Blairsville is a
borough
A borough is an administrative division in various English-speaking countries. In principle, the term ''borough'' designates a self-governing walled town, although in practice, official use of the term varies widely.
History
In the Middle Ag ...
in
Indiana County
Indiana County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is located in the west central part of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 83,246. Its county seat is Indiana. Indiana County comprises the Indiana, PA Mi ...
,
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
, United States, located east of
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...
, and on the
Conemaugh River
The Conemaugh River is a long tributary of the Kiskiminetas River in Westmoreland, Indiana, and Cambria counties in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The name means 'Otter Creek', originating from the Unami-Lenape language word ''kwənəmuxkw'' ...
. As of the
2020 census it had a population of 3,252.
History
Blairsville was settled in 1818 and incorporated in 1825. In the past, railway shops, foundries, machine shops, enameling plants, and manufactories of plate glass and lumber employed the residents. It was the seat of Blairsville College, a
Presbyterian
Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...
institution opened in 1851. Just outside of the city limits in Burrell Township, auto and diesel repair trade school New Village Institute has operated since 2021.
The
Blairsville Armory
Blairsville Armory is a historic National Guard armory located at Blairsville, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. It was designed by Pittsburgh architects W.G. Wilkins & Co. It was built in 1909, and is a "T"-shaped, two-story, three-bays wide and ...
and
St. Peter's Episcopal Church and Rectory
St. Peter's Episcopal Church and Rectory is a historic Episcopal church and rectory in Blairsville, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. The church was built in 1830, and is a small, rectangular brick building on a stone foundation in an Early Goth ...
are listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
.
In 1902, the countryside around Blairsville became one of the first in Pennsylvania to have a woman, Anna J. Devers, appointed as a
Rural Free Delivery
Rural Free Delivery (RFD) was a program of the United States Post Office Department that began in the late 19th century to deliver mail directly to rural destinations. Previously, individuals living in remote homesteads had to pick up mail themsel ...
carrier, delivering mail from the Blairsville Post Office.
M. C. Eignus (1844–1941), Illinois state representative, was born in Blairsville.
['Official Directory of the Forty-Second General Assembly of Illinois-1901,' Talbott & Hamann Press, Springfield, Illinois: 1901, Biographical Sketch of M.C. Eignus, pg. 65]
Geography
Blairsville is located in the southern portion of Indiana County, bordered by the
Conemaugh River
The Conemaugh River is a long tributary of the Kiskiminetas River in Westmoreland, Indiana, and Cambria counties in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The name means 'Otter Creek', originating from the Unami-Lenape language word ''kwənəmuxkw'' ...
,
Westmoreland County to the south and west and
Burrell Township to the north and east.
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the borough has a total area of , all land.
Demographics
At the
2000 census there were 3,607 people, 1,631 households, and 983 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,591.3 people per square mile (1,001.9/km²). There were 1,830 housing units at an average density of 1,314.7 per square mile (508.3/km²). The
racial makeup
A race is a categorization of humans based on shared physical or social qualities into groups generally viewed as distinct within a given society. The term came into common usage during the 1500s, when it was used to refer to groups of variou ...
of the borough was 95.68% White, 2.99% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.06% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.06%.
There were 1,631 households, 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 36.3% of households were made up of individuals, and 19.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 22.4% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.
The median household income was $30,625 and the median family income was $38,585. Males had a median income of $32,563 versus $22,049 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $16,771. About 6.8% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Blairsville is served by the River Valley School District, formerly the Blairsville-Saltsburg School District. The River Valley middle and high schools and Blairsville elementary school are located at the intersection of Routes 22 and 119 in nearby
Burrell Township.
References
External links
Borough of Blairsville official websiteBlairsville Municipal Authority water and sewer service
Blairsville Historical Society''The Blairsville Dispatch''
{{authority control
Populated places established in 1818
Boroughs in Indiana County, Pennsylvania
1825 establishments in Pennsylvania