Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania
Borough
First Presbyterian Church
Location of Mifflinburg in Union County, Pennsylvania.
Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Union
Settled	1792
Incorporated (borough)	1827
Area
• Total	1.80 sq mi (4.67 km2)
• Land	1.80 sq mi (4.67 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation (borough benchmark)	583 ft (178 m)
Highest elevation (two hills at southern end of borough)	800 ft (200 m)
Lowest elevation (Buffalo Creek)	530 ft (160 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,485
• Density	1,931.82/sq mi (745.86/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST)
• Summer (DST)	EDT
ZIP code	17844
Area code(s)	570 and 272
FIPS code	42-49288
Website	Borough of Mifflinburg

Mifflinburg is a small town, called a borough, in Union County, Pennsylvania. It's located in the central part of the state, in the beautiful Susquehanna River Valley.

This town was first settled in 1792 by Elias and Catharina Youngman and other families, many of whom were German. It was named after Thomas Mifflin, who was the governor of Pennsylvania at the time. Mifflinburg became famous in the late 1800s for making horse-drawn buggies and carriages. It was even known as "Buggytown, USA"!

Today, Mifflinburg is known for its many old Victorian homes and downtown buildings. People visit for the Mifflinburg Buggy Museum, which celebrates its buggy-making past. The town also hosts fun events like Buggy Day and an annual German Christkindl Market in December.

History of Mifflinburg

How Mifflinburg Started

Mifflinburg is built on land that was given to soldiers after a war called Pontiac's War (1763-1766). These soldiers helped protect Fort Pitt (now Pittsburgh). Around 1782 or 1783, Elias and Catharina Youngman, along with their children and eight other families, moved to this area. Elias bought the land from Catharina's father, George Nagle.

In 1792, Elias Youngman divided the land into plots, and the village of Mifflinburg began to form. Many German settlers bought land here. A few years later, in 1797, another village called Greenville (or Rotestown) was started nearby by George Rote. Eventually, these two small villages grew together.

Becoming a Borough

In 1827, Mifflinburg and Greenville officially combined and became one borough. They kept the name Mifflinburg, honoring Thomas Mifflin, who was the first governor of Pennsylvania under its 1790 Constitution.

The "Buggy Town" Era

A big change came to Mifflinburg in 1845 when George Swentzel started the town's first buggy business. Soon, many other people opened their own buggy shops. By 1855, even though the town only had about 800 people, it had thirteen coachmakers!

By the 1880s, Mifflinburg was home to more than fifty factories that made buggies and sleighs. This is why it earned the nickname "Buggy Town." It made more horse-drawn vehicles per person than any other town in Pennsylvania!

Historic Places to See

Mifflinburg has several places that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Mifflinburg Historic District, the Hassenplug Bridge, and the William A. Heiss House and Buggy Shop. These places help preserve the town's rich history.

Where is Mifflinburg?

Mifflinburg is located in central Pennsylvania. It is about 25 miles southwest of a city called Williamsport. The borough covers a total area of about 1.8 square miles, and all of it is land.

What is the Weather Like?

Mifflinburg experiences all four seasons. Summers are warm, with average high temperatures in July reaching about 87 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters are cold, with average low temperatures in January around 17 degrees Fahrenheit. The town gets a good amount of rain throughout the year.

People in Mifflinburg

As of the 2020 census, about 3,485 people live in Mifflinburg. The town has a mix of families and individuals.

Many households in Mifflinburg have children under 18 living with them. The average household size is about 2 to 3 people. The median age in the borough is around 38 years old. This means half the people are younger than 38, and half are older.

What to Do in Mifflinburg

Mifflinburg has some interesting places to visit and things to do.

• Mifflinburg Buggy Museum: This museum celebrates the town's history as "Buggytown, USA." You can learn all about how horse-drawn carriages and sleighs were made here from the late 1800s to early 1900s.
• Christkindl Market: Every year, Mifflinburg hosts a traditional German Christmas festival. It's a fun event with crafts, food, and holiday cheer.

The Mifflinburg Christkindl market in 2012

Getting Around Mifflinburg

Roads and Highways

The main road that goes through Mifflinburg's downtown area is Pennsylvania Route 45. For longer trips, U.S. Route 15 is about nine miles to the east. This is a major highway that runs north and south through central Pennsylvania.

If you need to get on Interstate 80, which is a big cross-state highway, it's a bit of a drive. Most drivers use specific exits that are easiest to reach.

Buses and Trains

A bus station for Fullington Trailways is located about nine miles east of Mifflinburg. The closest train station with passenger service is the Lewistown Amtrak station.

Airports

For flying, the closest airport with regular flights is Williamsport Regional Airport (IPT). However, many travelers choose to fly from larger airports like Trenton–Mercer Airport (TTN), Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), or Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) because they might have lower prices. There's also a smaller airport for private planes called Penn Valley Airport (SEG) about 15 miles southeast.

See also

In Spanish: Mifflinburg para niños