Editing Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania

{{Short description|Town in Pennsylvania, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
<!-- Infobox begins -->
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name                   = Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania
| native_name                     = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
| nicknames                        = The only incorporated town in Pennsylvania, Bloom, Town of Love
| settlement_type                 = [[Town]] <!--For Town or Village (Leave blank for the default City)-->
| motto                           = 
| image_skyline                   = Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania town hall.JPG
| imagesize                       = 
| image_caption                   = Bloomsburg Town Hall in 2012
| image_flag                      = 
| flag_size                       = 
| image_seal                      = 
| seal_size                       = 
| image_shield                    = 
| shield_size                     = 
| city_logo                       = 
| citylogo_size                   = 
| image_map                       = File:Columbia County Pennsylvania Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Bloomsburg Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                         = 250px
| map_caption                     = Location of Bloomsburg in [[Columbia County, Pennsylvania]]
| pushpin_map        = Pennsylvania#USA
| pushpin_relief = yes
| pushpin_label = Bloomsburg
| subdivision_type                = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name                = [[United States]]
| subdivision_type1               = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[Pennsylvania]]
| subdivision_type2               = [[List of counties in Pennsylvania|County]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Columbia]]
| subdivision_type3               = 
| subdivision_name3               = 
| subdivision_type4               = 
| subdivision_name4               = 
| government_type                 = 
| leader_title                    = Mayor
| leader_name                     = Justin Hummel (D)
| established_title               = Bloom Township
| established_date                = 1797
| established_title2              = Town of Bloomsburg
| established_date2               = March 4, 1870
| established_title3              = 
| established_date3               = 
| area_magnitude                  = 
| unit_pref                       = Imperial
| area_footnotes                  = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='42'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 12, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2                  = 12.14
| area_land_km2                   = 11.26
| area_water_km2                  = 0.88
| area_total_sq_mi                = 4.69
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 4.35
| area_water_sq_mi                = 0.34
| area_water_percent              = 7.22
| area_urban_km2                  = 
| area_urban_sq_mi                = 
| area_metro_km2                  = 
| area_metro_sq_mi                = 
| population_as_of                = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes            = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
| population_note                 = 
| population_total                = 12711
| population_density_km2          = 1128.81
| population_density_sq_mi        = 2923.41
| population_metro                = 
| population_density_metro_km2    = 
| population_density_metro_sq_mi  = 
| population_urban                = 
| population_density_urban_km2    = 
| population_density_urban_sq_mi  = 
| timezone                        = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset                      = -5
| timezone_DST                    = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset_DST                  = -4
| coordinates                     = {{coord|41|00|09|N|76|27|29|W|region:US-PA_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes             = <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags-->
| elevation_m                     = 
| elevation_ft                    = 531
| postal_code_type                = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code                     = 17815
| area_codes                       = [[Area codes 570 and 272|570 and 272]]
| website                         = {{URL|bloomsburgpa.org}}
| footnotes                       = 
| pop_est_as_of                   = 
| pop_est_footnotes               = 
| population_est                  = 
| blank_name                      = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info                      = 42-07128
}}
 <!-- Infobox ends -->
'''Bloomsburg''' is the only incorporated town in [[Columbia County, Pennsylvania]],<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.bloomsburgpa.org/| title=Welcome to the Town of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania| work=bloomsburgpa.org| access-date=February 15, 2015| archive-date=July 14, 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120714075540/http://www.bloomsburgpa.org/| url-status=live}}</ref> United States, of which it is also the [[county seat]]. It is part of [[Northeastern Pennsylvania]] and is located {{convert|40|mi}} southwest of [[Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania|Wilkes-Barre]] along the [[Susquehanna River]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011  }}</ref> As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], Bloomsburg had a population of 14,855,<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4207128| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Bloomsburg town, Pennsylvania| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=May 19, 2015| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213063631/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4207128| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref> with an estimated population of 13,811 in 2019.<ref name="USCensusEst2019">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2019.html|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|access-date=May 21, 2020|archive-date=July 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701194657/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2019.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Bloomsburg is one of two principal communities of the [[Bloomsburg-Berwick metropolitan area|Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area]], a [[United States metropolitan area|metropolitan area]] that covers Columbia and [[Montour County, Pennsylvania|Montour]] counties,<ref>[https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2010s-total-metro-and-micro-statistical-areas.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616024757/https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2010s-total-metro-and-micro-statistical-areas.html|date=June 16, 2020}}, [[Office of Management and Budget]], May 11, 2007.  Accessed July 27, 2008.</ref> and had a combined population of 85,562 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/SF1DP1/320M100US4214100| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (DP-1): Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA Micro Area| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=May 19, 2015| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213114736/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/SF1DP1/320M100US4214100| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History==
[[Image:FloodMarker.jpg|left|thumb|125px|A marker behind the airport showing the height of the river during historic floods (the dirt mark is from the 2006 floods).]]
The first signs of European settlement date to the year 1772, when James McClure established a log cabin in the area. Until the mid-19th century, it was just a small village, known as Bloom Township. Traditionally, Bloomsburg's founding in 1802 has been ascribed to settler Ludwig Eyer, son of Johann Martin Eyer,<ref>{{cite web| url=http://genealogytrails.com/penn/columbia/bloomsburg.html#Founding| title=Town of Bloomsburg| work=genealogytrails.com| access-date=February 15, 2015| archive-date=July 17, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717225636/http://genealogytrails.com/penn/columbia/bloomsburg.html#Founding| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=frisbee&id=I0921| title=RootsWeb's WorldConnect Project: Ancestors of Dustin & Dylan Hileman| work=ancestry.com| access-date=February 15, 2015| archive-date=July 16, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716105925/http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=frisbee&id=I0921| url-status=live}}</ref> acting as agent for his brother [[Johann Adam Eyer|Johann Adam]].<ref name="Wertkin2004">{{cite book|author=Gerard C. Wertkin|title=Encyclopedia of American Folk Art|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780415929868|url-access=registration|date=August 2, 2004|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-95614-1}}</ref> For 75 years after the discovery of ore in the area,{{when|date=December 2012}} Bloomsburg developed a booming iron industry.

