Catawissa, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Catawissa, Pennsylvania
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Borough
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Catawissa from the southwest
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Location of Catawissa in Columbia County, Pennsylvania.
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Location of Columbia County in Pennsylvania
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 Catawissa, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Catawissa, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Columbia |
| Settled | 1774 |
| Incorporated | 1892 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Borough Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.54 sq mi (1.39 km2) |
| • Land | 0.51 sq mi (1.33 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2) |
| Elevation | 520 ft (160 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,536 |
| • Density | 2,994.15/sq mi (1,155.26/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
17820
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| Area code(s) | 570 |
| FIPS code | 42-11736 |
Catawissa is a small town, called a borough, in Pennsylvania, USA. It's located in Columbia County, within the beautiful Susquehanna Valley. In 2020, about 1,539 people lived there. It's also part of the larger Bloomsburg-Berwick area.
Catawissa has a special connection with Uxbridge, Ontario, a town in Ontario, Canada. This historic link started in 1805. That's when the Uxbridge area was given by the British crown to Dr. Christopher Beswick. He was the first doctor north of the Oak Ridges Moraine. Dr. Beswick lived in Catawissa before he moved to Uxbridge. A street in Uxbridge, Beswick Lane, is named after him.
Contents
History of Catawissa
The land where Catawissa is now was first owned by William Henry in 1769. The town of Catawissa was planned out in 1787. At that time, people sometimes called it "Hughesburg" or "Catawissey." The town's building lots were given out by a lottery.
When boats started traveling often along the Susquehanna River, Catawissa became an important local spot. People began talking about building a school in Catawissa in 1796. A school was built there in 1800. The Catawissa Fire Company, which helps put out fires, was started in 1827. The Catawissa Deposit Bank was officially created in 1871. The Catawissa Water Company, which provides water, was formed in 1882. Several Masonic buildings were built in Catawissa in the mid to late 1800s.
The Catawissa Friends Meetinghouse is a historic building. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Geography and Location
Catawissa is located in the western part of Columbia County. It sits on the southeast side of the Susquehanna River. A stream called Catawissa Creek flows along the southern edge of the borough. This creek then flows into the Susquehanna River.
The borough has a total area of about 0.54 square miles (1.4 square kilometers). About 4.5% of this area is water. The center of Catawissa is mostly flat. However, there are some hills in the northeast part of the town.
Major Roads in Catawissa
Two main roads, Pennsylvania Route 42 and Pennsylvania Route 487, come into Catawissa. They join together for a short distance.
- PA 42 goes west across the Susquehanna River. It then goes north about 5 miles (8 km) to Bloomsburg. Bloomsburg is the main town in the county.
- PA 487 goes northeast and then north to Bloomsburg, also about 5 miles (8 km) away.
- PA 42 also goes south about 14 miles (23 km) to Centralia.
- PA 487 goes southwest about 10 miles (16 km) to Elysburg.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 1,427 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,809 | 26.8% | |
| 1900 | 2,023 | 11.8% | |
| 1910 | 1,930 | −4.6% | |
| 1920 | 2,025 | 4.9% | |
| 1930 | 2,023 | −0.1% | |
| 1940 | 2,053 | 1.5% | |
| 1950 | 2,000 | −2.6% | |
| 1960 | 1,824 | −8.8% | |
| 1970 | 1,701 | −6.7% | |
| 1980 | 1,568 | −7.8% | |
| 1990 | 1,683 | 7.3% | |
| 2000 | 1,589 | −5.6% | |
| 2010 | 1,552 | −2.3% | |
| 2020 | 1,539 | −0.8% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 1,540 | −0.8% | |
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In 2000, there were 1,589 people living in Catawissa. There were 710 households, which are groups of people living together. About 428 of these were families.
Most people in Catawissa are White (97.48%). A small number are African American (0.69%), Asian (0.19%), or from other backgrounds. About 0.44% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Catawissa in 2000 was 38 years old. About 24.2% of the population was under 18. About 20.5% of the population was 65 years old or older.
The average income for a household in Catawissa was $30,262 in 2000. For families, the average income was $37,292. About 15.9% of the people in Catawissa lived below the poverty line. This included 25.1% of those under 18.
Climate and Weather
Catawissa has a climate with hot summers. The average high temperature in July is 84°F (29°C). The average low temperature in July is 62°F (17°C). In January, the average high is 35°F (2°C). The average low in January is 19°F (-7°C).
The highest temperature ever recorded in Catawissa was 105°F (41°C). This happened in July 1988, August 1930, and September 1953. The lowest temperature ever recorded was -26°F (-32°C). This happened in January 1994.
February is usually the driest month. It gets about 2.37 inches (60 mm) of rain and snow. June is the wettest month. It gets about 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain.
Famous People from Catawissa
- Samuel Lount: A leader in the Upper Canada Rebellion.
- Owen D. Leib: A congressman for Pennsylvania.
- Bobby Rhawn: A professional baseball player in the 1940s.
- Harold L. Ervin: A judge on the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.
- Paul K. Walp: A political scientist.
Education in Catawissa
Catawissa is part of the Southern Columbia Area School District. Students in Catawissa attend schools within this district.
The closest university is Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. It has over 9,400 students.
See also
In Spanish: Catawissa para niños
