Danville, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Danville, Pennsylvania
Borough
Central Danville view from Mill Street Bridge
Nicknames:  Ironmen Country, D-Block
Location of Danville in Montour County, Pennsylvania.
Danville, Pennsylvania Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Danville, Pennsylvania Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Montour
Settled	1792
Incorporated (borough)	February 1849
Named for	Daniel Montgomery
Area
• Total	1.57 sq mi (4.08 km2)
• Land	1.55 sq mi (4.03 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation (center of borough)	460 ft (140 m)
Highest elevation (northwestern borough boundary)	1,110 ft (340 m)
Lowest elevation (Susquehanna River and Mahoning Creek confluence)	438 ft (134 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,239
• Density	2,726.05/sq mi (1,052.21/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST)
• Summer (DST)	EDT
ZIP code	17821 17822
Area code(s)	570
FIPS code	42-18136

Danville is a small town, called a borough, in Montour County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the main town, or county seat, of Montour County. Danville is located along the North Branch of the Susquehanna River. In 2020, about 4,221 people lived here. Danville is also part of the Bloomsburg-Berwick area.

The town is home to Geisinger Medical Center, a large hospital that helps many people. It is also a major employer in the area, with over 10,000 people working there.

History of Danville

Early Native American Life

Long ago, before Europeans arrived, the land around Danville was home to Native American tribes. The Susquehannock people, who spoke a language similar to the Iroquois, lived in the Susquehanna River valley. They were skilled hunters and traders. They traded furs, especially beaver pelts, with early European traders.

These tribes often had conflicts over hunting grounds. The Susquehannock were known for being strong and brave. They were very good at protecting their land from other tribes. Sadly, many Native American people became sick from diseases brought by Europeans. This made their communities weaker. By the late 1600s, the Iroquois took over much of this land.

Founding of Danville

In 1773, a man named William Montgomery started buying land in this area. In 1774, he bought 180 acres near the Mahoning Creek and Susquehanna River. After serving in a war, William moved his family here.

The area was first called "Montgomery's Landing." Later, it was named Danville after William's son, Daniel Montgomery. William built the first gristmill (for grinding grain), sawmill, and trading post. In 1792, Daniel planned out the main part of the town.

Danville in the 1800s

Danville was first part of Northumberland County. Then, in 1813, it became the county seat of Columbia County. A county seat is the main town where the government offices are. Later, in 1850, Montour County was created, and Danville became its county seat.

In the mid-1800s, Danville became an important center for transportation. Canals and railroads helped connect Danville to other cities. This made it easier for local businesses to sell their goods.

Danville was famous for its iron mills. The surrounding hills had lots of coal and iron. Many of the rails used for the growing railroad system across the country were made in Danville. This was a huge contribution to the nation's growth. A local sign says that the first "T-rail" (a type of railroad track) in the United States was made in Danville in 1845.

Later 1800s and Beyond

The large iron mills were the main employers in Danville for most of the 1800s. However, as steel became more popular than iron in the 1900s, the iron industry in Danville slowed down. Today, the town celebrates its iron history with an annual Iron Heritage Festival in July. The main street is still called "Mill Street."

Thomas Beaver Free Library

In 1869, the Danville State Hospital was built. It was a state hospital for people needing special care.

In the early 1900s, Abigail Geisinger used her husband's money to build a hospital. She wanted it to be a major medical center, like the Mayo Clinic. The Geisinger Hospital opened in 1915. It has grown a lot over the years. Today, the Geisinger Medical Center is a very important hospital in northern Pennsylvania. It is also one of the biggest employers in the area.

In the 1960s, a local company called Susquehanna Danville Airport made airboats. These boats were tested by the U.S. Army for use in Vietnam.

Several historic places in Danville are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Thomas Beaver Free Library and Danville YMCA, the Danville Historic District, and the General William Montgomery House.

In 2014, Bernie Swank became the Mayoress of Danville. She had also served as mayor from 1989 to 1996.

Geography of Danville

Danville is located in northeastern Pennsylvania. It sits on the north bank of the North Branch of the Susquehanna River. The town of Riverside is just south of the river. The area around Danville has low mountain ridges, which are part of the Appalachian range.

U.S. Route 11 goes through the town. Interstate 80 also has an exit nearby. There are also deposits of limestone in the area.

The United States Census Bureau says that Danville covers about 1.6 square miles (4.08 square kilometers) of land.

Population Information

Population in 2000

In 2000, there were 4,897 people living in Danville. Most of the people were White (96.06%). There were also smaller groups of African American, Native American, and Asian residents. About 1.14% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

About 24.1% of households had children under 18. The average age of people in Danville was 38 years old.

Population in 2010

By 2010, the population of Danville was 4,697 people. The racial makeup was similar to 2000, with 94.2% White and 3.6% Asian residents. About 3.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average age in Danville in 2010 was 39 years old. About 20.3% of the population was 19 years old or younger.

Education in Danville

The local public schools are part of the Danville Area School District. There is also a Catholic school in Danville, St. Joseph School, which teaches students from kindergarten to 8th grade.

Fun Things to Do

The borough council works with the Montour Area Recreation Commission to find new ways for people to have fun outdoors. Hess Field is a park on Meadow Lane where people can play.

The Montour Area Recreation Commission (MARC) has helped clean up an old towpath along the Susquehanna River. This path was once used for canal boats. Now, a mile of the path is open for biking, walking, and running near the Danville Soccer Park. This old canal was important for moving goods and people a long time ago. The goal is to create a longer trail that connects Danville to other towns like Northumberland and Bloomsburg.

The J. Manley Robbins trail runs near Danville. It is thought to be the oldest rail-trail in the United States. This path was once a railroad line used to carry iron ore. In the 1890s, it was turned into a bicycle path. Today, it connects to other trails and recreation spots near the Mahoning Creek.

Nearby Communities

• Riverside
• Mechanicsville
• Mausdale

Famous People from Danville

• William Montgomery, who helped found Danville.
• Daniel Montgomery, William's son, who the town is named after.
• Barbara Babcock (1943–2016), a professor who studied culture.
• JJ Bleday (born 1997), a baseball player.
• Alice Dalton Brown (born 1939), a realist painter.
• Jacob Coxey, a politician who led one of the first big protest marches on Washington, D.C.
• Gwladys F. Hughes (1907–1996), an educator and folklorist.
• Keith Kauffman, a racing driver.
• Bernard Goldberg (1925–2010), who helped start the furniture store Raymour & Flanigan.
• Theodore L. Kramer (1847–1910), who received the Medal of Honor during the American Civil War.
• John Nevin Schaeffer, a classicist (someone who studies ancient Greek and Roman cultures).
• Joseph Parry, a Welsh-born composer whose song was used in the national anthem of South Africa.
• Christopher Latham Sholes, who invented the first useful typewriter and the QWERTY keyboard we still use today.
• Elizabeth Currid-Halkett, a professor and author who went to Danville High School.
• Dan Washburn, an author born in Danville, PA.
• William Ward Watkin (1886–1952), an architect and professor.
• Bill Yerrick, a baseball player.

See also

In Spanish: Danville (Pensilvania) para niños