NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Lewistown, Pennsylvania

Lewistown is a borough located on the Juniata River, 61 miles (98 km) northwest of Harrisburg in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. The number of people living in 1900 was 4,451; in 1910, 8,166; and in 1940, 13,017. As of the 2000 census, the borough proper population was 8,998, although the surrounding townships and other boroughs push the population to 30,380. These combined municipalities are defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as the Lewistown Micropolitan Statistical Area, which locals simply refer to as Greater Lewistown.[1] It is the county seat of Mifflin County^GR6, in a fertile farming region. Of the four cities in the US that share this name, Lewistown, Pennsylvania is the largest. Image File history File links Seal of the Borough of Lewistown File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Map of Lewistown File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... 1795 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Official language(s) English, Pennsylvania Dutch Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area Ranked 33rd - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 kmÂ²) - Width 280 miles (455 km) - Length 160 miles (255 km) - % water 2. ... Mifflin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. ... A borough is an administrative division used in various countries. ... The Juniata River is a tributary of the Susquehanna River, approximately 90 miles (145 km long), in central Pennsylvania in the United States. ... Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Dauphin Incorporated 1791 Charter 1860 Government - Mayor Stephen R. Reed (D) Area - City 11. ... Mifflin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. ... Year 1900 (MCM) was an exceptional common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar, but a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. ... 1910 (MCMX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Sunday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1870 US Census for New York City A census is the process of obtaining information about every member of a population (not necessarily a human population). ... A township in the United States refers to a small geographic area, ranging in size from 6 to 54 square miles (15. ... A municipality or general-purpose district (compare with: special-purpose district) is an administrative local area generally composed of a clearly defined territory and commonly referring to a city, town, or village government. ... The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... A Micropolis (mini-city) is a demographics term that gained currency in the 1990s to describe growing population centers in the United States that are far removed from a large city, even 100 miles (160 km) or more. ... A county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county, primarily used in the United States. ... Mifflin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. ...

Geography

Lewistown is located at 40°35′51″N, 77°34′24″W (40.597° N 77.575° W)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 5.2 km² (2.0 mi²), all land. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... A square metre (US spelling: square meter) is by definition the area enclosed by a square with sides each 1 metre long. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (â‰ˆ1,609 m) in length. ...

Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 8,998 people, 4,023 households, and 2,281 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,728.4/km² (4,466.3/mi²). There were 4,515 housing units at an average density of 867.3/km² (2,241.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.51% White, 0.96% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.13% of the population. 1870 US Census for New York City A census is the process of obtaining information about every member of a population (not necessarily a human population). ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... It has been suggested that Ethnicity (United States Census) be merged into this article or section. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ...

There were 4,023 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.3% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.3% were non-families. 38.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.87. â€œMatrimonyâ€ redirects here. ...

In the borough the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 83.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.2 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $21,568, and the median income for a family was $30,606. Males had a median income of $26,812 versus $19,523 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $14,733. About 16.4% of families and 21.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.6% of those under age 18 and 16.8% of those age 65 or over. The per capita income for a group of people may be defined as their total personal income, divided by the total population. ... Map of countries showing percentage of population who have an income below the national poverty line The poverty line is the level of income below which one cannot afford to purchase all the resources one requires to live. ...

History

Early in the twentieth century, the industries included foundries, furnaces, steel works, flour and lumber mills, a silk mill, and manufactories of edge tools, hosiery, etc.

Early history

The borough was incorporated in 1795 and was named for William Lewis, a Quaker and a member of the legislature, who was responsible for the designation of the borough, which was then known as the Village of Ohesson, as the county seat of Mifflin County. During the late 19th Century Mifflin County became the crossroads of the Commonwealth. Located near the geographic center of the state, the area became a hub for traffic moving in every direction. 1795 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as Quakers, or Friends, is a religious community founded in England in the 17th century. ...

Early roads crisscrossed the region, but it was the eventual construction of the Pennsylvania Canal and the railroads that followed that truly positioned Mifflin County as an economic force in the state. Map The Main Line of Public Works was a railroad and canal system built by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, running from Philadelphia west through Harrisburg and across the state to Pittsburgh. ...

