Pottsville, Pennsylvania

Pottsville, Pennsylvania
Downtown Pottsville
Official seal of Pottsville, Pennsylvania Seal
County	Schuylkill County
Chartered as a City	March 22, 1911
Government
• Mayor	John D. W. Reiley
Area
• Total	10.9 km2 (4.2 sq mi)
Elevation	200.9 m (659 ft)
Population  (2000)
• Total	15,549
• Density	1,426.0/km2 (3,697.4/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
Website	www.city.pottsville.pa.us
Founded in 1806

Pottsville is the largest city and county seat of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, USA. The population was 15,549 at the 2000 census. The city lies along the west bank of the Schuylkill River in northeastern Pennsylvania, 97 miles (156 km) north-west of Philadelphia. The city and surrounding area make up the Coal Region, named for the abundance of anthracite coal.

History

Early Settlement

Pottsville is named for its founder, John Pott, who settled the town in 1806. The town was formally laid out in 1816 by a local surveyor, Henry Donnell.

By the Charter of Charles II, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, to his trustie and well beloved subject, William Penn, Esq., sonne and heire of Sir William Penn, for the Colony of Pennsylvania, the grantee, William Penn, was given power and authority to erect counties, in the following words: "And we do further for us, our heires and successors, give and grant unto the said William Penn, his heirs and assignees, free and absolute power to divide the said countrey and islands into townes, into boroughes and counties, etc.," whereupon William Penn did divide the Province into three counties, Philadelphia, Bucks and Chester. The latter comprised all lands west and south of the Delaware and the Schuylkill; therefore the site of Pottsville was originally in Chester County. When the legislative Council, on the 10th day of May, 1729, enacted the law erecting the County of Lancaster, which included all the lands of the Province lying westward of a straight line drawn northeasterly from the headwaters of Octorara Creek (near the southern borders) marked with blazed trees, to the River Schuylkill, then this placed Pottsville in Lancaster County. By enactment of the same Council, approved the 11th day of March, 1752, the County of Berks was erected; this placed Pottsville within the limits of that county. By an act of Assembly of the Commonwealth approved March 1, 1811, the County of Schuylkill was erected out of portions of Berks and Northampton; this placed the site of Pottsville in Schuylkill County, and in 1851 it became the county seat. (Source--Early Annals of Pottsville, by DC Henning, Esq., September 28, 1906.)

Pottsville was established as a village in Norwegian Township in 1819 and as a Borough on February 19, 1828. Pottsville was chartered as a third-class city on March 22, 1911.

19th Century

Pottsville's anthracite coal history began in 1790 when it was discovered by hunter Necho Allen. Legend has it that Allen fell asleep at the base of the Broad Mountain, on the south side of Pottsville, and woke to the sight of a large fire; his campfire had ignited an outcropping of coal. By 1795 an anthracite-fired iron furnace was established on the Schuylkill River. In 1806 John Pott purchased the furnace. The Reading Anthracite Company, which traces its roots in the area back to 1871, would become one of the most notable of the coal companies operating in Pennsylvania.

Because of its location along the Schuylkill River, Pottsville developed a small textile industry. Out of this industry grew the Phillips Van Heusen company which was founded in 1881. Moses Phillips and his wife Endel began sewing shirts by hand and selling them from pushcarts to the local coal miners. Van Heusen and other textile companies left the region starting in the late 1970s, mainly due to foreign competition.

In 1829, D.G. Yuengling & Son established the oldest operated family brewer of beer in the United States. During the Prohibition period in the United States, under the 18th Amendment, Yuengling stopped making beer and moved to production of "near beer". The three brews produced in this time were the Yuengling Special (The most popular brand), Yuengling Por-Tor (a version of their "celebrated Pottsville Porter"), and finally, the Yuengling Juvo, which was a cereal beverage. Then-owner Frank Yuengling also opened the Yuengling Dairy, which produced ice cream and other dairy products for the local area. These ventures helped to keep the company afloat during that period.