Since its incorporation on March 4, 1870, Bloomsburg has held the distinction of being the only town in [[Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dgs.pa.gov/State%20Government/Print,%20Design%20and%20Mail%20Services/Documents/Vol%20123%20-%20Section%206.pdf|title=The Pennsylvania Manual, Vol 123, Section 6 (See pages 6-3 through 6-8)|website=Pennsylvania Department of General Services|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822135237/https://www.dgs.pa.gov/State%20Government/Print,%20Design%20and%20Mail%20Services/Documents/Vol%20123%20-%20Section%206.pdf|archive-date=August 22, 2018|access-date=August 22, 2018}}</ref><ref>[http://www.lgc.state.pa.us/deskbook06/Basics01_Local_Government_Entities.pdf "Local Government Entities in Pennsylvania"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130114183024/http://www.lgc.state.pa.us/deskbook06/Basics01_Local_Government_Entities.pdf |date=January 14, 2013 }} and [http://www.lgc.state.pa.us/deskbook06/Basics08_Municipal_Statistics.pdf "Municipal Statistics"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060926190423/http://www.lgc.state.pa.us/deskbook06/Basics08_Municipal_Statistics.pdf |date=September 26, 2006 }} in [http://www.lgc.state.pa.us/deskbook.html ''Legislator's Municipal Deskbook for Pennsylvania''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061211103635/http://www.lgc.state.pa.us/deskbook.html |date=December 11, 2006 }}</ref> While some home rule municipalities may be styled as towns in their charters, they remain classified as either [[City (Pennsylvania)|cities]], [[Borough (Pennsylvania)|boroughs]], or [[Township (Pennsylvania)|townships]]. One particular point of confusion regards [[McCandless, Pennsylvania|McCandless]] in Allegheny County, which remains a township despite taking the name "Town of McCandless" when adopting a [[Home Rule Municipality (Pennsylvania)|home rule charter]] in 1975.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/302/chapter23/chap23toc.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060629203032/http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/302/chapter23/chap23toc.html|url-status=dead|title=Pennsylvania Code, Title 302, Chapter 23|archive-date=June 29, 2006}}</ref> Bloomsburg's slogan of "The only [incorporated] town in Pennsylvania" reflects its unique status.<ref>{{cite web|last=Benedetto|first=Mike|url=https://www.abc27.com/digital-originals/why-is-bloomsburg-the-only-town-in-pennsylvania/|title=Why is Bloomsburg the only ‘town’ in Pennsylvania? |publisher=[[WHTM]]|date=2023-11-30|access-date=2024-12-13}}</ref>

