Altoona is a city in Blair County, Pennsylvania, United States with a population of 43,963 as of the 2020 census. Located in the Allegheny Mountains, it is the ninth largest city in the state by population. Like hardly any other city in the USA, its history was significantly shaped by the railroad.
New shopping districts and educational institutions such as Penn
State Altoona, a campus of Pennsylvania State University, developed in
the city center. Sights that have survived to this day include the
Mischler Theater, the town hall and the cathedral. Altoona is still a
popular destination for railway enthusiasts from all over the world
today.
The Railroaders Memorial Museum commemorates the great
importance of the railroad in Altoona. Also about five miles west of
town is the famous Horseshoe Curve, a 220-degree turn on the east ramp
of the PRR main line, which here curves very gently over the Allegheny
Mountains and is a popular destination for railroad enthusiasts . It was
built in 1854 and included in the list of historical milestones in
engineering architecture in 2003.
Pre-History and Early Settlement
The area that would become
Altoona, Pennsylvania, was originally part of a larger region inhabited
by Native American tribes, including the Iroquois Confederacy and
earlier groups associated with villages like Assunnepachla, meaning
"where waters join." European exploration began in the mid-18th century,
with figures like Conrad Weiser visiting Frankstown in 1748. The land
fell under Bedford County from 1754 to 1787 and then Huntingdon County
until 1846. Early settlers faced dense forests, relying on axes for
clearing, homespun clothing, and a diet of game, trout, and grains
ground far away. Salt was imported, and settlements expanded post-1760s.
Key early settlements included Frankstown (around 1750, named after
trader Stephen Franks), with log forts for protection against Indian
raids during the Revolutionary War (1775–1783). Raids were frequent in
areas like Morrison’s Cove, where massacres claimed dozens of lives in
the 1770s. Families such as the Hollidays (Adam and William, settling in
1768 near what became Hollidaysburg), Moores (Samuel and family in
Scotch Valley, 1768, returning in 1780 with Scottish colonists like
Crawfords and Irwins), and others (Jacob Neff in Roaring Spring, 1763;
Ives and Divelys in Greenfield Township, 1770) established farms.
Scotch-Irish dominated fertile valleys like Sinking and Scotch, while
Germans (Tunkers in the Cove, Lutherans in Greenfield) and Irish
Catholics (in Newry, the second-oldest village after Frankstown) added
diversity. William Penn's toleration policy aided this mix.
The
region saw hardships from Indian attacks, including the murder of the
Matthew Dean family in 1788 and Jacob Roller in 1781. Tories like John
Weston conspired with Native Americans, leading to ambushes. Post-war,
settlers returned in 1780 as threats receded west of the Alleghenies.
Economy focused on agriculture (corn yields up to 125 bushels per acre,
wheat, potatoes, flax, wool, stock-raising, dairying in Morrison’s Cove)
and early industries like iron forges (Etna Furnace in 1805, Tyrone
Forge in 1805). Minerals included lead and zinc in Sinking Valley (mined
from 1864) and coal seams like Kittanning. Transportation was primitive:
Indian trails, turnpikes (e.g., Huntingdon-Cambria-Indiana in 1820), and
plank roads in the 1850s.
Formation of Blair County and
Transportation Developments
Agitation for a new county began in 1838,
with meetings in Hollidaysburg leading to petitions. Blair County was
formed on February 26, 1846, from parts of Huntingdon and Bedford
counties, named after John Blair (born around 1710, son of Revolutionary
soldier Captain Thomas Blair, who settled in Blair’s Gap in 1785).
Hollidaysburg became the county seat, with an initial population of
about 16,000 across 11 townships. Valuation was $4.2 million, growing to
$32 million by 1896 with over 80,000 residents.
Early institutions
included an almshouse (1849–1850), courthouse and jail (1846–1847,
expanded in 1877 and 1907), and courts starting in churches. Judicial
figures like Jeremiah Black (first president judge, later U.S. Attorney
General) and John Dean (1871–1892) shaped the legal system. The
Pennsylvania Canal (opened 1831, Hollidaysburg as a terminus) and the
Allegheny Portage Railroad (1834, with 10 inclines over 37 miles)
revolutionized transport, connecting east-west trade over the
Alleghenies.
The Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR), incorporated in 1846,
transformed the area. Grading began in 1847, with sections opening
progressively: Harrisburg to Lewistown in 1849, to Hollidaysburg in
1850, and full Philadelphia-Pittsburgh line in 1852 (initially using the
Portage Railroad, fully independent by 1854 with the Summit Tunnel).
