Tyrone, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tyrone, Pennsylvania
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Borough
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Pennsylvania Avenue
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| Motto(s):
Where quality of life comes first
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Location of Tyrone in Blair County, Pennsylvania.
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 Tyrone, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Pennsylvania | ||
| County | Blair | ||
| Settled | 1851 | ||
| Incorporated | 1857 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Borough Council | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 2.04 sq mi (5.27 km2) | ||
| • Land | 2.04 sq mi (5.27 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 1,001 ft (305 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,480 | ||
| • Density | 2,692.87/sq mi (1,039.65/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||
| Zip code |
16686
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| Area code(s) | 814 | ||
| FIPS code | 42-78168 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1214946 | ||
| Website | Tyrone Borough website | ||
Tyrone is a town, called a borough, in Blair County, Pennsylvania. It's about 15 miles (24 km) northeast of Altoona, right by the Little Juniata River. Tyrone was named after County Tyrone in Ireland.
In the 1900s, Tyrone was a very important business center. It helped transport coal from the Clearfield coal fields. The town was also famous for making paper, and it had factories that produced chemicals and candy. In 1940, about 8,845 people lived here. By the 2020 census, the population was 5,480. Tyrone is part of the Altoona, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Tyrone is sometimes called "The Hub of the Highways." This is because many important roads and railways meet there. These include the Norfolk Southern and Nittany and Bald Eagle railroads. Also, U.S. Route 220, Pennsylvania Route 453, and Interstate 99 highways all pass through the town.
Contents
History of Tyrone
The Tyrone Borough Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. This means it's an important historical area.
Circus Train Accident
On May 30, 1893, a train carrying the Walter L. Main Circus had an accident. The train went off its tracks near an embankment. Five circus workers died, and many animals were hurt or killed. Some animals that were not hurt escaped into the countryside. People reported seeing them for months after the accident. One woman even said a Bengal tiger attacked her cow. Today, there is a memorial at the site of the accident.
Tyrone Tornado Event
On June 2, 1998, a weak F1 tornado moved through the area. It traveled southeast along Pennsylvania Route 453 northwest of Tyrone. Many trees were damaged in several places along a four-mile path. This path started about five miles northwest of Tyrone. There was no major damage reported in Tyrone itself. However, people who saw it said they saw clouds spinning as they moved over the town. This tornado was part of a larger event called the 1998 Eastern Tornado Outbreak.
Local Industries
The biggest employers in Tyrone are the Tyrone Area School District and the Tyrone Hospital. Tyrone is also home to American Eagle Paper Mills. This company makes paper products.
Another well-known company is Gardners Candies. It was started in 1897. Gardners Candies has ten stores in the area. It is famous in the region for its peanut butter meltaway candy.
Geography of Tyrone
According to the United States Census Bureau, Tyrone covers about 2.0 square miles (5.2 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the borough.
Tyrone is located in the Bald Eagle Valley. It sits at the bottom of Bald Eagle Mountain. The town is also near Bald Eagle Creek where it meets the Little Juniata River.
Population and People
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 741 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,840 | 148.3% | |
| 1880 | 2,678 | 45.5% | |
| 1890 | 4,705 | 75.7% | |
| 1900 | 5,847 | 24.3% | |
| 1910 | 7,176 | 22.7% | |
| 1920 | 9,084 | 26.6% | |
| 1930 | 9,042 | −0.5% | |
| 1940 | 8,845 | −2.2% | |
| 1950 | 8,214 | −7.1% | |
| 1960 | 7,792 | −5.1% | |
| 1970 | 7,072 | −9.2% | |
| 1980 | 6,346 | −10.3% | |
| 1990 | 5,743 | −9.5% | |
| 2000 | 5,528 | −3.7% | |
| 2010 | 5,477 | −0.9% | |
| 2020 | 5,480 | 0.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 5,477 people living in Tyrone. There were 2,275 households and 1,422 families. The population density was about 2,711 people per square mile (1,047 per square kilometer).
Most of the people in Tyrone are White (97.3%). About 0.7% are Black. A small number are Native American or Asian. About 1.0% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
About 30.9% of households had children under 18. About 43.0% were married couples. The average household had 2.34 people. The average family had 2.93 people.
The median age in Tyrone was 40 years old. About 22.6% of the population was under 18. About 18.3% were 65 years or older.
The average income for a household was $34,850. For a family, it was $43,851. About 14.0% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 23.0% of those under 18.
Transportation Hub
The Pennsylvanian train, run by Amtrak, stops at the Tyrone station. There is one train each day in both directions. Greyhound buses also stop in Tyrone when traveling between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
The Nittany and Bald Eagle Railroad connects with Norfolk Southern just south of the station. As mentioned, three major highways pass through Tyrone. These are U.S. Route 220, Pennsylvania Route 453, and Interstate 99. The closest airport for commercial flights is State College Regional Airport. It is about 27.5 miles (44.3 km) away.
Education
Students in Tyrone attend schools in the Tyrone Area School District.
Tyrone in Film
In October 2009, parts of the movie Unstoppable were filmed in Tyrone. This movie starred Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, and Rosario Dawson. Scenes were mostly filmed at the 14th street crossing and the north end of the rail yard. Many local residents worked as extras in the movie. The film was released on November 12, 2010.
Local Media
The Tyrone Daily Herald has been the local newspaper since 1887. WTRN is the local radio station in Tyrone. It started broadcasting in 1955, founded by Cary Simpson. The station broadcasts on 1340 AM and 100.7 FM. It plays adult contemporary music and shares local news and high school sports.
Famous People from Tyrone
- Dylan Lane (born 1977), a game show host. He was born in Tyrone.
- Emme Rylan (born 1980), a film and television actress. She graduated from Tyrone High School.
- D. Brooks Smith (born 1951), a federal judge.
- Ethan Stiefel (born 1973), a famous ballet dancer. He was a principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre.
- Fred Waring (1900–1984), a musician and radio-television personality.
- Farran Zerbe (1871–1949), a well-known coin collector (numismatist).
Images for kids
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Pennsylvania Avenue
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Flag of Tyrone, Pennsylvania
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Seal of Tyrone, Pennsylvania
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Location of Tyrone in Blair County, Pennsylvania.