When the 18th Amendment was repealed, Yuengling stopped production of "near beer" and resumed making alcoholic beverages. The brewery famously sent a truckload of its Winner Beer to the White House in 1933 as thanks to President Franklin Roosevelt for the repeal of Prohibition.

Yuengling still continues its family-owned business today. (The Yuengling Dairy was operated by a different branch of the family than the Brewery. Business declined and the dairy folded as of 1985.) Attempted buyouts by large conglomerate breweries have all been unsuccessful.

20th Century

Pottsville was host to a National Football League franchise from 1925-1928. The Maroons played in Sportsman's Park (or Minersville Park) in nearby Minersville, now the site of King's Village shopping plaza. The Pottsville Maroons posted some of the best records in the NFL during the 1925 and 1926 seasons.

The Maroons had a claim to the 1925 NFL championship, but due to a controversial decision by NFL President Joe Carr, the title was instead awarded to the Chicago Cardinals. The Maroons suffered two more losing seasons before relocating to Boston and becoming the Bulldogs. The Boston Bulldogs folded in 1929.

In August 1997, the Pottsville Railway Park Little League all star team made an impressive run to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA by representing the U.S. East Region. The team glided through the Pennsylvania District 24 Tournament including defeating their cross-town rival Pottsville Rotary Little League 19-0. Following the District 24 Tournament Railway Park continued its impressive run through the PA Section 3 Tournament beating every team they played! Moving on to the Pennsylvania State Tournament which was held in Carbondale, PA; they suffered their first loss of the tournament to Berwyn-Paoli Little League only to bounce back the next night to win the State Crown which earned them a berth in the U.S. Eastern Region Tournament in Bristol, CT. Defeating Connecticut twice, as well as teams from Rhode Island, Maine, and New Jersey they played their final game before the Series against California-Hollywood, Maryland, defeating them 2-1 in a LIVE-televised game on ESPN2. Finally, in Williamsport for the World Series they defeated Dyer, IN 1-0 in an extra inning game. The following evening they played Bradenton, FL at Lamade Stadium before the largest crowd ever to watch a Non-championship game. The crowd was estimated at more than 35,000. Although they lost the game they played their final game against Mission Viejo, Southern California, losing to that team 3-1; one game shy of the United States Championship Game. The team returned home to a city-wide party and more than 200 fire trucks welcomed them back to town.

Geography

Pottsville is located at 40°41′6″N 76°12′10″W (40.685058, -76.202747)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.9 km² (4.2 mi²). It is all land; none of the area is covered in water.

Demographics

City of Pottsville Population by year
1840	4,345
1850	7,515
1910	20,236
1940	24,530
1950	23,630
1960	21,659
1970	19,715
1980	18,195
1990	16,603
2000	15,549
2005 (est.)	14,764

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 15,549 people, 6,399 households, and 3,877 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,426.0/km² (3,697.4/mi²). There were 7,343 housing units at an average density of 673.4/km² (1,746.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.73% White, 2.26% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.22% of the population.

There are 6,399 households, out of which 27.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.7% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 87.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,137, and the median income for a family was $41,124. Males had a median income of $31,510 versus $21,433 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,165. About 10.1% of families and 13.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

Neighborhoods

• Yorkville - located on the west side of the city, west of the Pottsville Area High School and west of 16th Street to the city line.
• Quintown - Along Market Street, south and west of Garfield Square up to 16th Street.
• Lawton's Hill - East of Route 61, north of E. Norwegian Street.
• Greenwood Hill - East of Route 61, south of E. Norwegian Street.
• The Island - The area surrounding the former site of the Atkins Brothers furnace; near Washington Street and Route 61.
• Jalappa - North of Route 61 and east of Centre Street on the north side of town.
• Fishbach - West of Jalappa, in the area between Centre Street and Peacock Street.
• Russelville - Along Market Street, north and west of Garfield Square up to 12th Street.
• Forest Hills - a newer development south of Mount Carbon.
• Bunker Hill - south of Mahantongo Street from 2nd Street to 11th Street.
• Morrisville - South Centre Street from Mauch Chunk Street to the city line with Mount Carbon borough.
• Guinea Hill - West Race Street section from North 3rd Street to N. 12th Street.

