Shippensburg, Pennsylvania

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Pagename
other_name =
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settlement_type = Borough
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Pennsylvania
subdivision_type2 = Counties
subdivision_name2 = Cumberland and Franklin
government_footnotes =
government_type = Borough Council
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Bruce Hockersmith
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established_title = Settled
established_date = 1730
established_title1 = Incorporated
established_date1 = 1819
area_magnitude =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
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area_total_sq_mi = 2.0
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population_as_of = 2000
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population_total = 5586
population_density_km2 =
population_density_sq_mi = 1276.8
timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 40
latm = 02
lats = 58
latNS = N
longd = 77
longm = 31
longs = 26
longEW = W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m =
elevation_ft = 686
postal_code_type = Zip code
postal_code = 17257
area_code = 717
website = [http://www.borough.shippensburg.pa.us/ Shippensburg Borough]
footnotes = Settled in 1730, Shippensburg is a borough in Pennsylvania, 41 miles (66 km) west-southwest of Harrisburg. In 1900, 3,228 people lived there; in 1910, 3,457; and in 1940, 5,244 people lived there. The population was 5,586 at the 2000 census.

Shippensburg is located in the Cumberland Valley on the border of Cumberland and Franklin counties and was incorporated as a borough on January 21, 1819. In the past, there were furniture factories, engine and pump works, and other industrial works located within the town. Shippensburg is also the home of The Beistle Company, the oldest and largest manufacturer of decorations and party goods, which sells its distinctive honeycomb paper decorations worldwide. It is also the location of Pague and Fegan, the oldest continuously operated hardware store in Pennsylvania.

Shippensburg is also home to Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, one of 14 universities of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

Yearly the last full week of July, the Shippensburg Community Fair is held. Begun in 1958, the fair bills itself as Pennsylvania's largest bi-county fair. The fair includes agricultural exhibits, a craft show, food vendors, and carnival rides amongst other things.

Every summer on the last Saturday of August, Shippensburg holds the Corn Festival, an event that brings regional artisans and vendors to operate stands downtown. The downtown is closed to traffic for at least 5 blocks for most of the day. Average attendance at the festival is estimated at 60,000 - 70,000 each year.

History

Shippensburg is the oldest community of the Cumberland Valley, and the second oldest west of the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania (after York to the southeast). In July 1730, 12 Scots-Irish families came to the site of the present day Shippensburg and built cabin homes along Burd's Run. Shippensburg began as the western outpost of colonial settlement.

The village received its name from Edward Shippen, a prominent resident of Lancaster (and one time mayor of Philadelphia) who obtained the patent to the land from the heirs of William Penn. In 1735, Samuel Perry built the Widow Piper's Tavern, which stands at the southwest corner of East King Street and Queen Street. This building was selected as the place for the first Cumberland County Courts in 1750 and 1751. The building has been restored and serves today as the home of the Shippensburg Civic Club.

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania was founded in 1871 as a Normal School.

General Information

*ZIP Code: 17257
*Area Code: 717
*Local Phone Exchanges: 300, 477, 530, 532
*Current Mayor: Bruce Hockersmith
*PIAA Track and Field Championship held at Shippensburg University

Geography

Shippensburg is located at coor dms|40|2|58|N|77|31|26|W|city (40.049453, -77.523830)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.2 km²).None of the area is covered with water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 5,586 people, 2,397 households, and 1,138 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,772.0 people per square mile (1,067.7/km²). There were 2,602 housing units at an average density of 1,291.2/sq mi (497.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.16% White, 3.44% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.98% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.15% of the population.

There were 2,397 households out of which 20.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.5% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 52.5% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% 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 2.87.

In the borough the population was spread out with 17.6% under the age of 18, 28.5% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 16.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 85.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $27,660, and the median income for a family was $39,896. Males had a median income of $29,387 versus $21,775 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $14,816. About 9.4% of families and 28.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.6% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.

Notable natives

*John Hamilton, starred as Perry White on "Adventures of Superman" TV series of the 1950s.
*Samuel D. Sturgis, Union army general and namesake of Sturgis, South Dakota.

Trivia

*The Pennsylvania native band CKY has a song named after the city. The chorus includes a line which reads "We'll drive the band to Shippensburg and hope that we get played."

References

External links

* [http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/pa/cumberland/history/local/messiah01.txt History at RootsWeb]
* [http://www.borough.shippensburg.pa.us/ Shippensburg Borough Website]
* [http://www.shippensburgfair.com/ Shippensburg Community Fair]