Mifflinburg 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
Union County, located in Central Pennsylvania's Susquehanna River Valley. Mifflinburg was first settled in 1792 by Elias and Catharina Jungman (Youngman) and their two children. They divided the land into 60’ by 120’ plots that were sold to other adventurous settlers, many of them German, and the village of Youngmanstown was formed. A few years later George Rote (Rhoade) laid out a village just east of Youngmanstown, known as Greenville or Rotestown, after George's death. Eventually, the two settlements merged at Third Street. In 1827 the two villages combined and were incorporated, the combined village was named Mifflinburg, in honor of
Thomas Mifflin
Thomas Mifflin (January 10, 1744January 20, 1800) was an American merchant, soldier, and politician from Pennsylvania, who is regarded as a Founding Father of the United States for his roles during and after the American Revolution. Mifflin was ...
, the first Governor of
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, ...
after the 1790 Constitution. Historically the town was known for the manufacture of
horse-drawn vehicles
A horse-drawn vehicle is a mechanized piece of equipment pulled by one horse or by a team of horses. These vehicles typically had two or four wheels and were used to carry passengers and/or a load. They were once common worldwide, but they have m ...
, known as buggies.
As of the
2010 census,
there were 3,540 people, 1,506 households, and 1,028 families living 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 1,976.0 people per square mile (762.4/km
2). There were 1,605 housing units at an average density of 882.4 per square mile (340.5/km
2). As of 2010, the racial makeup of the borough was 97.5%
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 ...
alone, 0.9% Hispanic, 0.6% Black alone, 0.5% two or more races, 0.3% Asian alone, 0.08% Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone, 0.06% other race alone, and 0.03% American Indian alone.
Major tourist attractions include
* the Mifflinburg Buggy Museum,
[http://www.buggymuseum.org] which celebrates the era (circa 1880 - 1915) when Mifflinburg was known as "Buggytown, USA" due to its reputation as a major manufacturer of quality horse-drawn carriages and sleighs
* the annual "Christkindl Market" (a traditional German Christmas festival)
[http://www.mifflinburgchristkindlmarket.com/]
* the annual Fireman's Carnival and Parade, held in the last week of July, featuring an hours-long parade with local businesses, bands, tractors and clubs
History
The Borough is situated on lands that were originally granted in 1769 to the veteran officers who served under Colonel Henry Bouquet during Pontiac's War (1763-1766) in lieu of payment for their service and ultimate victory at the Battle of Bushy Run just east of Pittsburgh. In 1792, Elias and Catharina Jungman (Youngman) and their two children, came from Fort Augusta (now Sunbury)
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, ...
to the Buffalo Valley to settle on land given to them by Catharina's father. They divided the land into 60’ by 120’ plots that were sold to other adventurous settlers, many of them German, and the village of Youngmanstown was formed. A few years later George Rote (Rhoade) laid out a village just east of Youngmanstown, known as Greenville or Rotestown, after George's death. Eventually, the two settlements merged at Third Street. In 1827 the two villages combined and were incorporated. The combined village was named Mifflinburg, in honor of
Thomas Mifflin
Thomas Mifflin (January 10, 1744January 20, 1800) was an American merchant, soldier, and politician from Pennsylvania, who is regarded as a Founding Father of the United States for his roles during and after the American Revolution. Mifflin was ...
, the first Governor of
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, ...
after the 1790 Constitution. The merged towns were known as Mifflinburg before 1827 however, because when Union County was formed from Northumberland County on March 22, 1813, that PA legislative act also established Mifflinburg as the seat of government of the newly formed county, with the first courthouse located at 406 Green Street and other government offices located in various other buildings throughout the town. It remained the county seat until 1815 when it was moved to New Berlin, and then to Lewisburg in 1855 where it remains today.
In 1845, George Swentzel set up Mifflinburg's first buggy business. Soon other buggy manufacturers set up their own shops in Mifflinburg, and by 1855, with a population of 800, Mifflinburg hosted thirteen coachmakers. By the 1880s, with more than fifty buggy and sleigh factories, Mifflinburg became known as “Buggy Town” because its buggy makers produced more
horse-drawn vehicle
A horse-drawn vehicle is a mechanized piece of equipment pulled by one horse or by a team of horses. These vehicles typically had two or four wheels and were used to carry passengers and/or a load. They were once common worldwide, but they have m ...
s per capita than any other town in the state.
The
Mifflinburg Historic District,
Hassenplug Bridge
The Hassenplug Bridge is an historic wooden covered bridge which is located in Mifflinburg, Union County, Pennsylvania.
The oldest covered bridge in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (the American state with the most covered bridges), it is also ...
, and
William A. Heiss House and Buggy Shop
The William A. Heiss House and Buggy Shop is an historic, American home that is located in Mifflinburg, Union County, Pennsylvania.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
History and architectural features
This histo ...
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 ...
.
Geography
Mifflinburg is located at (40.918939, -77.046800),
approximately southwest of
Williamsport.
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.
Climate
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 3,594 people, 1,506 households, and 1,028 families living 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 1,976.0 people per square mile (762.4/km
2). There were 1,605 housing units at an average density of 882.4 per square mile (340.5/km
2). As of 2010, the racial makeup of the borough was 97.5%
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 ...
alone, 0.9% Hispanic, 0.6% Black alone, 0.5% two or more races, 0.3% Asian alone, 0.08% Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone, 0.06% other race alone, and 0.03% American Indian alone.
