Altoona, Pennsylvania

Altoona
City
Altoona seen from Brush Mountain in September 2011
Altoona seen from Brush Mountain in September 2011
Flag of Altoona
Flag
Official seal of Altoona
Seal
Official logo of Altoona
Nicknames: 
The Mountain City, Railroad City[1]
Location of Altoona in Blair County, Pennsylvania.
Location of Altoona in Blair County, Pennsylvania.
Altoona is located in Pennsylvania
Altoona
Altoona
Altoona is located in the United States
Altoona
Altoona
Coordinates: 40°31′N 78°24′W / 40.51°N 78.40°W / 40.51; -78.40
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountyBlair County
Founded1849
Incorporated (borough)February 6, 1854
Incorporated (city)1868
Government
 • MayorMatt Pacifico (R)[2][3][4]
Area
[5]
 • City
9.79 sq mi (25.36 km2)
 • Land9.79 sq mi (25.36 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
[6]
1,161 ft (354 m)
Population
 (2020)[7]
 • City
43,963
 • Density4,490.14/sq mi (1,733.67/km2)
 • Urban
79,930
 • Metro
121,829
 • Demonym
Altoonian
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
16601–16603
Area code814
FIPS code42-02184
GNIS feature ID1214939[6]
Websitewww.altoonapa.gov
DesignatedApril 01, 1947[8]

Altoona is a city in Blair County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 43,963 at the time of the 2020 census.[9] It is the principal city of the Altoona metropolitan area, which includes all of Blair County and was recorded as having a population of 122,822 in 2020.[10]

Altoona was established in 1849 by the Pennsylvania Railroad.[11] Having grown around the railroad industry, the city has worked to recover from industrial decline and urban decentralization experienced in recent decades. The city is home to the Altoona Curve baseball team of the Eastern League, which is the AA affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball team. They play at Peoples Natural Gas Field in Altoona.[12] The Altoona Symphony Orchestra has called Altoona home since 1928.[13] 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.

  1. ^ "Explore The Altoona Railroad Museum". Pennsylvania-mountains-of-attractions.com. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  2. ^ "Altoona City Council". City of Altoona, Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on November 8, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  3. ^ Kibler, William (November 2, 2013). "Altoona mayoral candidates newcomers to politics". Altoona Mirror. Retrieved September 21, 2015. Two political newcomers – and Altoona natives – are vying for the city mayor's chair in Tuesday's election: Republican Matt Pacifico and Democrat John Pentland.
  4. ^ Kibler, William. "Pacifico secures mayoral re-election". Altoona Mirror. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  5. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  6. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Altoona, Pennsylvania
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "PHMC Historical Markers Search". Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Archived from the original (Searchable database) on March 21, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  9. ^ United States Census Bureau, 2020 Census, Altoona, Pennsylvania
  10. ^ United States Census Bureau, 2020 Census, Blair County
  11. ^ "City of Altoona History". Altoona, Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on June 25, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  12. ^ "Peoples Natural Gas Field". MiLB.com. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  13. ^ "Altoona Symphony Orchestra". Archived from the original on September 26, 2007. Retrieved September 22, 2007.