Houtzdale is a borough in

Clearfield County, Pennsylvania Clearfield County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 80,562. The county seat is Clearfield, and the largest city is DuBois. The county was created in 1804 and later organized in 1822. ...

, United States. The population was 768 at the 2020 census.

History

Houtzdale is named after Dr. Daniel Houtz, the original owner of the town site. The town was built quickly in the late 19th century and is structured on a square grid plan. Focused mainly on the railroad and coal industry, the town served as a hub for the railroad which made its way onto Ramey and Madera to the west. Houtzdale become an incorporated borough in 1872.

Geography

Houtzdale is bordered to the north by the borough of Brisbin.

Pennsylvania Route 53 Pennsylvania Route 53 (PA 53) is an state highway located in central Pennsylvania. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 219 (US 219) near the borough of Summerhill. The northern terminus is at PA 144 in the Snow Shoe ...

passes through Houtzdale, leading east to Osceola Mills and west to Glen Hope.

Pennsylvania Route 153 Pennsylvania Route 153 (PA 153) is a state highway located in Clearfield and Elk counties in Pennsylvania. The southern terminus is at PA 253/ PA 453 near Viola. The northern terminus is at U.S. Route 219 (US 219) near Brockport. Route des ...

leads north from Houtzdale to Clearfield, the county seat. 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 ...

, Houtzdale has a total area of , all land.

Demographics

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...

of 2000, there were 941 people, 380 households, and 275 families residing in the borough. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

was 2,682.2 people per square mile (1,038.1/km²). There were 432 housing units at an average density of 1,231.4 per square mile (476.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.57%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

, 0.21% Native American, and 0.21% from two or more races. There were 380 households, out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.89. In the borough, the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.7 males. The median income for a household in the borough was $29,219, and the median income for a family was $33,309. Males had a median income of $27,039 versus $20,438 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the borough was $14,177. About 9.3% of families and 12.3% 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 14.2% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.

Ukrainian ancestry

In 2000, 6.9% of Houtzdale claimed

Ukrainian ancestry Ukrainians ( uk, Українці, Ukraintsi, ) are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine. They are the seventh-largest nation in Europe. The native language of the Ukrainians is Ukrainian. The majority of Ukrainians are Eastern Orth ...

Parks and recreation

In 2020, ''Trella Memorial Park'' was created, the first public park in Houtzdale.

Government

The borough council consists of seven members, who are elected in the general elections, and serve four year terms with seats coming available every two years. The mayor serves a four-year term for ceremonial duty. As of 2020, the mayor was Izen Lingenfelter.

Education

The community is served by

Moshannon Valley School District The Moshannon Valley School District is a diminutive, rural public school district in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. It serves the boroughs of Houtzdale, Brisbin, Ramey, and Glen Hope plus the townships of Gulich, Jordan, Bigler, and ...

, which has two schools: *

Moshannon Valley Junior/Senior High School Moshannon Valley Junior/Senior High School is a public high school located near the borough of Houtzdale, Pennsylvania. The high school serves students from most of southeastern Clearfield County. The school's mascot is the Black Knights. The ...

, grades 7-12, located at 4934 Green Acre Road. Mascot known as Black Knights. * Moshannon Valley Elementary School, grades K-6, located at 5026 Green Acre Road.

Media

WMMH is a Catholic radio station licensed to Houtzdale.

Notable people

* Bill Bishop, (1900–1956), professional baseball pitcher who appeared for the Philadelphia Athletics during the 1921 season * Camille "Bud" George (1927–2017), mayor of Houtzdale, member of the Pennsylvania State House from 1975 to 2012. *

Irving Kahal Irving Kahal (March 5, 1903, Houtzdale, Pennsylvania – February 7, 1942, New York City) was a popular American song lyricist active in the 1920s and 1930s. He is best remembered for his collaborations with composer Sammy Fain which started in 19 ...

(1903–1942), popular song lyricist in the 1920s and 1930s * Charles Rowland (1860–1921), two term member of the

U.S. House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

, president of Moshannon Coal Mining Company and Pittsburgh & Susquehanna Railroad Company *

Edna Yost Edna Yost (November 16, 1889, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania - September 10, 1971, New York City) wrote articles, poems, short stories, and books. She was one of the first authors to write books focusing on the achievements of women in science, ...

(1889–1971), book author

References

External links

{{Authority control Boroughs in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania 1872 establishments in Pennsylvania Ukrainian communities in the United States