Altoona, Pennsylvania Altoona, Pennsylvania City of Altoona Clockwise from top left: (1) View of Altoona from Brush Mountain, (2) Knickerbocker and Tavern, (3) Downtown, and (4) Fairview Nickname(s): The Mountain City, Railroad City, A-Town, Toona Town Location of Altoona in Blair County Location of Altoona in Blair County Altoona, Pennsylvania is positioned in Pennsylvania Altoona, Pennsylvania - Altoona, Pennsylvania Altoona is a town/city in south central Pennsylvania Blair County, Pennsylvania, United States.
It is the principal town/city of the Altoona Metropolitan Travel Destination (MSA).
The Altoona MSA includes all of Blair County and was recorded as having a populace of 127,089 at the 2010 Census, around 100,000 of whom live inside a 5-mile (8.0 km) radius of the Altoona town/city center as stated to U.S.
The town/city is home to the Altoona Curve baseball team of the Double A Eastern League, which is the partner of the Major League Baseball team Pittsburgh Pirates.
It also homes the 75-plus-year-old Altoona Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Teresa Cheung.
Prominent landmarks include the Horseshoe Curve, the Railroaders Memorial Museum, the Juniata Shops of the Altoona Works, the Mishler Theatre, the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, and the Jaffa Shrine Center.
Altoona in 1895: a Pennsylvania Railroad town.
As a primary barns town, Altoona was established by the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) in 1849 as the site for a shop and maintenance complex.
Altoona was incorporated as a borough on February 6, 1854, and as a town/city under legislation allowed on April 3, 1867, and February 8, 1868. One explanation of the city's name is that the word "Altoona" is a derivative of the Latin word altus, meaning "high". This explanation is contradicted by Pennsylvania Place Names. Although Altoona, in Blair Country, is popularly known as "the Mountain City", its name has no direct or indirect etymological relation to the Latin adjective altus, signifying "elevated, lofty." Steele is authority for the statement that Colonel Beverly Mayer, of Columbia, Pennsylvania, who, as a civil engineer of what was then the Pennsylvania Central Railway, had laid out the tracks in the yards of the newly projected city, titled the place Altoona after the town/city of Altona in Danish Holstein, which became part of Germany in 1864." The German Altona, which is today a precinct of Hamburg, lies on the right bank of the Elbe, immediately west of Hamburg town/city center, and is an meaningful stockyards and manufacturing centre with a populace of nearly 200,000.
Wright, who laid it out in building lots, became one of the framers of Altoona, and was responsible for the naming of the town.
The demand for locomotives amid the Civil War stimulated much of this growth, and by the later years of the war Altoona was known as a valuable town/city for the North.
The Allegheny Ridge had been a primary barrier and assembly of the Erie Canal in New York twenty years earlier already had diverted much port traffic which had used Philadelphia to New York City instead, causing the rise of that city's commercial dominance.
In the early 20th century, PRR's Altoona Works complex employed, at its peak, approximately 15,000 citizens and veiled three miles (5 km) in length, 218 acres (88 ha) of yards and 37 acres (15 ha) of indoor workshop floor space in 122 buildings.
In 1853, the PRR assembled the Mechanic's Library, the first industrialized library in the country which exists today as the Altoona Area Public Library. With the diminish in barns demand after World War II, things began to decline.
Many treasures of the city's history disappeared, including the Logan House Hotel and barns shops. According to the Altoona Mirror the tornado touched down near Sugar Run Road in the Canan Station region and cut a 100-yard swath of destruction through the south portion of Altoona.
Altoona is one of the dual seats of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona Johnstown.
The Altoona Mirror newspaper, established in 1876 by Harry Slep, is Altoona's earliest media outlet.
Altoona serves as the corporate home to Sheetz, a quickly growing convenience store chain in the United States.
Altoona is home to the world's earliest wooden roller coaster, the Leap-The-Dips, positioned in Lakemont Park.
