Smithton, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Smithton, Pennsylvania
Borough
Smithton welcome sign
Location of Smithton in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
Smithton, Pennsylvania Location in Pennsylvania
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Westmoreland
Incorporated	February 2, 1901
Government
• Type	Borough Council
Area
• Total	0.12 sq mi (0.30 km2)
• Land	0.10 sq mi (0.26 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.04 km2)
Elevation	810 ft (250 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	351
• Density	3,441.18/sq mi (1,326.19/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
Zip code	15479
FIPS code	42-71424

Smithton is a small town, called a borough, in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, USA. In 2020, about 351 people lived there. Smithton has its own post office and is part of the Yough School District.

History of Smithton

Early Days and Growth

Around 1801, a mill called Smith's Mill was built in this area. This mill helped the town grow. Smithton officially became a borough in 1901. In its early days, Smithton was known for coal mining and coke ovens. These were important for making fuel. The town also helped transport goods made in the Jacobs Creek valley.

Schools and Breweries

By 1906, Smithton had four schools. There were four teachers who taught 144 students. A famous company, The Jones Brewing Company, started in Smithton in 1907. It was founded by William B. Jones. He was the grandfather of actress Shirley Jones. The company made Stoney's Beer in Smithton until 2002. Then, they moved their brewing to Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

Geography of Smithton

Smithton is located at 40°9′14″N 79°44′26″W / 40.15389°N 79.74056°W / 40.15389; -79.74056. The Youghiogheny River flows along the western edge of Smithton. The town covers about 0.1 square miles (0.26 square kilometers) of land.

Mountains and Trails

Smithton is in the Laurel Highlands. These are part of the Allegheny Mountains. Many tourists visit the Laurel Highlands for their beautiful mountains and waterfalls. The Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) is a long bike trail. It is 150 miles long. The GAP connects Cumberland, Maryland and Pittsburgh. It runs right through Smithton.

The GAP is a "Rails to Trails" path. This means it follows old railroad tracks. Smithton is known as a "trail town" in Western Pennsylvania. This is because it is close to important travel routes. These include Amtrak trains and CSX industrial lines. Now, these old routes are also used for fun activities like biking.

Smithton Low-Level Bridge

A bridge on Pennsylvania Route 981 is called the Smithton Low-Level Bridge. This bridge helps people cross the Youghiogheny River. It connects the railway and bike path on the west side to Smithton on the east side.

Nearby Areas

Smithton is completely surrounded by South Huntingdon Township. A large power plant is located nearby. It is called Tenaska Westmoreland Generating Station. This plant uses natural gas to make electricity. It started working in 2018 and has 24 employees.

Population and People

In 2000, there were 444 people living in Smithton. There were 188 households and 124 families. Most people living in Smithton were White (99.10%).

Household Information

About 29.3% of households had children under 18. More than half (52.1%) were married couples. About 30.9% of households were single people. Around 17.0% of households had someone 65 years or older living alone. The average household had 2.36 people.

Age and Income

The population of Smithton had people of all ages. About 24.3% were under 18. About 19.1% were 65 or older. The average age was 39 years old.

In 2000, the average income for a household was $28,854. For families, it was $36,250. About 14.6% of all people in Smithton lived below the poverty line. This included 22.0% of those under 18.

Notable People from Smithton

• Shirley Jones, a famous actress
• Hannah J. Patterson (1879–1937), a leader in the women's right to vote movement

Images for kids

• 

  Business district (Peer Street)

See also

In Spanish: Smithton (Pensilvania) para niños