Jerome, Pennsylvania
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jerome is a census-designated place (CDP) in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,068 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.
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[edit] Geography
Jerome is located at (40.210047, -78.985652)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 6.8 km² (2.6 mi²), all land.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 1,068 people, 425 households, and 308 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 158.0/km² (408.9/mi²). There were 444 housing units at an average density of 65.7/km² (170.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 100.00% White. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.19% of the population.
There were 425 households out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 23.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 86.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.5 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $26,667, and the median income for a family was $33,872. Males had a median income of $36,528 versus $16,553 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $13,033. About 5.3% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.1% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] History
Jerome was built in 1901 as a company town for the Hillman Coal Company of Pittsburgh, and named for family scion, Jerome Hillman. The town filled mostly with immigrants from Croatia, Russia and Italy -- particularly Italians from the Alpine province of Trentino and the town of San Lorenzo en Sabato in Val Giudicarie -- in addition to local Scotch-Irish and German stock. Jerome's wood frame houses were primarily of two designs -- two-storey double houses and smaller single-family cottages. Most of these initial dwellings still stand today. These houses, especially in the period before 1970, typically were surrounded by large vegetable gardens, fruit trees and grape arbors. Homemade wine was a local specialty. A local tavern maintained a popular bocce court. At its economic peak, Jerome boasted a movie theatre, a bank, several dry goods stores, several taverns, an electrical appliance store and a bowling alley. Jerome was also connected by electric tram (streetcar) to the nearby city of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. After the coal mine closed in the 1950s, Jerome rapidly became a bedroom community, although the town retained much of its close-knit ethnic character well into the 1990s.
Jerome was the scene of very early unionization efforts by what later became the United Mine Workers Union. In its early history, Jerome suffered several violent clashes between workers and management. A number of buildings were destroyed by dynamite in acts of sabotage. At one point, a mass eviction of miner families was undertaken by Hillman interests, resulting in a 'tent city' being established for the homeless on the nearby lands of sympathetic farmers. Many of the details of this history have now been lost.
National Football League quarterback Jeff Hostetler (career 1985-1997) grew up on a farm just outside Jerome.
Jerome is part of the municipality of Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, as are nearby towns of Davidsville, Thomas Mills, Tire Hill and part of Holsopple.
[edit] External links
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
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County Seat: Somerset |
|---|---|
| Boroughs |
Addison | Benson | Berlin | Boswell | Callimont | Casselman | Central City | Confluence | Garrett | Hooversville | Indian Lake | Jennerstown | Meyersdale | New Baltimore | New Centerville | Paint | Rockwood | Salisbury | Seven Springs | Shanksville | Somerset | Stoystown | Ursina | Wellersburg | Windber |
| Townships |
Addison | Allegheny | Black | Brothersvalley | Conemaugh | Elk Lick | Fairhope | Greenville | Jefferson | Jenner | Larimer | Lincoln | Lower Turkeyfoot | Middlecreek | Milford | Northampton | Ogle | Paint | Quemahoning | Shade | Somerset | Southampton | Stonycreek | Summit | Upper Turkeyfoot |
| Communities and CDPs |
Davidsville | Friedens | Jerome |