This set the stage for Altoona's founding.
Founding and Early
Growth (1849–1880s)
Altoona was founded in 1849 by the PRR as a
strategic site for shops and maintenance at the base of the Allegheny
Mountains, on land owned by David Robeson (223 acres purchased for
$11,000 after negotiations involving his wife). The city's elevation is
1,168 feet, and its name may derive from Latin "altus" (high), the
Cherokee "Allatoona" (high lands of great worth), or Altona in Holstein
(suggested by engineer Colonel Beverly Mayer). Founders included John A.
Wright (possibly inspired by Allatoona, Georgia) and Archibald Wright,
who sold additional land.
Incorporated as a borough on February 6,
1854, and as a city in 1867–1868, Altoona grew rapidly around the
railroad. Population surged from about 2,000 in 1854 to 10,000 in 1870
and 20,000 in 1880, fueled by locomotive production during the Civil
War. The PRR built the Horseshoe Curve (opened 1854), a curved track
engineering marvel to cross the Allegheny Ridge, aiding westward
expansion and countering the Erie Canal's trade diversion. It included
the Gallitzin Tunnels for efficiency.
The city layout featured
streets initially named after engineers' families (later numerically).
Smaller industries supported the railroad: rolling mills, silk mills,
ice plants, factories, and retail. Pre-railroad iron production at
Allegheny Furnace (rebuilt 1835) formed an early village. PRR amenities
included the Logan House hotel (102 rooms), bands, YMCA, Mechanic's
Library (1853, nation's first industrial library, now Altoona Area
Public Library), Mishler Theatre, and Cricket Field (where Babe Ruth and
Josh Gibson played).
Civil War Era and Key Events
During the
Civil War, Altoona's locomotive output made it vital to the Union,
considered a high-value target. In September 1862, it hosted the War
Governors' Conference at the Logan House, where 13 governors approved
the Emancipation Proclamation early. Governor Andrew Curtin hosted, and
a 1912 jubilee commemorated it. Altoona also held the first Interstate
Commission meeting for the Gettysburg National Cemetery post-Battle of
Gettysburg, leveraging its rail hub status.
Post-war, the PRR's
Altoona Works expanded to 218 acres of yards and 37 acres of indoor
workshops in 122 buildings, employing up to 15,000 by the early 20th
century. The PRR produced 7,873 locomotives there, the last in 1946. The
city became a PRR town, as depicted in Thaddeus Mortimer Fowler's 1895
lithograph.
Peak Industrial Era and Early 20th Century
(1890s–1940s)
By 1924, Altoona's population reached 67,000, peaking
at 82,000 in 1944. Industries diversified: iron (numerous furnaces like
Rebecca in 1817, Sarah in 1832; Dr. Peter Shoenberger's empire with
100,000 acres); coal mining (companies like Kittanning Coal Co., Blair
Iron & Coal); limestone quarrying (vast deposits, kilns producing 13,000
tons daily by early 1900s, employing 1,200). Agriculture remained strong
in surrounding valleys.
The PRR influenced community life,
establishing fire departments, relocating hospitals, and sponsoring
events. Notable landmarks include the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
(designated 1851, seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of
Altoona–Johnstown), Altoona Mirror newspaper (founded 1876 by Harry
Slep), and Leap-The-Dips (world's oldest wooden roller coaster at
Lakemont Park). A tornado struck in 1949, damaging southern areas with
F1 winds.
During World War II, the railroad transported troops and
equipment; a station canteen served soldiers. The Horseshoe Curve and
city were targeted in Nazi Operation Pastorius (1942) but unharmed.
Post-war "Jobs for Joes" aided veterans.
Decline, Recovery, and
Modern Developments (1950s–Present)
Post-WWII railroad decline led to
industrial downturn and urban sprawl. Many historic sites, like the
Logan House and some shops, were lost in 1960s revitalization efforts
that demolished the historic district. Population dropped as jobs
shifted.
Recovery focused on diversification: Healthcare (UPMC
Altoona), retail (Sheetz headquarters, starting as a 1952 deli), Boyer
Candy Company, Norfolk Southern, Penn State Altoona. The city celebrated
its sesquicentennial in 1999. Today, tourism highlights the Horseshoe
Curve (National Historic Landmark with funicular), Railroaders Memorial
Museum, Juniata Shops, Mishler Theatre, and Jaffa Shrine Center. Altoona
remains tied to its railroad heritage while adapting to service-based
economy.