The [[Bloomsburg Historic District]] and [[Rupert Covered Bridge No. 56]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

On October 28, 2015, a North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) blimp broke free from [[Aberdeen Proving Ground]] and headed north, taking out the town's power supply as it went.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fighter-jets-track-military-blimp-drifting-over-pennsylvania-n453106|title=Military Blimp on the Ground in Pennsylvania: NORAD|website=NBC News|date=October 28, 2015 |access-date=September 17, 2019|archive-date=September 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909180617/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fighter-jets-track-military-blimp-drifting-over-pennsylvania-n453106|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Weird/wireStory/fighter-jets-track-military-blimp-drifting-pennsylvania-34799095|title=Army Blimp Breaks Loose, Drifts Over Pennsylvania|website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|access-date=June 27, 2020|archive-date=November 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151110181515/http://abcnews.go.com/Weird/wireStory/fighter-jets-track-military-blimp-drifting-pennsylvania-34799095|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Bloomburg PA Keystone Marker.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|[[Keystone marker]]]]
Bloomsburg is located west of the center of Columbia County, along the north bank of the [[Susquehanna River]] and on the east side of [[Fishing Creek (North Branch Susquehanna River)|Fishing Creek]]. The southern half of the town occupies level ground along the Susquehanna, while the northern half is occupied by {{convert|940|ft|m|adj=mid|-high}} [[Turkey Hill (Pennsylvania)|Turkey Hill]]. The campus of [[Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania]] occupies a large portion of the hill.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=41.00370,-76.45495&z=14&t=T&marker0=41.00370%2C-76.45495%2CBloomsburg%5C%2C%20PA|title=Bloomsburg, PA|publisher=U.S. Geological Survey/ACME Mapper|access-date=May 19, 2015|archive-date=January 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113193013/http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=41.00370,-76.45495&z=14&t=T&marker0=41.00370%2C-76.45495%2CBloomsburg%5C%2C%20PA|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Bloomsburg has a total area of {{convert|12.1|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|11.3|km2|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.9|km2|order=flip|1}}, or 7.22%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

===Neighboring municipalities===
*[[Mount Pleasant Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Mount Pleasant Township]] (north)
*[[Scott Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Scott Township]] (east)
*[[Catawissa Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Catawissa Township]] (south, separated by the [[Susquehanna River]])
*[[Montour Township, Pennsylvania|Montour Township]] (southwest)
*[[Hemlock Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Hemlock Township]] (west)

