MOUNT CARMEL, PENNSYLVANIA

'Mount Carmel' is the name of a borough in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6390 at the 2000 census. It is located 88 miles (141 km) northwest of Philadelphia and 71 miles (114 km) northeast of Harrisburg, in the Anthracite Coal Region. It is contained within Mount Carmel Township.

Contents

History

Sports Tradition

Town Facts

General Information

Geography

Demographics

Transportation

Highways

Railroads (all defunct)

External links

History

The borough is named after the 'Mount Carmel Inn' which was itself named for Mount Carmel in Israel. The inn was opened in 1812 by Richard Yarnall and was strategically located on the Centre Turnpike (also known as the Reading-Sunbury Road) halfway between Pottsville and Danville. The township was erected in 1855, formed from part of Coal Township; by 1862 the borough was incorporated within the township.
In the past, there were extensive anthracite coal mining interests here and in the vicinity. In earlier years, the borough had manufactories of miners' caps, cement blocks, cigars, shirts, stockings, etc., and large silk and planing mills, foundry and machine shops, a knitting mill, lumber yards, a packing plant, and wagon works. Currently that area supports light manufacturing in paper and plastics.

★ before 1770 - Area inhabited by Native Americans (possibly Lenape, Iroquois, and/or Saponi)

★ 1770 - Europeans first settled in the area

★ 1772 - Northumberland county formed, area that would become Mt. Carmel located in what was then Augusta township

★ 1785 - Catawissa township formed from part of Augusta township

★ 1788 - Ralpho township formed from part of Catawissa township

★ 1789 - Ralpho township renamed to Shamokin township

★ 1805 - Centre Turnpike Company incorporated

★ 1808 - Centre Turnpike opens

★ ~1811 - Centre Turnpike completed

★ 1812 - Mt. Carmel Inn opens, located on the Centre Turnpike in (then) Shamokin township

★ ~1830s - coal mining begins

★ 1837 - Coal Township formed from parts of Little Mahanoy and Shamokin townships

★ 1846 - first Post Office opens

★ 1847 - land now comprising Mount Carmel Borough purchased by speculators

★ 1853 - town plot laid out

★ 1854 November 14 - Mount Carmel Township incorporated, from part of Coal Township

★ 1855 - first church, the Evangelical Grace Church(Third&Market Street) opens

★ 1855 - Centre Turnpike abandoned

★ 1862 November 3 - Mt. Carmel Boro Incorporated

★ 1883 November 17 - Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Mount Carmel founded

★ 1894 November - Shamokin-Mount Carmel Electric Railway (trolley line) connecting Shamokin with Mount Carmel completed

★ 1948 June 17 - United Airlines Flight 624 crashes near Midvalley Colliery No. 2; killing all 4 crew members and 39 passengers on board

Sports Tradition

★ The high school goes by the nickname, "The Red Tornadoes."

★ Mount Carmel is widely heralded as one of the biggest football towns in the nation.

★ The boro's high school football program is the winningest in the state and the 4th winningest in the nation.

★ The long standing rivalry between Mt. Carmel and Shamokin Area is one of the biggest rivalries in the United States. In the annual Coal Bucket football game the two areas collide usually leading to friendly vandalism between the two schools throughout the week of the game.

★ Mount Carmel's football team has captured the PIAA Class AA title 5 times since the state initiated the playoff system in 1988. They won in 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, and 2002.

★ Considered the most impressive team possibly in state history was the 1996 Red Tornadoes who never were behind in a single game leading to a 15-0 record, however the 1998 team is believed to have had the most overall talent.

★ The team also won the state championships in 1927 before the playoff system was initiated.

★ The borough is home to former Major League Baseball player, Frank Bolick, former New York Jets football player Dan Ficca, current Philadelphia Eagles assistant coach to Andy Reid, Bret Veach and former New York State Billiards Champion Dave Daya.

★ The Mount Carmel Boys High School Track Team won the PIAA AA State title in 1998.

★ All though over shadowed by a predominatly football town, Mount Carmel is also very well known for it's runners.

★ Mount Carmel was one of the first schools in the state to have a cross country team.

★ The cross country team has over 600 dual meet victories and has won countless titles since its formation in 1935.

★ Pete Dray was the towns highest placing state runner. Placing 3rd in 1998

★ Denise Kijewski is the school's highest placing female runner in cross country(16th) and track, placing 4th in the 3200.

Town Facts

★ The town has two annual block parties hosted by the Divine Redeemer Church and Our Lady's Church respectively.

★ An annual party is thrown in the town park in the Summer where game stands, rides, and food stands are set up for the public to enjoy. The day is complete with a band throughout the day.

