Editing Towanda, Pennsylvania

{{short description|Borough in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Towanda, Pennsylvania
| other_name         = 
| native_name        = 
| nickname           = 
| settlement_type    = [[Borough (Pennsylvania)|Borough]]
| motto              = <!-- images and maps ----------->
| image_skyline      = Towanda Main Street.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Main Street
| image_flag         = 
| flag_size          = 
| image_seal         = 
| seal_size          = 
| image_shield       = 
| shield_size        = 
| image_blank_emblem = Logo of Towanda, Pennsylvania.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| blank_emblem_size  = 220px
| image_map          = File:Bradford County Pennsylvania Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Towanda Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250x200px
| map_caption        = Location of Towanda in Bradford County, Pennsylvania.
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| image_dot_map      = 
| dot_mapsize        = 
| dot_map_caption    = 
| dot_x              = 
| dot_y              = 
| pushpin_map        = Pennsylvania
| pushpin_label      = Towanda
| pushpin_label_position = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Towanda in the state of Pennsylvania
| pushpin_mapsize    = <!-- Location ------------------>
| 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  = [[Bradford County, Pennsylvania|Bradford]]
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = [[Council–manager]]
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Garrett Miller
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| leader_title2      = 
| leader_name2       = 
| leader_title3      = 
| leader_name3       = 
| leader_title4      = 
| leader_name4       = 
| established_title  = Settled
| established_date   = 1784
| established_title2 = Incorporated
| established_date2  = 1828
<!-- Area --------------------->| area_magnitude     = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_42.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 28, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 3.03
| area_land_km2      = 2.95
| area_water_km2     = 0.08
| area_total_sq_mi   = 1.17
| area_land_sq_mi    = 1.14
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.03
| area_water_percent = 
| population_as_of   = [[2010 United States census|2010]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 2919
| population_density_km2 = 953.14
| population_density_sq_mi = 2469.24
| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| coordinates        = {{coord|41|46|13|N|76|26|48|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> tags-->
| elevation_m        = 
| elevation_ft       = 731
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->| postal_code_type   = [[Zip Code]]
| postal_code        = 18848
| area_code          = [[Area code 570|570]]
| website            = {{URL|towandaborough.org}}
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 2019
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref name="USCensusEst2019CenPopScriptOnlyDirtyFixDoNotUse"/>
| population_est     = 2810
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 42-77168
}}
'''Towanda''' is a [[borough (Pennsylvania)|borough]] in, and the [[county seat]] of, [[Bradford County, Pennsylvania|Bradford County]] in the U.S. state of [[Pennsylvania]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=2011-06-07|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> It is part of [[Northeastern Pennsylvania]] and is located {{convert|66|mi}} northwest of [[Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania|Wilkes-Barre]], on the [[Susquehanna River]]. The name means "burial ground" in the Algonquian language.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=14962|title=ePodunk|website=www.epodunk.com|access-date=12 April 2018}}</ref> As of the 2020 census, the population of Towanda was 2,833.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-27 |title=Towanda - Place Explorer - Data Commons |url=https://datacommons.org/place/geoId/4277168?mprop=count&popt=Person&hl=en |access-date=2022-05-27 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527181308/https://datacommons.org/place/geoId/4277168?mprop=count&popt=Person&hl=en |archive-date=27 May 2022 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History==
Towanda was settled in 1784 and became the county seat in 1812. It was variously known for some years
as Meansville, Overton, Williamson, Monmouth, and Towanda, and incorporated in 1828.<ref name="EB1911">{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Towanda|volume=27|page=109}}</ref> Towanda was once known primarily for its industrial interests, which included flour, planing and silk mills, a foundry and machine shop, dye works, and manufacturers of talking machines, cut glass, toys and furniture.{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}} The population in 1900 was 4,663 and 4,281 in 1910.<ref name="EB1911"/>

The [[Towanda Historic District]] and [[Bradford County Courthouse]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref> The [[American Guide Series|Pennsylvania Guide]], compiled by the Writers' Program of the [[Works Progress Administration]], described Towanda in 1940 as:<ref name="nom">{{cite book |last=Federal Writers' Project |date=1940|edition= 1st |title=Pennsylvania: A Guide to the Keystone State |location=New York |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=518}}</ref>{{Blockquote
|text=an attractive town of wide brick-paved streets, [occupying] a slope on the west shore of the Susquehanna, at the convergence of three valleys. On the upper and lower reaches of the hill are elaborate residences. A well-developed shopping center serves neighborhood farmers and visitors to surrounding hill and lake resorts. There is a large textile mill in addition to several small industrial plants. The town's early name, Meansville, for William Means who laid it out in 1812, occasioned 'considerable animosity,' and the present one was adopted in 1828.
|author=Federal Writers'Project|title="Part III: Tours"  |source=''Pennsylvania: A Guide to the Keystone State'' (1940)
}}

