Meadville, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Meadville, Pennsylvania
City
Crawford County Courthouse, Meadville Downtown Historic District
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  Tool City
Location of Meadville in Crawford County, Pennsylvania
Meadville, Pennsylvania Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Meadville, Pennsylvania Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Crawford
Settled	May 12, 1788; 237 years ago (1788-05-12)
Named for	David Mead, founder
Area
• Total	4.37 sq mi (11.31 km2)
• Land	4.36 sq mi (11.30 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation	1,400 ft (400 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	13,050
• Estimate  (2023)	12,361
• Density	2,991.75/sq mi (1,155.16/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	16335, 16388
Area code(s)	814
FIPS code	42-48360
Pennsylvania Historical Marker
Designated:	November 1, 1946

Meadville is a city in Pennsylvania, United States. It is the main city of Crawford County. In 2020, about 13,050 people lived there.

Meadville was the first lasting settlement in northwestern Pennsylvania. It is about 40 miles (64 km) from Erie and 90 miles (145 km) from Pittsburgh. Meadville is sometimes called "Tool City" because it has many tool-making shops.

History of Meadville

Early Settlement and Growth

Long ago, the land where Meadville now stands belonged to the Eriechronon people. Later, the Iroquois Confederacy took over. Then, the Lenape people, who had lost their homes in eastern Pennsylvania, moved here. They became friends with the Seneca, who were part of the Iroquois.

The Lenape and Seneca built a village called Cussewago. Their leader was Chief Custaloga. His name appeared in history in 1754 when George Washington visited the area.

After Cussewago was left empty, David Mead and his group started a new settlement on May 12, 1788. They chose a spot where Cussewago Creek and French Creek meet. This location was good because they could travel by boat to Fort Franklin for safety.

The local Iroquois and Lenape people were friendly with the new settlers. However, other groups, like the Wyandots, were not. Because of possible attacks, the settlement had to be left empty for a short time in 1791.

Around 1800, many new settlers came to Meadville. They had received land as a reward for fighting in the American Revolutionary War. In 1815, Timothy Alden started Allegheny College in Meadville.

Meadville became an important place for travel. This happened after the French Creek Feeder Canal was built in 1837. This canal connected to the Beaver and Erie Canal, which helped move goods and people. Later, railroads were also built.

In the late 1700s and early 1800s, Meadville played a small part in the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom.

In 1880, something important happened in Meadville. A man named Elias Allen tried to enroll his children in a public school that was only for white children. A judge ruled that the state law forcing separate schools for Black children was unfair. This led to a new law in 1881 that stopped schools from being separated by race.

Industrial Development

The Meadville Market House, where animals were once auctioned. Today, it's a place for local farmers' markets.

In the late 1800s, Meadville's economy grew with logging, farming, and making iron. The Talon Corporation, based in Meadville, was very important for making the zipper. Because the clothing industry was doing well even during the Great Depression, many people moved to Meadville. During World War II, a nearby factory called Keystone Ordnance created even more jobs.

The high demand for zippers made Talon Company Meadville's most important business. However, after 1968, the company faced problems and eventually went out of business. But because Talon needed very precise tools, many small tool and die shops started up in Meadville. This is why Meadville is known as "Tool City" and has more tool shops per person than almost anywhere else in the U.S.

In 1886, a blacksmith named George B. DeArment started making tools by hand in Evansburg, Pennsylvania. He sold them from his wagon. His business grew into the Champion Bolt and Clipper Company. In 1904, the company, now called Channellock, moved to Meadville. They started making more types of tools. In 1927, the company changed its name to Champion–DeArment Tool Company.

Talon, the Erie Railroad, American Viscose Corporation, Channellock tools, and Dad's Pet Food were big employers in Meadville. The city's population actually grew during the Great Depression. The economy kept growing even after World War II.

By the early 1990s, Channellock and Dad's were the only large companies left. But many new small tool and die shops opened, which helped the local economy. The song "Bittersweet Motel" by the band Phish was inspired by a trip from Meadville to the Pittsburgh Airport.

Several historic buildings in Meadville are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Baldwin-Reynolds House, Bentley Hall (at Allegheny College), and the Independent Congregational Church.

Geography and Climate

Meadville is located at 41.642 degrees North latitude and 80.147 degrees West longitude.

The city covers about 4.4 square miles (11.3 square kilometers) of land.

Meadville's Weather

Meadville has a climate with warm summers. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Meadville was 104°F (40°C) on July 9, 1936. The coldest temperature was -23°F (-31°C) on January 31, 1948.

People of Meadville

Population Facts

In 2020, Meadville had 13,050 people. This means there were about 2,992 people per square mile. Most people (93.3%) were White. About 6.3% were Black or African American.

There were about 5,058 households. In 31.5% of these homes, children under 18 lived there. About 33.6% of households were married couples.

The average age of people in Meadville was 36.3 years old. About 19.9% of the population was under 18.

The average yearly income for a household was about $40,694. About 19.6% of the people lived below the poverty line. This included 24.2% of children under 18.

Fun Things to Do

Arts and Culture

You can visit a copy of David Mead's log cabin in Bicentennial Park. This cabin was the first permanent home in northwestern Pennsylvania. It was built in 1988 for Meadville's 200th birthday. It helps teach people about early life in the area.

The Market House is a very old building downtown. It is the oldest market building in Pennsylvania that has been used without stopping. Local farmers still sell their goods there on Saturdays.

The Baldwin-Reynolds House is a museum managed by the Crawford County Historical Society. It was built in 1843 by Henry Baldwin, who was a judge on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Parks and Recreation

Diamond Park is the main park in Meadville. For over 200 years, it has been used for many things. In the 1800s, soldiers practiced there before and during the Civil War. After the war, it became a public park with grass, statues, and a gazebo. Now, it's a place for everyone to relax and play.

Learning in Meadville

Bentley Hall on the campus of Allegheny College

Colleges and Universities

Meadville is home to Allegheny College. This is a liberal arts college with about 1,700 students. Timothy Alden started Allegheny College in April 1815. The first students began their classes on July 4, 1816.

The first building built was the library, designed by Alden himself. It's a great example of old American architecture. Bentley Hall is named after Dr. William Bentley, who gave his large book collection to the college. In 1824, Thomas Jefferson even wrote that he hoped his own university could have a library as good as Allegheny's.

Schools for Kids

All public schools in Meadville are part of the Crawford Central School District.

• Meadville Area Senior High School (grades 9–12)
• Meadville Middle School (grades 7–8)
• First District Elementary School (grades K-6)
• Neason Hill Elementary School (grades K-6)
• Second District Elementary School (grades K-6)
• West End Elementary School (grades K-6)

There are also private schools:

• Crawford Christian Academy (grades K-12)
• Seton Catholic School (grades K-8)
• The Learning Center K-8 Independent School (grades K-8)

Famous People from Meadville

Many interesting people have come from Meadville:

See also

In Spanish: Meadville (Pensilvania) para niños