Editing Fredonia, Pennsylvania

{{short description|Borough in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                   = Fredonia, Pennsylvania
| settlement_type        = [[Borough (Pennsylvania)|Borough]]
| image_skyline          = Main above Third, Fredonia.jpg
| image_alt              = 
| image_caption          = Main Street
| image_flag             = 
| flag_alt               = 
| image_seal             = 
| seal_alt               = 
| image_shield           = 
| shield_alt             = 
| etymology              = 
| nickname               = 
| motto                  = 
| image_map              = Mercer County Pennsylvania Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Fredonia Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                = 
| map_alt                = 
| map_caption            = Location of Fredonia in Mercer County, Pennsylvania.
| coordinates            = {{coord|41|19|17|N|80|15|31|W|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint          = 
| coordinates_footnotes  = 
| 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      = [[Mercer County, Pennsylvania|Mercer]]
| established_title      = Established
| established_date       = 1876
| established_title1     = 
| established_date1      = 
| founder                = 
| seat_type              = 
| seat                   = 
| leader_party           = 
| leader_title           = Mayor
| leader_name            = Richard Nagel
| 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_sq_mi       = 0.36
| area_land_sq_mi        = 0.36
| area_water_sq_mi       = 0.00
| area_urban_sq_mi       = 
| area_rural_sq_mi       = 
| area_metro_sq_mi       = 
| area_water_percent     = 
| area_note              = 
<!-- elevation -->
| elevation_footnotes     = <ref name="FTopozone">{{cite web |title=Fredonia Topo Map, Mercer County PA (Fredonia Area) |url=https://www.topozone.com/pennsylvania/mercer-pa/city/fredonia-15/ |website=TopoZone |publisher=Locality, LLC |access-date=6 September 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
| elevation_m             = 
| elevation_ft            = 1,175
| elevation_point         = center of town
| elevation_max_footnotes = <ref name="FTopozone"/>
| elevation_max_m         = 
| elevation_max_ft        = 1,280
| elevation_max_point     = southwest end of township
| elevation_max_rank      = 
| elevation_min_footnotes = <ref name="FTopozone"/>
| elevation_min_m         = 
| elevation_min_ft        = 1,125
| elevation_min_point     = Mill Run
| elevation_min_rank      = 
| population_footnotes   = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
| population_total       = 436
| population_as_of       = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_density_sq_mi = 1221.29
| population_demonym     = 
| population_note        = 
| timezone1              = [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset1            = -4
| timezone1_DST          = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST        = -5
| postal_code_type       = Zip code
| postal_code            = 16124
| area_code_type         = 
| area_code              = [[Area code 724|724]]
| blank_name_sec1        = 
| blank_info_sec1        = 
| website                = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 42-27688
|area_total_km2 = 0.92
|area_land_km2 = 0.92
|area_water_km2 = 0.00
|population_density_km2 = 471.54
}}

'''Fredonia''' is a [[borough (Pennsylvania)|borough]] in central [[Mercer County, Pennsylvania]], United States. The population was 435 at the 2020 census.<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021">{{cite web |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |website=Census.gov |publisher=US Census Bureau |access-date=18 July 2022}}</ref> It is part of the [[Hermitage, Pennsylvania|Hermitage micropolitan area]].

== History ==
The first resident of the area that became Fredonia was Levi Arnold. Arnold build a grist mill there between 1837 and 1838 and was, over time, joined by several other businesses and residences.<ref name=":0">Appleseed, J. (1976). ''Fredonia 1837-1976.'' Program for Fredonia Centennial Celebration.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pamercer/PA/PL/boroughs/fredonia/fredonia1888.htm|title=Fredonia, Mercer County, PA|website=www.rootsweb.ancestry.com|access-date=2017-07-04}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EB4VAAAAYAAJ&q=%22fredonia+institute%22&pg=PA146|title=A Twentieth Century History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania: A Narrative Account of Its Historical Progress, Its People, and Its Principal Interests|last=White|first=John G.|date=1909|publisher=Lewis Publishing Company|language=en}}</ref>  William Simmons built the first store in the small village. Based upon the success of his business and the further gains that could be made after the construction of a proposed railroad, Simmons purchased the land that became the borough of Fredonia and had it surveyed and divided into lots.<ref name=":0" /> The land came was purchased from two “Donation tracts,”<ref name=":0" /> which were tracts of land given to Revolutionary War soldiers in an attempt to encourage them to continue to serve.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17DonationLandSeries/DonationLandMainInterface.htm|title=PA State Archives - RG-17 - Donation Land Images - Main Interface|website=www.phmc.state.pa.us|access-date=2017-07-04}}</ref> The name “Fredonia” came from Simmon’s “free” donation of the land for the town square and as a nod to the “Donation” tracts from which the land was purchased.<ref name=":0" /> The first post office was established in 1870 and Fredonia was officially incorporated in August 1876. Fredonia was serviced by [[Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad]] passenger trains between 1869 and 1955. The Fredonia Volunteer Fire Department was established in 1934 and has continued to host their “Old Home Week” festival each summer since 1935.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sharonherald.com/community/old-home-week-keeps-vfd-running/article_8fe0022a-5b19-59db-856b-4f1870f6e8bb.html|title=Old Home Week keeps VFD running|last=Writer|first=Courtney L. SaylorHerald Staff|work=The Herald|access-date=2017-07-04|language=en}}</ref>

