BELLEFONTE, PENNSYLVANIA

'Bellefonte' is a borough in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 6,395 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Centre County. The town features many examples of Victorian architecture, as well as a natural spring, from which the town gets its name (bestowed by Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord during a land-speculation visit to central Pennsylvania in the 1790s). However the spring, which serves as the town's water supply, has been covered up to comply with DEP water purity laws (not, as is commonly believed, for fear of its being poisoned). This town also houses the courthouse for Centre county.

Contents

Geography

Demographics

Notable natives and residents

References

External links

Geography

Bellefonte is located at (40.914684, -77.774756).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 4.7 km² (1.8 mi²), all land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,395 people, 2,796 households, and 1,602 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,356.7/km² (3,510.1/mi²). There were 2,953 housing units at an average density of 626.5/km² (1,620.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.25% White, 0.91% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.59% of the population.
There were 2,796 households out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.7% were non-families. 35.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the borough the population was spread out with 21.1% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 85.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.9 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $33,216, and the median income for a family was $42,378. Males had a median income of $31,221 versus $23,442 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $18,659. About 8.6% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.5% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

Notable natives and residents

★ George Grey Barnard, sculptor

★ Clifford Carlson college men's basketball coach

★ Andrew Gregg Curtin, Governor of Pennsylvania (1861-1867)

★ Jonathan Frakes, actor

★ Eric Milton, major league baseball player

★ Thomas M. Reynolds, U.S. Congressman

★ Jeremy Rose, jockey

★ John Montgomery Ward, Hall of Fame baseball player^[1]

★ Stewart Sampsel, college football quarterback, Buffalo Bulls

References

★ 1. The Baseball Encyclopedia, , , , Macmillan Publishing, 1979, ISBN
0-02-578970-8

External links

★ Bellefonte.com Community Website

★ Images of Bellefonte

★ Bellefonte Chamber of Commerce

★ Borough of Bellefonte (municipal offices)

★ MAC Champions, Bellefonte Soccer homepage (high school athletics)