Renovo, Pennsylvania facts for kids

"Renovo" redirects here. For the biopharmaceutical company, see Renovo plc.

Quick facts for kids Renovo, Pennsylvania
Borough
14th Street in Renovo, looking south during the Flaming Foliage Festival Parade
Location in Clinton County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Clinton
Settled	1825
Incorporated (borough)	1860
Government
• Type	Borough Council
Area
• Total	1.06 sq mi (2.74 km²)
• Land	1.05 sq mi (2.72 km²)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.01 km²)
Elevation	668 ft (204 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	1,061
• Density	1,009.51/sq mi (389.64/km²)
Time zone	Eastern (EST)
• Summer (DST)	EDT
ZIP code	17764
Area code(s)	570
FIPS code	42-64200
Website	https://renovoborough.org/

Renovo is a small town, also called a borough, in Clinton County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is about 28 miles (45 km) northwest of Lock Haven. In the early 1900s, Renovo had over 4,000 people. By 2010, its population was 1,228, and in 2020, it was 1,061.

The town is located along the West Branch Susquehanna River. It is also part of Pennsylvania's Bucktail State Park Natural Area. This area is known for its beautiful mountains and the river that flows through them.

Renovo is famous for its "Flaming Foliage Festival." This festival happens every October, usually on the second weekend. It celebrates the amazing fall colors of the trees in the mountains. The festival includes a parade and crowns a queen from a local high school. Many former residents come back to Renovo for this special event. You can find vendors selling food, clothes, and souvenirs.

In the past, Renovo's economy mainly depended on lumbering, which is cutting down trees for wood. This industry stopped when most of the original forests were gone. The area also has natural resources like bituminous coal (a type of coal) and fire clay (a type of clay used for heat-resistant products).

History of Renovo, Pennsylvania
Geography and Natural Surroundings
- Climate in Renovo
Population Changes
Things to See and Do
Community Services
Notable People from Renovo
Images for kids
See also

History of Renovo, Pennsylvania

Renovo was built specifically for the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad. It was meant to be a midpoint station between the cities of Philadelphia and Erie. The town was planned on a flat area next to the West Branch of the Susquehanna River in north-central Pennsylvania. Renovo officially became a borough in 1866. Many of the large buildings for the railroad shops were built around the time of the American Civil War.

The Philadelphia and Erie Railroad later became part of the much larger Pennsylvania Railroad. The Pennsylvania Railroad was once the biggest company in the world. It was known for being very profitable for 100 years.

Town Layout and Early Life

Unlike many small towns, Renovo was designed like a city. Its main streets, called avenues, were named after the Great Lakes. The smaller streets were numbered from 1 to 16. Houses were built close together, often as row houses. Large yards were not common.

Before it was fully built, Renovo was advertised as a "resort town in the mountains." Old newspaper ads talked about the fresh mountain air, clean water, and outdoor fun like fishing and hunting. There were several big hotels in town before the 1900s. The railroad made it easy for people from other cities to visit this remote area.

Renovo had many businesses, including bars, restaurants, and churches. It had all the services you would expect in a town, such as a hospital, YMCA, schools, taxi service, shops, clubs, and sports teams.

The Railroad Shops and Their Decline

The main employer in Renovo was the Pennsylvania Railroad and its massive shops. These shops stretched across the town. They included a large yard for sorting freight trains, repair shops for locomotives, and even their own coal power plant. As long as the railroad was busy, Renovo was a lively town.

However, the railroad business started to slow down before World War II. It picked up during the war but then declined again. New ways of transportation, like the St. Lawrence Seaway, the Interstate Highway System, and more people owning cars, reduced the need for train travel. The Pennsylvania Railroad also moved some of its shop work to other places like Pittsburgh and Altoona.

The closing of the railroad shops in the 1960s greatly impacted Renovo. The town's population dropped from about 5,000 to less than 2,000. Many residents now travel to other towns for work. Some people who live there are retired. Even with these changes, the natural beauty of the Allegheny Mountains in this part of the Appalachian Highlands remains.

In 1972, Renovo experienced severe flooding and heavy rain from Hurricane Agnes. The hurricane stalled over Pennsylvania, causing widespread damage. Renovo received 8 to 10 inches of rain.

Chem-Con and the Energy Center

In the 1980s, a company called Chem-Con Corp. took over the empty railroad shops. They made containers for military vehicles for the U.S. Navy. The company faced problems and eventually closed, causing many people to lose their jobs. This was a difficult time for Renovo, especially after a fire also damaged the town's business area.

In 2015, there were plans to build a new natural gas power plant called the Renovo Energy Center on the old railroad shop site. This project was expected to create many construction jobs and some full-time jobs. However, environmental groups raised concerns about air pollution from the plant. They argued that the plant would release harmful pollutants and greenhouse gases.

In April 2021, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection approved the plant's air quality permit. But in May 2021, three environmental groups appealed this decision. They said the permit allowed too much pollution and that the community was not properly informed. They also argued that the plant would harm people's health and the environment.

In August 2022, a judge ruled that the state's environmental department had not fully explained why it allowed certain pollution levels. In April 2023, the company planning to build the plant, Bechtel Corporation, decided not to go forward with the project. A local resident, Maureen A. Ruhl, played a key role in raising concerns about the plant's location near homes.

Geography and Natural Surroundings

Renovo is located in north-central Clinton County, Pennsylvania. It sits along the West Branch Susquehanna River at the bottom of a deep gorge, about 1,000 to 1,200 feet (300 to 365 meters) deep. South Renovo is just across the river. The area around Renovo is one of the least populated places in the eastern United States.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Renovo covers about 1.06 square miles (2.74 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a very small amount of water.

Pennsylvania Route 120 goes through Renovo. It leads southeast to Lock Haven, which is the county seat. It also goes west and northwest to Emporium. Pennsylvania Route 144 crosses the river from Renovo to South Renovo. It then leads southwest to Snow Shoe and Interstate 80. To the north, PA 144 goes to Galeton.

Climate in Renovo

Renovo experiences a climate with warm summers and cold winters. The hottest month is usually July, with average high temperatures around 83°F (28°C). The coldest month is January, with average low temperatures around 19°F (-7°C). The area gets a good amount of rain throughout the year, with an average of about 41 inches (104 cm) annually. Snowfall is common in winter, averaging about 33 inches (84 cm) per year.

Population Changes

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1870	1,940	—
1880	3,708	91.1%
1890	4,154	12.0%
1900	4,082	−1.7%
1910	4,621	13.2%
1920	5,877	27.2%
1930	3,947	−32.8%
1940	3,784	−4.1%
1950	3,751	−0.9%
1960	3,316	−11.6%
1970	2,620	−21.0%
1980	1,812	−30.8%
1990	1,526	−15.8%
2000	1,318	−13.6%
2010	1,228	−6.8%
2020	1,061	−13.6%
Sources:

In 2000, Renovo had 1,318 people living in 593 households. About 29% of households had children under 18. The average age in Renovo was 40 years old. About 25.7% of families and 30.2% of the total population lived below the poverty line. This included about half of the children under 18.

Things to See and Do

Renovo is located in the heart of the Pennsylvania Wilds. This large area covers twelve and a half counties in north-central Pennsylvania. It has over two million acres of remote, mountainous, and beautiful land. These lands include state forests, state game lands, and state parks. They offer many chances for outdoor activities.

The Wilds area has 29 state parks, eight state forests, and 50 state game lands. You can find lots of wildlife, hiking trails, and fishing streams. This region is also home to the largest elk herd in the Northeast.