Fredonia was home to the Fredonia Institute, also known as a “[[Normal school|normal academy]]” or “select school.”<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> This higher education institution trained individuals who went on to become physicians, attorneys, teachers, ministers, and enter into other professions. It was incorporated in 1874 and boasted a library established by [[Andrew Carnegie]].<ref name=":0" />

During the [[Great Depression|Depression]], the borough applied for and received [[Works Progress Administration]] funds. The funds were used to pave streets and construct a water system to provide water service to the town that had previously relied on streams, individual wells, and cisterns. The WPA also provided workers who helped construct Fredonia-Delaware High School. This stone building was built in 1942 on Delaware Road and served first as a high school until 1960 when it began to be used as an elementary school within [[Reynolds School District (Pennsylvania)|Reynolds School District]].<ref name=":0" /> The elementary school was closed by the district in the mid-1990s, and the building was subsequently purchased and converted into a personal care and independent living facility.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://greystonecountryestates.com|title=Greystone Country Estates ~ Personal Care & Independent Living – Personal Care & Independent Living, Experienced, Quality Care|website=greystonecountryestates.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-07-04}}</ref>

Since the 1940s, Fredonia has also been home to a diner created from a [[Tram|trolley car]]. The trolley car came from the Harmony Line of the interurban trolley line that ran from New Castle, PA to Pittsburgh, PA.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kr2SeKxjf-MC&q=fredonia%2C+pa+dinor&pg=RA2-PT168|title=Diners of Pennsylvania|last1=Butko|first1=Brian|last2=Patrick|first2=Kevin Joseph|date=1999|publisher=Stackpole Books|isbn=9780811728782|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Ownership has changed several times, but the diner is still currently open at its original location.<ref name=":0" />

Fredonia is also home to Pennsylvania’s largest [[Swiss cheese (North America)|Swiss cheese]] manufacturer. Fairview Swiss Cheese, which opened in 1955, is operated by John Koller and Son Inc. The company produces over 7 million pounds of Swiss cheese each year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fairviewswisscheese.com/history/|title=Fairview Swiss Cheese History|website=www.fairviewswisscheese.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-07-04}}</ref>

== Geography ==
Fredonia is located at {{coord|41|19|17|N|80|15|31|W|type:city}} (41.321460, -80.258563).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

Fredonia is also the proven geographic center of Mercer County, Pennsylvania. A brass placard denoting the spot is located on the premises of "Fredonia Stainless Exhaust", at the southwestern corner of Main and 1st Streets. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the borough has a total area of {{convert|0.4|sqmi|km2}}, all  land.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 323
|1890= 429
|1900= 437
|1910= 443
|1920= 422
|1930= 476
|1940= 536
|1950= 588
|1960= 657
|1970= 731
|1980= 712
|1990= 683
|2000= 652
|2010= 502
|2020= 435
|estyear=2021
|estimate=431
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="USDecennialCensus">{{cite web|title=Census of Population and Housing|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=11 December 2013}}</ref><ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref><ref name=CensusPopEst>{{cite web|title=Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|work=Population Estimates|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=11 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611010502/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|archive-date=11 June 2013}}</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=Oct 12, 2022}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 652 people, 252 households, and 184 families residing in the borough. The population density was {{convert|1,641.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 272 housing units at an average density of {{convert|684.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the borough was 99.69% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.15% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], and 0.15% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.31% of the population.

There were 252 households, out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 27.6% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $37,917, and the median income for a family was $39,643. Males had a median income of $32,857 versus $19,500 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the borough was $14,233. About 17.6% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 35.6% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Mercer County, Pennsylvania}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places established in 1876]]
[[Category:Boroughs in Mercer County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:1876 establishments in Pennsylvania]]