Laporte, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Laporte, Pennsylvania
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Borough
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The Sullivan County Courthouse, built 1894, in Laporte
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Location of Laporte in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania.
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 Laporte, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Laporte, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Pennsylvania | |
| County | Sullivan | |
| Settled | 1850 | |
| Incorporated (borough) | 1853 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 1.23 sq mi (3.19 km2) | |
| • Land | 1.07 sq mi (2.76 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.16 sq mi (0.42 km2) | |
| Elevation | 1,972 ft (601 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 314 | |
| • Density | 294.01/sq mi (113.56/km2) | |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT | |
| ZIP code |
18626
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| Area code(s) | 570 Exchange: 946 | |
| FIPS code | 42-41512 | |
Laporte is a small town, called a borough, in Pennsylvania, United States. It is the main town, or county seat, of Sullivan County. In 2020, about 320 people lived there.
Laporte is known for being one of the smallest county seats in Pennsylvania. It is surrounded by Laporte Township. The town was named after John Laporte, an important politician.
Contents
History of Laporte
Laporte was started in 1847. It was named after John Laporte, who was the Surveyor General of Pennsylvania. This job meant he was in charge of mapping and measuring land for the state.
In the past, Laporte was a busy center for cutting down trees (lumbering) and making leather (tannery). Many of the old houses in town still have wide porches.
The Celestia Community
An interesting story from Laporte's history involves a piece of land. In 1864, a special deed was recorded. This deed gave ownership of a large area of land to "Almighty God."
This land was once home to the Celestia Community. This group was started in 1853 by Peter Armstrong and his wife. They were Adventists, a religious group who believed in preparing for the return of the Lord.
The community tried to live together and share everything. However, they faced many difficulties. Eventually, the group had to give up their experiment. Peter Armstrong returned to Philadelphia, but not before officially giving the land to God. Later, the county took over the land because taxes were not paid.
The Sullivan County Courthouse is a very old and important building in Laporte. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This means it is a special place that is protected for its history.
Geography and Nature
Laporte is located in a beautiful area. The town covers about 1.3 square miles (3.4 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but about 0.2 square miles (0.5 square kilometers) is water.
One of the main water features in the borough is Lake Mokoma. This lake adds to the natural beauty of Laporte.
Laporte's Climate
Laporte has a type of weather called a humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and cold winters. Winters usually bring a lot of snow.
Population and People
Laporte is a small community. The number of people living in Laporte has changed over the years. Here is a look at the population from different years:
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In 2010, there were 316 people living in Laporte. Most people in Laporte are White. A small number of people are African American, Native American, or Asian. About 1 in 100 people were Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Laporte in 2010 was about 61.7 years old. This means many older adults live in the town.
See also
In Spanish: Laporte (Pensilvania) para niños