==Climate==
In January,  the average high temperature is {{convert|35|F}}, while the average low temperature is {{convert|19|F}}. In July, the average high temperature is {{convert|85|F}}, while the average low temperature is {{Convert|62|F}}. The month with the least precipitation is February, which has {{convert|2.37|in}} on average. June experiences the most precipitation: {{convert|4.5|in}} on average.<ref>http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/bloomsburg-pa/17815/{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1820= 1626
|1830= 2090
|1840= 1774
|1850= 3122
|1860= 2668
|1870= 3341
|1880= 3702
|1890= 4635
|1900= 6170
|1910= 7413
|1920= 7819
|1930= 9093
|1940= 9799
|1950= 10633
|1960= 10655
|1970= 11652
|1980= 11717
|1990= 12439
|2000= 12375
|2010= 14855
|2020= 12711
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="Census 2010"/><ref name="Census1960">{{cite web|title=Number of Inhabitants: Pennsylvania|url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/17216604v1p40ch02.pdf|work=18th Census of the United States|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=November 22, 2013|archive-date=December 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208223555/http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/17216604v1p40ch02.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Census1990">{{cite web|title=Pennsylvania: Population and Housing Unit Counts|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-40.pdf|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=November 22, 2013|archive-date=May 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506060158/https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-40.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709054630/https://www.census.gov/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:42&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 12, 2022}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2014/SUB-EST2014.html|website=Census.gov|access-date=June 23, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523034651/https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2014/SUB-EST2014.html|archive-date=May 23, 2015}}</ref> of 2010, there were 14,855 people residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|3,414.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 5,121 housing units. The racial makeup of the town was 89.6% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 6.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.10% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] and 1.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.4% of the population.

According to the 2000 census<ref>{{cite web|url = http://bloomsburgpa.org/wp-content/uploads/Appendix1DemographicProfile.pdf|title = Bloomsburg, Pa Demographic Profile|access-date = January 11, 2016|archive-date = March 4, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054347/http://bloomsburgpa.org/wp-content/uploads/Appendix1DemographicProfile.pdf|url-status = live}}</ref> There were 4,080 households, out of which 19.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 56.1% were non-families.  35.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 12.3% under the age of 18, 45.5% from 18 to 24, 18.6% from 25 to 44, 12.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females, there were 77.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $24,868, and the median income for a family was $39,806. Males had a median income of $29,940 versus $19,961 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $12,819. About 10.5% of families and 31.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 19.8% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
[[Image:Bloomsburg PostOffice.jpg|thumb|left|Top of the Bloomsburg post office]]
The town of Bloomsburg is administered by a [[town council]] of six members and the mayor. As an incorporated town, the mayor can vote along with the council on every motion. This is different from most borough councils, where there are seven council members and the mayor can only vote to break ties.<ref>{{Citation
  | title = Borough Mayors Manual
  | date = June 1, 2003
| url = http://www.newpa.com/webfm_send/1559
  | access-date = October 23, 2014
| archive-date = August 20, 2012
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120820121132/http://www.newpa.com/webfm_send/1559
  | url-status = live
  }}</ref>

==Education==
Bloomsburg is served by the [[Bloomsburg Area School District]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st42_pa/schooldistrict_maps/c42037_columbia/DC20SD_C42037.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Columbia County, PA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-12-13}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st42_pa/schooldistrict_maps/c42037_columbia/DC20SD_C42037_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> which has about 1,800 students enrolled from the town itself, western, and southeastern suburbs.

[[Columbia-Montour Area Vocational-Technical School]] in Bloomsburg has numerous secondary education trade programs.

The [[Central Columbia School District]] has approximately 2,100 students and encompasses the eastern and northern suburbs of Bloomsburg.

[[Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania|Bloomsburg University]], one of the 14 institutions in the [[Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education]], had a 2012 enrollment of 10,000 full-time undergraduate and 846 graduate students.

Additionally, there are several private religious and non-denominational schools in and around the immediate vicinity of Bloomsburg.

==Recreation==
The one park in Bloomsburg is the {{convert|43|acre|m2|adj=on}} Town Park,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bloomsburgpa.org/community/parks-recreation/ |title=Parks & Recreation |date=2013 |work=Bloomsburg Town Park |publisher=Town of Bloomsburg |access-date=October 23, 2014 |archive-date=October 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024071635/http://bloomsburgpa.org/community/parks-recreation/ |url-status=live }}</ref> established in 1927. The Norris E. Rock Memorial Swimming Pool and the Bloomsburg Skate Park immediately adjoin the park. The town has also purchased the former Streater Farm at the confluence of [[Fishing Creek (North Branch Susquehanna River)|Fishing Creek]] and the [[Susquehanna River]], which is being converted into athletic fields, a nature preserve, and a walking path that will be tied in with the existing Columbia-Montour Rails-to-Trails program.