Altoona lies at the base of Brush Mountain inside Logan Valley and Pleasant Valley.
According to the United States Enumeration Bureau, the town/city has a total region of 9.8 sq mi (25.3 km ), all land.
Map of Altoona Neighborhoods The chief sections of Altoona are the Downtown, Center City, Logantown, Fairview, Juniata, Wehnwood, Calvert Hills, 5th Ward, Westmont, Eldorado, East End, Dutch Hill, Pleasant Valley, Hileman Heights, 6th Ward, Mansion Park, Llyswen, Garden Heights, and Highland Park.
Some areas inside Logan Township are not inside the defined City limits but still considered sections of Altoona, including: Lakemont, Greenwood, Bellmeade, Westfall, Newburg, and Red Hill.
A view of downtown Altoona from a 5th Ward hill The downtown is the cultural and commercial center of Altoona and straddles the famous barns s.
As is typical to a traditional town/city layout, the downtown is centrally positioned and contains momentous evolution in all directions from the downtown.
Much of the downtown region is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Downtown Altoona Historic District. Popular landmarks include the Mishler Theatre, the Penn Alto Building (formerly the Penn Alto Hotel), the Gable's Building, City Hall, the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, and Eleventh Avenue itself.
Altoona is notable for having a several churches, such as the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament at the corner of 13th Street and 13th Avenue, the building on the corner of 12th Street and 14th Avenue that used to home the First Presbyterian Church, and the First Lutheran Church on the corner of 14th Street and 12th Avenue.
The downtown contains most of what's known as Altoona's Little Italy district.
Therefore, Downtown is generally defined by what the City has zoned as Central Business: between 13th Ave and the PRR Expressway, and from 7th Street to 16th Street.
However, it is common for areas inside Logantown and Center City to be expressed locally as "downtown." The Texas Hot Dog was originally created in downtown Altoona in 1918, although the Paterson, New Jersey Texas Hot Dog location, which opened in 1924, is more famous.
The United States postal service in Altoona contains two oil-on-canvas WPA commissioned murals painted by Lorin Thompson in 1938 titled Pioneers of Altoona and Growth of the Road. Murals were produced from 1934 to 1943 in the United States through the Section of Painting and Sculpture, later called the Section of Fine Arts, of the Treasury Department.
Center City comprises industrialized and commercial zones as well as urban and multiple homehold residentiary zones.
Often, the Center City, Little Italy, and Gospel Hill areas (as well as Lower Fairview) are encompassed as part of "downtown" for tourism and promotional purposes, much like how the Strip District in Pittsburgh is promoted.
On the west side of the tracks, Center City extends around Downtown 2-3 blocks with heavy residentiary, industrialized and commercial to the north, south and west.
The easterly side of the tracks, which as stated to the enhance maps is called "East Side", runs along the length of the tracks from 1st Street to 23rd street and from the tracks to 6th Avenue west to east.
However, the Altoona Area High School is considered Center City despite standing on the Dutch Hill side of 6th Avenue.
The East Side of Center City is home to the High School and Junior High, the former Roosevelt Junior High School, the Altoona Railroaders Museum, Boyer Candies, the Station Medical Center of Altoona Regional Health System, as well as many current and old barns facilities.
The neighborhood region known as Little Italy is the neighborhood between 7th Street and 12th Street north to south and 9th Ave to 6th Ave west to east, sometimes this is extended to include the Station Medical Center.
Gospel Hill is the neighborhood in the region of 15th Street and 16th Ave and adjoining to the park of the same name.
Logantown is the region just north of the Downtown and is considered a direct extension of Downtown.
It borders Fairview along 16th Ave, Willow Ave and Cherry Ave to the north, 13th Ave and Chestnut Ave to the south, and Juniata Gap Road to the east.
This is where UPMC Altoona is located, which is the tallest building in Altoona at 14 Floors.
Logantown is zoned as a mix of commercial and residentiary, and contains some of the earliest homes assembled in Altoona that are still standing.
