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, located in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the beautiful Susquehanna Valley region. In 2020, about 1,539 people lived there. Catawissa is also part of the larger Bloomsburg-Berwick micropolitan area.
Catawissa has a special connection with Uxbridge, Ontario, in Canada. They are "twinned" towns, meaning they have a friendly link. This connection started in 1805 because of Dr. Christopher Beswick. He was a doctor who lived in Catawissa before moving to Uxbridge. A street in Uxbridge, Beswick Lane, is named after him.
Contents
History of Catawissa
The land where Catawissa stands today was first owned by William Henry in 1769. The town itself was planned out in 1787. Back then, people sometimes called it "Hughesburg" or "Catawissey." The plots of land in the town were given out by a lottery system.
Catawissa became an important local spot when boats started traveling regularly on the Susquehanna River. This river helped with trade and travel. People began talking about building a school in Catawissa in 1796, and the first one was ready by 1800.
The Catawissa Fire Company, which helps keep the town safe from fires, was started in 1827. Later, a bank called the Catawissa Deposit Bank opened in 1871. The Catawissa Water Company, which provides water to the town, was formed in 1882.
A historic building in Catawissa, the Catawissa Friends Meetinghouse, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This means it's an important place worth protecting.
Geography and Location
Catawissa is found in the western part of Columbia County. It sits on the southeast side of the large Susquehanna River. A smaller stream, Catawissa Creek, flows along the southern edge of the town and into the Susquehanna River.
The town covers about 1.4 square kilometers (or 0.54 square miles). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water, mainly from the creek. The middle of Catawissa is mostly flat, but there are some small hills in the northeast part of the town.
Main Roads in Catawissa
Two important roads, Pennsylvania Route 42 and Pennsylvania Route 487, come into Catawissa. They join together for a short distance within the town.
- PA 42 goes west across the Susquehanna River. It then heads north about 5 miles to Bloomsburg, which is the main town of the county. PA 42 also goes south about 14 miles to Centralia.
- PA 487 goes northeast and then north to Bloomsburg, also about 5 miles away. It also leads southwest about 10 miles to Elysburg.
Population of Catawissa
| 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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According to the census from the year 2000, there were 1,589 people living in Catawissa. There were 710 households, which are groups of people living in one home. About 27% of these households had children under 18 living with them.
The population of Catawissa includes people of different ages. About 24% of the people were under 18 years old. About 20% were 65 years old or older. The average age of people in Catawissa was 38 years old.
Climate and Weather
Catawissa experiences different seasons with varying temperatures. In July, which is usually the warmest month, the average high temperature is about 84°F (29°C). The average low temperature in July is around 62°F (17°C).
January is typically the coldest month. The average high temperature in January is about 35°F (2°C), and the average low is around 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 a very cold -26°F (-32°C) in January 1994.
Catawissa gets different amounts of rain and snow throughout the year. February is usually the driest month, with about 2.37 inches (6 cm) of precipitation. June is the wettest month, receiving an average of 4.5 inches (11.4 cm) of precipitation.
The climate in Catawissa is known as a hot-summer humid continental climate. This means it has warm, humid summers and cold winters.
Famous People from Catawissa
Some notable people have come from Catawissa:
- Owen D. Leib: He was a congressman for Pennsylvania.
- Bobby Rhawn: He played professional baseball in the Major League Baseball in the 1940s.
- Harold L. Ervin: He was a judge on the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.
- Paul K. Walp: He was a political scientist.
Education in Catawissa
Students in Catawissa attend schools within the Southern Columbia Area School District. For those who want to go to college, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania is the closest university. It has over 9,400 students.
See also
In Spanish: Catawissa para niños
