Tyrone is a borough in Blair County, Pennsylvania, northeast of Altoona, on the Little Juniata River. Tyrone was of considerable commercial importance in the twentieth century. It was an outlet for the Clearfield coal fields, and it was noted for the manufacture of paper products. There were planing mills, and chemical and candy factories. In 1900, 5,847 people lived here; in 1910, 7,176; and in 1940, 8,845 people resided here. The population was 5,477 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Altoona, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was named after County Tyrone in Ireland.
Located along the main lines of the Norfolk Southern and Nittany and Bald Eagle railroads, and US-220, PA-453, and I-99 highways, Tyrone was at one time known as "The Hub of the Highways". In those days four railroads [Pennsylvania, Tyrone and Clearfield, Tyrone and Lock Haven, Lewisburg and Tyrone] and three main highways [US-220, PA-350, PA-453] converged there.
History
The Tyrone Borough Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.
Tornado
On June 2, 1998, an F1 tornado moved southeast along Pennsylvania Route 453 northwest of Tyrone. Significant tree damage was noted in several locations along a 4-mile path, beginning about 5 miles northwest of Tyrone. No significant damage was reported in Tyrone, although eyewitnesses reported seeing clouds rotating as they crossed the city. This tornado was part of the 1998 Eastern Tornado Outbreak.
Industry
The largest employers in Tyrone are the Tyrone Area School District and the independent Tyrone Hospital. Tyrone is also the home to American Eagle Paper Mills and Gardners Candies. Founded in 1897, Gardners Candies has ten retail stores in the area and is known regionally for its peanut butter meltaway candy.
Geography
Tyrone is located at .
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of , all of it land.
Tyrone is situated in the Bald Eagle Valley at the base of Bald Eagle Mountain along Bald Eagle Creek at the Little Juniata River water gap.
Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 5,477 people, 2,275 households, and 1,422 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,711.4 people per square mile (1,046.8/km2). There were 2,472 housing units at an average density of 1,223.8 per square mile (472.5/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.3% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.0% of the population.
There were 2,275 households, out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.0% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the borough, the population was spread out, with 22.6% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $34,850, and the median income for a family was $43,851. The per capita income for the borough was $18,664. About 10.7% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.0% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Tyrone (Amtrak station)
Sports
Tyrone won the Pennsylvania AA State Football Championship in 1999.
Tyrone also made the PIAA State Championship Game in 1996 and 2011, and tied for the championship in 1940.
Tyrone Won the Pennsylvania AAA State Baseball Championship in 2021
The Tyrone girls track team made history at Mansion Park on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, winning the District 6 AA Girls Championship for the first time in school history.
Movie Filming
During October 2009, several scenes for the Tony Scott film Unstoppable (with Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, and Rosario Dawson) were filmed in and around Tyrone, mostly at the 14th street crossing and the north end of the rail yard. Several hundred local residents were employed as background extras. The film was released on November 12, 2010.
Media
Since 1887, the Tyrone Daily Herald has been the newspaper of record for Tyrone.
WTRN, the local radio station in Tyrone, has been on the air since 1955, when it was first founded by Tyrone resident Cary
Simpson. The station broadcasts at 1340 AM and simulcasts over 100.7 FM, with a format of adult contemporary music and local
news and high school sports.
Notable people
Dylan Lane (born 1977), game show host (born in Tyrone, spent whole childhood in Huntingdon)
Emme Rylan (born 1980), film and television actress (graduated from Tyrone High School, formerly played Lulu Spencer on the soap opera General Hospital).
D. Brooks Smith (born 1951), a federal judge - the United States Third Circuit Court of Appeals (born in Altoona, grew up in Tyrone and graduated from Tyrone High School)
Ethan Stiefel (born 1973), former principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre
Fred Waring (1900–1984), musician and radio-television personality
Farran Zerbe (1871–1949) prominent numismatist