Parks & Recreation Areas

Look at the park codes for rules

• Rotary Park - Located at South 20th & Mahantongo Streets, is one of the largest recreational areas in the city. It includes Pottsville Rotary Little League which can accommodate night games. Also, the park includes a basketball court and a roller hockey rink. There is also playground equipment located on the Norwegian Street side of the park. The park has a fairly large grassy area. The park lacks shade trees.
• Railway Park - Located in the Yorkville section of Pottsville at the end of First Avenue the park includes the home of Railway Park Little League, the 1997 United States Eastern Region Champions of Little League Baseball.
• General George Joulwan East Side Park - Located on East Norwegian Street, the park is built in tiers along the hillside. In the past the park included the East Side swimming pool; but this has been demolished and now is home to a skate park. Basketball courts and playground equipment are also located in the park.
• Henry Clay Park - Located on South Second Street, high on the hilltop overlooking the south side of Pottsville is the Henry Clay Monument. The park is relatively small with no benches or recreational equipment or fields. A larger park was originally planned to be built around it shortly after it's construction, but it never materialized. However, the current park is small and quaint and many trees surround which provide a cool spot and a breath-taking view of South Centre Street and the Pottsville Hospital & Warne Clinic.
• John F. Kennedy Memorial Recreation Complex - It is the city's main park. It has an entrance on York Farm Road, it also has a Parking Lot which can handle large amounts of vehicles, 2 Baskeball Courts, 2 Tennis Courts, and 2 Volleyball Courts and is home to the JFK Memorial Pool, a community, non-membership pool, it also has a jogging path which connects it to nearby Railway Park. The path has benches in shady, wooded areas. Many people feed the Chipmunks and Squirrels in the park, which make them not fear humans. You can whistle and they will come. The park also has a fairly large grassy area between the Sports Courts and the pool. Pets are permitted but must be on a leash. The same rules apply in other city park parcels. Also note that there are no pets premitted in the pool area. The complex is located near the Pottsville Area School District city school parcels.
• Yuengling Park - Located at South Tenth and Mahantongo Streets, Yuengling Park is the location of the old spring house which was used for the Brewery back in the 19th Century. The park is filled with natural fountains, grass, flowers and benches and a large pavilion. The park has no playground facilities but provides a peaceful spot near the hub of the city.
• Bunker Hill Playground - Located on Schuylkill Avenue the playground has old equipment but is a quaint area to relax with large trees which provide shade from the summer's heat.
• Others - There are many other playgrounds located through the city some of which include, 17th Street Playground, 12th Street Playground, 11th & Arch Street Playground, Race Street Playground, Peacock Street Playground, Jalappa Playground, Fairview Street Playground, Main Street Playground, East Market Street Playground, Greenwood Hill Playground, and Forest Hills Playground.

Sports

Pottsville has 3 Sports Teams, the Pottsville Crimson Tide, a high school Football Team. The 2 little leagues are Rotary and Railway Park.

Churches

Pottsville is diverse in regards to religion. Four Roman Catholic churches serve the city's Catholic population. St. Patrick's Church, South Fourth & Mahantongo Streets currently serves as the Deanery Parish of the South Schuylkill Deanery of the Diocese of Allentown. The current Vicar Forane is the Reverend Monsignor Edward J. O'Connor who also serves as pastor to the parish. St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, located at South Tenth and Mahantongo Streets houses one of the only complete sets of stained glass windows designed by Wilhelm Derrix; who served as the official Papal Glassmaker to the Pope in the 19th Century. The current pastor is the Reverend Father David Loeper. Mary, Queen of Peace parish serves the north side of town. The church is located on North Centre Street. St. Joseph parish (located at South Fourth Street and Howard Avenue) worhsips in the oldest Catholic Church building in Schuylkill County. The pastor is the Reverend Father Edward B. Connolly who also serves as Pastor of St. Francis de Sales Parish in Mount Carbon, PA. Father Connolly has appeared on a television series entitled "Road to Cana" on EWTN. The city's Protestant Christians are served by such churches as Trinity Episcopal at South Centre and Howard Avenue; Trinity Lutheran Church at North Third and West Arch Street and the United Methodist Church at Garfield Square. Smaller churches and chapels are located throughout the city. The Jewish Community is currently located at South Twenty-third and Mahantongo Streets but have recently sold the property to the Pottsville Foursquare Gospel Church. Area Muslims worship in nearby Mechanicsville, PA.