Millions of tons of raw goods and produce flowed through Mifflin County during the nineteenth century. Among the staples found on the canal boats and the railcars were iron ore, coal, flour, butter, and whiskey. Thousands of passengers also passed through the county. Countless numbers of immigrants on their way to Johnstown, Pittsburgh and beyond gazed out from their canal boats and train cars at the bustling traffic and the scenic hills of Mifflin County. Nickname: Flood City Location of Pennsylvania within the USA Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Cambria Government - Mayor Tom Trigona Area - City 6. ... Nickname: Steel City, Iron City, Steel Town, City of Champions, City of Bridges, City of Colleges, The Burgh Motto: Benigno Numine (With the Benevolent Deity) Location in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Allegheny County Founded November 25, 1758 Incorporated April 22, 1794 (borough) March 18...

Lewistown, as the major city in Mifflin County saw its economy expand dramatically as entrepreneurs launched companies to construct canal boats or build inns offering lodging for travelers and workers.

At its zenith, Mifflin County was one of the busiest centers for cargo and passenger traffic in the United States. But with the demise of the canal system, Mifflin County eventually lost its place as a major transportation hub.

Tropical Storm Agnes

Lewistown lost its role as a major transportation hub, but still boasted a strong industrial economy until the early 1970's when the county's industries began a slow decline. A ruinous natural event in June of 1972 would cripple the local economy and Lewistown has never recovered.

One June 19th, Agnes made initial landfall along the Florida Panhandle as a weak Category 1 Hurricane. Agnes then proceeded through Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina before she moved back over the Atlantic off the North Carolina coast on June 21st. Hurricane Agnes was the first tropical storm and first hurricane of 1972 Atlantic hurricane season. ... The Florida Panhandle is the region of the state of Florida which includes the westernmost 16 counties in the state. ... This article is about weather phenomena. ... Official language(s) English Capital Charleston(1670-1789) Columbia(1790-present) Largest city Columbia Largest metro area Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson Area Ranked 40th - Total 34,726 sq mi (82,965 kmÂ²) - Width 200 miles (320 km) - Length 260 miles (420 km) - % water 6 - Latitude 32Â°430N to 35... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area Ranked 28th - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 kmÂ²) - Width 150 miles (240 km) - Length 560[1] miles (901 km) - % water 9. ... â€œAtlanticâ€ redirects here. ...

After regaining strength over the Atlantic, she made landfall again over southeastern New York on June 22nd and moved westward in an arc over southern New York into north-central Pennsylvania. She became nearly stationary over Pennsylvania by morning of June 23rd, but was soon absorbed by a low-pressure system that slowly drifted northeastward from Pennsylvania into New York. NY redirects here. ...

Rainfall from storm over the Mid-Atlantic region ranged from 2-3 inches in the extreme upper basins of the Potomac and North Branch Susquehanna Rivers to 18 inches near Shamokin, Pennsylvania, in the Main Stem Susquehanna River basin. An average of 6-10 inches of rain fell over the Mid-Atlantic region. The soil, already well watered by spring rains, could not absorb so much water so quickly. It has been suggested that Middle Atlantic States be merged into this article or section. ... Potomac may refer to: Potomac River, which flows through Washington DC and Alexandria VA, USA Potomac, an unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Maryland, USA Potomac, a village in Vermilion County, Illinois, USA Potomac, a Native American tribe A general term given to the Washington, D.C./Maryland metropolitan area One... The Susquehanna River, originally Sasquesahanough as per the 1612 John Smith map, is a river in the northeastern United States. ... Shamokin (Saponi Algonquian place of the horn) is a city located in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, at the western edge of the Coal Region. ...

