Saltsburg, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Saltsburg, Pennsylvania
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Borough
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Saltsburg
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| Motto(s):
A Pennsylvania Canal Town
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Location of Saltsburg in Indiana County, Pennsylvania.
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 Saltsburg, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Indiana |
| Settled | 1817 |
| Incorporated | 1836 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Borough Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.24 sq mi (0.62 km2) |
| • Land | 0.21 sq mi (0.54 km2) |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.09 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 780  |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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776 |
| • Density | 3,879.23/sq mi (1,498.50/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Zip Code |
15681
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| Area code(s) | 724 |
| FIPS code | 42-67648 |
Saltsburg is a small town, called a borough, in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, USA. It's located in the western part of Pennsylvania, close to the border of Westmoreland County. This town grew because of its salt wells, canals, and railroads. In 2020, about 780 people lived there.
Contents
A Look into Saltsburg's Past
Early Settlers and the Name 'Saltsburg'
The first survey of the Saltsburg area happened on June 20, 1769, by William Gray. Early settlers were mostly Scots-Irish immigrants. They moved west between 1768 and 1795. These settlers did not move near the Kiskiminetas River until 1795. This was because Native Americans were protecting their land.
The town got its name 'Saltsburg' because of the salt found there. Around 1795–1798, a woman named Mrs. Deemer found salt in the Conemaugh River. This was about one mile from where Saltsburg is today. She made a sample of salt by boiling water from the river.
How Saltsburg Grew into a Town
In January 1817, the first land was sold to the Congregation of Saltsburg. Andrew Boggs bought a lot of land in 1816-1817. This land held the first town lots. The first settlers agreed to name the town after the new salt industry. The main religion in town was Presbyterian. The first church built in Saltsburg was Presbyterian. The first house was built in 1820. Today, the Presbyterian Church stands there.
The town quickly filled with merchants in the late 1820s. It became a good place to live. John Carson became the first tailor in 1827. Daniel Davis was the first blacksmith in 1828. George Johnston was the first merchant in 1829. The town's population kept growing. In 1838, Saltsburg officially became a borough. By 1840, about 335 people lived there.
Transportation and Industry Changes
People in the area traveled by foot, carriage, train, or boat. The canal and railroad were very important for trade. As the town grew, it became a stop for the main canal. This canal went from Harrisburg to Pittsburgh. Coal and salt were moved along the canal. Building boats became a main industry in Saltsburg.
In 1835 and 1836, Robert Young, Butler Meyers, and Jacob Newhouse started the first canal-boat building business. In 1855, a railroad bridge was built. Major S.S. Jameson was the main builder. By 1864, the railroad caused the canal era to end. The town's growth slowed until coalmines became common in the 1870s.
Education and Healthcare in Early Saltsburg
Dr. John McFarland was the town's first doctor. He came to Saltsburg in 1836. He was also a director of the Indiana County Medical Society. He taught at the Saltsburg Academy. He served in the state House of Representatives from 1845 to 1846. He also helped start the Northern Pennsylvania Railroad.
The first school was a log house. It was located near the railroad bridge. John Whittlesey was the first teacher. The Saltsburg Academy was started in 1852.
Saltsburg's Location and Weather
Where Saltsburg is Located
Saltsburg is found where the Conemaugh River and Loyalhanna Creek meet. These two rivers then form the Kiskiminetas River.
The United States Census Bureau says the borough has a total area of about 0.2 square miles (0.62 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, and a small part is water. About 16.67% of the total area is water.
Saltsburg's Climate
Saltsburg has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and mild winters. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Saltsburg was 98°F (37°C) on July 8, 2012. The coldest temperature was -22°F (-30°C) on January 19, 1994.
