Indiana, Pennsylvania

Borough in Pennsylvania, US

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Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Indiana, Pennsylvania

Borough

Downtown Indiana

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Location of Indiana in Indiana County, Pennsylvania.

Indiana

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Indiana

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Coordinates: 40°37′N 79°9′W﻿ / ﻿40.617°N 79.150°W﻿ / 40.617; -79.150
Country| United States
State| Pennsylvania
County| Indiana
Settled| 1805
Incorporated| 1816
Government

• Type| Council-Manager
• Mayor| William Simmons
• Manager| Nicole Sipos
Area

[1]

• Total

| 1.76 sq mi (4.57 km2)
• Land| 1.76 sq mi (4.56 km2)
• Water| 0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation

| 1,301 ft (397 m)
Population

(2020)[2]

• Total

| 14,044
• Density| 7,984.08/sq mi (3,082.17/km2)
Time zone| UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)| UTC-4 (EDT)
Zip code|

15701

FIPS code| 42-36816
Website| www.indianaboro.com

Indiana is a borough in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat.[3] The population was 14,044 at the 2020 census.[4] It is the principal city of the Indiana, Pennsylvania micropolitan area, about 46 miles (74 km) northeast of Pittsburgh.[5] It is a part of the greater Pittsburgh–New Castle–Weirton combined statistical area, as well as the Johnstown and Pittsburgh media markets.

The borough and the region as a whole promote itself as the "Christmas Tree Capital of the World" because the national Christmas Tree Growers Association was founded there. There are still many Christmas tree farms in the area. The largest employer in the borough today is Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the second-largest of 14 PASSHE schools in the state.[6]

## History

[edit]

Indiana in 1900

In 1768, Thomas and Richard Penn, sons of William Penn, secured the southern part of what would later become Indiana County from the Iroquois Six Nations through the First Treaty of Fort Stanwix.[7] Indiana takes its name from Indiana County, which in turn gets its name from the "Indiana grant" of the First Treaty of Fort Stanwix.[8] Indiana was founded in 1805 to be the new county's seat from a grant of land by Founding Father George Clymer. By 1810, it had a population of 125.[8]

On at least one occasion, an anti-slavery mob in Indiana rescued a fugitive slave from extradition back to slavery in the South.[9] The town was also where James Moorhead, a local abolitionist leader, published several anti-slavery newspapers.[10] The first of these was The Clarion of Freedom, founded in 1843. Moorhead eventually sold the Clarion and founded a new anti-slavery paper, the Indiana Independent, which he published until his death in 1857. The Independent was published by his son J. W. Moorhead after his death.

The Indiana Weekly Messenger was published in the town between 1874 and 1946.[11]

The Downtown Indiana Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. Also listed on the National Register are Breezedale, Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railway Indiana Passenger Station, Silas M. Clark House, Graff's Market, James Mitchell House, Old Indiana County Courthouse, Indiana Borough 1912 Municipal Building, Indiana Armory, Old Indiana County Jail and Sheriff's Office, and John Sutton Hall.[12]

## Geography

[edit]

Downtown Indiana

The borough is an independent municipality surrounded by White Township.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2), all of it land.

### Climate

[edit]

Indiana has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb), with warm summers and cold, snowy winters. Precipitation is highest in the summer months, falling as snow usually between November and April.

Climate data for Indiana, Pennsylvania (3mi SE) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1946–present)

