Blairsville, Pennsylvania
Borough
Market Street
Market Street
Location of Blairsville in Indiana County, Pennsylvania
Location of Blairsville in Indiana County, Pennsylvania
Blairsville is located in Pennsylvania
Blairsville
Blairsville
Blairsville is located in the United States
Blairsville
Blairsville
Coordinates: 40°25′56″N 79°15′47″W / 40.43222°N 79.26306°W / 40.43222; -79.26306
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountyIndiana
Settled1818
Incorporated1825
Government
 • TypeBorough Council
Area
[1]
 • Total1.41 sq mi (3.66 km2)
 • Land1.41 sq mi (3.66 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,010 ft (310 m)
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total3,214
 • Density2,272.98/sq mi (877.33/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code
15717
Area code724
FIPS code42-06904
Websiteblairsvilleboropa.com

Blairsville is a borough in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, United States, located 42 miles (68 km) east of Pittsburgh, and on the Conemaugh River. As of the 2020 census[3] it had a population of 3,252.

History

Blairsville was settled in 1818 and incorporated in 1825. In the past, railway shops, foundries, machine shops, enameling plants, and manufactories of plate glass and lumber employed the residents. It was the seat of Blairsville College, a Presbyterian institution opened in 1851. In 1958 the area became heavily involved in the Underground Railroad with local families. Some of these families were the Mitchells and Van Leer Family. In a letter to Theodore Parker, a local geologist Peter Lesley stated there we over 3000 men helping the railroad in the area.[4] Just outside of the city limits in Burrell Township, auto and diesel repair trade school New Village Institute has operated since 2021.

The Blairsville Armory and St. Peter's Episcopal Church and Rectory are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[5]

In 1902, the countryside around Blairsville became one of the first in Pennsylvania to have a woman, Anna J. Devers, appointed as a Rural Free Delivery carrier, delivering mail from the Blairsville Post Office.[6]

M. C. Eignus (1844–1941), Illinois state representative, was born in Blairsville.[7]

Geography

Blairsville is located in the southern portion of Indiana County, bordered by the Conemaugh River, Westmoreland County to the south and west, and Burrell Township to the north and east.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.41 square miles (3.66 km2), all land.[8]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1830957—
18409903.4%
18501,13514.6%
18601,009−11.1%
18701,0544.5%
18801,16210.2%
18903,126169.0%
19003,3868.3%
19103,5725.5%
19204,39122.9%
19305,29620.6%
19405,002−5.6%
19505,0000.0%
19604,930−1.4%
19704,411−10.5%
19804,166−5.6%
19903,595−13.7%
20003,6070.3%
20103,412−5.4%
20203,252−4.7%
2021 (est.)3,238[3]−0.4%
Sources:[9][10][11][12][2]

At the 2000 census there were 3,607 people, 1,631 households, and 983 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,591.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,000.5/km2). There were 1,830 housing units at an average density of 1,314.7 per square mile (507.6/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 95.68% White, 2.99% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.06% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.06%.[10]

There were 1,631 households, 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 36.3% of households were made up of individuals, and 19.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 22.4% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.

The median household income was $30,625 and the median family income was $38,585. Males had a median income of $32,563 versus $22,049 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $16,771. About 6.8% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Blairsville is served by the River Valley School District, formerly the Blairsville-Saltsburg School District. The River Valley middle and high schools and Blairsville elementary school are located at the intersection of Routes 22 and 119 in nearby Burrell Township.

Panorama of Blairsville c. 1908

References

  1. ↑ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Oct 12, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Bureau, US Census. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  4. ↑ "Our UGRR Conductors & Incidents". Blairsville Area Underground Railroad.
  5. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Blairsville Woman Has Carried Mail for Thirteen Years", The Indiana Progress, 103rd Anniversary Edition, June 7, 1916, pages 4-5.
  7. ↑ 'Official Directory of the Forty-Second General Assembly of Illinois-1901,' Talbott & Hamann Press, Springfield, Illinois: 1901, Biographical Sketch of M.C. Eignus, pg. 65
  8. ↑ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Blairsville borough, Pennsylvania". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  10. 1 2 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  11. ↑ "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 11 June 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  12. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
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