Duboistown, Pennsylvania

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Duboistown is a borough in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,280 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Contents 1 History 2 Geography 3 Demographics 4 References 5 External links

[edit] History

Duboistown (pronounced 'doo-BOYS town') is named for its founders John and Mathias DuBois who bought 489 acres of land between 1852 and 1857. The DuBois brothers divided their land into parcels and established the village that bears their name. John DuBois left the West Branch Susquehanna Valley before Duboistown was established as a borough. He sold his business interests and moved west to Clearfield County. He became quite wealthy and the city of DuBois was named in his honor.

The town built by the DuBois brothers is by no means the beginning of the history of Duboistown. It is situated at the mouth of Mosquito Run on the banks of the West Branch Susquehanna River. A tribe of Susquehannock Indians had what appears to have been a fairly major settlement at the mouth of the creek. The early European settlers found the remains of an Indian village there. Arhaeologic evidence of earthenware, soapstone ware, pestles, hatchets, ornaments and charms were found on the land that is across the river from Lycoming Creek and nearby where the Sheshequin Path crossed the river.

The land on which Duboistown is located was first surveyed in 1769. At the time it was known as "Walnut Bottom" for the vast stands of black walnut that covered the alluvial plain on which the borough now stands. Samuel Boone, cousin of Daniel Boone held the first warrant for land at Walnut Bottom.

Andrew Culbertson was one of the first settlers to have success in the Duboistown area. He purchased several tracts of land beginning in 1773, including the parcel owned by Samuel Boone, near the mouth of Mosquito Run. Culbertson is thought to have moved into the by crossing an Indian Trail over White Deer Mountain that is now know as Culbertson's Path. He built a sawmill on the mouth of the creek so after moving to the area and there he lived for several years. Culbertson was forced to flee the area during the American Revolutionary War when settlements throughout the Susquehanna valley were attacked by Loyalists and Native Americans allied with the British. After the Wyoming Valley battle and massacre in the summer of 1778 (near what is now Wilkes-Barre) and smaller local attacks, the "Big Runaway" occurred throughout the West Branch Susquehanna valley. Settlers fled feared and actual attacks by the British and their allies. Settlers abandoned their homes and fields, drove their livestock south, and towed their possessions on rafts on the river to Sunbury. Their abandoned property was burnt by the attackers. Some settlers soon returned, only to flee again in the summer of 1779 in the "Little Runaway".^[1] Culbertson returned to the area and rebuilt his sawmill. He also built a gristmill, distillery, and a press that extracted nut and linseed oils. His gristmill was especially important to the development of the West Branch Susquehanna River Valley. It was easily accessible from canoe. Farmers could float their grain in their canoes or other watercraft right up to the mill. Other farmers from the surrounding valleys reached his mill via Culbertonson's Path. Culbertson saw another business opportunity with the farmers who were coming to his mill. He quickly built a tavern in which the weary farmers could enjoy a drink and get some food while they waited for their grain to be ground into flour. This tavern became a popular destination for the young people of the West Branch Valley. Today Culbertson's Mill and tavern are long gone and the area is a largely overgrown riverbank with an abandonded softball field, that is surrounded by a railroad, bridge, and woods.

[edit] Geography

As the crow flies, Duboistown is approximately 100 mi (160 km) northwest of Philadelphia and about 165 mi (265 km) east-northeast of Pittsburgh. Duboistown is located at 41°13′31″N, 77°2′6″W (41.225278, -77.034953)^GR1. It is bordered by South Williamsport to the east, Armstrong Township to the south and west, and the West Branch Susquehanna River to the north.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.7 km² (0.6 mi²). 1.5 km² (0.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (13.85%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 1,280 people, 540 households, and 372 families residing in the borough. The population density was 882.5/km² (2,293.5/mi²). There were 558 housing units at an average density of 384.7/km² (999.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.67% White, 0.16% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.08% of the population.

There were 540 households out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% 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 2.87.

In the borough the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $35,132, and the median income for a family was $41,450. Males had a median income of $31,172 versus $22,500 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $17,348. About 4.0% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

The borough of DuBoistown has a volunteer fire department and a part-time police department.

[edit] References

• [1939] A Picture of Lycoming County (PDF), First edition, The Commissioners of Lycoming County Pennsylvania. Retrieved on February 27, 2007. 
• Meginness, John Franklin [1892]. "XXXII", History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania: including its aboriginal history; the colonial and revolutionary periods; early settlement and subsequent growth; organization and civil administration; the legal and medical professions; internal improvement; past and present history of Williamsport; manufacturing and lumber interests; religious, educational, and social development; geology and agriculture; military record; sketches of boroughs, townships, and villages; portraits and biographies of pioneers and representative citizens, etc. etc.", 1st Edition, Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk & Co.. ISBN 0-7884-0428-8. Retrieved on February 27, 2007. “(Note: ISBN refers to Heritage Books July 1996 reprint. URL is to scan of 1892 version with some OCR typos).” 

[edit] External links

• Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 41.225278° -77.034953°
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  • Topographic map from TopoZone
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