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Brief History
 Huntingdon was founded in 1767 by Rev. William Smith on the site of the aboriginal Standing Stone near the junction of the present-day Juniata River and Standing Stone Creek. Much of the town retains the form given it by Smith, who was then provost of the University of Pennsylvania. A replica of the original Standing Stone stands at the intersection of Penn and William Smith Streets in the Downtown Huntingdon Historic District. With the creation of Huntingdon County in 1787, Huntingdon became its County Seat, and in 1796 Huntingdon was chartered as Huntingdon Borough.
Huntingdon Borough is located in southcentral Pennsylvania, among ridges of the Appalachian Mountains. Visitors quickly discover why the area is nicknamed "Land of 1,000 Hills," as the area is laced by forested ridges and agricultural valleys. The Huntingdon Area comprises approximately 100 square miles of the county’s 895 square miles. Approximately 72% of the county is forested, 22% agricultural and 4% developed according to the Huntingdon County Planning Commission.
The town is located along the beautiful Juniata River. The unpolluted waters of the Juniata and its tributaries provide an excellent fishery of trout, bass and other species and a dependable supply of water for domestic and industrial use.
While Huntingdon enjoys four seasons, the seasonal climate rarely goes to the extremes. The average summer high temperature is 82 degrees, and the average low, 59. In winter, the high temperature averages 39, and the low, 21. Approximately 37 inches of rain and 33 inches of snow fall per year. Accumulations of snow usually melt between one snowfall and the next.
The Huntingdon Area was home to 17,131 persons in 2000, 38% of the county population. Between 1980 and 2000 the Huntingdon Area grew by 722 persons or 4.4%. The Huntingdon Area is home to three large institutions (two prisons and a college). A more complete population profile can be found under Quick Facts.
According to 2000 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 45,586. These persons lived in 16,759 households and several institutions. Between 1990 and 2000, the county’s population grew by 3.2%.
Approximately 93 percent of the county's population is Aaucasian; 5.1 percent African-American; and 1.6 percent other. The county’s median family income (2000) is $40,388.
Year-round housing units in the Huntingdon Area grew from 4,472 in 1990 to 5,841 in 2000, or 30.6%. Occupied housing units in the county totaled 16,759 in 2000. The median value of owner occupied housing ranged from $61,500 to $94,600 among the region's ten municipalities in 2000. A more complete housing profile can be found under Quick Facts.
Local housing costs have traditionally been lower than the state average and well below the average for all Northeastern states. Shoppers can find homes, year-round and seasonal, in all price ranges.
Most real estate agencies in the county participate in a multi-list service, in which each agency has information about the properties represented by all member agencies. Mortgages are available through 11 lending institutions with offices in the county.
Utilities Providers for the Area
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Electric
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Penelec: (800) 545-7741
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Penelec: (800) 545-7738
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Valley Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.: (814) 643-2650
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Allegheny Electric Cooperative, Inc.: (814) 643-4931
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Telephone
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Verizon: (800) 660-7111
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Sprint: (800) 829-8009
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Water/Sewer
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Huntingdon: (814) 643-3967
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Alexandria: (814) 643-4441
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Mill Creek: (814) 643-5666 |
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