Rockhill, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rockhill, Pennsylvania
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Borough
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The Rockhill Trolley Museum
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Location of Rockhill in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania.
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 Rockhill, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Rockhill, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Huntingdon |
| Government | |
| • Type | Borough Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.29 sq mi (0.75 km2) |
| • Land | 0.29 sq mi (0.75 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 627 ft (191 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 379 |
| • Density | 1,302.41/sq mi (502.91/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
17249
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| Area code(s) | 814 |
| FIPS code | 42-65496 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1215277 |
| Local phone exchanges: 447, 448 | |
Rockhill, also known as Rockhill Furnace, is a small town called a borough in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States. In 2020, about 379 people lived there.
Rockhill is famous for its history with trains. It is home to the East Broad Top Railroad and the Rockhill Trolley Museum. Even though many people call it "Rockhill Furnace," its official name has always been "Rockhill."
Contents
Exploring Rockhill's Location
Rockhill is located in the southern part of Huntingdon County. It sits on the southwest side of Blacklog Creek. Right across the creek is its neighboring town, Orbisonia.
To the west, Rockhill is bordered by a hill called Saddle Back Ridge, which is about 920 feet high. Pennsylvania Route 994 goes through Rockhill. This road ends in Orbisonia to the north and leads southwest to Three Springs, which is about 6 miles away.
The United States Census Bureau says that Rockhill borough covers a total area of about 0.75 square kilometers (0.29 square miles). All of this area is land, with no water.
Who Lives in Rockhill?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 657 | — | |
| 1900 | 495 | −24.7% | |
| 1910 | 504 | 1.8% | |
| 1920 | 500 | −0.8% | |
| 1930 | 502 | 0.4% | |
| 1940 | 548 | 9.2% | |
| 1950 | 567 | 3.5% | |
| 1960 | 566 | −0.2% | |
| 1970 | 480 | −15.2% | |
| 1980 | 472 | −1.7% | |
| 1990 | 421 | −10.8% | |
| 2000 | 414 | −1.7% | |
| 2010 | 371 | −10.4% | |
| 2020 | 379 | 2.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 414 people living in Rockhill. Most of the people were White (99.28%). About 2.42% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
There were 173 homes in the borough. Many of these homes (55.5%) were married couples living together. About 27.7% of homes had children under 18. The average home had about 2.39 people.
The people in Rockhill are of different ages. About 23.7% were under 18 years old. About 17.9% were 65 years or older. The average age in the borough was 41 years old.
Rockhill's Past: A Railroad Town
The history of Rockhill is closely tied to trains and industry.
The East Broad Top Railroad Arrives
In 1873, the East Broad Top Railroad was built through this area. This railroad used a narrow-gauge track, which means the tracks were closer together than standard tracks. Rockhill was chosen as the perfect spot for the railroad's maintenance facility. This is where trains would be repaired and kept in good working order.
Iron and Coal Industry
The company that owned the railroad, Rockhill Iron and Coal, also had a large iron furnace here. This furnace used coke (a type of fuel made from coal) to make iron. The town of Rockhill was built by this coal company and the railroad to support their operations. It was a community for the workers and their families.
Changes Over Time
The iron furnace stopped working in 1907. After that, the railroad became the main employer in Rockhill. The East Broad Top Railroad stopped running in 1956.
However, a part of the railroad from Rockhill north to Shirleysburg was reopened in 1960. It became a tourist attraction! In the late 2000s, parts of the track to the south were fixed up. This allowed small rail cars called "speeders" to give rides to visitors.
In 2022, more tracks were fixed, reaching an area called Colgate Grove. Now, reproduction passenger cars pulled by a small diesel train can carry people there. On February 18, 2023, something very exciting happened: steam locomotive #16, a historic train, ran on the rails again for the first time since 1956, carrying passengers to Colgate Grove!
Preserving History
A group called Friends of the East Broad Top, Inc. is working hard to fix up the old railroad buildings in Rockhill. They offer tours inside the East Broad Top shop complex during the summer. This lets people see where the trains were once maintained and learn about their history.
Fun Places to Visit in Rockhill
- Rockhill Trolley Museum: A museum where you can see and ride old trolley cars.
- East Broad Top Railroad: A historic railroad that offers train rides and tours.
See also
In Spanish: Rockhill (Pensilvania) para niños
