Orviston is an unincorporated community and

census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...

(CDP) in Curtin Township,

Centre County Centre County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 158,172. Its county seat is Bellefonte. Centre County is composed of the State College, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 95. It is located in far northern Centre County, near the

Clinton County Clinton County may refer to: *Counties named for George Clinton, first and third Governor of New York, and later the fourth Vice President of the United States: **Clinton County, New York ** Clinton County, Ohio *Counties named for DeWitt Clinton, ...

border. Beech Creek runs through the center of the town, flowing southeast towards Bald Eagle Creek in the

West Branch Susquehanna River The West Branch Susquehanna River is one of the two principal branches, along with the North Branch, of the Susquehanna River in the Northeastern United States. The North Branch, which rises in upstate New York, is generally regarded as the ex ...

watershed. Orviston is known as the last town accessible by the Monument/Orviston road (formerly PA 364) - a 10.8-mile paved county road stemming from Beech Creek, Pennsylvania, and ending at the entrance to Orviston. Traffic can flow through Orviston, however, West on the Orviston-Kato road, South on the Orviston Mountain road to Romola and Marsh Creek, and North on the Dehass road to PA 144 N and E of Clarence. All are unpaved mountain roads. Formed prior to the mining boom, Orviston was so named in 1904 as replacement for its original name, Hayes Run, Pennsylvania, in honor of Judge Ellis Orvis, owner of the Orviston Fire Brick Company and President Judge of the 49th Judicial District of Pennsylvania. Judge Orvis owned a number of brick plants including the Centre Brick and Clay Company at the Western end of Orviston as well as the Snow Shoe Fire Brick Company in

Snow Shoe Snowshoes are specialized outdoor gear for walking over snow. Their large footprint spreads the user's weight out and allows them to travel largely on top of rather than through snow. Adjustable bindings attach them to appropriate winter footw ...

among others. The now defunct

Beech Creek Railroad The Beech Creek Railroad is a defunct railroad which operated in central Pennsylvania between Jersey Shore and Mahaffey. Originally chartered in 1882, it was leased by the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad (later the New York Central Rai ...

- charted August 12, 1882 under the name Susquehanna and Southwestern Railroad which was absorbed by the New York Central Railroad which later became the Penn Central – ran through Orviston and its sister town, Monument, Pennsylvania, until the early 1960s.

Demographics

Flooding

Orviston experienced damage to homes and properties during March 1936 ice flood as a result of two heavy storms hitting the northern United States. Excessive rainfall, coupled with melting snow, raised water levels in the Beech Creek stream by about 4 feet - a record breaking event at that time. There were no reported casualties in Orviston. In June 1972 the Beech Creek stream flooded again as a result of

Hurricane Agnes Hurricane Agnes was the List of costliest Atlantic hurricanes, costliest hurricane to hit the United States at the time, causing an estimated $2.1 billion in damage. The hurricane's death toll was 128. The effects of Agnes were widespread, ...

dropping up to 30 inches of rainfall on Orviston and surrounding towns at a rate of 7 inches per hour during its peak. No casualties occurred during the Agnes flood and property damage was not significant or long lasting. Old Orviston RR bridge.jpg, Old NYC RR railroad bridge over Hayes Run and flows into the Beech Creek stream at this location. Big Building Orviston PA.jpg, The largest building in town is what was originally known as The Creek Side Inn and later as the boarding house. File:Rail Ticket.jpg, alt=Mountain View Railroad, 1915 Mountain View Railroad pass signed by J.L. Harvey and belonging to J.W. Woomer Baeball diamond Orviston PA.jpg, Baseball diamond Beech Creek Orviston PA.jpg, Beech Creek stream looking West (up stream) towards "Centrebrick".

References

{{authority control Census-designated places in Centre County, Pennsylvania Census-designated places in Pennsylvania