Cresson, Pennsylvania
| Cresson, Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|
| Borough | |
  Cresson, Pennsylvania | |
| Coordinates: 40°27′45″N 78°35′11″W / 40.46250°N 78.58639°WCoordinates: 40°27′45″N 78°35′11″W / 40.46250°N 78.58639°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Cambria |
| Incorporated | 1902 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Borough Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.5 sq mi (1 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,057 ft (627 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 1,631 |
| • Density | 3,297.7/sq mi (1,273.2/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Zip code | 16630 |
| Area code(s) | 814 |
| Website | Cresson Borough |
Cresson is a borough in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, 75 miles (121 km) east of Pittsburgh. The name Cresson both refers to the borough and township surrounding it. Cresson is an elevated place known for its beauty. Mineral springs add to its attractions. It is above 2,000 feet (610 m) in elevation. Lumber, coal, and coke yards were industries that had supported the population which numbered 1,470 in 1910. It is most commonly listed as part of the Johnstown Metropolitan Statistical Area, although state and local sources list it as part of the Altoona area as an Altoona suburb due to being much closer to Altoona and as a result, eastern Cambria county, including Cresson, is often more marketed to by Altoona businesses than by Johnstown businesses for services and jobs. The population at the 2000 census was 1,631.
The location was named Cresson in 1854, as a memorial to philanthropist Elliott Cresson. Railroads, specifically the Allegheny Portage Railroad, fueled the growth of the area. Many famous Pittsburgh businessmen (Charles M. Schwab, Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick, etc.) maintained summer residences in the area.
The borough was incorporated in 1906, along with neighboring Sankertown, Pa.
It is currently home to Mount Aloysius College, established in 1853.
Geography
Cresson is located at 40°27′45″N 78°35′11″W / 40.46250°N 78.58639°W (40.462631, -78.586319)[1], about 10.5 miles west-southwest of Altoona.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km2), all of it land.
History
Mountainhouse Era
One of the first buildings in the area which would become Cresson was the Mountainhouse Hotel. The Queen Anne-style structure was opened by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1881, sold to the Cresson Springs Co., and demolished in 1916. It was hoped to attract visitors from Pittsburgh and Johnstown looking for clean air and "therapeutic" mineral springs. Although itself unsuccessful, it led to the development of several other hotels, companies, and the town itself.
The area is currently known as the "Mountainhouse Grounds" to local residents and is in the midst of development. Several of the original cottages still stand (some in remarkable condition) including those of Andrew Carnegie and Benjamin Jones.[2]
Stereographs of R.A. Bonine
Photographer R.A. Bonine of Altoona, Pa took several stereographs of the Cresson area, including the Mountainhouse during the 1870-1880s. The following were included in his series "Views Among the Alleghenies"
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Mountainhouse Hotel
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Cresson Springs Co. Building
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Hotel from Railroad Station
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Railroad Depot (looking east)
-
Muller Cottage
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 1,470 | ||
| 1920 | 2,170 | 47.6% | |
| 1930 | 2,317 | 6.8% | |
| 1940 | 2,500 | 7.9% | |
| 1950 | 2,569 | 2.8% | |
| 1960 | 2,659 | 3.5% | |
| 1970 | 2,446 | −8.0% | |
| 1980 | 2,184 | −10.7% | |
| 1990 | 1,784 | −18.3% | |
| 2000 | 1,631 | −8.6% | |
| 2010 | 1,711 | 4.9% | |
| Est. 2012 | 1,678 | −1.9% | |
| Sources:[3][4][5] | |||
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 1,631 people, 726 households, and 426 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,297.7 people per square mile (1,285.2/km²). There were 786 housing units at an average density of 1,589.2 per square mile (619.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.90% White, 0.12% African American, 0.37% Asian, 0.25% from other races, and 0.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.74% of the population.
There were 726 households out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.9% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.3% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the borough the population was spread out with 21.0% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 85.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $26,293, and the median income for a family was $34,900. Males had a median income of $30,972 versus $21,853 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $15,562. About 13.7% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.4% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Rear Admiral Robert Peary, early American explorer.
References
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ↑ Anne Francis Pulling. Around Cresson and the Alleghenies. ISBN 9780738590400
- ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
External links
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