Altoona, Pennsylvania

Altoona is a city in Blair County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 43,963 people, and it is the largest city in the Altoona metropolitan area, which includes all of Blair County and has around 122,823 residents.

The city was founded in 1849 by the Pennsylvania Railroad and grew because of the railroad industry. Over time, Altoona has faced changes as industries changed and people moved away from city centers. Today, the city continues to thrive with its own special attractions.

Altoona is known for the Altoona Curve baseball team, which plays in the Eastern League as a part of the Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball family. Fans enjoy watching games at Peoples Natural Gas Field. The city also has a long tradition of music, with the Altoona Symphony Orchestra performing there since 1928.

Some famous places in Altoona include the Horseshoe Curve, a famous part of the railroad, the Railroaders Memorial Museum, the historic Juniata Shops of the Altoona Works, the beautiful Mishler Theatre, the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, and the Jaffa Shrine Center. These landmarks show the city's rich history and ongoing spirit.

History

See also: Pennsylvania in the American Revolution and Pennsylvania in the American Civil War

Etymology

The name Altoona may come from the Latin word altus, meaning high. Another idea is that it was named after a city in Germany called Altona. A third idea is that it was named after a town in Georgia called Allatoona, which means “the high lands of great worth.”

Founding and growth

Before Europeans arrived, the Altoona area was home to the Iroquois people. Altoona was created in 1849 by the Pennsylvania Railroad as a place to build and fix trains. It became a borough, or small town, in 1854 and a city in 1868. The city grew quickly in the late 1800s because many trains were needed during the Civil War.

Horseshoe Curve

Main article: Horseshoe Curve (Pennsylvania)

The Horseshoe Curve is a special curved track built by the Pennsylvania Railroad to help trains cross a big hill called the Allegheny Ridge. It is now a famous tourist spot and a National Historic Landmark. At its busiest time, the railroad workshops in Altoona employed about 15,000 people and covered a large area. Today, the Horseshoe Curve still attracts visitors, and there is a small train that takes people to a viewing area.

1949 tornado

On May 22, 1949, a tornado moved through the southern part of Altoona, damaging houses and trees. Another tornado hit an area 20 miles south of Altoona, causing damage to homes and barns.

Present

Altoona is an important place for the local Roman Catholic diocese. The Altoona Mirror newspaper, started in 1876, is still published today. Altoona is also home to Leap-The-Dips, the world’s oldest wooden roller coaster, though it has not operated since 2024.

Geography

Altoona is located at the base of Brush Mountain in Logan Valley and Pleasant Valley. The city covers an area of 9.8 square miles (25.4 km²), and it is part of the Allegheny Mountains.

Altoona has many different neighborhoods. The main parts of the city include Downtown Altoona, Center City, Logantown, Fairview, Juniata, Wehnwood, Calvert Hills, 5th Ward, Westmont, Eldorado, East End, Dutch Hill, Pleasant Valley, Hileman Heights, 6th Ward, Mansion Park, Llyswen, Garden Heights, and Highland Park. Some well-known areas are Little Italy, Gospel Hill, Toy Town, Columbia Park, Knickerbockers, and Curtin. There are also places just outside the city like Lakemont, Greenwood, Bellmeade, Westfall, Newburg, and Red Hill. Many older parts of Altoona have rowhouses and single homes, which were built to house workers and managers for the railroads.

The downtown area is the heart of Altoona, where most of the culture and business happen. It is centered around the famous railroads and has many important buildings, such as the Mishler Theatre, the Penn Alto Building, and City Hall. Downtown Altoona is also home to Little Italy. Because of the area's shape, it is hard to define exact borders for downtown, but it is usually between 13th Avenue and the PRR Expressway, from 7th Street to 16th Street.

The downtown buildings have a mix of Victorian, Edwardian Baroque, and Neo-Romanesque styles, with high ceilings and tall structures. Some old homes were once for railroad managers and now serve as apartments or shops. The U.S. post office has special paintings from 1938 showing the history of Altoona.

Altoona has either a hot-summer humid continental climate or a humid subtropical climate, depending on how scientists measure it. Summers are warm, and winters are cool, with temperatures ranging from about 28 °F in January to 72 °F in July. The city has seen temperatures as low as −25 °F and as high as 103 °F. September usually has the most rain, while February has the least.

Demographics

Altoona, Pennsylvania had a population of 43,963 as of the 2020 census. The median age was 40.7 years, with about 20.9% of people under 18 and 18.9% aged 65 or older. The city is considered an urban area.

The 2000 census reported a population of 49,523. The racial makeup was mainly White, with smaller percentages of African American, Native American, Asian, and people of two or more races. Many families and individuals lived in the city, with a median income that showed some parts of the population living below the poverty line.

Economy

Historically, the Pennsylvania Railroad helped Altoona grow into a city. Today, many people in Altoona work in healthcare at places like UPMC Altoona and James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center. Altoona is also home to Sheetz, a popular convenience store chain, and the candy company Boyer, known for its Mallo Cup.

