Port Royal, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Port Royal, Pennsylvania
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Borough
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Houses on Main Street
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Location of Port Royal in Juniata County, Pennsylvania.
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 Port Royal, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Port Royal, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Juniata |
| Settled | 1812 |
| Incorporated | 1843 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.60 sq mi (1.56 km2) |
| • Land | 0.60 sq mi (1.56 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation
(Borough benchmark)
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444 ft (135 m) |
| Highest elevation
(northwestern boundary of borough)
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560 ft (170 m) |
| Lowest elevation
(Juniata River)
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416 ft (127 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 807 |
| • Density | 1,340.53/sq mi (517.59/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Zip code |
17082
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| Area code(s) | 717 |
| FIPS code | 42-62304 |
Port Royal is a small town, called a borough, located in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, United States. In 2020, about 815 people lived there. It's a place with a lot of history, especially linked to railroads and farming.
Contents
History of Port Royal
Port Royal wasn't always called Port Royal! It used to be known as Perrysville. This name honored Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, a famous naval hero.
How Port Royal Got Its Name
The original Port Royal post office was in a nearby town called Saint Tammany. But in 1847, the Pennsylvania Railroad started bringing more people and goods through Perrysville. Because of this, the post office moved to Perrysville. In 1874, the town officially changed its name to Port Royal. Saint Tammany then became known as Old Port.
Farming and Transportation
For a long time, farming was the main activity in Port Royal. The areas around it, like Turbett, Spruce Hill, and Milford Townships, are known as the Tuscarora Valley, which is great for agriculture.
Port Royal was also an important stop on the old main line of the Pennsylvania Railroad. It was one of the first towns connected to this new railroad system. The town's location along the Juniata River also made it a busy spot for travel before cars were common. The river itself was like an old "highway" for boats and rafts.
However, the old Pennsylvania Railroad station is no longer there. Port Royal was also the end point for the Tuscarora Valley Railroad, a smaller railroad that served the southern parts of Juniata County. This railroad stopped running in the 1930s.
A Civil War Message
During the Civil War, Port Royal played a small but important role. A scout for the Union Army, Stephen W. Pomeroy, sent a very important message from the Port Royal railroad station. He telegraphed Governor Andrew Curtin with news that Confederate General Robert E. Lee was gathering his army near Gettysburg. Pomeroy had carried this secret message for almost sixty miles, hidden in his pants! This vital information helped state officials prepare for the Battle of Gettysburg.
Geography of Port Royal
Port Royal is located at 40°32′0″N 77°23′15″W / 40.53333°N 77.38750°W. It's about 40 miles northwest of Harrisburg, the state capital. Some people think of it as the "halfway" point between Harrisburg and State College, where Penn State is located.
The town covers about 0.60 square miles (1.56 square kilometers) of land. A very small part of this area is water.
Population of Port Royal
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 621 | — | |
| 1890 | 519 | −16.4% | |
| 1900 | 546 | 5.2% | |
| 1910 | 535 | −2.0% | |
| 1920 | 558 | 4.3% | |
| 1930 | 579 | 3.8% | |
| 1940 | 744 | 28.5% | |
| 1950 | 800 | 7.5% | |
| 1960 | 805 | 0.6% | |
| 1970 | 829 | 3.0% | |
| 1980 | 835 | 0.7% | |
| 1990 | 836 | 0.1% | |
| 2000 | 977 | 16.9% | |
| 2010 | 925 | −5.3% | |
| 2020 | 815 | −11.9% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 804 | −13.1% | |
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In 2000, there were 977 people living in Port Royal. The population density was about 1,472 people per square mile. Most of the people living in the borough were White (95.70%).
The population was spread out in terms of age. About 26% of the people were under 18 years old. Around 15.5% were 65 years or older. The average age in Port Royal was 37 years old.
Juniata County Fair
The first fair in Port Royal happened way back in 1852! Since then, there has been an annual fair in the town almost every year.
Fairgrounds History
In 1887, the original fairgrounds were too small. So, a larger piece of land was bought north of town from Smith Kepner. This is where the Juniata County Fair Grounds are located today.
From Farming to Fun
The fair started as a way to show off farming achievements. Over time, it has changed quite a bit and now has fewer farming-focused events. In 1953, weekly summer car racing began on a track that was first built for horse racing. This racing has become a big attraction, bringing lots of attention to Port Royal during the summer months.
Notable Person
- Fred Frankhouse, a famous baseball player who was an All-Star pitcher in Major League Baseball.
See also
In Spanish: Port Royal (Pensilvania) para niños
