Northumberland, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Northumberland, Pennsylvania
|
|
|---|---|
|
Borough
|
|
View of Northumberland in July 2015
|
|
| Nickname(s):
"Norry"
|
|
Location of Northumberland in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
|
|
 Northumberland, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Northumberland, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Northumberland |
| Settled | 1772 |
| Incorporated | 1828 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Borough Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.61 sq mi (4.17 km2) |
| • Land | 1.61 sq mi (4.17 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation
(borough benchmark)
|
512 ft (156 m) |
| Highest elevation
(northern boundary of borough)
|
820 ft (250 m) |
| Lowest elevation
(confluence of West Branch and Susquehanna River)
|
430 ft (130 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 3,911 |
| • Density | 2,429.19/sq mi (937.77/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
17857
|
| Area code(s) | 570 and 272 |
| FIPS code | 42-55456 |
| Website | Northumberland borough |
Northumberland is a small town, also called a borough, in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. It's located in the United States and had about 3,911 people living there in 2020. People sometimes call it "Norry."
Contents
History of Northumberland
Northumberland has a long and interesting history. It was first planned as an English village in 1772.
Early Beginnings
The land where Northumberland now stands was bought from the Iroquois people in 1768. This happened during the first Treaty of Fort Stanwix. A man named Reuben Haines from Philadelphia started planning the town in 1772.
Revolutionary Times
During the American Revolution, which was a war for America's independence, Northumberland had to be emptied. This event was known as the Big Runaway in 1778. People didn't move back to the town until 1784.
Joseph Priestley's Home
Northumberland was the American home of a very important person named Joseph Priestley. He was a British theologian (someone who studies religion), a clergyman (a religious leader), a natural philosopher (an early scientist), and a political theorist (someone who studies government ideas).
Priestley lived in Northumberland from 1794 until he passed away in 1804. He is famous for helping to discover oxygen. His house, the Joseph Priestley House, is still standing today. It's on Priestley Avenue and is a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important historical site. You can visit it as a museum!
Other Historic Places
Besides the Priestley House, there are other historic spots in Northumberland. The Priestley-Forsyth Memorial Library was built by one of Joseph Priestley's great-grandsons. Much of the town is also part of the Northumberland Historic District. These places are all listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Geography and Local Attractions
Northumberland is located about 60 miles northeast of Harrisburg. It sits right where two parts of the Susquehanna River meet: the north branch and the west branch.
Area and Rivers
The town covers about 1.6 square miles (4.1 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the borough itself, but it is surrounded by the Susquehanna River.
Fun Places to Visit
Northumberland has several cool places you can visit:
- Pineknotter Park
- The Joseph Priestley House (as mentioned in history)
- King Street Park
- The Northumberland High School Museum
- 2nd Street Playground
- Howling Hollow Dog Park
There are also plans to build a river boat in Pineknotter Park. This boat will help bring more visitors to the area. It's expected to be ready for its first trip by the summer of 2025.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1830 | 1,090 | — | |
| 1840 | 923 | −15.3% | |
| 1850 | 1,041 | 12.8% | |
| 1860 | 1,108 | 6.4% | |
| 1870 | 1,788 | 61.4% | |
| 1880 | 2,293 | 28.2% | |
| 1890 | 2,744 | 19.7% | |
| 1900 | 2,748 | 0.1% | |
| 1910 | 3,517 | 28.0% | |
| 1920 | 4,061 | 15.5% | |
| 1930 | 4,483 | 10.4% | |
| 1940 | 4,469 | −0.3% | |
| 1950 | 4,207 | −5.9% | |
| 1960 | 4,156 | −1.2% | |
| 1970 | 4,102 | −1.3% | |
| 1980 | 3,636 | −11.4% | |
| 1990 | 3,860 | 6.2% | |
| 2000 | 3,714 | −3.8% | |
| 2010 | 3,804 | 2.4% | |
| 2020 | 3,911 | 2.8% | |
| Sources: | |||
In 2000, about 3,714 people lived in Northumberland. The population has changed over the years, reaching 3,911 people by 2020.
Community Life
In 2000, about 25.9% of homes had children under 18 living there. The average household had about 2.22 people. The average family had about 2.79 people.
The median age in the borough was 40 years old. This means half the people were younger than 40 and half were older. About 21.7% of the population was under 18 years old.
Notable People from Northumberland
Many interesting people have connections to Northumberland:
- Helen Taggart Clark: A journalist and poet.
- Uzal Girard Ent: A major general during World War II.
- David Fulmer: An author who writes novels and produced a documentary film.
- Daniel McFarlan Moore: An electrical engineer who invented the Moore lamp.
- Elizabeth Nesbitt: A children's librarian and educator.
- Joseph Priestley: A famous chemist who helped discover oxygen.
See also
In Spanish: Northumberland (Pensilvania) para niños