While flooding from the Juniata River was somewhat controlled due to a dam at Raystown Lake, 44 miles west of Lewistown, the county experienced extensive flooding from the river and major streams which resulted in the permanent closure of many businesses along the river. Most notably, the flood summerged much of the American Viscose Plant, then a division of FMC Corporation. The facility, located on the banks of the Juniata River across from Lewistown proper, manaufactured rayon fiber (primarily for rayon-belted automobile tires), polyester and Avistrap. The Juniata River is a tributary of the Susquehanna River, approximately 90 miles (145 km long), in central Pennsylvania in the United States. ... Raystown Lake is the largest lake in Pennsylvania. ...

FMC was one of two major employers in the area at the time, the other being the Standard Steel Works. The "Viscose" plant was only marginally profitable before the storm and the cost to reopen was prohibitive. (Ironically, the demand for rayon fabric for trendy clothing shot upward only a few years later.) Rayon production, and with it, thousands of good-paying jobs, moved to another FMC plant in Front Royal, Virginia. The Lewistown poleyster plant reopened, but it rehired only a fraction of the previous workforce. The site eventually became the Mifflin County Industrial Plaza and a variety of businesses have come and gone since then.

Present day

While Lewistown did receive the prestigious All-American City award in 1973 for its rebuilding process following the disaster, many of the blue collar workforce left the area to head south, along with the companies who chose not to rebuild in Lewistown. All-America City Program Logo The All-America City Award is given by the National Civic League annually to ten cities in the United States. ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... A blue-collar worker is a member of the working class who performs manual labor and earns an hourly wage. ...

Lewistown is home to the Pennsylvania State Fire School, which is the only such facility in the state. Firefighting in Lewistown is very important, as volunteer firefighters have strong allegiance to the multiple independent fire companies in the borough that they devote their time to.

Today Lewistown is still looking to rebuild, but is now overshadowed by nearby State College. Due to the growth of Penn State and the construction of a new highway system, Lewistown is now struggling to avoid becoming the last rest stop for travelers coming from the east on their way to State College. â€œState Collegeâ€ redirects here. ... The Pennsylvania State University The Pennsylvania State University (commonly known as Penn State) is a state-related land-grant university in Pennsylvania, with over 80,000 students at 24 campuses throughout the state. ...

Historical Buildings in the Lewistown Borough

Sports

Lewistown is not unlike any other small American town that has great passion for sports. Though geographically closer to the Maryland city of Baltimore, the residents are almost equally divided in supporting the Pennsylvania professional sports teams from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. At the college level, with State College being located about 30 miles north of Lewistown, a good percentage of the town support the Penn State Nittany Lions. People of Lewistown also voraciously support youth sports. The area hosts a prestigious youth soccer tournament called Clash of the Cleats. The tournament attracts elite youth soccer clubs throughout Pennsylvania, and now is starting to attract teams from neighboring states. The Little League, Babe Ruth, and American Legion baseball teams grace the front pages of the local newspaper throughout the summer. And in the fall, the youth football programs spark rivalries between the smaller communities that surround Lewistown. Official language(s) None (English, de facto) Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Area Ranked 42nd - Total 12,417 sq mi (32,160 kmÂ²) - Width 90 miles (145 km) - Length 249 miles (400 km) - % water 21 - Latitude 37Â°53N to 39Â°43N - Longitude 75Â°4W to 79Â°33... Nickname: Monument City, Charm City, Mob Town[1][2], B-more Motto: The Greatest City in America,[3] Get in on it. ... Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Cradle of Liberty, the City That Loves You Back, the Quaker City, The Birthplace of America Motto: Philadelphia maneto - Let brotherly love continue Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Government... The Penn State Nittany Lions (men) and Lady Lions are the athletic teams of Pennsylvania State University. ... Official Patch from the 2005 Clash of the Cleats tournament The Clash of the Cleats is an annual prestigious summer youth soccer tournament held in Lewistown, PA. Nathan Kalin, a former star soccer player at Lewistown Area High School, started the tournament in 1999. ... Little League is the name of a non-profit organization in the United States which organizes local childrens leagues of baseball and softball throughout the USA and the rest of the world. ...

