Lewistown, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lewistown, Pennsylvania
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Borough
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The Lewistown post office
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Location of Lewistown in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania
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 Lewistown, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Lewistown, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Pennsylvania | |
| County | Mifflin | |
| Settled | 1790 | |
| Incorporated | 1795 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Borough Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 2.05 sq mi (5.31 km2) | |
| • Land | 2.03 sq mi (5.26 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) | |
| Elevation | 520 ft (160 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 8,579 | |
| • Density | 4,226.11/sq mi (1,631.44/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP Code |
17044
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| Area code(s) | 717 and 223 | |
| FIPS code | 42-43000 | |
| School district | Mifflin County School District | |
Lewistown is a town, also known as a borough, in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the main city of the Lewistown, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Mifflin County. The town is located along the Juniata River, about 61 miles (98 km) northwest of Harrisburg.
In 1900, about 4,451 people lived in Lewistown. By 1940, the population grew to 13,017. The 2020 census showed 8,561 people living there. Lewistown, Pennsylvania, is the largest of the four places in the United States named "Lewistown".
Contents
History of Lewistown
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Lewistown's Beginnings in the 18th Century
Lewistown became an official borough in 1795. It was named after William "Bill" Lewis, a Quaker who was part of the state government. He helped make the town, then called the Village of Ohesson, the main town (county seat) of Mifflin County.
Growth and Change in the 19th Century
In the late 1800s, Mifflin County became a busy crossroads in Pennsylvania. It was located near the center of the state. This made it a key spot for travel and trade in all directions.
Early roads were important, but the building of the Pennsylvania Canal and later, railroads, really boosted Mifflin County's economy. Lewistown, as the biggest city, saw its economy grow a lot. Businesses started building canal boats and opening inns for travelers and workers.
At its busiest, Mifflin County was one of the most active places for moving goods and people in the United States. However, when the canal system stopped being used, Mifflin County lost its role as a major transportation center.
During the American Civil War, on April 16, 1861, Lewistown sent its Logan Guards to help protect Washington, D.C.. This group was a militia formed in 1858. They were among the first five companies from Pennsylvania to be sent to the capital. Monument Square, where Main and Market Streets meet in Lewistown, honors these brave men.
Challenges and Changes in the 20th Century
After losing its role as a major transportation hub, Lewistown still had a strong industrial economy. This lasted until the 1970s, when the county's industries slowly began to decline.
A big challenge came in June 1972 with Hurricane Agnes. This hurricane caused major damage to the local economy. Hurricane Agnes first hit Florida as a weak hurricane. It then moved through Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
The storm then moved over the Atlantic Ocean and gained strength. It hit land again in New York on June 22. It then moved into north-central Pennsylvania. By June 23, Hurricane Agnes was almost still over Pennsylvania.
The storm brought a lot of rain to the Mid-Atlantic region. Some areas got 2 to 3 inches (51 to 76 mm) of rain. Near Shamokin, Pennsylvania, in the Susquehanna River basin, it rained up to 18 inches (460 mm). The ground was already wet from spring rains and could not soak up so much water quickly.
Even though a dam at Raystown Lake helped control flooding from the Juniata River, Lewistown still had a lot of flooding. Many businesses along the river had to close permanently.
One of the biggest impacts was on the American Viscose Corporation plant. This factory made rayon fiber for things like car tires. It also made polyester and Avistrap. The plant was located on the banks of the Juniata River, across from Lewistown.
The Viscose plant was not making much profit before the storm. The cost to reopen it after the flood was too high. So, the plant closed. Years later, the demand for rayon fabric grew. But the jobs moved to another factory in Virginia. The polyester part of the Lewistown plant reopened, but it hired far fewer workers. The site is now the Mifflin County Industrial Plaza, with different businesses over time.
After the decline of Lewistown's industries, a long period of economic struggle began. In the 1990s, several more factories closed. These included Masland and Lear. Standard Steel also faced financial difficulties.
New Growth in the 21st Century
The early 2000s saw more job losses. Scotty's Fashions, Mann Edge Tool, and parts of Overhead Door and Ford New Holland closed. This also led to the closing of the Belleville Foundry.
In 2011, Standard Steel joined with a Japanese company called Sumitomo Industries. It is now known as Nippon Steel. This partnership helped save the jobs of about 500 workers and many others in the area. First Quality, a company that makes adult care products, opened a factory in Lewistown. It employs around 400 people.
Geisinger bought Lewistown Hospital in 2013. They added more services, like a helicopter pad and a new clinic in nearby Reedsville.
In the 2020s, Lewistown has seen new small businesses open. Young business owners have started restaurants and shops. A better highway system connecting Lewistown and State College was finished in 2020. This makes it easier to travel between the two communities.
Geography and Climate
Lewistown covers about 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2) of land. The town's edges are along the Juniata River.
