Central City, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Central City, Pennsylvania
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Borough
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Location of Central City in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
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 Central City, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Central City, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Somerset |
| Settled | 1848 |
| Incorporated | May 6, 1918 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Borough Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.54 sq mi (1.40 km2) |
| • Land | 0.54 sq mi (1.40 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,200 ft (700 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 998 |
| • Density | 1,848.15/sq mi (713.78/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
15926
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| Area code(s) | 814 |
| FIPS code | 42-12296 |
Central City is a small town, also known as a borough, located in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States. In 2020, about 998 people lived there. It is part of the larger Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan area. You can find Central City east of Stoystown and northeast of Somerset.
Contents
Central City: A Small Town in Pennsylvania
Where is Central City?
Central City is located at coordinates 40.109094 degrees North and -78.804121 degrees West. This means it's in the northern hemisphere and west of the Prime Meridian.
The borough covers an area of about 0.5 square miles (1.4 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no large bodies of water inside the borough limits.
Did you know that the actual center of Pennsylvania is in Centre County? Central City is not the exact center of the state, but it got its name because of its location related to an old railroad plan.
Central City is quite high up! It has one of the highest elevations among towns in Pennsylvania, at about 2,200 feet (670 meters) above sea level. This makes it the eighth-highest town in the state.
A Look Back: Central City's Story
Early Beginnings
Central City was founded in 1894 by Anthony Wechtenhiser. It was built on land that originally belonged to early settlers named Casper Stotler and George Lambert. The town got its name because it was planned to be a central spot along a new railroad line called the Midland Railroad.
The idea was to build a railroad into a large area rich in coal. This railroad would have gone southeast towards the Atlantic Ocean. However, this big railroad project never fully happened. Later, in 1913, more land was developed for the town by the Cook and Neasley Realty Company. Central City officially became a borough in 1918.
Growing the Community
In the early 1900s, Central City had big plans. In 1921, it even had its own bank, which was part of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. This bank printed a lot of money before it stopped in 1935.
Over the years, Central City grew into a community with many services. It had churches, stores, a hotel, and places for car repairs. There were also barber shops, a printing house, a photo studio, and funeral homes. The town also had groups for veterans and a financial institution.
The Central City Volunteer Fire Company helps keep the borough and nearby areas safe from fires. The town's post office opened in 1919, and a new building for it was built in 1962. Mail delivery became free in the borough in 1955.
Central City also has public places for fun, like a tennis court, a baseball field, and a well-kept park. The Municipal Building, which is owned by the borough, holds offices for the mayor and police chief. It also has a council room, a large community hall, and a space for the fire company's equipment.
Who Lives in Central City?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 1,051 | — | |
| 1930 | 2,107 | 100.5% | |
| 1940 | 2,083 | −1.1% | |
| 1950 | 1,935 | −7.1% | |
| 1960 | 1,604 | −17.1% | |
| 1970 | 1,547 | −3.6% | |
| 1980 | 1,496 | −3.3% | |
| 1990 | 1,246 | −16.7% | |
| 2000 | 1,258 | 1.0% | |
| 2010 | 1,124 | −10.7% | |
| 2020 | 998 | −11.2% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 989 | −12.0% | |
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According to the 2000 census, there were 1,258 people living in Central City. These people lived in 538 households, with 362 of them being families. Most people in the borough were White (99.36%).
About 27% of households had children under 18 living with them. More than half (55%) were married couples. About 30% of all households were individuals living alone. Many older adults, aged 65 or more, lived by themselves (19.1%).
The population was spread out across different age groups. About 21.6% were under 18 years old. About 22.3% were 65 years or older. The average age in the borough was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were about 90 males.
See also
In Spanish: Central City (Pensilvania) para niños