==Notable businesses==
[[Image:Bloomsburg Chamber.jpg|thumb|right|Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce]]
On May 31, 2009, Bloomsburg Mills, Inc., after 120 years of weaving and finishing fabrics in Bloomsburg, went out of business, closing both a local plant and a dye plant in [[Monroe, North Carolina]]. The closure affected over 200 employees in both locations.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://charlotte.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2009/04/13/daily7.html |title=retrieved on April 13, 2009. |access-date=May 6, 2009 |archive-date=April 17, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417190041/http://charlotte.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2009/04/13/daily7.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In early 2014 Windsor Foods (formerly [[Del Monte Foods]]) closed their doors, affecting more than 160 employees. Company officials cited flooding as a result of [[Tropical Storm Lee (2011)|Tropical Storm Lee]] as one of their reasons for the plant closing.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://wnep.com/2013/10/25/windsor-foods-to-close-bloomsburg-plant/ |title=retrieved on August 18, 2014. |date=October 25, 2013 |access-date=August 19, 2014 |archive-date=August 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819090316/http://wnep.com/2013/10/25/windsor-foods-to-close-bloomsburg-plant/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Culture==
[[File:Monument to Native Americans in Bloomsburg.JPG|thumb|right|A monument set up by the [[Daughters of the American Colonists]] honoring Native American settlement in Bloomsburg]]

Bloomsburg is home to the [[Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble]], founded in 1978 to establish a resident professional ensemble for the production of quality entertainment and educational programs for the region, and to promote the arts.

The Bloomsburg Public Library was founded in 1899 and funded jointly by the taxpayers of Bloomsburg, Scott Township, and Hemlock Township.

Bloomsburg is also home to the [[Bloomsburg Fair]] (the largest fair in the state of Pennsylvania) which, since 1855, is a traditional [[Agricultural show|agricultural fair]] .

The [[David Stroup Fountain]], erected in 1892, is located at Bloomsburg's Market Square. David Stroup was the owner of a local candy shop who left money in his will to the town's water works. The current fountain is a restored version of the original, which was dismantled in 1966 due to its deterioration but was put back together in 1982 by Daniel and Michael McCloskey. The original crane sculpture, which was at the top of the fountain, was lost in storage until 2005, when it was cleaned, repaired, and replaced on the fountain.

[[The Children's Museum (PA)|The Children's Museum]] is at 2 West Seventh Street.

==Local media==
Bloomsburg is home to one daily newspaper, the ''[[Press Enterprise (Pennsylvania)|Press Enterprise]]''. Bloomsburg has two online news sites: ''The Bloomsburg News'' covering all of Bloomsburg activities, and  BloomUtoday.com covering Bloomsburg University as well as local news. ''The Voice'', Bloomsburg University's student newspaper and BUnow, the campus's online, student-run newspaper, cover university-related and more traditional world and entertainment news.<ref>Stories can also be found online at www.buvoice.com.</ref>

Several radio stations serve the area, including [[WHLM (AM)|WHLM]], [[WMMZ]], and [[WCFT-FM]]. The town is primarily served by [[Service Electric]] [[Cable TV]] and receives both the [[Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania|Wilkes-Barre]]/[[Scranton, Pennsylvania|Scranton]] market television stations and [[Philadelphia]] stations.

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
[[File:Bloomsburg Municipal Airport.JPG|thumb|Bloomsburg Municipal Airport]]
[[Bloomsburg Municipal Airport]] is in the southeast corner of Bloomsburg, along the Susquehanna River.

