Duncannon, Pennsylvania

Duncannon is a borough in Perry County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,473 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. The center of population of Pennsylvania is located in Duncannon. Lightning Guider Sleds were manufactured in Duncannon from 1904 until 1988. The Appalachian Trail makes its way through the town, going on various streets, and runs mainly along North High Street. It comes off the mountain at 40.3813, -77.0292 lat/long, onto Inn Road.

History

Duncannon was originally called Petersburg, and under the latter name was laid out in 1792. The present name is derived from Duncan's Island in the Susquehanna River.

The Puritan missionary David Brainerd visited the area in the 1740s. In his journal he describes his trip on the Susquehanna and his brief stay with an Indian tribe on Duncan's Island, across the river from present-day Duncannon.

Geography

Duncannon is located at (40.393986, -77.028891). According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of , all land.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Template:Sronly	%±
1870	960		—
1880	1,027		%
1890	1,074		%
1900	1,661		%
1910	1,474		%
1920	1,679		%
1930	1,732		%
1940	1,707		%
1950	1,852		%
1960	1,800		%
1970	1,739		%
1980	1,645		%
1990	1,450		%
2000	1,508		%
2010	1,522		%
2020	1,473		%
2021 (est.)	1,468		%
Sources:

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,508 people, 667 households, and 386 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 714 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 98.28% White, 0.53% African American, 0.07% Asian, 0.73% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.59% of the population.

There were 667 households, out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.1% were non-families. 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 23.1% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $33,000, and the median income for a family was $38,750. Males had a median income of $31,643 versus $21,477 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $15,883. About 6.2% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

Culture

On S. Market Street, there is a mural with various artistic depictions of life and scenery in Duncannon, the Perry County area, Pennsylvania as a whole, and even of the entire United States.

A high percentage of the population is Christian, and denominations with churches within Duncannon include Lutheranism, United Church of Christ, Assembly of God, Presbyterianism, Catholicism, and the Church of God. Many other churches, including multiple Methodist churches, are located within a few miles of the borough.

Notable people

• