Shanksville, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shanksville, Pennsylvania
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Borough
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Shanksville's Main Street in July 2006
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| Etymology: Christian Shank (founder) | |
Location of Shanksville in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
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Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Somerset |
| Township | Stonycreek |
| Settled | 1798 |
| Incorporated | January 25, 1913 |
| Founded by | Christian Shank |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.20 sq mi (0.51 km2) |
| • Land | 0.20 sq mi (0.51 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 197  |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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195 |
| • Density | 1,076.14/sq mi (414.98/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| FIPS code | 42-69680 |
Shanksville is a small town in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States. About 197 people live there, based on the 2020 U.S. census. It is part of the Somerset area.
Shanksville became known around the world on September 11, 2001. On that day, United Airlines Flight 93 crashed nearby. The passengers bravely fought back against the hijackers. This stopped the plane from reaching its target.
Contents
Where is Shanksville?
Shanksville is located in Pennsylvania. It is about 78 miles (126 km) southeast of Pittsburgh. It is also 226 miles (364 km) west of Philadelphia.
The town itself is quite small, covering only about 0.2 square miles (0.5 km2) of land. It is also one of the highest towns in Pennsylvania. Its elevation is about 2,230 feet (680 meters) above sea level.
How Many People Live Here?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 260 | — | |
| 1930 | 272 | 4.6% | |
| 1940 | 324 | 19.1% | |
| 1950 | 342 | 5.6% | |
| 1960 | 314 | −8.2% | |
| 1970 | 275 | −12.4% | |
| 1980 | 273 | −0.7% | |
| 1990 | 235 | −13.9% | |
| 2000 | 245 | 4.3% | |
| 2010 | 237 | −3.3% | |
| 2020 | 197 | −16.9% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 195 | −17.7% | |
| Sources: | |||
In 2000, there were 245 people living in Shanksville. These people lived in 96 households. Most of the people living there were white.
About 32% of households had children under 18. Many families were married couples living together. The average age of people in Shanksville was 36 years old.
Shanksville's History
Christian Shank, who came from Germany, built a cabin here in 1798. He later built mills to grind grain and cut wood. In 1828, Emmanuel Shaffer opened a store. The next year, Shank officially planned out the town of Shanksville.
The town got its own post office in 1874. Shanksville officially became a borough on January 25, 1913.
The Events of September 11, 2001
On September 11, 2001, Shanksville became famous worldwide. This was because United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in a field nearby. The crash happened about 1.75 miles (2.8 km) north of the town. All 40 passengers and four hijackers on board died.
The hijackers wanted to crash the plane into a building in Washington, D.C.. But the passengers learned about other attacks happening that day. They bravely fought back against the hijackers to take control of the plane. Because of their courage, the plane crashed in the field. It was the only hijacked plane that day that did not hit its intended target.
Remembering Flight 93
There are two memorials to honor the passengers and crew of Flight 93. The first temporary memorial was on a hill near the crash site. A new temporary entrance and memorial opened in 2010. This area is called "the Western Overlook." It's where the FBI set up their command center. It's also where families first saw the crash site. Visitors can leave their own memorials there today.
The main part of the Flight 93 National Memorial was finished by 2011. This memorial is built around the crash site. It follows the plane's flight path. The actual impact area, called the "Sacred Ground," is protected. Only family members can visit this special area.
Shanksville's volunteer firefighters and other emergency workers helped a lot after the crash. They came from nearby towns like Central City and Somerset. They searched for survivors at the crash scene. The New York City Fire Department gave a special gift to the Shanksville Volunteer Fire Department. It was a cross-shaped piece of steel from the World Trade Center. This piece of steel is now outside the firehouse. It was dedicated on August 24, 2008.
Education in Shanksville
The Shanksville-Stonycreek School District serves the area. It operates the public schools for children living in Shanksville.
See also
In Spanish: Shanksville para niños
