Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Johnsonburg is a borough in Elk County
, Pennsylvania
, 124 miles (199.6 km) northeast of Pittsburgh and 115 miles (185.1 km) south of Buffalo, New York
, in a productive farming and lumbering region. Paper mills were once common here, and Domtar
still maintains a paper mill there today. In 1910, 4,334 people lived here. The population was 3,003 at the 2000 census.
The Johnsonburg Commercial Historic District
was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1999.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 3 square miles (7.8 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 3,003 people, 1,292 households, and 811 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 989.6 people per square mile (382.7/km²). There were 1,435 housing units at an average density of 472.9 per square mile (182.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.83% White, 0.03% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races
, and 0.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.30% of the population.
There were 1,292 households out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples
living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the borough the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $27,924, and the median income for a family was $39,491. Males had a median income of $33,354 versus $21,683 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $15,631. About 15.4% of families and 17.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.4% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
Corporation.
It was built more than a century ago, originally owned by Curtis Publishing Company
, publisher of the Saturday Evening Post. By 1950, it was believed to be the largest coated paper
mill in the world.
By the 1960s, Curtis Publishing was questioning its ownership of the mill due to financial concerns, and by 1969, had closed down the Johnsonburg mill. Six months later, a group of investors including artist George Petty
formed a group called Penntech Papers, purchased the mill assets, and continued it in operation for the next 20 years.
In 1990, Penntech sold the mill to Willamette Industries, the company that would later be acquired by Weyerhaeuser in February 2002 in a hostile takeover
and then in 2007 was acquired by Domtar
.
Elk County, Pennsylvania
Elk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 31,946.Elk County was created on April 18, 1843, from parts of Jefferson, Clearfield and McKean Counties, and is named for the Eastern elk that historically inhabited the region. Its county...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, 124 miles (199.6 km) northeast of Pittsburgh and 115 miles (185.1 km) south of Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, in a productive farming and lumbering region. Paper mills were once common here, and Domtar
Domtar
Domtar Corporation is the largest integrated producer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America and the second largest in the world based on production capacity, and is also a manufacturer of papergrade pulp....
still maintains a paper mill there today. In 1910, 4,334 people lived here. The population was 3,003 at the 2000 census.
History
It was founded in 1810 and incorporated in 1891.The Johnsonburg Commercial Historic District
Johnsonburg Commercial Historic District
Johnsonburg Commercial Historic District is a national historic district located at Johnsonburg in Elk County, Pennsylvania. It includes 32 contributing buildings and one contributing object. It encompasses the historic central business district and includes a majority of brick structures most of...
was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1999.
Geography
Johnsonburg is located at 41°29′38"N 78°40′47"W (41.493950, -78.679600).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the borough has a total area of 3 square miles (7.8 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,003 people, 1,292 households, and 811 families residing in the borough. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 989.6 people per square mile (382.7/km²). There were 1,435 housing units at an average density of 472.9 per square mile (182.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.83% White, 0.03% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.30% of the population.
There were 1,292 households out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the borough the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $27,924, and the median income for a family was $39,491. Males had a median income of $33,354 versus $21,683 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the borough was $15,631. About 15.4% of families and 17.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.4% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
Paper mill
The major industry in Johnsonburg is paper, with the largest mill owned by the DomtarDomtar
Domtar Corporation is the largest integrated producer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America and the second largest in the world based on production capacity, and is also a manufacturer of papergrade pulp....
Corporation.
It was built more than a century ago, originally owned by Curtis Publishing Company
Curtis Publishing Company
The Curtis Publishing Company, founded in 1891 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, became one of the largest and most influential publishers in the United States during the early 20th century. The company's publications included the Ladies' Home Journal and The Saturday Evening Post, The American Home,...
, publisher of the Saturday Evening Post. By 1950, it was believed to be the largest coated paper
Coated paper
Coated paper is paper which has been coated by a compound to impart certain qualities to the paper, including weight, surface gloss, smoothness or reduced ink absorbency. Kaolinite or calcium carbonate are used to coat paper for high quality printing used in packaging industry and in magazines...
mill in the world.
By the 1960s, Curtis Publishing was questioning its ownership of the mill due to financial concerns, and by 1969, had closed down the Johnsonburg mill. Six months later, a group of investors including artist George Petty
George Petty
George Brown Petty IV was an American pin-up artist. His pin-up art appeared primarily in Esquire and Fawcett Publications's True but was also in calendars marketed by Esquire, True and Ridgid Tool Company. Petty's Esquire gatefolds originated and popularized the magazine device of centerfold...
formed a group called Penntech Papers, purchased the mill assets, and continued it in operation for the next 20 years.
In 1990, Penntech sold the mill to Willamette Industries, the company that would later be acquired by Weyerhaeuser in February 2002 in a hostile takeover
Takeover
In business, a takeover is the purchase of one company by another . In the UK, the term refers to the acquisition of a public company whose shares are listed on a stock exchange, in contrast to the acquisition of a private company.- Friendly takeovers :Before a bidder makes an offer for another...
and then in 2007 was acquired by Domtar
Domtar
Domtar Corporation is the largest integrated producer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America and the second largest in the world based on production capacity, and is also a manufacturer of papergrade pulp....
.
Historical notes
- Is the oldest settlement in Elk CountyElk County, PennsylvaniaElk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 31,946.Elk County was created on April 18, 1843, from parts of Jefferson, Clearfield and McKean Counties, and is named for the Eastern elk that historically inhabited the region. Its county...
, first settled in 1810. - Was originally called Quay.
- Like many towns in the 1920s and 1930s with organized crime, the borough carried the name of "Little Chicago."
- It was once considered a booming town along the Clarion RiverClarion RiverThe Clarion River is a tributary of the Allegheny River, approximately 110 mi long, in west central Pennsylvania in the United States...
where former United States PresidentPresident of the United StatesThe President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Ulysses S. GrantUlysses S. GrantUlysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
used to visit during and after his presidency to fish with other retired Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
generals that had lived there. Neighboring municipalities such as Kane and Wilcox were named after generals. - During World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the borough had, per capita, the highest number of soldiers entering into military service. This fact was officially recognized years later. - Paper from the mill originally was used for the Saturday Evening Post during the days that artist Norman RockwellNorman RockwellNorman Percevel Rockwell was a 20th-century American painter and illustrator. His works enjoy a broad popular appeal in the United States for their reflection of American culture. Rockwell is most famous for the cover illustrations of everyday life scenarios he created for The Saturday Evening...
would do its covers. In later years, it would produce the paper used for the books in the Harry PotterHarry PotterHarry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...
series. - The Johnsonburg Commercial Historic DistrictJohnsonburg Commercial Historic DistrictJohnsonburg Commercial Historic District is a national historic district located at Johnsonburg in Elk County, Pennsylvania. It includes 32 contributing buildings and one contributing object. It encompasses the historic central business district and includes a majority of brick structures most of...
was listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1999. - As of 2010, Johnsonburg had the third-least expensive median house price in the United States at $38,588.