Frackville, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frackville
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Borough
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Lehigh Avenue in Frackville in 2015
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| Etymology: Daniel Frack | |
| Nickname(s):
Mountain City
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Location of Frackville in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
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 Frackville
Location in Pennsylvania
Frackville
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Schuylkill |
| Settled | 1861 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.59 sq mi (1.54 km2) |
| • Land | 0.59 sq mi (1.54 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,470 ft (450 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,860 |
| • Density | 6,487.39/sq mi (2,506.05/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
17931
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| Area codes | 570 and 272 |
| Website | www.frackvillepa.org |
Frackville is a small town, called a borough, in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. It was officially made a borough in 1876. Frackville is located where two major roads meet: Interstate 81 and Pennsylvania State Route 61. This spot is about 102 miles (164 km) northwest of Philadelphia. It is also about 60 miles (97 km) southwest of Scranton. The town is named after Daniel Frack, who was an early settler from England.
Contents
History of Frackville
Frackville was first settled in 1861. More than ten years later, in 1876, it became an official borough. This happened when the small towns of Frackville and Mountain City joined together. Even today, "Mountain City" is a common nickname for the borough. You can find businesses, like a diner, named after it.
Coal Mining and Community Life
In the early 1900s, anthracite coal mining was the main industry here. This area is known as Northeastern Pennsylvania's historic Coal Region. Many mines operated nearby. However, Frackville itself grew mostly as a place for miners and related workers to live. Many immigrants came to the borough and started businesses that reflected their cultures.
For a short time in 1922, Frackville even had its own brewery. But this did not last long because of Prohibition. This was a national law that made alcohol illegal.
The Mahanoy Plane and Coal Transport
Just north of Frackville, on Broad Mountain, was a huge machine called The Mahanoy Plane. It worked from 1862 to 1931. This machine could lift 50,000 tons of coal every day! There was also a small coal town, sometimes called a "patch town," named "Mahanoy Plane." It was located at the bottom of Frackville's Broad Mountain. Railroad companies used to transport coal from this region to different markets.
Since the late 1900s, coal mining has mostly stopped in the area. You can still find old mining equipment and structures in the forests north of the town's baseball fields. However, these old sites have not yet been preserved or restored.
Celebrating Frackville's Anniversaries
Frackville celebrated its 100th birthday, or centennial, in 1976. James Nahas was the mayor at that time. The celebration lasted a whole week, from August 22 to 28. There were parades every night, which helped bring the community closer.
The borough also celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2001. This event had similar activities and brought people together. It ended with a "Frackville Cruise Night." During this event, cars followed special routes all around the borough.
Modern Economy and Travelers' Stops
Many people who live in Frackville now work in local factories. Others work in stores or at the many Pennsylvania State Prisons nearby. Some people travel daily to work in bigger cities. These include Pottsville, Hazleton, Allentown, Reading, or Harrisburg.
Frackville is a popular stop for travelers because it is easy to reach from Exit 24 of Interstate 81. One popular spot is the Dutch Kitchen, a newly updated diner. The Schuylkill Mall was a large shopping mall that operated in the south end of the borough from 1980 until 2018. The mall was later torn down and replaced by a large warehouse.
Frackville also hosted the Schuylkill County Brew Fest from 2015 to 2018. This festival later moved to Pottsville, Pennsylvania, in 2019.
Population Changes Over Time
The population of Frackville has changed over the years. In 1900, there were 2,595 people. It grew to its highest point in 1940, with 8,035 residents. As coal mining declined, the population also decreased. In 2000, there were 4,361 people, and in 2010, it was 3,805.
Geography of Frackville
Frackville is located at 40°47′1″N 76°14′1″W / 40.78361°N 76.23361°W.
The borough covers about 0.6 square miles (1.5 km2), and all of it is land. It sits on the northern side of Broad Mountain. Water from the area flows into the Mahanoy Creek, which then goes into the Susquehanna River. Frackville has a warm-summer humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and cold winters. The average monthly temperatures range from about 25°F (-4°C) in January to 70°F (21°C) in July.
Police Agencies Serving Frackville
Frackville is protected by several law enforcement groups. The Frackville Borough Police Department provides police coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Their police station is located in the Borough Hall Building. The Pennsylvania State Police also have a barracks, or police station, at the east end of the borough. This is called PSP Frackville Barracks. The Schuylkill County Sheriff's Department also helps provide police services to Frackville.
People and Culture in Frackville
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 1,707 | — | |
| 1890 | 2,520 | 47.6% | |
| 1900 | 2,594 | 2.9% | |
| 1910 | 3,118 | 20.2% | |
| 1920 | 5,590 | 79.3% | |
| 1930 | 8,034 | 43.7% | |
| 1940 | 8,035 | 0.0% | |
| 1950 | 6,541 | −18.6% | |
| 1960 | 5,654 | −13.6% | |
| 1970 | 5,445 | −3.7% | |
| 1980 | 5,308 | −2.5% | |
| 1990 | 4,700 | −11.5% | |
| 2000 | 4,361 | −7.2% | |
| 2010 | 3,805 | −12.7% | |
| 2020 | 3,867 | 1.6% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 3,870 | 1.7% | |
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In 2000, there were 4,361 people living in Frackville. Most of the people living in the borough were White (98.14%). There were also smaller groups of Asian (1.05%), African American (0.37%), and Native American (0.07%) residents. About 0.71% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Many Frackville residents have family backgrounds from different parts of Europe. The most common ancestries include Polish (19.8%), Italian (17.2%), German (11.1%), Lithuanian (7.8%), and Ukrainian (5.6%). This shows the history of immigration to the area in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Education in Frackville
The local schools in Frackville are part of the North Schuylkill School District.
See also
In Spanish: Frackville para niños
