Volant, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Volant, Pennsylvania
Borough
Volant Mills
Location in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Lawrence
Established	1868
Area
• Total	0.12 sq mi (0.31 km2)
• Land	0.11 sq mi (0.29 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation (middle of borough)	1,050 ft (320 m)
Highest elevation (northwest end of borough)	1,160 ft (350 m)
Lowest elevation (Neshannock Creek)	1,000 ft (300 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	127
• Estimate  (2021)	126
• Density	1,348.21/sq mi (518.98/km2)
Time zone	UTC-4 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (EDT)
Area code(s)	724

Volant is a small town, called a borough, in northern Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. In 2020, about 127 people lived there. Volant is surrounded by farms belonging to the Old Order Amish community from the nearby New Wilmington area. It is also part of the larger Pittsburgh metropolitan area.

History of Volant

How Volant Started

The land where Volant is located was bought from Native Americans in 1784. The first gristmill, a mill for grinding grain, was built on Neshannock Creek in 1806. This mill was a little upstream from where the town is now. After a few years, it was no longer used, and a new mill was built in 1812.

In 1847, an Amish community was started between New Wilmington and Volant. In 1868, a man named J.P. Locke bought the mill and about 100 acres (0.40 km2) of land. He started to plan a settlement with 30 building lots, which he named Lockeville. With the help of the railroad, his plan to create a town was successful. In June 1893, the settlement changed its name to Volant. It officially became a self-governing borough at that time.

The name "Volant" comes from a story in 1874. Hunters were amazed when ducks flew up from a local pond and exclaimed "volant!" The word "volant" means "they fly" in Latin. This name stuck and was officially adopted in 1893.

Growth and Development

The first store in Volant was built in 1877 by John and William Graham. By the early 1900s, the village had become a busy commercial center. Thanks to the New Castle-Franklin railroad, Volant became a popular shopping area. The mill remained the most important part of the town's economy.

Because Volant was in a rural area, it had many services for farmers. These included a stable for horses, two shops that made harnesses, a blacksmith, and a veterinarian. There was also a college that attracted students from nearby communities. As the town grew, larger businesses started. Around 1900, a stone quarry was opened, along with a lumber mill and a brick company. The increasing need for oil led to an oil boom north of Volant. Oil drilling continued until the start of World War I.

Decline and Revival

The Great Depression in the 1930s caused the economy to slowly decline. The mill, which was the main source of income for Volant, closed in the early 1960s. The trains also stopped running through Volant in 1975.

In 1984, the old mill reopened after more than 20 years. It became a country gift and antique store. Because it was so successful, other shops soon opened on Main Street. Today, Volant has over 50 shops and restaurants. This has made it a popular tourist spot in western Pennsylvania.

Geography of Volant

Where is Volant Located?

Volant is located at coordinates 41°6′52″N 80°15′34″W. This means it is in western Pennsylvania.

The United States Census Bureau states that the borough covers a total area of about 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2). All of this area is land.

Volant is situated on Pennsylvania Route 208. It is only about 10 minutes away from major highways like I-79 and I-80. The town has an old-fashioned main street nestled in the hills of the Amish countryside in western Pennsylvania.

Neighboring Areas

Volant shares its northern, southern, and western borders with Wilmington Township. Its eastern, northeastern, and southeastern borders are shared with Washington Township.

Population of Volant

How Many People Live in Volant?

According to the census taken in 2000, there were 113 people living in Volant. These people lived in 55 households, and 37 of these were families. The population density was about 991 people per square mile (383/km2). There were 64 housing units in total. All of the residents were White.

Household Information

Out of the 55 households, 20% had children under 18 living with them. About 49% were married couples living together. About 11% had a female head of household with no husband present. About 33% were not families. Around 29% of all households had only one person living there. About 13% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older. The average household had 2.05 people, and the average family had 2.49 people.

Age and Income

The population of Volant was spread out by age. About 16% were under 18 years old. About 8% were between 18 and 24. About 24% were between 25 and 44. About 30% were between 45 and 64. And about 22% were 65 years old or older. The average age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were about 88 males.

The average income for a household in Volant was $30,625. For a family, the average income was $37,917. Men earned an average of $38,750, while women earned $25,417. The average income per person in the borough was $17,642. About 6% of families and 8% of the total population lived below the poverty line. This included 12.5% of those under 18 and 7.1% of those over 64.

Volant is surrounded by farms of the New Wilmington Amish settlement. In 2013, this settlement had 19 congregations, which means about 2,500 people.

Education in Volant

The schools in Volant are part of the Wilmington Area School District.

Transportation in Volant

Major Roads and Highways

See also

In Spanish: Volant para niños