Penns Valley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Penns Valley, Pennsylvania
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Neff Round Barn Historic Landmark in Penns Valley
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Penns Valley region of Centre County, Pennsylvania
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Centre |
| Settled | 1774 |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 12,819 |
| Time zone | UTC+5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code(s) | 814 |
Penns Valley is a beautiful valley in Centre County, Pennsylvania. It's part of the Appalachian Mountain range, known for its long ridges and valleys. This valley was formed over millions of years by natural forces like erosion.
Penns Valley is located in southern Centre County. It sits between Nittany Mountain to the north and the Seven Mountains range to the south. Two smaller valleys, Georges Valley and Brush Valley, are also part of this larger area.
Contents
History of Penns Valley
The Appalachian Mountain chain began forming about 420 million years ago. This happened when huge landmasses, like what is now North America, slowly crashed into each other. These collisions created the giant mountains we see today. Over time, these mountains have been worn down by weather and water, a process called erosion. This erosion helped shape the unique ridge and valley landscape of Penns Valley.
In more recent history, General James Potter explored this area in 1764. He saw the open fields and forests and decided to settle there in 1774. He was so impressed that he called it "an empire." Penns Valley is also home to Aaronsburg, the oldest town in Centre County, which was planned in 1786. By the late 1700s, Penns Valley was already known for its rich farmland.
Later, iron ore was discovered, and a road was built, connecting Penns Valley to the rest of Pennsylvania. While the iron industry eventually faded, farming remained important. The growth of Penn State University nearby brought new opportunities and helped the region grow in the 21st century.
Geography of Penns Valley
Waterways and Lakes
Penns Valley is part of the Chesapeake Bay area, meaning its waters eventually flow into the Chesapeake Bay. The main river here is Penns Creek. It starts near Penns Cave and flows downstream, joining with Sinking Creek and Elk Creek.
There are also two lakes in Penns Valley: Poe Lake and Colyer Lake. Both are held back by dams. Colyer Lake is about 77 acres and is a popular spot for boating and fishing. Poe Lake is smaller, at 25 acres, and is located within Poe Valley State Park. This lake was named after Big Poe Creek, which feeds it. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built the dam and access roads in the 1930s.
Mountains of Penns Valley
Nittany Mountain forms a natural wall between Penns Valley and Nittany Valley to the north. It's made of strong sandstone that has resisted erosion.
To the south, Tussey Mountain creates the border of Penns Valley. It's one of the longest mountains in central Pennsylvania, stretching for 80 miles.
Egg Hill is a mountain that separates the main Penns Valley from Georges Valley. It rises to 1,955 feet and is located near Spring Mills.
Similarly, Brush Mountain separates Brush Valley from Penns Valley. It's 1,936 feet tall and has a large pass called the Millheim Narrows, created by Elk Creek. This pass allows people to travel between Rebersburg and Millheim.
Caves to Explore
Penns Valley is home to two amazing public limestone caves.
Penn's Cave is near Centre Hall and is unique because it's an all-water cave. You explore it by taking a guided boat tour! Native Americans and trappers used the dry parts of the cave for shelter for many years. In 1885, it officially opened for tours, and the Penn's Cave Hotel opened the same year. Both the cave and hotel were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
The second public cave is Woodward Cave, located in the village of Woodward. It's one of the largest caves in Pennsylvania. Inside, you can see impressive formations like the 14-foot Tower of Babel stalagmite and the 60-foot-high ceiling in the Upper Room. There's even a Ballroom big enough for events! You can take a 50-minute tour and also find cabins and campgrounds nearby.
Communities in Penns Valley
In Pennsylvania, there are different types of towns and areas. Here are the main communities you'll find in Penns Valley:
Boroughs
Townships
- Gregg Township
- Haines Township
- Miles Township
- Penn Township
- Potter Township
Census-designated places
These are areas the U.S. Census Bureau defines for collecting information. They are not official towns, but they are important communities.
Unincorporated villages
These are smaller communities that are not officially part of a borough or township.
- Colyer
- Ingleby
- Farmers Mills
- Penn Hall
- Potters Mills
- Tusseyville
Population and Demographics
According to the 2010 Census, about 12,819 people lived in the Penns Valley area. Potter Township was the largest community with 3,517 people. Gregg Township had 2,405 people, Miles Township had 1,983, Haines Township had 1,564, and Penn Township had 1,181. The boroughs of Centre Hall and Millheim had 1,265 and 904 people, respectively.