Lewistown's Climate
| Climate data for Lewistown, Pennsylvania (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1938–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 72 (22) |
78 (26) |
87 (31) |
94 (34) |
97 (36) |
102 (39) |
106 (41) |
103 (39) |
103 (39) |
95 (35) |
85 (29) |
75 (24) |
106 (41) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 58.4 (14.7) |
61.2 (16.2) |
72.4 (22.4) |
84.1 (28.9) |
89.2 (31.8) |
92.0 (33.3) |
94.5 (34.7) |
92.7 (33.7) |
89.7 (32.1) |
81.8 (27.7) |
72.1 (22.3) |
60.3 (15.7) |
96.0 (35.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 37.0 (2.8) |
40.4 (4.7) |
49.4 (9.7) |
62.6 (17.0) |
72.8 (22.7) |
80.7 (27.1) |
85.3 (29.6) |
83.6 (28.7) |
76.8 (24.9) |
65.0 (18.3) |
52.6 (11.4) |
41.4 (5.2) |
62.3 (16.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 29.0 (−1.7) |
31.4 (−0.3) |
39.3 (4.1) |
50.8 (10.4) |
60.9 (16.1) |
69.5 (20.8) |
74.0 (23.3) |
72.4 (22.4) |
65.3 (18.5) |
53.7 (12.1) |
42.8 (6.0) |
33.9 (1.1) |
51.9 (11.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 21.0 (−6.1) |
22.3 (−5.4) |
29.2 (−1.6) |
39.0 (3.9) |
49.1 (9.5) |
58.3 (14.6) |
62.6 (17.0) |
61.1 (16.2) |
53.8 (12.1) |
42.5 (5.8) |
33.0 (0.6) |
26.3 (−3.2) |
41.5 (5.3) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 5.5 (−14.7) |
8.4 (−13.1) |
14.5 (−9.7) |
26.7 (−2.9) |
36.0 (2.2) |
46.2 (7.9) |
52.9 (11.6) |
51.0 (10.6) |
40.7 (4.8) |
30.3 (−0.9) |
21.3 (−5.9) |
13.4 (−10.3) |
3.3 (−15.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −17 (−27) |
−14 (−26) |
3 (−16) |
15 (−9) |
26 (−3) |
32 (0) |
41 (5) |
38 (3) |
28 (−2) |
21 (−6) |
6 (−14) |
−16 (−27) |
−17 (−27) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.89 (73) |
2.31 (59) |
3.57 (91) |
3.53 (90) |
4.16 (106) |
3.95 (100) |
3.64 (92) |
3.61 (92) |
4.40 (112) |
3.75 (95) |
3.06 (78) |
3.27 (83) |
42.14 (1,070) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 9.1 (23) |
6.9 (18) |
4.3 (11) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.9 (2.3) |
4.7 (12) |
26.2 (67) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 11.2 | 9.6 | 11.3 | 13.2 | 14.2 | 12.1 | 10.8 | 10.7 | 10.2 | 10.7 | 9.9 | 11.2 | 135.1 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 3.8 | 3.5 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 11.9 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Lewistown's Water Source
The city water for Lewistown comes from the Laurel Creek Reservoir. This reservoir is located in the Seven Mountains area, heading towards State College.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1800 | 523 | — | |
| 1810 | 474 | −9.4% | |
| 1820 | 773 | 63.1% | |
| 1830 | 1,479 | 91.3% | |
| 1840 | 2,058 | 39.1% | |
| 1850 | 2,733 | 32.8% | |
| 1860 | 2,638 | −3.5% | |
| 1870 | 2,737 | 3.8% | |
| 1880 | 3,222 | 17.7% | |
| 1890 | 3,273 | 1.6% | |
| 1900 | 4,451 | 36.0% | |
| 1910 | 8,166 | 83.5% | |
| 1920 | 9,849 | 20.6% | |
| 1930 | 13,357 | 35.6% | |
| 1940 | 13,017 | −2.5% | |
| 1950 | 13,894 | 6.7% | |
| 1960 | 12,640 | −9.0% | |
| 1970 | 11,098 | −12.2% | |
| 1980 | 9,830 | −11.4% | |
| 1990 | 9,341 | −5.0% | |
| 2000 | 8,998 | −3.7% | |
| 2010 | 8,338 | −7.3% | |
| 2020 | 8,561 | 2.7% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 8,518 | 2.2% | |
| Sources: | |||
According to the census of 2010, there were 8,338 people living in Lewistown. These people lived in 3,742 households, and 2,030 of these were families. The population density was about 4,138.7 people per square mile (1,598.0/km2).
Most of the people in Lewistown were White (95.2%). There were also Black or African American (1.5%), Native American (0.3%), and Asian (0.3%) residents. About 3.1% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
About 27.7% of households had children under 18 living with them. About 34.8% were married couples. The average household had 2.21 people, and the average family had 2.93 people.
The population was spread out by age. About 23.3% were under 18 years old. About 16.2% were 65 years or older. The average age was 40 years.
