McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania

The McConnellsburg Historic District was recognized by the United States Department of the Interior in 1993 when it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The district consists of 144 structures that contribute to its historic character. Of notable meaning are the numerous taverns, inns, automotive garages and other travel-related structures still in existence today, which includes the Fulton House, the Fulton County Courthouse, and the log cabin of Daniel McConnell, who laid out the borough on April 20, 1786. It was further incorporated on March 26, 1814.

Currently McConnellsburg's largest economic driver is Oshkosh Corporation-owned JLG Industries, a major manufacturer of construction and maintenance access-related lifting equipment such as boomlifts, etc.

McConnellsburg is located in eastern Fulton County at 39°55′58″N 77°59′46″W (39.932673, -77.995986).[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.35 square miles (0.9 km²), all of it land.[3] The elevation in the center of town is 896 feet (273 m) above sea level.

The borough is located in the Ridge and Valley section of the Appalachian Mountains in southern Pennsylvania. It is situated in a 2-mile-wide (3 km) valley between Tuscarora Mountain to the east and Little Scrub Ridge and Meadow Grounds Mountain to the west.

U.S. Route 522 passes north-south through the center of town as Second Street. The main east-west street through the town center is Lincoln Way, or old U.S. Route 30 (the Lincoln Highway). U.S. Route 30 now bypasses the borough on a limited access highway to the north. The west end of Pennsylvania Route 16 is in McConnellsburg, following Lincoln Way and then the Buchanan Trail southeast out of town.

Via US 522 it is 24 miles (39 km) south to Hancock, Maryland, and 9 miles (14 km) north to the Pennsylvania Turnpike. US 30 leads east 21 miles (34 km) to Chambersburg and 19 miles (31 km) west to Breezewood. PA 16 leads southeast 10 miles (16 km) to Mercersburg and 20 miles (32 km) to Greencastle.

At the 2000 census there were 1,073 people, 506 households, and 271 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,998.2 people per square mile (1,150.8/km²). There were 551 housing units at an average density of 1,539.6 per square mile (591.0/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.02% White, 0.84% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, and 1.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.56%.[6]

There were 506 households, 22.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.7% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.4% were non-families. 42.1% of households were made up of individuals, and 21.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.01 and the average family size was 2.72.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 19.9% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 28.0% 65 or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 80.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.9 males.

The median household income was $25,987 and the median family income was $33,125. Males had a median income of $28,478 versus $20,577 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $16,884. About 14.9% of families and 17.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.7% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.

Newspaper: The Fulton County News

• Toby Shaw, news presenter

• McConnellsburg Borough - County of Fulton, PA