| Climate data for Loyalhanna Lake, Pennsylvania, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1989–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 71 (22) |
77 (25) |
84 (29) |
90 (32) |
93 (34) |
97 (36) |
98 (37) |
96 (36) |
97 (36) |
90 (32) |
79 (26) |
73 (23) |
98 (37) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 60.7 (15.9) |
62.4 (16.9) |
73.4 (23.0) |
81.8 (27.7) |
86.9 (30.5) |
90.9 (32.7) |
92.2 (33.4) |
90.8 (32.7) |
88.6 (31.4) |
80.6 (27.0) |
70.7 (21.5) |
60.9 (16.1) |
93.5 (34.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 36.6 (2.6) |
39.9 (4.4) |
49.4 (9.7) |
62.4 (16.9) |
71.8 (22.1) |
79.5 (26.4) |
83.3 (28.5) |
81.6 (27.6) |
75.7 (24.3) |
63.8 (17.7) |
51.7 (10.9) |
40.5 (4.7) |
61.4 (16.3) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 27.6 (−2.4) |
29.8 (−1.2) |
38.0 (3.3) |
49.2 (9.6) |
58.9 (14.9) |
67.2 (19.6) |
71.1 (21.7) |
70.0 (21.1) |
63.4 (17.4) |
51.9 (11.1) |
40.7 (4.8) |
32.3 (0.2) |
50.0 (10.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 18.6 (−7.4) |
19.6 (−6.9) |
26.7 (−2.9) |
36.1 (2.3) |
46.0 (7.8) |
54.9 (12.7) |
59.0 (15.0) |
58.3 (14.6) |
51.2 (10.7) |
39.9 (4.4) |
29.7 (−1.3) |
24.2 (−4.3) |
38.7 (3.7) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −1.1 (−18.4) |
2.1 (−16.6) |
11.2 (−11.6) |
24.2 (−4.3) |
32.3 (0.2) |
43.2 (6.2) |
50.3 (10.2) |
49.3 (9.6) |
40.1 (4.5) |
27.6 (−2.4) |
17.6 (−8.0) |
8.8 (−12.9) |
−3.8 (−19.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −22 (−30) |
−21 (−29) |
−5 (−21) |
16 (−9) |
26 (−3) |
36 (2) |
39 (4) |
42 (6) |
30 (−1) |
14 (−10) |
4 (−16) |
−18 (−28) |
−22 (−30) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.07 (78) |
2.51 (64) |
3.25 (83) |
3.76 (96) |
4.00 (102) |
4.13 (105) |
4.33 (110) |
4.60 (117) |
4.00 (102) |
2.88 (73) |
3.34 (85) |
3.57 (91) |
43.44 (1,106) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 9.9 (25) |
6.9 (18) |
3.0 (7.6) |
0.8 (2.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
1.0 (2.5) |
4.2 (11) |
25.8 (66.1) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 15.9 | 13.3 | 13.7 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 13.3 | 11.5 | 11.2 | 9.9 | 12.5 | 12.4 | 13.5 | 154.2 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 5.8 | 4.8 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 3.6 | 17.6 |
| Source 1: NOAA (snow/snow days 1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service | |||||||||||||
People of Saltsburg: Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1840 | 339 | — | |
| 1850 | 623 | 83.8% | |
| 1860 | 592 | −5.0% | |
| 1870 | 659 | 11.3% | |
| 1880 | 866 | 31.4% | |
| 1890 | 1,088 | 25.6% | |
| 1900 | 828 | −23.9% | |
| 1910 | 1,044 | 26.1% | |
| 1920 | 1,022 | −2.1% | |
| 1930 | 1,035 | 1.3% | |
| 1940 | 1,097 | 6.0% | |
| 1950 | 1,156 | 5.4% | |
| 1960 | 1,054 | −8.8% | |
| 1970 | 1,037 | −1.6% | |
| 1980 | 964 | −7.0% | |
| 1990 | 990 | 2.7% | |
| 2000 | 955 | −3.5% | |
| 2010 | 873 | −8.6% | |
| 2020 | 780 | −10.7% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 776 | −11.1% | |
| Sources: | |||
In 2000, there were 955 people living in Saltsburg. There were 406 households and 261 families. Most people (99.16%) were White. A small number were African American, Native American, or Asian. About 1.36% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 30% of households had children under 18. Almost half (48.8%) were married couples. The average household had 2.33 people. The average family had 2.97 people.
The population was spread out by age. About 25.4% were under 18. About 19% were 65 or older. The average age was 38 years.
Arts, Culture, and Community Life
Annual Celebrations in Saltsburg
Every year in early June, Saltsburg has a three-day community celebration. It takes place in the Canal Park and on Point Street. This event includes live music and a fireworks show. There is also an annual duck race. In this race, plastic ducks are numbered and dropped into the river from the bridge.
Saltsburg also has "Canal Days" in early September. During this event, there are booths along the canal. These booths offer crafts, food, and games. There is also live music, fireworks, and a bicycle ride called a poker run. Riders get five cards at the end to make a poker hand.
Historic Sites and Local Attractions
The Saltsburg Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. This means it's an important place to protect for its history.
The Rebecca B. Hadden Stone House Museum has been around since the canal days. It helps people learn about the town's past.
Education in Saltsburg
Saltsburg has several schools for students:
- Saltsburg Elementary
- Saltsburg Junior/Senior High School
- The Kiski School
Public Services and Infrastructure
Saltsburg has its own police department. It has one police officer. The Pennsylvania State Police also help with safety. Saltsburg also has a volunteer fire department (Station 131).
See also
In Spanish: Saltsburg para niños