The main highways in Bloomsburg are [[U.S. Route 11 in Pennsylvania|U.S. Route 11]], [[Pennsylvania Route 42]] (serves the [[Bloomsburg Fair]]grounds) and [[Pennsylvania Route 487]]. [[Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania|Interstate 80]] passes north of the town, with access from Exit 232 (PA 42) to the northwest of town and Exit 236 (PA 487) northeast of town. US 11 leads west {{convert|9|mi|0}} to [[Danville, Pennsylvania|Danville]] and east {{convert|13|mi}} to [[Berwick, Pennsylvania|Berwick]], both on the Susquehanna River. PA 42 leads northwest {{convert|10|mi|0}} to [[Millville, Pennsylvania|Millville]] and south {{convert|22|mi}} to [[Ashland, Pennsylvania|Ashland]], while PA 487 leads northeast {{Convert|17|mi}} to [[Benton, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Benton]] and southwest {{convert|15|mi}} to [[Elysburg, Pennsylvania|Elysburg]]. Via Interstate 80 and connecting highways it is {{convert|44|mi}} northeast to [[Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania|Wilkes-Barre]] and {{convert|42|mi}} northwest to [[Williamsport, Pennsylvania|Williamsport]]. [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|Harrisburg]], the state capital, is {{Convert|80|mi}} to the south via PA 42 and [[Interstate 81]].

===Utilities===
[[PPL Corporation]] in [[Allentown, Pennsylvania|Allentown]] provides electricity to Bloomsburg.<ref>{{cite web|title=Service Area|publisher=PPL Electric Utilities|url=https://www.pplelectric.com/utility/about-us/about-ppl-electric-utilities/service-area.aspx|access-date=August 20, 2017|archive-date=August 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820201950/https://www.pplelectric.com/utility/about-us/about-ppl-electric-utilities/service-area.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=General Tariff|publisher=PPL Electric Utilities|date=June 20, 2017|page=4|url=https://www.pplelectric.com/-/media/PPLElectric/At-Your-Service/Docs/Current-Electric-Tariff/master.pdf|access-date=August 20, 2017|archive-date=August 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820202641/https://www.pplelectric.com/-/media/PPLElectric/At-Your-Service/Docs/Current-Electric-Tariff/master.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Natural gas in the town is provided by [[UGI Penn Natural Gas]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Geographic Footprint|publisher=UGI|url=https://www.ugi.com/about-us/geographic-footprint/|access-date=October 4, 2017|archive-date=October 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005102103/https://www.ugi.com/about-us/geographic-footprint/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Gas Tariff|publisher=UGI Penn Natural Gas|date=July 7, 2017|pages=5–8|url=http://gasmngmt.ugi.com/UGIP/doc/tariff/PUC8.pdf|access-date=October 10, 2017|archive-date=October 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010215927/http://gasmngmt.ugi.com/UGIP/doc/tariff/PUC8.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Cable television in Bloomsburg is provided by [[Service Electric]] Cable and CATV Service. Water in the town is provided by [[United Water]] PA.

==Notable people==
*[[Lacy J. Dalton]], country music singer-songwriter
*[[Doug Davis (infielder)| Doug Davis]], former catcher for the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)| Texas Rangers]]
*[[Paul Hartzell]], baseball player
*[[Sean Panikkar]], opera singer
*[[Carl Risch]], [[Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs]] within the U.S. Department of State
*[[Krysten Ritter]], actress
*[[Dan Washburn]], writer
*[[Benny Montgomery]], baseball player
*[[Jared Verse]], football player

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania}}
* [http://www.bloomsburgpa.org/ Town of Bloomsburg official website]
* [http://www.bloomsburg.org Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce]
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Bloomsburg |short=x}}

{{Columbia County, Pennsylvania}}
{{County Seats of Pennsylvania}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category: Towns in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category: Pennsylvania populated places on the Susquehanna River]]
[[Category: County seats in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category: Populated places established in 1797]]
[[Category: Bloomsburg–Berwick metropolitan area]]
[[Category: Populated places in Columbia County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:1797 establishments in Pennsylvania]]