==Geography==
Towanda is located near the center of Bradford County at {{coord|41|46|13|N|76|26|48|W|type:city}} (41.770251, −76.446545),<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> at approximately 730&nbsp;ft. above sea level,<ref name="EB1911"/> on the west bank of the [[Susquehanna River]]. It is bordered to the north and west by [[North Towanda Township, Pennsylvania|North Towanda Township]], to the south and west by [[Towanda Township, Pennsylvania|Towanda Township]], and to the east, across the river, by [[Wysox Township, Pennsylvania|Wysox Township]].

[[U.S. Route 6 in Pennsylvania|U.S. Route 6]] passes through the center of the borough, leading southeast {{convert|39|mi}} to [[Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania|Tunkhannock]] and {{convert|60|mi}} to the [[Scranton, Pennsylvania|Scranton]] area, and west {{convert|37|mi}} to [[Mansfield, Pennsylvania|Mansfield]]. [[U.S. Route 220]] bypasses the borough to the west and leads north {{convert|18|mi}} to its terminus at [[Waverly, Tioga County, New York|Waverly, New York]] and southwest {{convert|67|mi}} to [[Williamsport, Pennsylvania|Williamsport]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the borough has a total area of {{convert|3.0|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|0.08|sqkm|order=flip|2}}, or 2.55%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web |title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Towanda borough, Pennsylvania |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US4277168 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212203622/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US4277168 |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |access-date=March 13, 2014 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder}}</ref>

===Climate===
Towanda has a humid continental climate, with cold winters and warm to hot summers.
{{Weather box
|location = Towanda 1 S, Pennsylvania (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1894–present)
|single line = Y
|width = auto
|Jan record high F = 70
|Feb record high F = 74
|Mar record high F = 85
|Apr record high F = 93
|May record high F = 96
|Jun record high F = 100
|Jul record high F = 104
|Aug record high F = 101
|Sep record high F = 101
|Oct record high F = 92
|Nov record high F = 83
|Dec record high F = 70
|year record high F = 104
|Jan high F = 35.0
|Feb high F = 37.6
|Mar high F = 46.0
|Apr high F = 59.5
|May high F = 71.1
|Jun high F = 79.3
|Jul high F = 83.7
|Aug high F = 81.9
|Sep high F = 74.9
|Oct high F = 62.6
|Nov high F = 50.2
|Dec high F = 39.6
|year high F = 60.1
|Jan mean F = 26.1
|Feb mean F = 27.7
|Mar mean F = 35.3
|Apr mean F = 47.1
|May mean F = 58.4
|Jun mean F = 67.2
|Jul mean F = 71.5
|Aug mean F = 69.8
|Sep mean F = 62.8
|Oct mean F = 51.2
|Nov mean F = 40.5
|Dec mean F = 31.6
|year mean F = 49.1
|Jan low F = 17.1
|Feb low F = 17.7
|Mar low F = 24.6
|Apr low F = 34.7
|May low F = 45.7
|Jun low F = 55.1
|Jul low F = 59.3
|Aug low F = 57.7
|Sep low F = 50.7
|Oct low F = 39.8
|Nov low F = 30.7
|Dec low F = 23.6
|year low F = 38.1
|Jan record low F = −31
|Feb record low F = −27
|Mar record low F = -19
|Apr record low F = 6
|May record low F = 22
|Jun record low F = 32
|Jul record low F = 38
|Aug record low F = 33
|Sep record low F = 25
|Oct record low F = 16
|Nov record low F = -7
|Dec record low F = −20
|year record low F = -31
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 2.39
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.90
|Mar precipitation inch = 3.12
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.47
|May precipitation inch = 3.36
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.69
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.02
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.86
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.83
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.67
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.60
|Dec precipitation inch = 2.71
|year precipitation inch = 38.62
|Jan snow inch = 11.0
|Feb snow inch = 7.1
|Mar snow inch = 8.8
|Apr snow inch = 1.5
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.2
|Nov snow inch = 1.8
|Dec snow inch = 7.4
|year snow inch = 37.8
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 12.5
|Feb precipitation days = 9.8
|Mar precipitation days = 11.7
|Apr precipitation days = 12.7
|May precipitation days = 12.8
|Jun precipitation days = 12.2
|Jul precipitation days = 11.7
|Aug precipitation days = 10.7
|Sep precipitation days = 10.0
|Oct precipitation days = 11.5
|Nov precipitation days = 10.8
|Dec precipitation days = 11.8
|year precipitation days = 138.2
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 7.1
|Feb snow days = 6.1
|Mar snow days = 4.5
|Apr snow days = 0.9
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.1
|Nov snow days = 1.7
|Dec snow days = 5.2
|year snow days = 25.6
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name = NOAA >
{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=bgm
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = August 8, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00368905&format=pdf
| title = Station: Towanda 1 S, PA
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = August 8, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1830= 224
|1840= 912
|1850= 1171
|1860= 1622
|1870= 2696
|1880= 3814
|1890= 4169
|1900= 4663
|1910= 4281
|1920= 4269
|1930= 4104
|1940= 4154
|1950= 4069
|1960= 4293
|1970= 4224
|1980= 3526
|1990= 3242
|2000= 3024
|2010= 2919
|estyear=2019
|estimate=2810
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2019CenPopScriptOnlyDirtyFixDoNotUse">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2019.html|date=May 24, 2020|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 27, 2020}}</ref>
|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>
}}
As of the 2000 [[census]],<ref name="GR2" /> there were 3,024 people, 1,279 households and 795 families residing in the borough. The population density was {{convert|2,674.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,459 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,290.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the borough was 96.36% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.86% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.36% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.19% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.13% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.09% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.19% of the population.

