Apollo, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Apollo, Pennsylvania
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Borough
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Apollo 11 Memorial
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Location of Apollo in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania
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 Apollo, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Armstrong |
| Settled | 1816 |
| Incorporated | 1848 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Borough |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.35 sq mi (0.90 km2) |
| • Land | 0.30 sq mi (0.79 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.11 km2) |
| Elevation | 820 ft (250 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,615 |
| • Density | 5,295.08/sq mi (2,042.49/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Zip code |
15613
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| Area code(s) | 724 |
| FIPS code | 42-02720 |
Apollo is a small town, called a borough, in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. It's about 35 miles (56 km) northeast of Pittsburgh. The area used to be known for coal mining.
Apollo was first settled in 1790. It became an official town in 1816 and a borough in 1848. In 2020, about 1,615 people lived there.
Contents
History of Apollo, Pennsylvania
The land where Apollo now stands was first set aside in 1769. This happened after a peace agreement called the Treaty of Fort Stanwix. The area was known as "Warren's Sleeping Place." It was named after a Native American trader named Edward Warren.
Soon after, the land was measured and divided into smaller pieces. The town, first called Warren, was officially added to the Greensburg records on November 9, 1816. You can still see the old log cabin home of the Drake family in the area. It is one of the oldest buildings in Armstrong County.
How Apollo Got Its Name
In 1848, the town's name was changed from Warren to Apollo. This was done to avoid confusion with another town in Pennsylvania named Warren. The new name, Apollo, comes from Apollo, a god in ancient Greek and Roman stories. He was known as the god of music, healing, light, and wisdom.
Industry and Growth
By the late 1800s, a big company called Apollo Iron & Steel Company was very important to the town. In 1895, the company's president, George Gibson McMurtry, hired famous landscape designers. They helped create the nearby town of Vandergrift for the steel workers.
In 1911, Apollo opened the first public library in Armstrong County. This was a big step for education in the area.
Old Canal and Recreation
The Roaring Run Recreation Area is about a mile (1.6 km) upriver from Apollo. You can reach it by using the Apollo Kiski River Trail. Along the Roaring Run Trail, you can find old stone parts of the Western Division of the Pennsylvania Mainline Canal. This canal was used for boats between 1825 and 1850. It used the Kiskiminetas River with special dams. Boats would float on the river and enter a lock near Roaring Run. From there, the canal followed the path of the current Roaring Run Trail, going through Apollo. It then rejoined the Kiskiminetas River across from where East Vandergrift is today.
Major Flood Event
In 1936, Apollo was hit hard by a big flood. This flood happened on St. Patrick's Day. The Kiskiminetas River rose more than 15 feet (4.6 meters) above its normal level. According to the Apollo Area Historical Society, 95 homes in the area were damaged or washed away. The town's bridge was also destroyed.
The Drake Log Cabin was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This means it's an important historical site.
Geography of Apollo
Apollo is located right on the Kiskiminetas River. Its exact location is 40°35′3″N 79°33′52″W / 40.58417°N 79.56444°W.
The United States Census Bureau says that Apollo covers a total area of about 0.35 square miles (0.9 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 0.30 square miles (0.79 square kilometers). The rest, about 0.04 square miles (0.11 square kilometers), is water.
Neighboring Areas
Apollo shares its land borders with two places:
- North Apollo to the north.
- Kiskiminetas Township to the east and south.
Across the Kiskiminetas River, in Westmoreland County, Apollo is next to Oklahoma. The 1st Street Bridge connects Apollo to Oklahoma.
Population in Apollo
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 331 | — | |
| 1860 | 449 | 35.6% | |
| 1870 | 764 | 70.2% | |
| 1880 | 1,156 | 51.3% | |
| 1890 | 2,156 | 86.5% | |
| 1900 | 2,924 | 35.6% | |
| 1910 | 3,006 | 2.8% | |
| 1920 | 3,227 | 7.4% | |
| 1930 | 3,406 | 5.5% | |
| 1940 | 3,232 | −5.1% | |
| 1950 | 3,015 | −6.7% | |
| 1960 | 2,694 | −10.6% | |
| 1970 | 2,308 | −14.3% | |
| 1980 | 2,212 | −4.2% | |
| 1990 | 1,895 | −14.3% | |
| 2000 | 1,765 | −6.9% | |
| 2010 | 1,647 | −6.7% | |
| 2020 | 1,615 | −1.9% | |
| Sources: | |||
In 2020, there were 1,408 people living in Apollo. These people lived in 623 households. The town had about 4,612 people per square mile.
Most of the people in Apollo were White (85%). About 5% were African American, 1% Native American, and 2% Asian. About 5% were from two or more races. About 3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Apollo was 41.5 years old. About 19% of the population was under 18 years old. About 65% were between 18 and 64 years old. And 16% were 65 years or older. The population was 52% male and 48% female.
The average income for a household in Apollo was $43,173. The income per person was $23,835. About 11.6% of the people lived below the poverty line. This included 9% of those under 18 and 13% of those 65 or older.
Education in Apollo
Students in Apollo attend schools in the Apollo-Ridge School District. This district serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Media in Apollo
The local radio station is WJFA. It started broadcasting on April 15, 1947, under the name WAVL. It broadcasts at 910 AM and has a power of 5,000 watts.
Notable People from Apollo
- Nellie Bly – A famous journalist and adventurer.
- Ryan Hemphill – A NASCAR race car driver.
See Also
In Spanish: Apollo (Pensilvania) para niños