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Record high °F (°C)  | 75
(24)  | 78
(26)  | 86
(30)  | 91
(33)  | 91
(33)  | 95
(35)  | 98
(37)  | 99
(37)  | 97
(36)  | 87
(31)  | 81
(27)  | 76
(24)  | 99
(37)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)  | 35.8
(2.1)  | 39.2
(4.0)  | 48.8
(9.3)  | 61.7
(16.5)  | 71.5
(21.9)  | 78.7
(25.9)  | 82.5
(28.1)  | 81.1
(27.3)  | 74.8
(23.8)  | 63.4
(17.4)  | 51.0
(10.6)  | 40.7
(4.8)  | 60.8
(16.0)
Daily mean °F (°C)  | 26.7
(−2.9)  | 28.8
(−1.8)  | 37.1
(2.8)  | 48.3
(9.1)  | 58.7
(14.8)  | 66.5
(19.2)  | 70.7
(21.5)  | 69.4
(20.8)  | 63.0
(17.2)  | 51.9
(11.1)  | 40.5
(4.7)  | 32.3
(0.2)  | 49.5
(9.7)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)  | 17.6
(−8.0)  | 18.4
(−7.6)  | 25.4
(−3.7)  | 34.9
(1.6)  | 46.0
(7.8)  | 54.4
(12.4)  | 58.8
(14.9)  | 57.7
(14.3)  | 51.2
(10.7)  | 40.3
(4.6)  | 30.0
(−1.1)  | 23.9
(−4.5)  | 38.2
(3.4)
Record low °F (°C)  | −24
(−31)  | −26
(−32)  | −10
(−23)  | 10
(−12)  | 16
(−9)  | 31
(−1)  | 35
(2)  | 34
(1)  | 25
(−4)  | 11
(−12)  | −4
(−20)  | −19
(−28)  | −26
(−32)
Average precipitation inches (mm)  | 3.64
(92)  | 2.95
(75)  | 3.88
(99)  | 4.03
(102)  | 4.32
(110)  | 4.81
(122)  | 5.13
(130)  | 4.26
(108)  | 4.18
(106)  | 3.52
(89)  | 3.50
(89)  | 3.64
(92)  | 47.86
(1,216)
Average snowfall inches (cm)  | 13.3
(34)  | 11.8
(30)  | 6.1
(15)  | 1.1
(2.8)  | 0.0
(0.0)  | 0.0
(0.0)  | 0.0
(0.0)  | 0.0
(0.0)  | 0.0
(0.0)  | 0.0
(0.0)  | 2.7
(6.9)  | 10.8
(27)  | 45.8
(116)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 17.2  | 14.3  | 13.5  | 14.7  | 15.2  | 13.6  | 13.6  | 12.1  | 11.9  | 12.7  | 13.3  | 15.1  | 167.2
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 10.0  | 7.8  | 4.5  | 1.0  | 0.0  | 0.0  | 0.0  | 0.0  | 0.0  | 0.0  | 2.4  | 6.1  | 31.8
Source: NOAA[13][14]

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1820| 317| | —
1830| 433| | 36.6%
1840| 674| | 55.7%
1850| 963| | 42.9%
1860| 1,331| | 38.2%
1870| 1,605| | 20.6%
1880| 1,907| | 18.8%
1890| 1,963| | 2.9%
1900| 4,142| | 111.0%
1910| 5,749| | 38.8%
1920| 7,043| | 22.5%
1930| 9,569| | 35.9%
1940| 10,050| | 5.0%
1950| 11,743| | 16.8%
1960| 13,005| | 10.7%
1970| 16,100| | 23.8%
1980| 16,051| | −0.3%
1990| 15,174| | −5.5%
2000| 14,895| | −1.8%
2010| 13,975| | −6.2%
2020| 14,044| | 0.5%
2021 (est.)| 13,508| [4]| −3.8%
Sources:[15][16][17][18][2]

As of the census[17] of 2010, there were 13,975 people,[19] and 4,624 households residing in the borough. The population density in 2000 was 8,440.0 people per square mile (3,267.6/km2). There were 5,096 housing units at an average density of 2,887.6 per square mile (1,114.9/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 91.51% White, 5.19% African American, 0.07% Native American, 1.89% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.20% of the population.

There were 4,804 households, out of which 14.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.5% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 65.3% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 8.2% under the age of 18, 59.4% from 18 to 24, 13.7% from 25 to 44, 10.5% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.3 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $21,279, and the median income for a family was $47,768. Males had a median income of $32,333 versus $27,831 for females.[20] The per capita income for the borough was $12,317. About 11.2% of families and 44.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.3% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.

