Bradford, Pennsylvania
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bradford is a small city located in rural McKean County, Pennsylvania, in the United States 78 miles (126 km) south of Buffalo, New York. Settled in 1823, Bradford was chartered as a city in 1879 and emerged as an oil boomtown in the late 1800s. The population peaked at 17,691 in 1940, but as of the 2000 census had dropped to 9,175 and was still declining at mid-decade according to census bureau estimates. Two adjoining townships, home to approximately 9,000 people, make the population of Greater Bradford about 18,000. Famous Bradfordians include opera singer Marilyn Horne and Hall of Fame pitcher Rube Waddell.
Contents |
[edit] Economy
Bradford is well known as the home of Zippo, a manufacturer of collectible pocket lighters, and Case, which is owned by Zippo and makes collectible knives. After Zippo and Case, the second largest employer is Bradford Regional Medical Center, which employs 800 and was undergoing a significant expansion in 2006. Zippo and BRMC both added about 100 jobs recently, and the oil and gas industry in the region is expecting to have many hundreds more available in coming years. The city also boasts an American Refining Group oil refinery, the oldest continuously operating refinery in the United States, which celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2006. Since ARG purchased the refinery in the mid 1990s, employment has almost doubled, to just less than 300. Microtech, a maker of highly collectible knives, moved it operations to the city from Florida in 2005 and said it would create 250 jobs within three years. Bradford is also home to a growing four-year college, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford (Pitt-Bradford), which has about 1,300 students and employs about 280 faculty and staff.
The median income for a household in the city in 1999, according to the 2000 census, was $26,463, and the median income for a family was $32,828. Males had a median income of $30,661 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,537. About 16.9% of families and 20.7% of the population was below the poverty line, including 28.1% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over. Median incomes were significantly higher, and poverty rates significantly lower, in the adjoining townships.
According to the 2000 census, in what is familiarly known as Bradford (City of Bradford, Foster Township and Bradford Township), participation in the labor force of those 16 years of age and older was 62.8%, with an unemployment rate of 6.5%. The national average was 63.9% in the labor force and 5.8% unemployed. Outside of Greater Bradford in the rest of McKean County, participation in the labor force was 56%.
Four percent of households in Greater Bradford reported receiving public assistance income. Mean reported public assistance income was $1,884. The national average was 3.4% and $3,032.
[edit] Arts and entertainment
The Bradford Creative and Performing Arts Center brings high-quality entertainment to town during its season that runs from September through March. In its history, the Center has brought rising and established musical groups, famous pop stars, noted entertainers and nationally known lecturers to its venues at Bradford Area High School and Pitt-Bradford. The 2006 season, whose theme is "BCPAC at the Bromeley," will see pop star David Cassidy perform at the recently opened Bromeley Family Theater inside Blaisdell Hall on the Pitt-Bradford campus.
The theater is also home to many events in the university's Spectrum Series that brings authors, artists, musicians, recitalists and performance groups to campus with all events open to the public.
Theater productions are staged by the theater departments at Pitt-Bradford and the high school, and by the Bradford Little Theater, which was celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2006.
An annual community talent show, Kiwanis Kapers, is a popular event in the fall.
Annual festivals include Stinkfest, Summerfest, the Italian Festival, the Zippo/Case International Swap Meet (biennial, with Zippo Days held in off years) and the Crook Farm Country Fair. Bradford celebrates New Year's Eve with a First Night celebration (http://www.firstnightbradford.com).
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 9,175 people, 3,922 households, and 2,247 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,026.8/km² (2,659.7/mi²). There were 4,371 housing units at an average density of 489.2/km² (1,267.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.74% White, 0.49% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.95% of the population.
There are 3,922 households, of which 29.4% have children under the age of 18, 36.9% have married couples living together and 14.8% have a female householder with no husband present. 42.7% of households are non-families, 36.3% are made up of individuals and 15.2% 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 2.93.
25.4% of the population is under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.7 males.
[edit] Geography
Bradford is located at (41.959100, -78.644611)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.9 km² (3.5 mi²). 8.9 km² (3.5 mi²) of it is land, and none of the area is covered with water. Bradford is situated in a valley in the Allegheny Mountains and is surrounded by woods and steep hills. Two branches of the Tunungwant Creek (the Tuna) enter the city, merge and flow north into the Allegheny River just across the New York border.
Bradford Regional Airport is located about 15 miles south of the city, at Mount Alton. Because of its elevation, the airport often has the coldest reported air temperatures in Pennsylvania and infrequently, the nation. But the airport has one of the few National Weather Service stations across the entire northern tier of the state. And temperatures in the city are typically three to seven degrees warmer and are representative of other communities in northern Pennsylvania and southwestern New York.
[edit] Recreation
Bradford is located within miles of the Allegany State Park, the third-largest state park in the United States, and the Allegheny National Forest, the only national forest in Pennsylvania.
The Tuna Valley Trails Association has constructed several miles of trails in the community, with a master plan of over 50 miles currently being planned, funded and implemented.
Parks in the city include Callahan Park, with swimming pools, tennis courts and an enclosed ice skating rink, and Hanley Park, with a large playground, horseshoe pits and a skate park.
The immediate Bradford area is home to two golf courses, the Pennhills Club in Bradford Township and Pine Acres Golf Course near Marshburg.
[edit] Trivia
- Bradfort, PA is the home of the Paper Street Soap Company from Fight Club
- Chamber of Commerce Motto: "Cool town, warm hearts" because Bradford is routinely the coldest spot in Pennsylvania and due to the community's long-standing tradition of charitable giving
- Birthplace of opera singer Marilyn Horne
- Birthplace of Hall of Famer Rube" Waddell (October 13, 1876 - April 1, 1914), a left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher. In his 13-year career, he played for the Louisville Colonels (1897, 1899), Pittsburgh Pirates (1900-01) and Chicago Orphans (1901) in the National League, and the Philadelphia Athletics (1902-07) and St. Louis Browns (1908-10) in the American League. Waddell earned the nickname "Rube" -- a term was commonly used to refer to hayseeds or farmboys.
- Home to Baseball Hall of Famer Warren Spahn for part of his minor league career
- Hometown of singer/actor Jason McAdams
- Featured on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" in a "fake news story" profiling the shortlived town mascot, "Slick," who was meant to evoke memories of the city's oil boomtown days
[edit] External links
- Tuna Valley Trail Association
- Bradford Creative and Performing Arts Center
- Bradford Landmark Society - local historical society
- Bradford Civil War Veterans
- Bradford Historical Post Cards and Photos
- Bradford Geneology Information
- Bradford Online
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