The median income for a household in Lewistown was $26,584. For a family, the median income was $38,356. About 27.4% of the total population lived below the poverty line. This included 47.0% of those under 18 and 13.6% of those 65 or older.
Famous People from Lewistown
Many notable people have connections to Lewistown:
- Jean Acker, actress
- Viola Alberti, actress
- Ralph Baker, professional American football player
- Carl Barger, attorney and baseball executive
- Frances McEwen Belford, known as "Mother of the Lincoln Highway"
- John Brown, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
- Joseph Campanella, actor
- Bob Cupp, golf course designer
- Kelly Harper, recording artist and singer-songwriter
- Joseph Henderson, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
- Laura Johns, suffragist and journalist
- Julia Kasdorf, poet
- John Lilley, U.S. Medal of Honor winner from the American Civil War
- El McMeen, attorney and acoustic steel-string fingerstyle guitarist
- Carolyn Meyer, author of novels for children and young adults
- LeRoy Millette, senior justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia
- Jack Womer, decorated World War II veteran
Historic Buildings in Lewistown
Several buildings in Lewistown are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites. These include the Embassy Theatre, McCoy House, Mifflin County Courthouse, Montgomery Ward Building, and Wollner Building.
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Mifflin County Courthouse and Monument Square
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The Historic Embassy Theatre
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Hotel Lewistown (now Ansel Apartments)
Transportation Options
Lewistown has several ways to get around:
- Lewistown (Amtrak station) (train station)
- Greyhound (bus service)
- Fullington Trailways (bus service)
Media and Communications
Local Newspapers
- Lewistown Sentinel
Television Stations
- WHTM 27 Harrisburg (27.1 ABC, 27.2 ION, 27.3 GetTV, 27.4 Laff)
- WPMT 43 York (43.1 FOX, 43.2 AntennaTV)
- WHP 21 Harrisburg (21.1 CBS, 21.2 MyNetworkTV, 21.3 CW)
- WGAL 8 Lancaster (8.1 NBC, 8.2 MeTV)
- WJAC 6 Johnstown (6.1 NBC, 6.2 Charge!, 6.3 Comet, 6.4 CW)
- WTAJ 10 Altoona (10.1 CBS, 10.2 Escape, 10.3 Laff, 10.4 Grit)
- WHVL 29 State College (29.1 MyNetworkTV, 29.2 Buzzr)
Radio Stations
| FM stations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Call letters | Frequency | Format | Location | Owner |
| WRYV | 88.7 | Christian Contemporary | Milroy | Invisible Allies |
| WTLR | 89.9 | Religious | State College | Central Pennsylvania Christian Institute |
| WJRC | 90.9 | Christian Contemporary | Lewistown | Salt and Light Media Ministries, Inc. |
| WIBF | 92.5 | Country | Mexico | Seven Mountains Media (Kristin Cantrell) |
| WBUS | 93.7 | Classic Rock | Boalsburg | Forever Broadcasting |
| WQKX | 94.1 | CHR | Sunbury | Sunbury Broadcasting Corporation |
| WMRF | 95.7 | Hot AC | Lewistown | Seven Mountains Media (Kristin Cantrell) |
| WVNW | 96.7 | Country | Burnham | WVNW, Inc. |
| WFGY | 98.1 | Country | Altoona | Forever Broadcasting |
| WMAJ | 99.5 | Hot AC | Centre Hall | Seven Mountains Media (Kristin Cantrell) |
| W262DO | 100.3 | Light AC | Lewistown | WVNW, Inc. |
| WFGE | 101.1 | Country | Tyrone | Forever Broadcasting |
| WCHX | 105.5 | Mainstream Rock | Burnham | Mifflin County Communications, Inc. |
| WDBF | 106.3 | Country | Mount Union | Seven Mountains Media (Kristin Cantrell) |
| WQJU | 107.1 | Religious | Mifflintown | Central Pennsylvania Christian Institute |
| AM stations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Call letters | Frequency | Format | Location | Owner |
| WLUI | 670 | News/Talk | Lewistown | Seven Mountains Media (Kristin Cantrell) |
| WKVA | 920 | Light AC | Burnham | WVNW, Inc. |
| WHUN | 1150 | News/Talk | Huntingdon | Seven Mountains Media (Kristin Cantrell) |
| WJUN | 1220 | Sports | Mexico | Seven Mountains Media (Kristin Cantrell) |
Cable Television
Lewistown was one of the first three communities that helped start the cable company later known as Cox Communications.
Education in Lewistown
The Mifflin County School District serves the borough of Lewistown. Lewistown is also home to Sacred Heart of Jesus School [1]. This is a local Catholic elementary school that teaches children of any religion from kindergarten to 5th grade.
Lewistown is home to the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy. This is the only facility of its kind in the state. Firefighting is very important in Lewistown. Volunteer firefighters are very dedicated to the many independent fire companies in the borough.
See also
In Spanish: Lewistown (Pensilvania) para niños
