Grove City, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Grove City, Pennsylvania
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Borough
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Guthrie Theatre in downtown Grove City.
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| Nickname(s):
Crossroads of the East
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Location of Grove City in Mercer County, Pennsylvania (left) and of Mercer County in Pennsylvania (right)
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 Grove City, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Pennsylvania | |
| County | Mercer | |
| Settled | 1798 | |
| Established | 1883 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 2.70 sq mi (7.00 km2) | |
| • Land | 2.70 sq mi (6.98 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2) | |
| Elevation
(center of downtown)
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1,256 ft (383 m) | |
| Highest elevation
(northeast and eastern border)
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1,340 ft (410 m) | |
| Lowest elevation | 1,220 ft (370 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 7,871 | |
| • Density | 2,919.51/sq mi (1,127.22/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-4 (EST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (EDT) | |
| Zip Code |
16127
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| Area code(s) | 724 | |
| Website | http://grovecityonline.com/ | |
Grove City is a small town, called a borough, in western Pennsylvania, United States. It's about 60 miles north of Pittsburgh and 75 miles south of Erie. In 2020, about 7,894 people lived there. Grove City is known for being home to Grove City College, a private university, and George Junior Republic, a special school. You might also know the Grove City Premium Outlets, a big shopping center nearby.
In the past, Grove City was a busy place for factories. They made things like train engines, carriages, and trucks.
Contents
History of Grove City
Early Settlements and Growth
Grove City's story began in 1798. A man named Valentine Cunningham and his family moved there from another part of Pennsylvania. They settled near a stream called Wolf Creek. In 1799, Valentine and another settler, Robert Glenn, built a gristmill on the creek. A gristmill is a place where grain is ground into flour. They called this area Pine Grove.
About a mile north, another small community started. It was called Slabtown. In the early 1800s, more businesses and a sawmill were built in both areas. Cunningham's sons helped expand Pine Grove even more around 1837.
Becoming Grove City
By the 1850s, the two communities, Pine Grove and Slabtown, started to grow together. A post office was set up to serve both. In 1858, Pine Grove Academy was founded. This school later became Grove City College. Around this time, people found a lot of coal in the area. This led to a new industry: coal mining.
In 1872, a railroad line reached Pine Grove, which helped the town grow even faster. The Pine Grove Academy was allowed to give out college degrees in 1876. On January 1, 1883, the town officially became a borough. It changed its name to Grove City because there was already another town called Pine Grove in Pennsylvania. Later, in 1909, George Junior Republic was established.
Population Details
How Many People Live Here?
Grove City has seen its population change over the years. Here's a quick look at how many people have lived in the borough:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 1,160 | — | |
| 1900 | 1,599 | 37.8% | |
| 1910 | 3,674 | 129.8% | |
| 1920 | 4,944 | 34.6% | |
| 1930 | 6,156 | 24.5% | |
| 1940 | 6,296 | 2.3% | |
| 1950 | 7,411 | 17.7% | |
| 1960 | 8,368 | 12.9% | |
| 1970 | 8,312 | −0.7% | |
| 1980 | 8,162 | −1.8% | |
| 1990 | 8,240 | 1.0% | |
| 2000 | 8,024 | −2.6% | |
| 2010 | 8,322 | 3.7% | |
| 2020 | 7,894 | −5.1% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 7,849 | −5.7% | |
| Sources: | |||
In 2000, there were 8,024 people living in Grove City. The population density was about 3,070 people per square mile. This means a lot of people live in a relatively small area.
Economy and Businesses
What Does Grove City Make?
Grove City is home to two factories that make parts for train engines. These factories are part of a company called Wabtec.
Shopping and Entertainment
You can also find two companies in Grove City that make equipment for testing asphalt, which is used for roads. In 1994, the Grove City Premium Outlets opened. This is a large outdoor shopping center located near Interstate 79.
Grove City also has a special place called The Guthrie Theatre. It was built in 1927 for live shows. Over time, it became a movie theater. Now, it has been beautifully restored. The Guthrie Theatre is a fun place to visit, offering live plays, music, comedy shows, movies, and even a food hall.
Famous People from Grove City
Many talented people have come from Grove City:
- Edie Adams - an actress and singer who won an Emmy and Tony Award.
- Paula Kelly - a singer with the group The Modernaires.
- Paul Kengor - an author and professor at Grove City College.
- Smokin' Joe Kubek - a Texas blues guitar player.
- Tedd C. Nesbit - a former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
- Gary Peters - a baseball player who was the American League Rookie of the Year in 1963.
- Dick Stevenson - a former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
- Patricia Wettig - an actress.
- Andrew Wilson - a Broadway actor.
See also
In Spanish: Grove City (Pensilvania) para niños
