| Spotlight on Jefferson County PA | |||||
| History, Facts, Attractions and Links | |||||
AT A GLANCE:
Population:
4 Land area: 655 sq. miles Per capita income: $21,782 (1999) Total number of municipalities: 34 County Seat: Brookville, population 4,184 Other Major Municipalities: Punxsutawney Borough, Reynoldsville Borough, Winslow Township, Snyder TownshipMajor Employers *:1) Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc. 2) Punxsutawney Area School District 3) Brookville Hospital 4) Punxsutawney Area Hospital Inc. 5) Brookville Area School District 6) Owens-Illinois Closure Inc. 7) Jeffco Health Services 8) Brockway Pressed Metals Inc. 9) Specialty Equipment 10) Brookville Wood Products Inc. *source: Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry HISTORY: Created in March 1804 from a small portion of Lycoming County, Jefferson County was named for Thomas Jefferson who was President of the United States at the time. Brookville, named for the numerous brooks and streams in the vicinity, was chosen as the county seat for its central location at the time (today it is located in the northern part of the county since a portion of the county was split off to form Forest County in 1848). Lumbering was the primary industry of this fledgling county due to the acres of woodlands rich in maple, hickory, hemlock, white oak, beech and other valuable trees. Dozens of sawmills dotted the county in the early 1800s producing millions of feet of boards which were loaded on rafts and sent down the Clarion River to the Allegheny River and then on to Pittsburgh. A canoe was often taken along with each raft to be loaded up in Pittsburgh with whiskey, port, sugar, dry goods, etc., purchased with the profits from the sale of the boards. The canoe full of goods was then poled back up the river to Jefferson County. Tanneries, fostered by the lumberyards because they used the bark from fallen trees to process hides, also sprang up around the area. The lumbering industry thrived through the 1800s and finally petered out around the turn of the century. Coal was huge in Jefferson County from the 1880s to the 1930s. Beehive ovens, used to turn coal into coke, were especially plentiful. The town of Walston once boasted the world's longest string of coke ovens (432 ovens stretched out over a mile), producing an orangish-red glow in the night sky from the burning coal. Mining companies around the county imported many workmen, predominantly Catholics of Italian, Slavish, and Polish descent. Railroads were also a big factor in the growth of Jefferson County around the turn of the century. The Great Depression hit Jefferson County just as the coal mines were becoming worked out - causing a huge drop in the area's economy and population as people moved away to find work. The economy is still recovering as the county reestablishes itself in manufacturing and service-related industries. Tourism is the fastest growing trade due to the Groundhog Day fame of Punxsutawney and the natural beauty and recreational opportunities of Cook Forest and Clear Creek State Parks.
Situated among beautiful forests full of mountain laurels in Northwest Pennsylvania, the peaceful, rural setting of Jefferson County provides turn-of-the-century towns, an abundance of recreational opportunities and Punxsutawney Phil. Punxsutawney, probably the best known town in Jefferson County, becomes a huge tourist destination each February 2nd when thousands of people come to see the weather-prognosticating groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil. While in Punxsutawney, be sure to take a stroll down beautiful, tree-lined 'Millionaire's Row' on Mahoning Street, preserved from the days when Punxsutawney was a thriving coal, lumber and oil town. Just south of Punxsutawney, Amish farms dot the rolling landscape surrounding the beautiful towns of Dayton and Smicksburg, home to over 280 Old Order Amish families and the largest Amish settlement in western Pennsylvania. While there, enjoy a wine-tasting at Windgate Vinyards and Winery, a producer of award-winning, estate-grown wines or browse through specialty shops full of Amish-made crafts as well as an extensive array of other fine products. The beautiful, rugged woodlands of Jefferson County, such as those found in State Game Land 54 near the town of Brockway, provide hunters with plenty of opportunities for a successful trip. Everyone who visits Jefferson County should schedule time to explore the peaceful tranquility of Clear Creek State Park. A highlight of the park is the self-guided, historical Ox Shoe Trail, depicting logging practices of early years in the area. Nearby Cook Forest State Park, one of Pennsylvania's most visited state parks, is noted for its abundance of wildlife, great hunting and fishing, one of the largest stands of old growth timber in the Commonwealth, and the breathtaking beauty of Mountain Laurel, which blooms in June. One of the best ways to see and enjoy the priceless beauty of Cook Forest is to hike one of the beautiful trails on the 27-mile trail network. These trails are especially beautiful in the fall when the trees blaze fiery red, orange and yellow. Other recreational opportunities available in the parks include canoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, fishing, camping, sailing, horseback riding and much more. If you plan a multi-day trip to Jefferson County, then consider cozying up in front of a crackling fireplace at one of the many rustic cabins, bed and breakfasts or country inns which dot the area.
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www.punxsutawneyphil.com |
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