There were 1,506 households, out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% 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, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 25.3% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $34,906, and the median income for a family was $43,520. Males had a median income of $30,568 versus $21,315 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 $17,161. About 7.6% of families and 9.9% 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 13.7% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.
Economy and tourism
![Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania Christkindl market](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/Mifflinburg%2C_Pennsylvania_Christkindl_market.JPG)
Major employers include
Weis Markets
Weis Markets, Inc. ( doing business as Weis and stylized as weis) is a Mid-Atlantic food retailer headquartered in Sunbury, Pennsylvania. It currently operates 199 stores with over 23,000 employees in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, New Jer ...
(a supermarket), Mifflinburg Area School District, CVS, Cole's Hardware, Ritz-Craft (a manufacturer of modular homes), and Yorktowne (a cabinetry manufacturer). In 2005 Yorktowne management made the decision to move most of the Mifflinburg operations to
Danville, Virginia
Danville is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States, located in the Southside Virginia region and on the fall line of the Dan River. It was a center of tobacco production and was an area of Confederate activity ...
, rather than comply with new air pollution regulations in Pennsylvania.
Major tourist attractions include
* the Mifflinburg Buggy Museum,
which celebrates the era (circa 1880 - 1915) when Mifflinburg was known as "Buggytown, USA" due to its reputation as a major manufacturer of quality horse-drawn carriages and sleighs
* the annual "Christkindl Market" (a traditional German Christmas festival)
* the annual Fireman's Carnival and Parade, held in the last week of July, featuring an hours-long parade with local businesses, bands, tractors and clubs
Transportation
Highway
Mifflinburg's business district is centered on
Pennsylvania Route 45
Pennsylvania Route 45 (PA 45) is an state highway located in central Pennsylvania, United States. PA 45 is called the Purple Heart Highway. The western terminus of the route is at PA 453 in Morris Township near the community of Water Street. ...
.
U.S. Route 15
U.S. Route 15 (US 15) is a -long United States highway, designated along South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York. The route is signed north–south, from U.S. Route 17 Alternate in Walterboro, South Caro ...
, the primary north/south highway through central Pennsylvania, is located nine miles to the east.
The most direct route to the nearest interstate highway exit involves going over Sand Mountain on an unpaved road to reach
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 (I-80) is an east–west transcontinental freeway that crosses the United States from downtown San Francisco, California, to Teaneck, New Jersey, in the New York metropolitan area. The highway was designated in 1956 as one o ...
, exit 192. Most westbound drivers will opt for exit 185 instead, while eastbound drivers will use exit 210.
Bus
A
Fullington Trailways
The Trailways Transportation System is an American network of approximately 70 independent bus companies that have entered into a brand licensing agreement. The company is headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia.
History
The predecessor to Trailwa ...
station is located nine miles east.
Rail
Mifflinburg was once served by the
Lewisburg and Tyrone Railroad
The Lewisburg and Tyrone Railroad (later Railway), previously the Lewisburg, Centre and Spruce Creek Railroad, was a subsidiary of the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) in central Pennsylvania. Originally intended to connect the Susquehanna Valley with ...
. Today, the closest passenger rail access is the
Lewistown Amtrak station.
Air
Although
Williamsport Regional Airport
Williamsport Regional Airport serves Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and the surrounding area with a population of about 200,000. The airport serves about 40,000 passengers annually.
The airport is five miles east of Williamsport, in Lycoming Coun ...
(
IATA
The International Air Transport Association (IATA ) is a trade association of the world's airlines founded in 1945. IATA has been described as a cartel since, in addition to setting technical standards for airlines, IATA also organized tariff ...
: IPT) is the closest airport with scheduled airline service, travelers often seek out the lower fares at
Trenton–Mercer Airport
Trenton–Mercer Airport is a county-owned, joint civil–military, public airport located four miles northwest of Trenton in the West Trenton section of Ewing Township, Mercer County, New Jersey. Formerly known as Mercer County Airport, t ...
(IATA: TTN),
Philadelphia International Airport
Philadelphia International Airport is the primary airport serving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The airport served 19.6 million passengers annually in 2021, making it the 21st busiest airport in the United States. The airport is located from t ...
(IATA: PHL), or
Washington Dulles International Airport
Washington Dulles International Airport , typically referred to as Dulles International Airport, Dulles Airport, Washington Dulles, or simply Dulles ( ), is an international airport in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Eastern United States, loc ...
(IATA: IAD).
The
general-aviation Penn Valley Airport
Penn Valley Airport is a public airport a mile north of Selinsgrove, a borough in Snyder County, Pennsylvania. It is owned by the Penn Valley Airport Authority. The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized it as ...
(IATA: SEG) is located 15 miles southeast, and features an
Avis
Avis is Latin for bird and may refer to:
Aviation
*Auster Avis, a 1940s four-seat light aircraft developed from the Auster Autocrat (abandoned project)
*Avro Avis, a two-seat biplane
*Scottish Aeroplane Syndicate Avis, an early aircraft built by ...
car rental facility.
References
External links
*
Mifflinburg Area School DistrictMifflinburg Heritage & Revitalization Assoc.Profile of Union County, PA
{{authority control
Populated places established in 1792
Boroughs in Union County, Pennsylvania
1827 establishments in Pennsylvania