High School Sports

Lewistown Area High School, nicknamed the Panthers, have excelled in Baseball and Basketball. Lewsitown Area High competes in PIAA District 6, at the Class AAA level. The Panthers have recently won PIAA Championships in Baseball and Girls’ Basketball. In fact, in 1997 Lewistown Area High joined a very small list of Pennsylvania schools to have both their Girls’ and Boys’ basketball teams reach the state championship game in the same season. Both Panther basketball teams are consistently ranked among the Top 10 teams in the state. Lewistown has an excellent wrestling program, with the 2006 squad finishing 8th in the state. Image File history File links Iron_Kettle_2005. ... Image File history File links Iron_Kettle_2005. ... Lewistown Area High School, was founded in September, 1976 and is one of two high schools in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. ... The word Panther has several meanings: Any big cat with the condition known as melanism (causing black fur), see: Black Panther Leopard Puma Jaguar Any big cat from the genus Panthera, see: Lion Tiger Leopard Jaguar Codename for Mac OS X 10. ... A view of the playing field at Busch Memorial Stadium, St. ... Sara Giauro shoots a three-point shot, FIBA Europe Cup for Women Finals 2005. ... The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association is the governoring body of high school and junior high school sports in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ancient Greek wrestlers (Pankratiasts) Professional wrestlers in 2000. ...

Iron Kettle

The "Iron Kettle" is a black Kettle trophy that is awarded to the winner of the annual football game between Lewistown and it's rival school Indian Valley. United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ...

Other Sports

Auto racing, including NASCAR and sprint car racing are popular as well as outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing. Racing cars redirects here. ... The National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States. ... World of Outlaws drivers make a Four Abreast lap at the Knoxville Raceway Sprint cars, high-powered race cars designed primarily for the purpose of running on short dirt or paved tracks. ... Hunter and Huntress redirect here. ... Fishing is the activity of hunting for fish by hooking, trapping, or gathering animals not classifiable as insects which breathe in water or pass their lives in water. ...

Goose Day

For most Lewistown residents, a mouthful of roast goose on Goose Day simply means keeping up tradition and a little fun, along with a once-a-year change in diet - and maybe crossed fingers just in case it does bring good luck. Look up goose in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Goose Day, is Lewistown's as well as Mifflin County's unique holiday. The county is reputed to be the only place in the United States where the medieval Michaelmas feast is still celebrated. Although its roots trace back as far as the fifth century, little is known about the holiday and still less is known about how geese came to be associated with the holiday. Michaelmas (pronounced ), or the Feast of Ss. ...

Michaelmas is most often mentioned in novels of English country life. At least as far back as the 15th century, Michaelmas was one of the quarter-days on which landlords collected their quarterly rents from their tenants. The association of the goose to Michaelmas is traceable as far back as the reign of Edward IV of England (1442-1484). The holiday fell in the season when stubble (wild or greylag) geese were in their finest fettle, and tenants developed the custom of showing up at the landlord's house with the rent in hand, the lease in a pocket and a fine stubble goose under one arm, in hopes of having the lease renewed - and with good terms at that. Edward IV (April 28, 1442 â€“ April 9, 1483) was King of England from March 4, 1461 to April 9, 1483, with a break of a few months in the period 1470â€“1471. ...

Roast goose became the traditional centerpiece of the Michaelmas dinner. And somehow the tradition developed that eating roast goose on Michaelmas would guarantee the diner good fortune in the coming year, and that he would be at least $1,000 richer by the end of 12 months. Some traditions also contend that one could predict the weather for the coming winter by the color of the breast meat of the Michaelmas goose.

Time shrouds the truth of how the Michaelmas tradition came to Mifflin County - where it's simply called "Goose Day." The most plausible story of how Goose Day came to Mifflin County harks back to the Michaelmas observance, and has the celebration coming to Mifflin County from nearby Union County. Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. ...