Fairview is a mostly residentiary region North and West of Downtown and Logantown.
It borders Calvert Hills to the south at 12th Street, Downtown and Logantown to the east along 16th Ave and Willow Ave and then along Cherry Ave after 5th Street, and borders Juniata Gap Road to the north.
Fairview is zoned as multiple homehold residentiary in the areas directly bordering Downtown, and transitions to single homehold residentiary after 21st Avenue, and eventually to suburban after 24th Ave.
The homes between 14th and 15th avenues (with two commercial buildings included) on 12th street are designed based on an architectural pattern used in Philadelphia's urban neighborhoods.
This section gets its name from the abundance of Germans who moved into this region when the City was still expanding.
Dutch Hill is the region that borders the City Center to the East and is zoned as multiple homehold residentiary.
The boundaries are generally considered 4th Street to 17th Street north to south, and 6th Avenue to Walton Avenue from west to east.
However, as the Altoona Area High School and Junior High are considered City Center, the border is around 4th Ave (or 3rd Ave if the entire school zone is included) when between 11th Street and 17th Street.
Juniata is defined as north of Juniata Gap Road, east of East 25th Ave and on the west side of the barns line.
The region is zoned as mostly residentiary limited, but also uniquely has a momentous area of light and heavy industrialized as well as a central company area.
This is because Juniata was once its own city, and was incorporated into Altoona in the late 19th century.
Because of this, the section's street names had conflicting numbers with the rest of the City, and had to be given a North prefix.
The East End is defined as the region on the east side of the barns line north of 4th Street.
The East End is mostly single homehold residentiary and suburban, but has small areas of residentiary-commercial and neighborhood company along Kettle Street and Lloyd Street, as well as highway company along Pleasant Valley Blvd.
Pleasant Valley is the region that centers on Pleasant Valley Boulevard, which is a massive stretch of highway company that runs the entire length of Altoona.
The region is defined as southeast of Walton Ave and extends from 1st Street til 22nd Street and defined by Polk Ave to the east.
Eldorado (pronounced locally as "El-doe-ray-doe") is the southern section of Altoona, south of Logan Boulevard and west of 6th Avenue as well as a small section south of 57th Street all the way to Rhode Island Avenue (Goods Lane) in the east.
Some parts of Eldorado are actually outside of incorporated Altoona and positioned in Allegheny Township and Logan Township.
While residing inside Logan Township just outside the official border of the City and designated as the "Village of Lakemont", it is generally accepted as a section of Altoona.
Greenwood is the region north of the East End and begins around a block north of Grant Street.
While mostly residing inside Logan Township just outside the official border of the City and designated as the "Village of Greenwood", it is generally accepted as a section of Altoona, especially since a 3 block by 4 block zone lies inside the town/city limits.
Ward Trucking's command posts are positioned in this section of Altoona.
Wehnwood is the region west of 25th Ave between Wehnwood Road to the north and 1st St to the south.
This is part of where Penn State Altoona is located.
Wehnwood is mostly zoned as suburban or single residentiary with an region of neighborhood company along 25th Ave and Juniata Gap Road.
Mansion Park Stadium is also positioned here, which is the 10,000 seat stadium where the Altoona Mountain Lions play.
The Mansion Park region is positioned east of 6th Ave, with Logan Blvd and Ward Ave to the south, 27th Street to the north and a block past Union Ave to the east.
Columbia Park is the neighborhood adjoining to Tuckahoe Park between 6th Ave and Union Ave with Crescent Road to the south.
Highland Park is the region south of Logan Blvd, east of 6th Ave, north of 57th Street and west of Ruskin Drive.
The name comes from the hill that the region is centered on is the only momentous highland in southern Altoona.
The Knickerbockers are a unique compilation of homes along 6th Ave between Burgoon Road to the north and 41st Street to the south.
6th Ward is the region south of Dutch Hill, west of Pleasant Valley, east of Curtain Neighborhoods and north of Mansion Park.
