Meyersdale, Pennsylvania

Meyersdale is a borough in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States, situated on the Casselman River, 73 miles (117 km) southeast of Pittsburgh. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Borough of Meyersdale
Borough
Meyersdale in 2007
Meyersdale in 2007
Nickname: 
Maple City USA
Location of Meyersdale in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
Location of Meyersdale in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
Borough of Meyersdale is located in Pennsylvania
Borough of Meyersdale
Borough of Meyersdale
Meyersdale, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, USA
Coordinates: 39°48′49″N 79°01′35″W / 39.81361°N 79.02639°W / 39.81361; -79.02639
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountySomerset County
Settled1844
Incorporated1871
Area
 • Total0.82 sq mi (2.11 km2)
 • Land0.82 sq mi (2.11 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Population
 • Total2,070
 • Density2,536.76/sq mi (979.13/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Zip Code
15552
Area code814
FIPS code42-48912

In the past, Meyersdale's chief industry was the mining of coal.

Meyersdale is located along the Great Allegheny Passage, a multi-use recreational rail trail.

The Pennsylvania Maple Festival has taken place each spring in Meyersdale since 1948. Consequently, Meyersdale is known as the Maple City.

Meyersdale is home to the Somerset County Fair.

History edit

 
Meyers Mills, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, 1860

Meyersdale was first settled as early as 1776, but the growth of the town dates from the advent of the first railroad in 1871. Coal mining began in the next year.

The borough was named for an early settler:[3] Peter Meyers, a local farmer who was integral to the beginning of the town.[4] Early names for Meyersdale included Meyers Mills and Dale City.[5] Jacob Olinger had 30 lots laid out on his land in 1844 with Alexander Philson of Berlin serving as the surveyor.[5] Additional lots were laid out in 1852, with M.D. Miller acting as the surveyor, and in 1869, with Kenneth McCloud as surveyor.[5] Around the same time, Peter Meyers had lots laid out on his land and the Beachley family had lots laid out on their land.[5] The Olinger and Beachley lots were organized together in 1872 and named Dale City.[5] The Meyers lots were added in 1874, and the name was changed to Meyersdale.[5] The Amity Reformed Church was organized about 1851, and the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1852, and both congregations shared a union churchhouse from 1854 until 1875.[5]

In 1981–82, Meyersdale received an All-America City Award from the National Civic League. The Meyersdale Wind Farm began commercial operations in 2003.

The New Colonial Hotel and Second National Bank of Meyersdale are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[6]

Geography edit

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km2), all land. Meyersdale is surrounded by Summit Township.

Climate edit

Climate data for Meyersdale 2 SSW, Pennsylvania, 1991–2020 normals: 2000ft (610m)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 68
(20)
75
(24)
78
(26)
86
(30)
89
(32)
92
(33)
92
(33)
90
(32)
90
(32)
86
(30)
78
(26)
72
(22)
92
(33)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 59.5
(15.3)
59.7
(15.4)
69.3
(20.7)
79.6
(26.4)
83.2
(28.4)
85.9
(29.9)
86.9
(30.5)
86.4
(30.2)
85.1
(29.5)
78.7
(25.9)
71.6
(22.0)
61.2
(16.2)
88.1
(31.2)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 34.4
(1.3)
37.6
(3.1)
45.8
(7.7)
58.7
(14.8)
67.8
(19.9)
75.8
(24.3)
79.5
(26.4)
78.5
(25.8)
73.2
(22.9)
61.1
(16.2)
49.3
(9.6)
38.9
(3.8)
58.4
(14.7)
Daily mean °F (°C) 25.5
(−3.6)
27.2
(−2.7)
34.7
(1.5)
45.9
(7.7)
55.5
(13.1)
63.9
(17.7)
67.9
(19.9)
66.4
(19.1)
60.4
(15.8)
48.9
(9.4)
38.6
(3.7)
30.1
(−1.1)
47.1
(8.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 16.7
(−8.5)
16.7
(−8.5)
23.6
(−4.7)
33.0
(0.6)
43.1
(6.2)
52.0
(11.1)
56.3
(13.5)
54.4
(12.4)
47.7
(8.7)
36.6
(2.6)
27.8
(−2.3)
21.3
(−5.9)
35.8
(2.1)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −5.7
(−20.9)
−3.5
(−19.7)
5.8
(−14.6)
20.1
(−6.6)
28.8
(−1.8)
39.1
(3.9)
45.4
(7.4)
44.7
(7.1)
35.5
(1.9)
24.1
(−4.4)
13.7
(−10.2)
3.6
(−15.8)
−9.4
(−23.0)
Record low °F (°C) −17
(−27)
−21
(−29)
−9
(−23)
13
(−11)
21
(−6)
31
(−1)
39
(4)
40
(4)
30
(−1)
18
(−8)
4
(−16)
−7
(−22)
−21
(−29)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.01
(76)
2.70
(69)
3.65
(93)
3.53
(90)
4.35
(110)
4.34
(110)
4.11
(104)
3.67
(93)
3.62
(92)
2.98
(76)
2.66
(68)
3.06
(78)
41.68
(1,059)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 12.90
(32.8)
11.40
(29.0)
9.90
(25.1)
1.10
(2.8)
0.00
(0.00)
0.00
(0.00)
0.00
(0.00)
0.00
(0.00)
0.00
(0.00)
0.70
(1.8)
2.80
(7.1)
6.90
(17.5)
45.7
(116.1)
Source 1: NOAA[7]
Source 2: XMACIS (temp records & monthly max/mins)[8]

Demographics edit

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18801,423
18901,84729.8%
19003,02463.7%
19103,74123.7%
19203,716−0.7%
19303,065−17.5%
19403,2506.0%
19503,137−3.5%
19602,901−7.5%
19702,648−8.7%
19802,581−2.5%
19902,518−2.4%
20002,473−1.8%
20102,184−11.7%
20202,069−5.3%
2021 (est.)2,049[9]−1.0%
Sources:[10][11][12][2]

At the 2000 census there were 2,473 people, 1,019 households, and 666 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,950.7 inhabitants per square mile (1,139.3/km2). There were 1,089 housing units at an average density of 1,299.3 per square mile (501.7/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.35% White, 0.24% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.16% Asian, and 0.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.73%.[11]

Of the 1,019 households, 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 31.0% of households were one person, and 18.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 22.2% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 22.1% 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 84.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.9 males.

The median household income was $24,652 and the median family income was $29,798. Males had a median income of $26,167 versus $18,205 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $14,116. About 16.8% of families and 20.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.4% of those under age 18 and 18.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education edit

The community is served by the Meyersdale Area School District. Senior students attend Meyersdale Area High School.

Notable people edit

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 Oct 12, 2022.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 207.
  4. ^ Espenshade, A. Howry (1925). Pennsylvania Place Names. State College, PA: Pennsylvania State College. p. 278.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g History of Bedford, Somerset and Fulton Counties, Pennsylvania. Chicago: Waterman, Watkins & Co. 1884. pp. 486–492.
  6. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  7. ^ "Meyersdale 2 SSW, Pennsylvania 1991-2020 Monthly Normals". Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  8. ^ "xmACIS". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  9. ^ Bureau, US Census. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020—2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  10. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  11. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  12. ^ "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 11 June 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.