Altoona, Pennsylvania, is situated in central Pennsylvania within
Blair County, serving as the principal city of the Altoona Metropolitan
Statistical Area. Positioned at coordinates 40°31′N 78°24′W, it lies at
the base of Brush Mountain in the Allegheny Mountains, nestled between
Logan Valley to the north and Pleasant Valley to the south.
The
city spans a total land area of approximately 9.79 square miles (25.36
km²), with no significant water bodies within its boundaries, making it
entirely terrestrial. Its elevation averages around 1,161 feet (354
meters) above sea level, contributing to its placement in a transitional
zone between the Appalachian Plateau and the Ridge-and-Valley
Appalachians. This strategic location historically facilitated its
development as a railroad hub, with the famous Horseshoe Curve—a
National Historic Landmark—engineered nearby to navigate the steep
Allegheny Ridge, allowing passage through the mountains.
Altoona's topography is characterized by its embedding within the
rugged Allegheny Mountains, part of the larger Appalachian range. The
landscape features a mix of rolling hills, steep ridges, and deep
valleys, creating a varied and dramatic terrain.
Brush Mountain forms
a prominent natural barrier to the east, rising sharply from the city
and influencing local microclimates and drainage patterns. The city
occupies the narrow Juniata Valley, which is flanked by elevated ridges
that can reach heights of over 2,000 feet in the surrounding areas,
leading to a bowl-like effect that channels winds and precipitation.
This valley setting exposes Altoona to potential flash flooding during
heavy rains, as water runoff from the mountains converges rapidly into
lower-lying urban areas.
The urban fabric of Altoona integrates with
this topography, with neighborhoods sprawling across hillsides and
valleys. For instance, areas like Fairview and Calvert Hills are perched
on higher ground, offering elevated views, while Downtown Altoona sits
in a flatter, rail-straddled zone between 13th Avenue and the
Pennsylvania Railroad Expressway. Surrounding unincorporated areas in
Logan Township, such as Lakemont and Greenwood, blend seamlessly into
the city, extending into wooded hills and contributing to a semi-rural
fringe. The overall relief creates challenges for infrastructure, with
roads and rail lines curving around natural contours, and it supports
diverse ecosystems, including forested slopes that transition into the
broader Allegheny Plateau to the west. Geological underpinnings include
sedimentary rock formations typical of the Appalachians, with layers of
sandstone, shale, and limestone shaping the ridges and valleys through
millions of years of erosion and tectonic activity.
Altoona experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa)
bordering on humid subtropical (Cfa), marked by four distinct seasons
with notable temperature swings and moderate precipitation. Summers are
warm to hot, with average highs in July reaching 82°F (28°C) and daily
means around 72.4°F (22.4°C), while humidity can make conditions feel
muggy. Winters are cold and snowy, with January averages dipping to
28.4°F (-2.0°C) for daily means and lows often below freezing. Extreme
temperatures have ranged from a record low of -25°F (-32°C) in 1904 to a
high of 103°F (39°C) in 2011.
Annual precipitation totals about 36-40
inches, distributed fairly evenly but peaking in late spring and early
fall, with September seeing the highest monthly average at 3.96 inches.
Snowfall averages 30-40 inches per year, primarily from December to
March, though lake-effect snow from Lake Erie can occasionally enhance
accumulations due to the city's position downwind in certain weather
patterns. The mountainous terrain influences local weather, fostering
orographic lift that increases rainfall on windward slopes and creates
rain shadows in leeward valleys. Sunshine hours vary, with clearer skies
in summer and more overcast conditions in winter, averaging around 135
precipitation days annually. Climate data from nearby Blair County
Airport (1991-2020 normals) underscores these patterns, with an annual
average temperature of about 50°F (10°C).
While Altoona itself lacks major bodies of water—its area is 100% land—the region is hydrologically connected to the Juniata River system, which flows nearby and forms part of the Susquehanna River watershed. Small streams and creeks, such as those draining from Brush Mountain, traverse the area, contributing to occasional flooding risks but also supporting local wetlands and riparian habitats. Natural features prominently include the dense forests of the Alleghenies, home to deciduous hardwoods like oak, maple, and hickory, which provide vibrant fall foliage and habitats for wildlife such as deer, black bears, and various bird species. The Horseshoe Curve, though man-made, integrates with the natural landscape as a feat of engineering that hugs the mountain contours, offering panoramic views of the valleys below. Nearby state parks and forests, like those in the Rothrock State Forest to the east, extend the natural amenities with hiking trails, rocky outcrops, and biodiversity hotspots.
