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Ebensburg, Pennsylvania facts for kids

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Ebensburg, Pennsylvania
Borough
The Cambria County Courthouse in Ebensburg
The Cambria County Courthouse in Ebensburg
Flag of Ebensburg, Pennsylvania
Flag
Official seal of Ebensburg, Pennsylvania
Seal
Motto(s): 
Crossroads of Cambria
Location of Ebensburg in Cambria County, Pennsylvania.
Location of Ebensburg in Cambria County, Pennsylvania.
Ebensburg, Pennsylvania is located in Pennsylvania
Ebensburg, Pennsylvania
Ebensburg, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Cambria
Settled 1796
Incorporated 1825
Government
 • Type Borough council
Area
 • Total 1.69 sq mi (4.37 km2)
 • Land 1.66 sq mi (4.29 km2)
 • Water 0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2)
Elevation
2,140 ft (650 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 3,351
 • Estimate 
(2019)
3,054
 • Density 1,844.20/sq mi (711.88/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
15931
Area code(s) 814
FIPS code 42-22144

Ebensburg is a borough and the county seat of Cambria County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is located 25 miles (40 km) West of Altoona and surrounded by Cambria Township. It is situated in the Allegheny Mountains at about 2,140 feet (650 m) above sea level. Ebensburg is located in a rich bituminous coal region. In the past, sawmills, tanneries, wool mills, and a foundry operated there. The number of residents in 1900 was 1,574, and in 1910, 1,978. The population was 3,351 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Ending in Ebensburg is the Ghost Town Trail. A rail trail established in 1991 on the right-of-way of the former Ebensburg and Black Lick Railroad. Also of note, next to the old Cambria County Jail, is the Veterans Park of Cambria County honoring the men from Cambria County who fought in the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican-American War, Civil War, and the Spanish-American War.

History

Ebensburg originated in November 1796, when Congregational minister Rhees Lloyd led a small party of 20 Welsh people from Philadelphia to the lands Morgan John Rhees had chosen for his colony. They selected an attractive spot in the tops of the Allegheny Mountains and there settled what would become Ebensburg, naming it for Eben Lloyd, who died in childhood. Lloyd offered land to the government in exchange for Ebensburg becoming the county seat, which the government accepted.

During the Civil War, men from Ebensburg served in the 133rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry (particularly companies A, B and F) and fought in Allabach’s brigade (Humphreys' 3rd Division) at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. In the Battle of Fredericksburg on December 13, 1863, the 133rd participated in the final charge on Marye’s Heights, suffering heavy losses.

Geography

Ebensburg is located in the center of Cambria County at 40°29′11″N 78°43′32″W / 40.48639°N 78.72556°W / 40.48639; -78.72556 (40.486388, -78.725461).

Three U.S. highways pass intersect around Ebensburg. U.S. Route 22 runs along the southern border of the borough, leading east 18 miles (29 km) to Hollidaysburg, south of Altoona, and west 72 miles (116 km) to Pittsburgh. U.S. Route 219 bypasses the borough to the west, with access from two exits (U.S. 22 and U.S. 422). US 219 leads north 58 miles (93 km) to DuBois and south 41 miles (66 km) to Somerset. Finally, the western portion of U.S. Route 422 begins at US 219 on the west side of Ebensburg and leads west 26 miles (42 km) to the borough of Indiana. Johnstown, the largest city in Cambria County, is 22 miles (35 km) to the southwest via US 219 and Pennsylvania Route 56.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough of Ebensburg has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2), of which 1.7 square miles (4.3 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 2.13%, is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1810 75
1820 168 124.0%
1830 270 60.7%
1840 353 30.7%
1850 600 70.0%
1860 1,002 67.0%
1870 1,240 23.8%
1880 1,123 −9.4%
1890 1,202 7.0%
1900 1,574 30.9%
1910 1,978 25.7%
1920 2,179 10.2%
1930 3,063 40.6%
1940 3,719 21.4%
1950 4,086 9.9%
1960 4,111 0.6%
1970 4,318 5.0%
1980 4,096 −5.1%
1990 3,872 −5.5%
2000 3,091 −20.2%
2010 3,351 8.4%
2019 (est.) 3,054 −8.9%
Sources:

As of the census of 2010, there were 3,351 people and 1,612 households within the borough. The population density was 1,971.2 people per square mile (702.0/km2). There were 1,742 housing units at an average density of 1,024.7 per square mile (334.8/km2). The racial make-up of the borough was 98.27% White, 0.48% African American, 0.69% Asian, 0.12% Native American, 0.01% from other races, and 0.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.48% of the population.

There were 1,612 households, out of which 22.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 19.2% under the age of 18, 1.9% from 18 to 19, 6.4% from 20 to 24, 12.9% from 25 to 34, 17.4% from 35 to 49, 21.7% from 50 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. The population was 46.55% male, and 53.45% female.

Education

In the borough of Ebensburg, there are three public and two private schools. The two private schools are Bishop Carroll High School and Holy Name Elementary. The public schools are Cambria High School, Central Cambria Middle School, and Cambria Elementary. The fourth school of the Central Cambria School District is located about 5 miles (8.0 km) west of the borough, off Route 22. At the collegiate level, the Pennsylvania Highland Community College has one of their satellite sites about 2 miles (3.2 km) southwest of the center of town, also off Route 22.

Notable people

  • Abraham A. Barker, a congressman, abolitionist, and conductor on the Underground Railroad.
  • Alan Baylock, jazz composer, band leader, chief arranger, US Air Force Airmen of Note
  • Alvin Evans (1845–1906), congressman
  • Bill Hartack (1932–2007), Hall of Fame jockey
  • Carol Scott (1949–2005), television producer and director
  • Dr. Harriet B. Jones (1856–1943), physician and member of the West Virginia House of Delegates
  • Harve Tibbott (1885–1969), congressman
  • Jack Darragh (1866–1939), baseball player
  • James Russell Leech (1888–1952), congressman
  • Ronald Duman (1954–2020), psychiatry professor and director of pharmacology
  • Samuel D. Pryce (1841–1923), Businessman, author, and Civil War officer
  • Webster Davis (1861–1923), mayor of Kansas City, Missouri and Assistant Secretary of the Interior
  • William Pryce (1932–2006), U.S. Ambassador to Honduras

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Ebensburg para niños

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