Houtzdale, Pennsylvania Facts for Kids

Houtzdale got its name from Dr. Daniel Houtz. He was the first owner of the land where the town was built. The town grew very quickly in the late 1800s. It was planned with streets laid out in a square grid pattern.

Houtzdale was very important for the railroad and coal mining industries. It was a central point for trains that traveled to nearby towns like Ramey and Madera. In 1872, Houtzdale officially became an independent borough. This meant it could govern itself.

Where is Houtzdale Located?

Houtzdale is next to the borough of Brisbin to the north. Two main roads, Pennsylvania Route 53 and Pennsylvania Route 153, pass through the town.

Route 53 goes east about 5 miles (8 km) to Osceola Mills.
Route 53 also goes west about 9 miles (14 km) to Glen Hope.
Route 153 heads north from Houtzdale about 17 miles (27 km) to Clearfield. Clearfield is the main town of the county.

The United States Census Bureau says that Houtzdale covers a total area of about 0.38 square miles (0.99 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

People of Houtzdale

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1880	2,060	—
1890	2,231	8.3%
1900	1,482	−33.6%
1910	1,434	−3.2%
1920	1,504	4.9%
1930	1,351	−10.2%
1940	1,430	5.8%
1950	1,306	−8.7%
1960	1,239	−5.1%
1970	1,193	−3.7%
1980	1,222	2.4%
1990	1,204	−1.5%
2000	941	−21.8%
2010	797	−15.3%
2020	764	−4.1%
2021 (est.)	761	−4.5%
Sources:

The population of Houtzdale has changed over the years. In 2000, there were 941 people living in the borough. About 25.8% of the people were under 18 years old. About 18.7% were 65 years old or older. The average age in Houtzdale was 39 years.

Ukrainian Roots

In 2000, about 6.9% of the people in Houtzdale said they had Ukrainian ancestry. This means their families originally came from Ukraine.

Fun and Games: Parks and Recreation

In 2020, Houtzdale got its first public park! It's called Trella Memorial Park. It's a great place for people to relax and have fun outdoors.

Learning in Houtzdale

Students in Houtzdale attend schools in the Moshannon Valley School District. The district has two schools:

Moshannon Valley Junior/Senior High School: This school is for students in grades 7 through 12. Their sports teams are known as the Black Knights.
Moshannon Valley Elementary School: This school is for younger students in grades K (kindergarten) through 6.

Local Media

Houtzdale is home to WMMH, a Catholic radio station. It broadcasts to the local area.

Famous People from Houtzdale

Several notable people have come from Houtzdale:

Bill Bishop (1900–1956): He was a professional baseball pitcher. He played for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1921.
Camille "Bud" George (1927–2017): He was the mayor of Houtzdale. He also served in the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives for many years, from 1975 to 2012.
Irving Kahal (1903–1942): He was a famous songwriter. He wrote lyrics for popular songs in the 1920s and 1930s.
Charles Rowland (1860–1921): He served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was also the president of a coal mining company and a railroad company.
Edna Yost (1889–1971): She was a well-known author of books.

Images for kids

First United Methodist Church (2012)

Houtzdale, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Contents

Discovering Houtzdale's Past