There's no religious tradition associated with Goose Day as there was with Michaelmas in the distant past, when it was considered a day of obligation in the Catholic church. The late Ben Meyers, columnist for the local newspaper, The Lewistown Sentinel, was long a proponent of the day being capitalized on in the county. For many years it was an occasion for special fund-raiser dinners by churches and fire companies, but the celebration really got off the ground in Mifflin County in the early 1980s. The coordinated celebration has fallen by the wayside, but many Goose Day events are still held throughout the county - and many restaurants and organizations still find the goose is golden when they serve the dark-meat fowl on September 29. Other traditions include a 5K running race, a "Wild Goose Chase" treasure hunt, but most notably; the tradition of having a police officer "pull over" the first driver he sees with out-of-state license plates. The officer then tells the driver he has to "take him or her in", and then proceeds to treat the driver to a roast goose dinner, gifts from local business, and a key to the borough of Lewistown. The Roman Catholic Church or Catholic Church (see terminology below) is the Christian Church in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, currently Pope Benedict XVI. It traces its origins to the original Christian community founded by Jesus Christ and led by the Twelve Apostles, in particular Saint Peter. ...

In 2005 YBMC, a young professionals organization, was organized. YBMC sponsored the first annual Mifflin County Goose Fest in September of 2005. Goose Fest was a daylong fall festival that was based on the idea of Goose Day and used to promote the businesses and groups of Mifflin County. Festivities included a display of ceramic geese painted by local artists, food stands run by local restaurants, musical acts, arts and craft vendors, contests (hot dog eating and goose-calling) a martial arts display and a timeline of Mifflin County. As part of the official ceremony Mayor Joshua Henry and State Representative Kerry Benninghoff introduced "Goldie The Goose" the new mascot of radio station WKVA. The second annual Goose Fest is scheduled for September 23, 2006.

Transportation

Lewistown Station is an Amtrak rail station located about 60 miles northwest of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania at PA Route 103 and Helen Street in Lewistown, Pennsylvania. ...

Education

Mifflin-Juniata Career and Technology Center located in Lewistown provides post high school degrees in nursing, auto mechanics and electrical services and numerous other technology driven careers. As of February, 2006; there are plans to build a community college that would serve the area. In Canada and the United States, a community college, sometimes called a technical college, county college, junior college or a city college, is an educational institution providing higher education and lower-level tertiary education, granting certificates, diplomas, and Associates degrees to people like laertes. ...

The Borough of Lewistown is served by the Mifflin County School District. The Mifflin County School District is located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. ...

External links

	v • d • e Mifflin County, Pennsylvania County Seat: Lewistown
Boroughs	Burnham \| Juniata Terrace \| Kistler \| Lewistown \| McVeytown \| Newton Hamilton Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... Image File history File links Map_of_Pennsylvania_highlighting_Mifflin_County. ... Mifflin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. ... Official language(s) English, Pennsylvania Dutch Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area Ranked 33rd - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 kmÂ²) - Width 280 miles (455 km) - Length 160 miles (255 km) - % water 2. ... A county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county, primarily used in the United States. ... A borough is an administrative division used in various countries. ... Burnham is a borough located in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. ... Juniata Terrace is a borough located in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. ... Kistler is a borough located in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. ... McVeytown is a borough located in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. ... Newton Hamilton is a borough located in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. ...
Townships	Armagh \| Bratton \| Brown \| Decatur \| Derry \| Granville \| Menno \| Oliver \| Union \| Wayne A civil township is a widely-used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to a county. ... There is also the borough of Armagh in Indiana County. ... Bratton Township is a township located in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. ... Brown Township is a township located in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. ... Decatur Township is a township located in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. ... Derry Township is a township located in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. ... Granville Township is a township located in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. ... Menno Township is a township located in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. ... Oliver Township is a township located in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. ... Union Township is a township located in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. ... Wayne Township is a township located in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. ...
Communities and CDPs	Belleville \| Highland Park \| Milroy \| Reedsville \| Yeagertown It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with unincorporated. ... A census-designated place (CDP) is an area identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical reporting. ... Belleville is a census-designated place located in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. ... Highland Park is a census-designated place located in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. ... Milroy is a census-designated place located in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. ... Reedsville is a census-designated place located in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. ... Yeagertown is a census-designated place located in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. ...

Contents

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