Tionesta, Pennsylvania

Tionesta, Pennsylvania
Borough
Forest County Courthouse

Location of Tionesta in Forest County, Pennsylvania.
Tionesta, Pennsylvania
Location of Tionesta in Forest County, Pennsylvania.
Coordinates: 41°29′42″N 79°27′21″W / 41.49500°N 79.45583°W / 41.49500; -79.45583Coordinates: 41°29′42″N 79°27′21″W / 41.49500°N 79.45583°W / 41.49500; -79.45583
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Forest
Settled 1805
Incorporated 1805
Area[1]
 • Total 1.38 sq mi (3.56 km2)
 • Land 1.38 sq mi (3.56 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Population (2010)
 • Total 483
 • Estimate (2016)[2] 439
 • Density 319.27/sq mi (123.30/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
Zip code 16353
Area code(s) 814
FIPS code 42-76848

Tionesta is a borough in Forest County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 483 at the 2010 Census. It is the county seat of Forest County.[3] The name is a Native American word meaning "the home of the wolves".[4]

Tionesta lies at the heart of a forested region that is a popular destination for hunters and other outdoor lovers. While the general area has seen some growth as a result of this tourist activity, the borough proper has suffered several setbacks in recent years including the closure of an Evenflo plant that was a major employer and a 2002 fire that leveled an entire block of the borough's downtown area.

Geography

Tionesta is located at 41°29′42″N 79°27′21″W / 41.495017°N 79.455939°W / 41.495017; -79.455939.[5] The borough is located 54 miles (87 km) southeast of Erie and 78 miles (126 km) north of Pittsburgh.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2), all land.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1870320—
188046946.6%
189067744.3%
190081520.4%
1910803−1.5%
1920642−20.0%
19306704.4%
194084526.1%
1950726−14.1%
19607787.2%
1970711−8.6%
1980659−7.3%
1990634−3.8%
2000615−3.0%
2010483−21.5%
Est. 2016439[2]−9.1%
Sources:[6][7][8]

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 615 people (296 males, 319 females), 282 households, and 166 families residing in the borough. The population density was 457.5 people per square mile (177.2/km2). There were 337 housing units at an average density of 250.7 per square mile (97.1/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.67% White, 0.16% Asian, and 0.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.49% of the population.

There were 282 households, out of which 22.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.1% were non-families. 36.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 24.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 21.8% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.7 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $26,806, and the median income for a family was $40,625. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $23,889 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $17,799. About 9.2% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.2% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.

Sherman Lighthouse

The Sherman Memorial Lighthouse.

The Sherman Memorial Lighthouse, located on a 22.5-acre island in the Allegheny River, about 60 miles southeast of Erie. It opened in time to help the Forest County community of Tionesta celebrate its 150th birthday. The 75-foot-tall lighthouse is on a 25-foot-high mound of soil on what was once called Hunters Island, but now is called Lighthouse Island.

It ultimately will share the island with the planned Pennsylvania Hunting and Fishing Museum. Most lighthouses are more functional than decorative inside, but Sherman Lighthouse is different. It is finished and decorated as a showcase for the Sherman family memorabilia and to display a collection of more than 280 lighthouse replicas.

The octagon-shaped tower is made of timber instead of masonry or concrete. The 25-foot-tall aluminum and glass lantern room is equipped with the kind of beacon that a small regional airport would use. There are 76 steps in the spiral stairs that lead up the tower.

Notable natives and residents

Tionesta was the childhood home of Howard Zahniser, who became a conservationist and wrote the Wilderness Act of 1964.

Tionesta was the hometown of Congressional Medal of Honor recipient O. O. Spence, killed during the Indian Campaign in 1876.[9]

References and notes

  1. ↑ "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Aug 13, 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. ↑ Baker, Lawrence B. (Jul 14, 1969). "Rodney, Oscar, Cecil, Esther Surround Us". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 23. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  5. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  7. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  8. ↑ "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 17 June 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  9. ↑ https://www.nps.gov/fobo/learn/historyculture/cemetery-graves.htm
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