Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania

Schuylkill County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania on the Schuylkill River. It is located in the heart of the anthracite Coal Region of Pennsylvania. Schuylkill County was created on March 1, 1811 from parts of Berks and Northampton Counties and named for the Schuylkill River. As of 2000, the population was 150,336. Pottsville, Pennsylvania is the county seat.

Railroad history

The Reading and Pennsylvania railroad: In the early 1800s southern Schuylkill County was served by the Union Canal out of Pine Grove with connections west, and the Schuylkill canal southward from Port Carbon. To the north, Broad Mountain was a natural barrier to navigation. Other means would be required to transport coal out of the rich basin of the Mahanoy Valley. Numerous railroads were begun north of the headwaters of the Schuylkill Canal.

Through the 1830s and 40s, short railroads sprouted up at numerous areas in the county. Of prime importance was the Mine Hill and Schuylkill Haven, which served the Schuylkill Canal. Chartered in 1831, tracks were laid from the "flats" in Schuylkill Haven along the river through Cressona and Minersville to Tremont. The railroad eventually reached Ashland and Locust Gap via the Gordon Planes.

Chartered in 1836, the Little Schuylkill Railroad, Navigation and Coal Company ran from Port Clinton northward to Mahanoy Junction above Tamaqua. It would become the keystone of the Pennsylvania and Reading system, serving as a gauntlet for its eastern and western branches. Connecting with it were four important lines. The 146 mile (235 km) Catawissa Railroad operated from Mahanoy Junction to West Milton, providing access to the Mahanoy region by joining the northern terminus of the Little Schuylkill with connections to New York and Scranton. At Port Clinton, it connected with the P&R's main line from Mount Carbon. Its most important connection would be with the Mahanoy and Broad Mountain Railway via Mahanoy Tunnel and East Mahanoy Railroad.

There was once over 1,000 miles (1600 km) of railroad track in Schuylkill County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,027 km² (783 mi²). 2,016 km² (778 mi²) of it is land and 11 km² (4 mi²) of it (0.54%) is water.

The Schuylkill River headwaters are found in the county, starting in the Appalachian Mountains, and flows through many towns and the city of Reading, Pennsylvania to Philadelphia where it flows into the Delaware River. To the south, southern Schuylkill county is home to Blue Mountain and Appalachian Trail.

Adjacent counties

Luzerne County (north)
Carbon County (northeast)
Lehigh County (southeast)
Berks County (south)
Lebanon County (southwest)
Dauphin County (southwest)
Northumberland County (northwest)
Columbia County (northwest)

Notable natives and residents

John O'Hara - a short story writer and best-selling novelist, brought Pottsville into the national spotlight through his "Gibbsville" stories, accounts of 1920s Pottsville socialites. O'Hara's single family home is located at 606 Mahantongo Street, Pottsville.

The Molly Maguires, a clandestine society of Irish miners who engaged in a violent confrontation with Pennsylvania mining companies in the 19th century.
Conrad Richter, award-winning American novelist. Books written by Richter include The Light in the Forest and the Awakening Land trilogy. He was born in Pine Grove.

Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 150,336 people, 60,530 households, and 40,131 families residing in the county. The population density was 75/km² (193/mi²). There were 67,806 housing units at an average density of 34/km² (87/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.62% White, 2.09% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races, and 0.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.11% of the population.

There were 60,530 households out of which 26.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.40% were married couples living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.70% were non-families. 29.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was spread out with 20.90% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 19.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.20 males.

Schuylkill County is one of the most heavily Lithuanian parts of the United States. New Philadelphia, West Mahanoy, Shenandoah, and Girardville have the highest proportions of Lithuanian Americans of all places in the country. Irish Americans, Polish Americans, and Italian Americans are also predominant.