. Grannas Brothers operate a large stone quarry just outside of Williamsburg, in nearby Ganister. White Deer Run has a D&A treatment center in nearby Cove Forge. Many residents are employed in the surrounding communities.

[edit] Media

Williamsburg has no television or radio stations, nor a current newspaper. Past newspapers were the Williamsburg Tribune (in the 1800's); the Williamsburg Journal in the late 1940's-1950's; the Williamsburg Focus (1960s-1990s); the Williamsburg Gap (1996) and the Williamsburg Focus (1990s). The Altoona Mirror and Morrisons Cove Herald both cover the Williamsburg area.

[edit] Famous People From Williamsburg Pennsylvania

Charles Schwab was born in Williamsburg. At the age of 39 he became president of the United States Steel. Near the turn of the 20th century, he was approached by leading citizens and asked to assist with bringing manufacturing jobs to the borough. He helped fund a paper mill was built just outside Williamsburg in 1903. The paper mill's final owner was Westvaco (West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company). It was closed in the 1980s and later demolished. Mr. Schwab also helped make borough larger by building houses for some of the workers of the mill. This section of Williamsburg was called Schwabtown.

Wilmer Stultz was an aircraft navigator. He flew across the Alantic Ocean with Amelia Earhart. He died on July 3, 1929, in an aircraft crash.

Galen Hall was raised in Williamsburg, and has both played coached football at the college and professional levels. He currently is on the staff at Penn State.

[edit] Churches

Church of the Brethren, Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)(aka Grace Pointe Community Church), Full Gospel Church, Williamsburg Independent Bible Baptist Church (WIBBC), Zion Lutheran Church, Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Saint Mary's Orthodox Church, United Methodist Church, Zion Lutheran Church. The Church of the Living Water is located three miles from Williamsburg. Also nearby are Fairview Church of the Brethren, Salem United Church of Christ, Yellow Springs Lutheran, St. John's Lutheran, and Cove Forge United Methodist.

The Crossroad is an outreach program to youth, located on West Second Street.

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.williamsburg.k12.pa.us/hschool/heritage/heritage/architecture.htm

[edit] External links


Municipalities and Communities of Blair County, Pennsylvania
(County Seat: Hollidaysburg)
Cities Altoona
Boroughs Bellwood | Duncansville | Hollidaysburg | Martinsburg | Newry | Roaring Spring | Tunnelhill | Tyrone | Williamsburg
Townships Allegheny | Antis | Blair | Catharine | Frankstown | Freedom | Greenfield | Huston | Juniata | Logan | North Woodbury | Snyder | Taylor | Tyrone | Woodbury
Communities and CDPs Claysburg | Puzzletown | Tipton
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