Retail and service jobs are also important in Altoona. The city is a central spot for shopping, with areas like Downtown, the Logan Valley Mall, and the "Green Banana" along Pleasant Valley Boulevard attracting many visitors.

Government

See also: List of mayors of Altoona, Pennsylvania

Altoona has a system of local government that helps manage the city. There is a list of mayors who have led the city, each playing an important role in making decisions for the community.

Sports

Altoona is home to the Altoona Curve, a Minor League Baseball team that started playing in 1999. They are connected to the Pittsburgh Pirates and play in the Eastern League at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

In the past, Altoona had a Major League Baseball team called the Altoona Mountain Citys in 1884, but they only played 25 games before stopping.

The city also had a sports area called Cricket Field, where famous players like Babe Ruth and Josh Gibson played. Today, that spot has a commercial area and government offices.

Mansion Park Stadium in Altoona hosts games for local schools and many other events, including college sports and music performances by groups like the Beach Boys and university bands. In 2010, a new scoreboard with a video screen and better sound was added thanks to local supporters.

Education

Primary education

Further information: Altoona Area School District

Altoona has three high schools: one public and two private. The public school district for the city is the Altoona Area School District. Altoona Area High School serves students in grades 9–12. Two junior high schools merged in 2008 to become Altoona Area Junior High School.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona–Johnstown runs Catholic schools in the area. Bishop Guilfoyle High School is a private school for grades 9–12. There is also another private school called Great Commission Schools for students from kindergarten to grade 12.

Colleges and universities

Further information: Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center, Penn State Altoona, and YTI Career Institute

Altoona is home to Penn State Altoona, a part of the Pennsylvania State University Commonwealth campuses. It is one of the larger campuses and had about 3,903 students in the 2014–15 school year.

The city also has several technical schools. The Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center is located on 16th Street and offers technical classes for middle and high school students, as well as adults looking for technical training. YTI Career Institute has a campus in Logan Hills, and South Hills Business School has a location on 58th Street.

Media

Movies

A character named Harry Monk, played by Glenn Ford, in the 1964 movie Dear Heart, comes from Altoona.

Newspapers

Altoona has a daily newspaper called the Altoona Mirror, which has been published since 1874.

Television

The television stations in Altoona are part of the Johnstown/Altoona/State College area. Some of these stations include:

• WPSU (3.1 PBS, 3.2 Create, 3.3 World, 3.4 PBS Kids)
• WJAC (6.1 NBC, 6.2 MeTV, 6.3 Comet, 6.4 The CW Plus)
• WWCP (8.1 Fox, 8.2 WATM)
• WTAJ (10.1 CBS, 10.2 Court TV Mystery, 10.3 Laff, 10.4 Grit)
• WSCP-LP (13 Ind)
• WPKD-TV (19.1 CW)
• WATM (23.1 ABC HD, 23.2 WWCP-TV HD, 23.3 This TV, 23.4 ATV)
• WHVL-LP (29.1 MNTV, 29.2 Buzzr)
• W36BE-D (36.1 ABC, 36.2 ATV, 36.3 Justice)
• WKBS (47.1 COR)

Radio

Infrastructure

Transportation

Altoona is an important place for trains. Many trains pass through here every day, and special engines help them climb a big curve called Horseshoe Curve west of the city. There is a big train repair shop and a museum that train lovers visit often. A train called the Pennsylvanian stops in Altoona once a day in each direction.

Buses in the city are run by a service called AMTRAN. There were some problems with bus service a few years ago, and the governor came to talk about fixing them.

You can drive to Altoona using major roads like I-99, which connects to other highways, and US 22, which goes east to Harrisburg and west to Pittsburgh. The streets and avenues in Altoona have numbers, and they run in different directions.

The Altoona–Blair County Airport offers flights to Charlotte every day.

City services

Altoona has its own police department with about 66 officers. There is also a police department for the surrounding township. The city has a fire department that helps with fires and emergencies, and there are volunteer fire companies nearby. There is also an emergency medical service called AMED that helps people in Altoona and the surrounding areas.

Notable people

Altoona, Pennsylvania has been home to many interesting people who have made their mark in different fields. Some of these individuals became famous in sports, like John Ake, who played baseball for the Baltimore Orioles, and Brad Benson, a professional football player for the New York Giants. Others have achieved success in entertainment, such as Janet Blair, an actress known for films like My Sister Eileen.

The city has also produced leaders and innovators, including Harry J. Anslinger, the first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, and Richard T. James, the inventor of the Slinky. These individuals have contributed to Altoona’s rich history in many ways.

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Pennsylvania

Twin towns/sister cities

Altoona has a special friendship with a city in another country. The city is St. Pölten, located in Niederösterreich, Austria. This means the two cities work together and share ideas to help each other.