Editing Port Matilda, Pennsylvania

{{short description|Borough in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Port Matilda, Pennsylvania
|other_name =
|native_name =
|nickname =
|settlement_type = [[Borough (Pennsylvania)|Borough]]
|motto = "The center of the universe" ...as some say
|image_skyline = Port Matilda PA1.jpg
|imagesize =
|image_caption = The center of Port Matilda
|image_flag =
|flag_size =
|image_seal =
|seal_size =
|image_shield =
|shield_size =
|image_blank_emblem =
|blank_emblem_size =
|image_map              = File:Centre County Pennsylvania Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Port Matilda Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                = 250x200px
|map_caption            = Location of Port Matilda in Centre County, Pennsylvania.
|image_map1             = Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Centre County.svg
|mapsize1               = 175px
|map_caption1           = Map showing Centre County in Pennsylvania
|pushpin_map = Pennsylvania#USA
|pushpin_label = Port<br>Matilda
|pushpin_label_position = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
|pushpin_map_caption =
|pushpin_mapsize =
|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 = [[Centre County, Pennsylvania|Centre]]
|subdivision_type3 =
|subdivision_name3 =
|subdivision_type4 =
|subdivision_name4 =
|government_footnotes =
|government_type =
|leader_title = Mayor
|leader_name = Ida Lively
|leader_title1 = Borough Council President
|leader_name1 = Mark Lively
|leader_title2 =
|leader_name2 =
|leader_title3 =
|leader_name3 =
|leader_title4 =
|leader_name4 =
|established_title = Settled
|established_date = 1836
|established_title2 = Incorporated (borough)
|established_date2 = December 26, 1925
|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 16, 2022}}</ref>
|area_total_km2 = 1.55
|area_land_km2 = 1.55
|area_water_km2 = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi = 0.60
|area_land_sq_mi = 0.60
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.00
|area_water_percent =
|area_urban_km2 =
|area_urban_sq_mi =
|area_metro_km2 =
|area_metro_sq_mi =
|area_blank1_title =
|area_blank1_km2 =
|area_blank1_sq_mi =
|population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes = <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>
|population_note =
|population_total = 578
|population_density_km2 = 371.90
|population_density_sq_mi = 963.33
|timezone = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset =
|timezone_DST = EDT
|utc_offset_DST =
|coordinates       = {{coord|40|48|00|N|78|03|04|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes =
|elevation_m =
|elevation_ft = 1053
|postal_code_type = [[Zip Code]]
|postal_code = 16870
|area_code = [[Area code 814|814]]
|blank1_name =
|blank1_info =
|website =
|footnotes =
|pop_est_as_of =
|pop_est_footnotes =
|population_est =
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 42-62280
}}
'''Port Matilda''' is a [[Borough (Pennsylvania)|borough]] in [[Centre County, Pennsylvania|Centre County]], [[Pennsylvania]]. It is part of the [[State College, Pennsylvania]] [[metropolitan statistical area]]. The population was 606 at the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]].

==Geography==
Port Matilda is located at {{Coord|40|48|0|N|78|3|4|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline}} (40.800056, -78.051119).<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> According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the borough has a total area of {{convert|0.6|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1880= 310
|1930= 508
|1940= 646
|1950= 685
|1960= 697
|1970= 680
|1980= 647
|1990= 669
|2000= 638
|2010= 606
|2020= 578
|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>
}}
At the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 606 people, 262 households, and 165 families residing in the borough. The population density was {{convert|1,110.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 289 housing units at an average density of {{convert|529.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the borough was 98.0% White, 0.1% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.8% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2%.<ref name="GR2" />

There were 262 households, 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were married couples living together, 4.6% had male householder with no wife present, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 30.2% of households were made up of individuals, and 10.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the borough, the population was spread out, with 19.5% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 103.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.7 males.

The [[median income]] for a household in the borough was $32,054, and the median family income  was $53,750.  The per capita income for the borough was $19,418. About 14.5% of families and 20.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 54.9% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.

==History==
[[File:Port Matilda, PA municipal building, Aug. 2024.jpg|thumb|right|Port Matilda Municipal Building]]
Squire Clement Beckwith laid out the [[town]] in 1850 and named it to honor his daughter, Matilda. Why he chose to call it Port Matilda is not clear, but the name may have reflected his hope that the town would eventually be connected to the Bald Eagle and Spring Creek Branch of the [[Pennsylvania Canal]]. While the canal did not reach Port Matilda, the Bald Eagle Railroad did, and the community became a market center in the Bald Eagle Valley for agricultural and lumber products.<ref>[http://www.centrecountyhistory.org/history/ABCsP.html Centre County History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091103112908/http://centrecountyhistory.org/history/ABCsP.html |date=2009-11-03 }}</ref>

===Industrial history===
Port Matilda was home to McFeely Brick Co., located on Brick St. at the east end of the town adjacent to the railroad. The company was based in [[Latrobe, Pennsylvania]] and founded by Fred McFeely, the grandfather of children's television personality [[Fred Rogers]]. The company was later owned by General Refractories, which closed the Port Matilda plant in 1959. Its primary product was silica fire brick made from [[ganister]] rock, using beehive [[kiln]]s. Its bricks were typically stamped "Vulcan".<ref>Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission data; National Park Service HAER Survey; personal inspection</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://archive.today/20130629041015/http://www.excitingnature.com/category/port-matilda/ Parks in Port Matilda]

{{Centre County, Pennsylvania}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:1836 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Boroughs in Centre County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1836]]