There were 1,279 households, of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% 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 2.92.

Age distribution was 25.1% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males. The median household income was $35,814, and the median family income was $41,884. Males had a median income of $35,663 versus $23,796 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the borough was $17,438. About 9.9% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 19.5% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Towanda is home to [[Lackawanna College]] Towanda Center, a private, accredited two-year college serving [[Northeastern Pennsylvania]] and its satellite campus of [[Lackawanna College]] in [[Scranton, Pennsylvania|Scranton]].

==Government==
[[File:Towanda borough hall.jpg|thumb|Towanda Borough Hall]]
Towanda has a [[council–manager]] form of government.

==Notable people==
{{div col}}
* [[Jean Brenchley]], microbiologist
* [[Nate Bump]], [[relief pitcher]] for the [[Florida Marlins]]
* [[Mike Conley (boxer)|Mike Conley]], boxer
* [[Edward T. Fairchild (judge)|Edward T. Fairchild]], Chief Justice of the [[Wisconsin Supreme Court]]
* [[Wilson D. Gillette]], U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania
* [[William W. Kingsbury]], U.S. [[Delegate (United States Congress)|Delegate]] from Minnesota Territory<ref>{{cite book|last=Upham|first=Warren|title=Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance|url=https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog|year=1920|publisher=Minnesota Historical Society|page=[https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog/page/n510 493]}}</ref>
* [[Gregory La Cava]], film director (''[[My Man Godfrey]]'', ''[[Stage Door]]'')
* [[Helen Tracy Lowe-Porter]], translator, maternal great-grandmother of British prime minister [[Boris Johnson]]
* [[Roger A. Madigan]], Pennsylvania state legislator
* [[Tina Pickett]], Pennsylvania state legislator
* [[Charlotte Porter]], co-founder and co-editor of ''[[Poet Lore]]''
* [[Julia H. Scott]] (1809–1842), poet
* [[Sabra Wilbur Vought]] (1877–1942), librarian
* [[Charles M. Webb]], Wisconsin jurist and politician
* [[David Wilmot (politician)|David Wilmot]], U.S. Senator and Congressman from Pennsylvania
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{commons category}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://towandaborough.org Borough of Towanda official website]
*[http://towandaonline.com Towanda Online], local guide
*[http://thedailyreview.com ''The Daily Review''], local newspaper

{{Bradford County, Pennsylvania}}
{{County Seats of Pennsylvania}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:County seats in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1784]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania populated places on the Susquehanna River]]
[[Category:Boroughs in Bradford County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:1828 establishments in Pennsylvania]]