## Economy

[edit]

Three iron foundries operated in Indiana at different times between 1851 and 1948.[21]

McCreary Tire and Rubber opened a plant in Indiana in 1914.[22] McCreary was renamed to Specialty Tires of America in 1992, and has its main office in Indiana.[23][24]

## Education

[edit]

Postcard depicting Sutton Hall at IUP McElhaney Borough Hall on IUP campus

Indiana University of Pennsylvania (or IUP) is a public university founded in 1875, originally founded as Indiana Normal School.[25]

For public K-12 education, the Indiana Area School District, which includes the borough,[26] supports four neighborhood elementary schools (Eisenhower, Horace Mann, East Pike, and Ben Franklin), a junior high school (Indiana Area Junior High School), and a high school (Indiana Area Senior High School), which are accredited and recognized for quality. A Catholic-affiliated Pre-K through grade 6 program is offered at the St. Bernard School,[27] in addition to other various parochial schools for different denominations.[citation needed]

## Media

[edit]

Indiana's local newspaper is the Indiana Gazette. Indiana is also home to several radio stations:

FM stations

Call letters | Frequency | Format | Location | Owner
WCOA-FM | 88.5 | Religious | Johnstown | Family Life Ministries, Inc.
WQEJ | 89.7 | Classical | Johnstown | WQED Multimedia
WIUP | 90.1 | College | Indiana | Indiana University of Pennsylvania
WQMU | 92.5 | Hot AC | Indiana | Renda Media
WFGI-FM | 95.5 | Country | Johnstown | Seven Mountains Media
WKYE | 96.5 | Adult Contemporary | Johnstown | Seven Mountains Media
WRKW | 99.1 | Classic Rock | Ebensburg | Seven Mountains Media
WDAD | 100.3 | Classic Hits | Indiana | Renda Media
WCCS | 101.1 | News/Talk | Homer City | Renda Media
WFSJ | 103.7 | Christian Contemporary | Indiana | Godstock Ministries, Inc.
WMUG | 105.1 | Religious | Indiana | The Christian Witness, Inc.
WLCY | 106.3 | Country | Blairsville | Renda Media
AM stations

Call letters | Frequency | Format | Location | Owner
WCCS | 1160 | News/Talk | Homer City | Renda Media
WDAD | 1450 | Classic Hits | Indiana | Renda Media

## Christmas Tree Capital of the World

[edit]

Indiana County became known as the "Christmas Tree Capital of the World" in the mid-1950s, as noted in an Associated Press report. In 1956 alone, the county harvested about 700,000 trees, emphasizing its importance in Christmas tree production. In 1958, Shelton, Washington, also claimed the title, but Indiana County defended its status when local nurseryman Walter Schroth confirmed an order of 15,000 trees being shipped to Tacoma, Washington. While other states may now produce more trees, Indiana County was one of the first to gain widespread recognition. A reporter covering various "Christmas Tree Capitals" noted that Indiana County was the only one with official roadside signs declaring the title.[28]

## Notable people

[edit]

* Edward Abbey, author whose fiction is set in Indiana.[29]
* James H. Bronson, Medal of Honor recipient in American Civil War
* Renée Fleming, Lyric Soprano and National Medal of Arts recipient who has sung in world's most prestigious opera houses; Tony Award nominee for Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel
* Doc Gessler, Major League baseball player born Indiana, Pennsylvania
* Connie Kunkle (1958–2016), Former ShopHQ host, singer and television personality
* Chris Kuzneski, author
* Ernest W. Lewis, Arizona territorial jurist
* Paul McCandless, Grammy Award-winning jazz woodwind player and composer
* Jim Nance, football player inducted into New England Patriots Hall of Fame in 2009, was born in Indiana and graduated from Indiana High School
* Sandy McPeak, actor
* Harriet Earhart Monroe (1842–1927), lecturer, educator, writer, traveling producer of religious stage plays
* Tawni O'Dell, author
* Michael Ryan, Major League Baseball player
* Edward Scofield, 19th Governor of Wisconsin; lived in Indiana, PA
* Joe Saylor, drummer and jazz percussionist for Jon Batiste and Stay Human, the house band for the Late Show with Stephen Colbert
* Jack Sonni, guitarist and writer (Dire Straits)
* Jimmy Stewart, actor. The Jimmy Stewart Museum is located in the public library, and there is an annual Jimmy Stewart film festival as part of the town's It's a Wonderful Life holiday celebration.[30]
* Steve Wheatcroft, professional golfer
* Mary Wiggins, composer