It is between 17th and 27th Streets north to south, and 6th Ave and Michelle Drive west to east.
Westmont is the region on the east side of the tracks south of 21st street and between the 5th Ward and the tracks to the west and the 9th Ave tracks to the east.
The region is zoned as multiple, single and suburban residentiary as well as residentiary commercial and light industrial.
The heights are from South 25th Street south to South 27th Street and are between Wren Ave to the west and Robin Ave to the east.
Llyswen is a small section west of Union Ave, east of Ruskin Drive, south of Ward Ave and north of Plank Road.
This low-lying region is almost entirely suburban, with small areas of multiple residentiary, residentiary commercial, neighborhood company and highway business.
Calvert Hills is a small region between 12th Street and 16th Street north to south and 17th Ave to the east.
This is the region of multiple, single and suburban residentiary on the hills around the former Keith Junior High School, which is now an apartment complex.
The 5th Ward and Westfall is the region on the west side of the tracks south of Calvert Hills and north of the Curtain Neighborhoods.
The boundaries for the southern region are 20th Street to the north and 10th Ave to the south.
Historically, the sole economic force driving the expansion of Altoona into a City was the Pennsylvania Railroad.
UPMC Altoona serves as a county-wide core of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center fitness The top field of employment in Altoona and the metro region is healthcare.
Facilities include: UPMC Altoona with its many small-town facilities that employ thousands, Healthsouth Rehabilitation Hospital and its a several small-town facilities, James E.
Altoona is the linchpin of Tri-City Region.
Its locale along I-99 draws from a large trade region over a wide geographic region that extends to State College and Johnstown and over 40 miles (64 km) south along I-99 past I-70.
Altoona draws the most retail customers in the region due to its centralized locale and to the fact that it has the best complementary retail of the three markets with 2,800,000 square feet (260,000 m2) of retail space. A new shopping center, Convention Center Commons, is slated to open in 2015.
The scale and range of retail inside the City of Altoona and the encircling area is not alongsideed inside the region.
This region plus Route 764 which runs through Altoona and the northern and southern suburbs is known as the "Green Banana".
As well as a several more plazas and centers just to the North and South of the town/city as well as the suburbs of Cresson and Galitzin.
Approximately 20 Sheetz stores are positioned in and around Altoona.
As typical of many Rust Belt cities, the economic downturn of the barns resulted in the closure of many of the downtown's landmark stores and industries; and the simultaneous rise in eminence of the automobile shifted commercial evolution to the suburbs.
However, through recent revitalization accomplishments, Altoona's downtown maintains a momentous level of economic vitality and hosts several office and residentiary vacancies. The downtown maintains a momentous focus on pedestrian-oriented development, as evidenced by the existence of more pedestrian bridges and underpasses athwart the barns tracks (connecting the two parts of downtown) than automobile crossings.
Penn State Altoona has bought a several downtown buildings, including the former Playhouse Theater building, the six-story Penn Furniture building, and the former WRTA building.
Recently Sheetz has added another building to Penn State Altoona called The Sheetz Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence on the former site of a department store behind the Amtrak Station.
A bike path connecting the Campus to Downtown Altoona has also been built.
Altoona Area High School American Football (high school) WPIAL Class AAAAAA Altoona was the site of a 1.25-mile (2.01 km) board track called Altoona Speedway from 1923 to 1931. On June 15, 1929, just two weeks after winning the 1929 Indianapolis 500, Ray Keech was killed in an accident at the Altoona Speedway.
Altoona Area School District's Mansion Park Stadium has long been recognized as one of the finest athletic complexes in Pennsylvania.
Altoona High varsity and junior varsity teams, Altoona Area Junior High School ninth undertaking teams, and Bishop Guilfoyle High School all play home football games at Mansion Park.
The Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association East West High School All Star Game was played at Mansion Park from 2001 to 2010.
Numerous high school and junior high school track meets, including the District 6 Class AA and AAA championships and the West Central Coaches Meet, are held at the stadium each spring.