★ Mount Carmel was at one time known as "The City of Churches" as it had over 20 different churches[5].

★ Due to its geographical position, being surrounded by mountains, killer storms have been avoided almost altogether throughout the borough's history.

★ The old Shamokin Valley and Pottsville railway, although defunct, still has old bits of track lying behind Seventh Street in Mount Carmel.

★ Even though many businesses have closed during the last 10-20 years in Mt. Carmel due to the Malls being in the surrounding areas there are still many places still going good in Mt. Carmel. Such businesses as The Hollywood Pizza Original Owner Joe Antico 25 Yrs In Business on Oak Street, Dorko's Cafe, Mt. Carmel Auto Supply, Ace Hardware, Bumpers Beverages, NAPA, Pitt Stop Garage, B&B Garage, Vine Street Sandwich Shop, Ryans Truck and Fab, Matucci's Restaurant, Sam Pasky Distributors, Original Italian Pizza, Yanni's Restaurant, Third Street Deli, The Silver Spurr, Ace Electric, The Academy Sports Center, Boyers Market, CVS, Rite Aid, Puffs, Cicino DeMarco's, The Notary Shop, The Central Station, Jake's Bar, Moser Brothers Sanitation, The Garage, Hanks Garage and Body Shop, Bob's Auto, Turkey Hill, Tower Markets, Community Pharmacy, J & J Video, Black Diamond Video, Dollar General, Dollar Bazarr, Varano Insurance Agency, Miscavage Insurace Agency, MC Coney, Winkies Pizza, Schicky's Wings and Things, Gary Snyders Wholesale, Varanos Wholesale, Kindermusik with Ann Czeponis, Mary Mazurkevich's Beauty Shop, Tony the Barber, Amy's Barber Shop, Dwight Davis DDS, St. Josephs Medical Center(Dr. Greco), Roy The Barber, Shells Flowers, David C. Hirsch DMD, Francis Latovich Machine Shop, Jeffrey Tire Service, Barkers Bakery, Yakups Cafe, Visintaners Motel, Du-Rite Construction, Columbia Building Supply, Catinos Italian Specialities, Donderos News Agency, Jamie's Bridal, Carls Auto Center, Showcase Billiards, The New China Wok, Union National Bank, Wachovia Bank, First National Bank, PA State Liquor Store, The Bullpen, McAndrews Auto Sales, Jurasichs Beauty Shop, Sons Of Poland Club, The Lits Club, The Knights of Columbus Council #628, Clover Hose Fire Co, Anthracite Steam Fire Co, Uptown Pharmacy, Charlie B's(reopening in 2007), The Shop on Oak and Avenue, The Fitness Center, The American Legion, Mt. Carmel VFW, Hank Witkoski Construction, Salas Contracting, A Cut Above, Winnie the Pooh Day Care, Ye Ole Butcher Shoppe(Graysons), Peppe's Ice Cream and American Hose Fire Co and more are still around and in business.

General Information

★ ZIP Code: 17851

★ Area code: 570

★ Local phone code: 339

Geography

Mount Carmel is located at (40.796447, -76.412231) in the ridge-and-valley zone of the central Appalachian Mountains. It is drained by the Shamokin Creek and is part of the Lower Susquehanna watershed [1].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.7 km² (0.7 mi²), all land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,390 people, 3,035 households, and 1,678 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,738.2/km² (9,655.6/mi²). There were 3,629 housing units at an average density of 2,123.0/km² (5,483.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.56% White, 0.06% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.89% of the population.
There were 3,035 households out of which 21.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.8% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.7% were non-families. 41.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 24.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the borough the population was spread out with 19.7% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 25.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.6 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $22,168, and the median income for a family was $35,217. Males had a median income of $28,168 versus $20,595 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $14,858. About 14.2% of families and 18.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.1% of those under age 18 and 15.1% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Highways

★ Pennsylvania Route 61 (old U.S. Route 122, previously U.S. Route 120)

★ Pennsylvania Route 54

★ Pennsylvania Route 901

Railroads (all defunct)

★ Danville and Pottsville railroad

★ Quakake Railroad -> Lehigh and Mahanoy Railroad (Lehigh Valley Railroad)

★ Shamokin Valley and Pottsville Railroad (Northern Central Railway)

★ Philadelphia and Reading Railroad (Reading Company)

External links

★ Jeff Kanezo's Welcome to Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania - includes a Walking Tour

★ Joseph K. Bass, Borough Manager's Home Page

★ Mayor J. Kevin Jones' Webpage

★ Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, and its Trentini-Tirolean community - Information and history from Dale Dallabrida, including "A portrait of Mount Carmel, 1896"

★ [5]City of Churches