Media

The Republican & Herald is the only local daily newspaper serving Pottsville. There are also three radio stations broadcasting from Pottsville. WAVT "T102" (101.9FM), WPAM "The Phoenix" (1450AM) and WPPA (1360AM)

Transportation

Pottsville is served by a small general aviation airport, Schuylkill County Airport (ZER). Intercity public bus service is provided by a Trailways bus terminal, located in downtown Pottsville. Mass transit for the greater Pottsville area is provided by Schuylkill Transportation System, which operates inter-city bus services throughout the county. Two major highways converge on Pottsville, PA Route 61 and U.S. Route 209.

Notable natives and residents

• Gary Becker, born in Pottsville in 1930, is a Nobel Prize winning economist (1992).
• Heather A. Dinich, sports writer, Baltimore Sun
• John E. Jones III, born in Pottsville in 1955, presided over the landmark Intelligent design case, Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District in 2005.
• George Joulwan, born in Pottsville in 1939, served as Supreme Allied Commander, Europe from 1993 to 1997.
• Chris Nabholz, (born January 5, 1967 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Montreal Expos (1990-1994), Cleveland Indians (1994), Boston Red Sox (1994) and Chicago Cubs (1995). He batted and threw left handed. He started his career with Railway Park Little League, Pottsville.
• John O'Hara, a short story writer and best-selling novelist, brought Pottsville into the national spotlight through his Gibbsville stories, accounts of 1920s Pottsville socialites. O'Hara's single family home is located at 606 Mahantongo Street, Pottsville.
• The Molly Maguires were a clandestine society of Irish miners who engaged in a violent confrontation with Pennsylvania mining companies in the 19th century.
• Ralph Peters, born in Pottsville in 1952, has written extensively in both fiction and non-fiction. (For fiction he uses the name Owen Parry.) He writes a regular column for the New York Post and has often appeared on television news programs commenting on military issues and current affairs.
• Matt Wachter Bassist For Angels & Airwaves and Former bassist for alternative band 30 Seconds to Mars
• Bill Walsh (author), a Washington Post copy editor and author of books on English usage, was born in Pottsville in 1961.
• Jude Wanniski (1936-2005) was economic advisor to President Ronald Reagan from 1978 to 1981. He was also associate editor of The Wall Street Journal from 1972 to 1978 and coined the term supply-side economics in 1976.

Notable NFL Players from Pottsville High School

• Ed Weiascosky, graduated in 1962, played several years for the Miami Dolphins.
• Jack Dolbin, graduated in 1966, played several years for the Denver Broncos.
• John Flannery, graduated in 1993, played several years for the Houston Oilers.

Public and Private Education

• Pottsville Area School District which includes Pottsville Area High School, D.H.H. Lengel Middle School, and John S. Clarke Elementary Center.
• Nativity BVM High School - Part of the Diocese of Allentown Education System.
• All Saints Catholic Elementary School - Part of the Diocese of Allentown Education System.

Colleges and Universities

• McCann School of Business and Technology
• Penn State Schuylkill, located in nearby Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania
• Schuylkill Institute of Business and Technology
• Alvernia College Schuylkill Sattelite Campus

External links

• City of Pottsville official website
• Pottsville Area Development Corporation
• Visitor information for Pottsville, Pennsylvania
• Pottsville Area High School - Crimson Tide Football
• Pottsville Area High School Alumni Band