Huntingdon is a borough in and the county seat of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States.It is located along the Juniata River, approximately 32 miles (51 km) east of Altoona and 98 miles (158 km) west of Harrisburg. Huntingdon is also the largest borough closest to Raystown Lake, a 28 miles (45 km) reservoir. The borough is primarily located in an agricultural and fruit-growing region with valuable forests and deposits of iron, coal, fire clay, and limestone.
In 2009, Huntingdon was named by Budget Travel magazine's readers as the 5th Coolest Small Town in the United States. Results were announced on The Early Show on April 15, 2009 by Budget Travel's editor in chief Nina Willdorf and show host Harry Smith.[1]
In 2015, Huntingdon was chosen by Niche.com as the 7th Best City to Retire in Pennsylvania.[2]
In 1776, Rev. Dr. William Smith settled in Huntingdon at the site of a famous Indian council ground, located near the spot where Standing Stone Creek flows into the Juniata River. The spot was marked by the erection of a “Standing Stone Monument” at the borough centennial. It is rumored to have existed before the founding of the original village of Standing Stone. Smith purchased the land for 300 British pounds and renamed the settlement in honor of Selina, the Countess of Huntingdon, England. In 1796, the land was incorporated as a borough.
Huntingdon served as the junction of the Huntingdon and Broad Top Mountain Railroad with the Pennsylvania Railroad, and it also served as the port on the Main Line of Public Works of the Pennsylvania Canal. In the past, Huntingdon had manufacturers of flour, machinery, radiators, furniture, stationery, woolen goods, lumber, etc. In fact, J.C. Blair, a successful manufacturer, invented the first writing tablet, which was sold at his factory in downtown Huntingdon until 1967. More recently in 2004, Hurricane Ivan resulted in major flooding in Huntingdon. This was the worst flooding since Hurricane Agnes in 1972.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 3.5 square miles (9.1 km2), of which only 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (2.55%) is water.
Adjacent Municipalities
The following municipalities are located in Huntingdon County:
As of the census[8] of 2010, there were 7,093 people, 2,674 households, and 1,461 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,026.6 people per square mile (779.5/km²). There were 2,911 housing units at an average density of 831.7 per square mile (319.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.61% White, 1.93% Black or African American, 0.07% Native American, 1.51% Asian, 0.31% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.49% of the population.
There were 2,674 households, out of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.2% were married couples living together, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.4% were non-families. 38.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 17.7% under the age of 18, 24.4% from 18 to 24, 19.1% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $35,057, and the median income for a family was $54,621. The per capita income for the borough was $19,070. About 6.3% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 14.2% of those age 65 or over.
Huntingdon Borough Police Department (530 Washington Street)
Huntingdon Ambulance Services (530 Washington Street)
Huntingdon County Sheriff's Office (241 Mifflin Street)File:J.C. Blair Manufacturing Stationers.jpgConstruction of the smokestack at J.C. Blair Manufacturing Stationers; Namesake of J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital
Health Care
J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital (1225 Warm Springs Avenue)
J.C. Blair Convenient Care Center (7651 Raystown Shopping Center Drive)
Huntingdon Health & Wellness Association (HHWA) (313 Fourth Street)
Huntingdon Health Care, Inc. (814 Washington Street)
Postal Services
Huntingdon Post Office (401 Washington Street)
Huntingdon Post Office at Juniata College (1700 Moore Street)
The source of the city water for Huntingdon borough and Smithfield Township is Standing Stone Creek, with the water treatment facility being located in the east end of the borough.[10]