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
2. ^ a b "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. ^ a b "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
5. ^ "Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas" (PDF). Office of Management and Budget. February 28, 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 21, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2017 - via National Archives.
6. ^ Swetnam, George (1991). A Guideline to Historic Western Pennsylvania. University of Pittsburgh Press. ISBN 0822936305.
7. ^ "History & Heritage". Indiana County. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
8. ^ a b "History of Indiana County, PA". sites.rootsweb.com. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
9. ^ "Indiana County and the Underground Railroad". Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
10. ^ "Antislavery Newspapers". Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
11. ^ "About The Indiana weekly messenger. (Indiana, Pa.) 1874-1946". Library of Congress. Archived from the original on January 19, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
12. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
13. ^ "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on July 5, 2012. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
14. ^ "Station: Indiana 3 SE, PA". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
15. ^ "Number of Inhabitants: Pennsylvania" (PDF). 18th Census of the United States. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 8, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
16. ^ "Pennsylvania: Population and Housing Unit Counts" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 8, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
17. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
18. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
19. ^ Wells, Randy. "Census finds more losses than gain in Indiana County". Indiana Gazette.
20. ^ "Source: 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-year estimates released December 2011" (PDF). US Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 20, 2013. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
21. ^ "The Indiana Foundries". HGSIC Historical Happenings. December 15, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
22. ^ "McCreary Tire and Rubber Company". HGSIC Historical Happenings. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
23. ^ Gannon, Joyce (August 1, 2002). "Obituary: Donald D. Mateer / Rescued tire company that was on the skids". post-gazette.com Local News. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
24. ^ "Company". Specialty Tires of America. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
25. ^ "Brief History".
26. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Indiana County, PA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 23, 2024. \- Text list
27. ^ "St. Bernard Regional Catholic School". stbernardlc.org. October 14, 2016. Archived from the original on January 19, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
28. ^ WilkinsServices.com. "History of the Indiana County Christmas Tree Growers | Indiana, PA". christmastreecapital.org. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
29. ^ Jackson, Kenneth T., ed. (1999). "Abbey, Edward Paul". The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives. New York, NY: Charles Scribner's Sons.
30. ^ "Indiana County Holiday Season". Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2019.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Indiana, Pennsylvania.

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Indiana borough, Pennsylvania

Attractions|

* Downtown Indiana Historic District
* Breezedale
* Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railway Indiana Passenger Station
* Silas M. Clark House
* Graff's Market
* James Mitchell House
* Old Indiana County Courthouse
* Indiana Borough 1912 Municipal Building
* Indiana Armory
* Old Indiana County Jail and Sheriff's Office
* John Sutton Hall

Transportation|

* Indiana County Transit Authority

Notable people|

* Edward Abbey
* James H. Bronson
* Renée Fleming
* Doc Gessler
* Jim Nance
* Michael Ryan
* James Stewart
* Steve Wheatcroft

Education|

* Indiana University of Pennsylvania
* Indiana Area School District

Industry|

* First Commonwealth Financial Corporation

Newspapers|

* Indiana Gazette

Radio stations|

| By AM frequency|

* 1160
* 1450

|

By FM frequency|

* 90.1
* 92.5
* 94.9
* 95.5
* 100.3
* 101.1
* 103.7
* 105.1
* 106.3

By call sign|

* INDY
* W262CU
* W266CZ
* WCCS
* WDAD
* WFGI-FM
* WFSJ-LP
* WIUP-FM
* WLCY
* WMUG-LP
* WQMU

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Municipalities and communities of Indiana County, Pennsylvania, United States

County seat: Indiana

Boroughs|

* Armagh
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* Ernest
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* Indiana
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Townships|

* Armstrong
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* Pine
* Rayne
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* Washington
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* White
* Young

CDPs|

* Alverda
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Other
communities|

* Arcadia
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* Chambersville
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* Covode
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* Gipsy
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* Home
* Iselin
* Jewtown
* Josephine
* Locust
* Loop
* Marchand
* McIntyre
* Mentcle
* Nolo
* Northpoint
* Penn Run
* Rexis
* Rochester Mills
* Starford
* Strongstown
* Trade City
* Wehrum
* West Lebanon
* Wilgus

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