Kittanning, Pennsylvania

History

The borough is located on the east bank of the Allegheny River, founded on the site of the eighteenth-century Native American village of Kittanning at the western end of the Kittanning Path. In 1756, the village was destroyed by John Armstrong, Sr. at the Battle of Kittanning during the French and Indian War. During the attack, a blast from the explosion of gunpowder stored in Captain Jacobs's house was heard in Pittsburgh, 44 miles away.

Early in the 20th century, it had large iron and steel works, foundries, coal mines, glassworks, flour and lumber mills, china, pottery, brick, lime, and clay works, mirror and typewriter factories, breweries, etc.

In 1900, 3,902 people lived in Kittanning, and in 1910, there were 4,311 inhabitants. After Kittanning merged with Wickboro (1910 population 2,775), in 1914, an estimated 10,000 residents lived in Kittanning in that year. The 1920 census counted 7,153 residents. In 1930, there were 7,808 residents; in 1940, 7,550. The population was 4,044 at the 2010 census. Kittanning is the county seat of Armstrong County.

The playground on North Jefferson Street was formerly the Kittanning Cemetery; 274 graves were moved in 1960 to a new cemetery along Troy Hill Road.

The Allegheny River Lock and Dam No. 7 and Armstrong County Courthouse and Jail are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

Kittanning is located at 40°49′12″N 79°31′17″W (40.820085, -79.521398). According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.0 square mile (2.6 km²), all land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,787 people, 2,032 households, and 1,117 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,615.2 people per square mile (1,777.2/km²). There were 2,251 housing units at an average density of 2,170.2 per square mile (835.7/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.31% White, 1.57% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.08% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.

There were 2,032 households, out of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.7% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.0% were non-families. 40.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 22.2% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 82.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.2 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $20,921, and the median income for a family was $30,822. Males had a median income of $29,036 versus $20,040 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $13,787. About 12.3% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.

Electricity

Education

All public schools in the Kittanning attendance area are a part of the Armstrong School District.

Newspapers

Radio

Television

In popular culture

Several popular movies and televisions programs have been filmed in Kittanning.

The original bridge over the Allegheny River at Kittanning was torn down and replaced with the Kittanning Citizens Bridge, which was built higher above ground level to avoid flooding. Scenes with the town and bridge were the used in the film The Mothman Prophecies (2002) starring Richard Gere and Laura Linney, which was filmed in the Kittanning area.

Scenes for the 2009 horror movie My Bloody Valentine 3D were filmed in Kittanning.

The 2010 pilot episode for Justified, starring Timothy Olyphant, was filmed in Kittanning and its surrounding areas.

Filming for the movie One for the Money took place during Summer 2010.

Notable people