Bradford, Pennsylvania

This article is about the city in Pennsylvania. See Bradford (disambiguation) for other entries about Bradford.

Bradford, Pennsylvania
—  City  —
Bradford, Pennsylvania
Coordinates: 41°57′33″N 78°38′41″W
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	McKean
Settled	1823
Incorporated	1879
Government
• Type	City Council
• Mayor	Tom Riel
Area
• Total	3.5 sq mi (8.9 km2)
Population (2000)
• Total	9,175
• Density	2,659.7/sq mi (1,026.8/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Zip code	16701
Area code(s)	814
Website	City of Bradford

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 a wild oil boomtown in the Pennsylvanian oil rush in the late 19th century. The area's Pennsylvania Grade crude oil has superior qualities and is free of asphaltic constituents, contains only trace amounts of sulfur and nitrogen, and has excellent characteristics for refining into lubricants. World-famous Kendall racing oils were produced in Bradford.

The population peaked at 19,306 in 1930, but as of the 2010 census had dropped to 8,770. 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, Hall of Fame baseball player Rube Waddell, and five-time All-Star football player Stew Barber. A famous Perpetual Motion machine hoax was created in Bradford in 1897 by J.M. Aldrich; it was exposed in the July 1, 1899 issue of the Scientific American magazine, leading to a four-month prison sentence in the county jail.

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. As of February 2009, the two companies employed 1,117 people, but significant layoffs have taken place since then. After Zippo and Case, the second largest employer is Bradford Regional Medical Center, which employed 759 as of February 2009. BRMC underwent a significant campus expansion in 2006. Other major employers as of February 2009 include Beacon Light (682), Bradford Area School District (474) and Wal-Mart (378). The nearby Federal Prison employed 301 as of that time.

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 as of February 2009. ARG is Bradford's longest running active business, with Graham's Greenhouse second, and Taylor Roofing Co. third.

The Frame-Westerberg Commons at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford

Bradford is home to a growing four-year college, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford (Pitt-Bradford), which as of the fall term 2009 had 1,455 full-time students and 202 part-time students for a total enrollment of 1,657, with 217 full-time employees and 106 part-time employees. Almost 900 students live on campus. The university's campus has grown significantly in recent years. Current building projects include a new residence hall, a chapel and laboratory upgrades to the science building.

Arts and entertainment

The Bradford Creative and Performing Arts Center season runs from September through March. The Bromeley is 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 celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2006. An annual community talent show, Kiwanis Kapers, occurs in the fall.

Annual festivals include Stinkfest (a festival promoting leek cuisine), Summer Daze (formerly known as Summerfest), Autumn Daze, 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. In early August, the annual Big 30 Charity high school all star football game takes place at Parkway Field, where a million-dollar artificial playing surface was installed in 2008. In 2009, for the first time, National Night Out was a significant event in Bradford, coinciding with Taste of Bradford.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	9,197		—
1890	10,514		14.3%
1900	15,029		42.9%
1910	14,544		−3.2%
1920	15,525		6.7%
1930	19,306		24.4%
1940	17,691		−8.4%
1950	17,354		−1.9%
1960	15,061		−13.2%
1970	12,672		−15.9%
1980	11,211		−11.5%
1990	9,625		−14.1%
2000	9,175		−4.7%
2010	8,770		−4.4%

As of the census of 2010, there were 8,770 people, 3,653 households, and 2,003 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,659.7 people per square mile (1,026.8/km²). There were 4,157 housing units at an average density of 1,267.1 per square mile (489.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.3% White, 1.0% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population.

There are 3,653 households, of which 26.3% have children under the age of 18, 32.5% have married couples living together and 16.4% have a female householder with no husband present. 45.2% of households are non-families, 36.1% are made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29, and the average family size was 2.95.

23.5% of the population is under the age of 18, 7.9% from 20 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37.5 years. Male population is 4,223. Female population is 4,547. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.

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%.

Five 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.

Geography

Bradford is located on Route 219 just south of its junction with I-86 above the New York State border.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²).3.5 square miles (8.9 km²) 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 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 (24 km) south of the city, at Mount Alton. Because of its elevation, 1,443 feet (440 meters) above sea level,[1] the airport often has the coldest reported air temperatures in Pennsylvania. The airport has one of the few National Weather Service stations across the entire northern tier of the state. Temperatures in the city are typically three to seven degrees warmer than at the airport, and actual city temperatures are more representative of other communities in northern Pennsylvania and southwestern New York than are the airport's.

Recreation

Bradford is located within miles of the Allegany State Park in New York, 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 (80 km) 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.

Films

Little Chicago (2008) is a movie based on a true story described in a chapter of the book “Invisible Ink" by Carl A. Veno, with director Ron Ballard, writer Linda Veno, and commentator Michael Rispoli. It was filmed on location in Bradford, at The Option House, the Zippo Manufacturing Company, St. Bernard's Cemetery, Veterans Square and Old City Hall which are all prominently featured in the movie. It exists presently as “the last prohibition witnesses documentary” in a full, uncensored version.

Unstoppable is an action film directed by Tony Scott, written by Mark Bomback and starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pine. The film was released on November 12, 2010. Unstoppable was not filmed in Bradford, but was filmed in nearby communities including Eldred, PA.

External links

• Back to Bradford Image History of Bradford
• The Bradford Era
• City Of Bradford
• Bradford-Online.com
• TalkAboutBradford Community Forum
• Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce
• 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 Genealogy Information
• Bradford Today
• BradfordPA.info