Blossburg, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Blossburg, Pennsylvania
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Borough
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Blossburg's "castle"
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Location of Blossburg in Tioga County, Pennsylvania.
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 Blossburg, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Blossburg, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Tioga |
| Settled | 1802 |
| Incorporated (borough) | 1871 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.65 sq mi (12.03 km2) |
| • Land | 4.65 sq mi (12.03 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,342 ft (409 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,533 |
| • Density | 329.96/sq mi (127.39/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT |
| ZIP code |
16912
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| Area code(s) | 570 |
| FIPS code | 42-07160 |
| Website | Blossburg Community Website |
Blossburg is a small town called a borough in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, United States. In 2020, about 1,533 people lived there.
Contents
Blossburg's Story
Early Discoveries
In 1792, a group of people were building a road called Williamson Road. This road went from Williamsport to Painted Post. During their journey, led by Robert and Benjamin Patterson, they found coal in the area where Blossburg is today. They set up a camp by the Tioga River to get supplies.
First Settlers and Town Founding
In 1801, a man named Aaron Bloss moved to Tioga County. The next year, in 1802, he settled in the area known as "Peter’s Camp." He is known as the first person to settle in Blossburg. Between 1818 and 1820, Aaron Bloss tried to start a town. He changed the name of Peter's Camp to Blossburg. Finally, in August 1871, Blossburg officially became a borough.
Coal Mining Begins
Soon after 1810, David Clemens was the first to try mining and selling coal from this area. He opened a mine on Bear Run between 1812 and 1815. This mine mostly served the Painted Post area. Around the same time, Aaron Bloss opened another coal vein on Bear Run. This one is known as the Bloss Vein. It also helped meet the needs of local people.
Shipping Coal to Other Places
At first, it was hard to ship coal far away. The roads were bad, and the Tioga River was not easy to travel on. In 1817, Aaron Bloss and other miners asked the government for money. They wanted to make the roads and river better for transport. Even with these challenges, Blossburg coal was sent to Painted Post, Elmira, and Corning in New York.
Blossburg coal also reached Albany, the state capital. The government then passed laws to help build railroads and improve canals. This made it much easier to move coal. Coal from Blossburg even went to Philadelphia, where it caught the eye of many business people.
Iron Works and Railroads
In 1826, Judge John H. Knapp built a factory in Blossburg. This factory used iron ore to make iron. Knapp also opened coal mines on Coal Run and iron mines on "Barney Hill."
A big change happened in July 1840. A railroad was built through Covington from Corning. By September, trains could reach Blossburg. This railroad made it simple to get coal from the mines and send it to many towns.
Coal's Lasting Impact
For over 150 years, coal was very important to Blossburg's growth. Today, many of the old mines are closed. However, Ward Manufacturing is a company that grew from the coal mining industry. It is now the biggest business in the Blossburg area.
A Notable Event
On June 23, 1967, Mohawk Airlines Flight 40 crashed near Blossburg. All 34 people on board were lost. This flight was a regular passenger trip between Elmira, New York, and Washington, D.C. The aircraft was a BAC 1-11-204AF.
Where Blossburg Is Located
Blossburg is found at 41°40′39″N 77°3′56″W / 41.67750°N 77.06556°W. The U.S. Census Bureau says the borough covers about 4.8 square miles (12.03 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
People of Blossburg
Population Over Time
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 2,146 | — | |
| 1890 | 2,568 | 19.7% | |
| 1900 | 2,423 | −5.6% | |
| 1910 | 2,303 | −5.0% | |
| 1920 | 2,033 | −11.7% | |
| 1930 | 1,696 | −16.6% | |
| 1940 | 1,955 | 15.3% | |
| 1950 | 1,954 | −0.1% | |
| 1960 | 1,956 | 0.1% | |
| 1970 | 1,753 | −10.4% | |
| 1980 | 1,757 | 0.2% | |
| 1990 | 1,571 | −10.6% | |
| 2000 | 1,480 | −5.8% | |
| 2010 | 1,538 | 3.9% | |
| 2020 | 1,533 | −0.3% | |
| Sources: | |||
In 2000, there were 1,480 people living in Blossburg. There were 647 households and 390 families. The population density was about 311.8 people per square mile.
Community Life
About 26.7% of households had children under 18. Many households (46.5%) were married couples living together. About 35.4% of all households were single individuals. Around 21.9% of homes had someone 65 years or older living alone. The average household had 2.23 people.
Age Groups
The population was spread out by age. About 24.7% were under 18 years old. Around 21.8% were 65 years or older. The average age in Blossburg was 41 years.
Famous People from Blossburg
- Franklin Guest Smith, a U.S. Army brigadier general.
- William Bauchop Wilson, the first United States Secretary of Labor.
See also
In Spanish: Blossburg para niños