Altoona Area High School's Commencement is scheduled at the stadium each year.
Altoona has many, various types of parks for a range of enhance uses inside the town/city limits.
Altoona has an education fitness that contains three high schools, two parochial, one public.
Altoona Area High School homes grades 10 12.
Altoona High is much larger than Bishop Guilfoyle, graduating around 600 students annually, while Guilfoyle graduates around 100.
Keith Junior High and Theodore Roosevelt Junior High consolidated in 2008 to turn into the Altoona Area Junior High School.
Altoona is the locale of the Pennsylvania State University, Ivyside Park campus, also known as Penn State Altoona.
Altoona also has a several technical schools.
The Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center (GACTC) is positioned on 16th Street next to the high school and offers a range of technical classes for both Junior High and High School students throughout Blair County, as well as high school graduates seeking a technical degree.
South Hills Business School has a ground located on 58th Street.
Radio stations in the Altoona, Pennsylvania market W294 - AE 106.7 Public Radio Altoona Pennsylvania State University WMES 107.7 Religious Altoona Lay Stewardship Educational Association Altoona is a primary center on the Norfolk Southern Railway's (NS) Pittsburgh Line.
In Altoona, helper engines are added to heavy trains to give them extra power up and over Horseshoe Curve west of town.
The historical importance to the barns trade and the current high level of barns activeness has made Altoona a mecca for railfans for over 60 years, with the Railroaders Memorial Museum and the Horseshoe Curve being prominent spots.
Amtrak's Pennsylvanian stops at Altoona station once daily in each direction.
Local roadways in Altoona tend to be given numerical names, and Streets are aligned northwest-southeast and Avenues are aligned northeast-southwest.
The Altoona Blair County Airport provides commercial air service for Altoona, offering daily flights to Pittsburgh International Airport.
Altoona and the Altoona Area are serviced by a several companies for emergency services.
Given that Altoona is entirely encompassed by Logan Township, and some small areas inside the town/city are belonging to the Township, City and Township services often intermingle.
The Altoona Police Department (APD) services the City.
However, since the Township encompasses the City, in order to be centrally positioned the precinct is positioned in the City on 7th Ave.
Altoona Fire Department Station 4 and Engine 314 The Altoona Fire Department (AFD) supplies fire and Quick Response Service (QRS) to the City, as well as Haz-Mat response for Blair County.
AMED or the Altoona Mobile Emergency Department provides EMS services for both Altoona and Logan Township as well as many encircling areas in Blair County including: Bellwood, Tyrone and Roaring Spring.
Hedda Hopper, gossip columnist and actress, buried in Rose Hill Cemetery in Altoona Altoona is a sister town/city with: "Explore The Altoona Railroad Museum".
"Altoona City Council".
City of Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Two political newcomers and Altoona natives are vying for the town/city mayor's chair in Tuesday's election: Republican Matt Pacifico and Democrat John Pentland.
Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Altoona "Altoona Metro Area".
"City of Altoona History".
Altoona, Pennsylvania.
"Altoona Symphony Orchestra".
I Love Altoona.
"Event to revisit Nazi plot that ratcheted up security at Horseshoe Curve - Altoona - Mirror.com - Altoona, PA | News, Sports, Jobs, Community Information - The Altoona Mirror".
"History of the Altoona Railroad Shops: The Creation And Coming Of The Pennsylvania Railroad".
"Altoona Firefighters Local 299".
"Altoona Mirror".
"Monthly Averages for Altoona, PA".
"Convention Center Commons universal kicks off - Altoona - Mirror.com - Altoona, PA | News, Sports, Jobs, Community Information - The Altoona Mirror".
"Altoona Area School District, Altoona PA".
"Altoona Area School District".
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Altoona, Pennsylvania - Cities in Pennsylvania - Populated places established in 1849 - Cities in Blair County, Pennsylvania - 1849 establishments in Pennsylvania
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