kids encyclopedia robot

Summerhill, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Summerhill, Pennsylvania
Borough
St. John's Lutheran Church
St. John's Lutheran Church
Location of Summerhill in Cambria County, Pennsylvania.
Location of Summerhill in Cambria County, Pennsylvania.
Summerhill, Pennsylvania is located in Pennsylvania
Summerhill, Pennsylvania
Summerhill, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Cambria
Settled 1810
Incorporated 1892
Government
 • Type Borough council
Area
 • Total 0.33 sq mi (0.86 km2)
 • Land 0.33 sq mi (0.85 km2)
 • Water 0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
1,594 ft (486 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 490
 • Estimate 
(2019)
444
 • Density 1,353.66/sq mi (522.79/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
15958
Area code(s) 814
FIPS code 42-75136

Summerhill is a borough in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 490 at the 2010 census.

History

Summerhill, a small borough in the Allegheny Mountains in southwestern Pennsylvania, was settled in the early 1800s and grew in large part from the Allegheny Portage Railroad and the Pennsylvania Railroad.

The Thomas and Barbara Croyle family was one of the earliest recorded families to settle in the town in 1794. Their family homestead, a two-story stone structure that still stands, served the family as a fortress against Indian attacks. According to some sources, Indians burned the Croyles' cabin and property, causing the family to seek refuge at Fort Bedford. By 1800, Barbara Croyle chose to rebuild their homestead with stone; she limited windows to two sides of the house to keep it stronger if attacked.

The Croyle family built a grist mill, known locally as Croyle's Mill, and a dam on the Little Conemaugh River to operate it. The establishment of the mill was significant enough for the county to notice and fund its first public works project, a dirt road from Ebensburg to Croyle's Mill. The mill operated into the 1900s.

In February 1810, Summerhill Township was devolved from larger Conemaugh Township, one of three original townships established in Cambria County. Originally spelled "Somerhill", the township was likely named for Joseph and David Somers, some of its early, chief landowners.

In the 1820s, Summerhill Township covered a large swath of land in the north-central part of the current county, including present-day Jackson, Munster, Washington, Portage and Blacklick townships. The existing borough took its name from Summerhill Township and was then known as Summer Hill. Records from 1926 indicate the borough's current spelling, Summerhill.

Geography

Summerhill is located in south-central Cambria County at 40°22′32″N 78°45′38″W / 40.37556°N 78.76056°W / 40.37556; -78.76056 (40.375424, -78.760623) in the Laurel Highlands of the Allegheny Mountains. The north branch of the Little Conemaugh River and Laurel Run, tributaries of the Conemaugh River, run through the community. Summerhill is bordered on the west by the borough of Ehrenfeld.

U.S. Route 219, a four-lane expressway, runs through the northwest part of the borough, with access from an interchange with Pennsylvania Route 53 southwest of the borough limits. US 219 leads north 10 miles (16 km) to Ebensburg, the county seat. Johnstown is 14 miles (23 km) to the southwest via US 219 and Pennsylvania Route 56.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Summerhill borough has a total area of 0.33 square miles (0.86 km2), of which 0.33 square miles (0.85 km2) is land and 0.004 square miles (0.01 km2), or 1.53%, is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 343
1900 591
1910 863 46.0%
1920 890 3.1%
1930 785 −11.8%
1940 861 9.7%
1950 849 −1.4%
1960 870 2.5%
1970 726 −16.6%
1980 725 −0.1%
1990 614 −15.3%
2000 521 −15.1%
2010 490 −6.0%
2019 (est.) 444 −9.4%
Sources:

As of the census of 2000, there were 521 people, 220 households, and 146 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,647.5 people per square mile (628.6/km2). There were 227 housing units at an average density of 717.8 per square mile (273.9/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.81% White and 0.19% Asian. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.58% of the population.

There were 220 households, out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 86.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.7 males.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Summerhill (Pensilvania) para niños

kids search engine
Summerhill, Pennsylvania Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.