Community Organizations
The Centre County Grange Encampment and Fair, also known as The Grange Fair, is a huge event held in Centre Hall every August. It's been a tradition since 1874 and brings thousands of people to the area. For many, it's the last fun week of summer! People can even camp out at the fairgrounds, making it like a "city within a town."
The HOPE Fund of Penns Valley is a group of volunteers who help people in the community facing medical or accidental emergencies. They have given out over $250,000 to help families in need. They also host many events throughout the year to raise money.
The Penns Valley Conservation Association (PVCA) is a group that works to protect the environment in the Upper Penns Creek area. They care for the water, farmlands, forests, and the rural history of Penns Valley. They also encourage local farming and environmental awareness.
The Penns Valley Business Network helps local businesses and individuals connect and share ideas. It includes 16 different types of businesses, from accounting to landscaping, all working to improve their skills and services.
Education in Penns Valley
Public Schools
The Penns Valley Area School District serves the students in this rural area. Younger students (Kindergarten to 4th grade) attend one of three elementary schools: Centre Hall-Potter Township Elementary, Penns Valley Area Elementary, or Rebersburg-Miles Township Elementary. Students in 5th and 6th grade go to the Penns Valley Area Intermediate school. For older students (7th to 12th grade), there's the Penns Valley Junior-Senior High School. The district also offers vocational training at the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology.
Private Schools
Penns Valley has 12 private schools, which is the most in Centre County. Many of these schools are for the large Amish community living in the valley.
- Bower Hollow Parochial School - Woodward
- Elk Creek School - Rebersburg
- Hill Side School - Rebersburg
- Kramer Gap School - Spring Mills
- Mountain View School - Rebersburg
- Peach Lane Amish School - Madisonburg
- Penns Valley Amish Paroch School - Woodward
- Rockville School - Rebersburg
- Spring Bank School - Rebersburg
- Sunset View School - Rebersburg
- Windy Poplars School - Centre Hall
- Woodside Amish School - Spring Mills
Libraries
The Centre County Libraries has a branch in Centre Hall. They also have a bookmobile that travels around to serve the Penns Valley area.
The East Penns Valley Library is another library in the area. It has been run entirely by volunteers since 2013.
Recreation and Outdoors
Penns Valley is a great place for outdoor activities! It has two state parks and huge areas of state forest. The state parks, Poe Valley State Park and Poe Paddy State Park, are very close to each other. Both parks have many hiking trails that connect to the larger Bald Eagle State Forest.
Poe Valley State Park has Poe Lake, where you can camp overnight in the summer. During the summer, they also offer guided walks and evening programs. In winter, you can use snowmobiles on the roads when they are covered in snow.
Poe Paddy State Park is just east of Poe Valley. It offers great access to fishing in Penns Creek. It has some camping spots, and you can also use the facilities at Poe Valley State Park.
Getting Around Penns Valley
Roads
Penns Valley has three main state roads that help people travel within the valley and to nearby areas. PA 144 runs north and south, starting from US 322 in Potters Mills, going through Centre Hall, and crossing Nittany Mountain.
PA 192 runs east and west through Brush Valley in the northern part of Penns Valley. This road is one of two ways to get from Union County into Centre County and State College. The other main road is PA 45, which goes right through the middle of Penns Valley, connecting most of its towns and communities.
The only US route in the area is US 322. This road is known as the General Potter Highway in Penns Valley. There are plans to make this section of US 322 bigger and better for travel.
Air Travel
Penns Valley has two public airfields. Centre Airpark is a grass airstrip about 2 miles south of Centre Hall. It's privately owned and sometimes hosts air shows with small planes. Penns Cave Airport is an asphalt landing strip located near Penns Cave, about 4 miles east of Centre Hall.
There is also a private airfield called Pennfield Farm located west of Spring Mills.
Images for kids
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Neff Round Barn Historic Landmark in Penns Valley
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Penns Valley region of Centre County, Pennsylvania
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Sun rising, as seen from Penns Creek
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Egg Hill in PA from PA45
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St. Luke Lutheran Church in Centre Hall
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Main Street in Millheim
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Amish Buggy heading into Rebersburg
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2010 Demographics
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Centre County, Pennsylvania School Districts
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Poe Valley State Park in Autumn
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Sunset over US 322 north of Potters Mills, PA