Altoona is encircled by townships and boroughs including Logan Township, Hollidaysburg (the county seat), and Duncansville, forming a cohesive metropolitan area with a population of around 122,000. To the south lies Morrisons Cove, a fertile agricultural valley about 20 miles away, while major routes like Interstate 99 connect it to State College (home of Penn State University) to the northeast and Johnstown to the southwest. Geologically, the area is part of the Ridge-and-Valley province, shaped by ancient folding and faulting during the Alleghenian orogeny, resulting in parallel ridges and valleys that dominate the landscape. This setup not only defines the physical geography but also influences human settlement, with valleys hosting communities and ridges acting as natural divides. Environmental considerations include vulnerability to severe weather, such as the 1949 tornado that struck southern Altoona with F1-force winds, causing damage across the cove and highlighting the area's exposure to mid-Atlantic storm systems. Overall, Altoona's geography blends natural beauty with practical challenges, making it a quintessential Appalachian locale.
Major neighborhoods in Altoona include Downtown Altoona, Center City, Logantown, Fairview, Juniata, Waynewood, Calvert Hills, 5th Ward, Westmont, El Dorado, East End, Dutch Hill, Pleasant Valley, Heilman Heights, 6th Ward Mansion Park, Lizwen, Garden Heights, and Highland Park. Little Italy, Gospel Hill, Toy Town, Columbia Park, Knickerbockers, and Curtin are important neighborhoods. Within Logan Township are Lakemont, Greenwood, Belle Meade, Westfall, Newburgh, and Red Hill, which are outside the city limits but considered part of Altoona. Many of the older neighborhoods have a mix of row houses and private residences. This is a common architectural style in railroad towns, as each provides housing for workers and managers.
Downtown is the cultural and commercial center of Altoona and
straddles the famous railroad. As is typical of traditional urban
layouts, Downtown is centrally located, with significant development in
all directions. A large portion of the area is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places as the Altoona Downtown Historic District.
Notable buildings include the Mishler Theater, the Penn Alt Building
(formerly the Penn Alt Hotel), the Gables Building, City Hall, the
Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Eleventh Avenue.
Altoona is also home to several well-known churches, including the
Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament at the corner of 13th Street and 13th
Avenue, the building that once housed the First Presbyterian Church at
the corner of 12th Street and 14th Avenue, and the First Lutheran Church
at the corner of 14th Street and 12th Avenue. Station Medical Center,
formerly known as Station Mall, is a downtown shopping mall built in the
1970s to replace many old railroad stores. Downtown contains most of
what is known as Altoona's Little Italy district.
Due to its
geography, Downtown has no precise or natural boundaries. As such,
downtown generally refers to the area between 13th Avenue and the PRR
Expressway and from 7th Street to 16th Street, which the city has zoned
as Central Business. However, areas within Logantown and Center City are
often described as "downtown.
Texas Hot Dog was founded in
downtown Altoona in 1918, but is better known for the Texas Hot Dog
restaurant in Paterson, NJ, which opened in 1924.
The downtown commercial core contains many multi-story residential,
commercial, and mixed-use buildings designed in the early 20th century
in a mixture of Victorian, Edwardian Baroque, and Neo-Romanesque styles.
This style is characterized by high ceilings, resulting in buildings
with taller than typical stories. High ceilings are typically
constructed of tin or plaster, but sometimes drop ceilings are used.
Individual houses, originally intended for PRR managers and
executives, are structurally similar to Victorian and Edwardian
mansions, but are built very narrow and high. They may be used as two-
or three-family apartments or converted to commercial space. Outside the
commercial core is a mosaic of multi-story commercial buildings,
mixed-use buildings, single-story commercial buildings, apartments,
multi-family buildings, and single-family homes.
The U.S. Post
Office in Altoona contains two oil on canvas murals ("Pioneers of
Altoona" and "Growth of the Road") commissioned by the WPA and painted
by Lorin Thompson in 1938. Road"). The murals were produced in the
United States from 1934 to 1943 through the Treasury Department's
Painting and Sculpture Division (later called the Fine Arts Division).
According to the Köppen climate classification, using an isotherm of 0 °C (32 °F), Altoona has a hot and humid continental climate (Dfa), or a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) using an isotherm of -3 °C (27 °F). Summers are hot and winters are moderately cold, with a wide range of temperatures. Average daily temperatures range from 28.4 °F (-2.0 °C) in January to 72.4 °F (22.4 °C) in July, with extremes ranging from -25 °F (-32 °C) in 1904 to 103 °F (39 °C) in 2011. Total precipitation is highest in September and lowest in February.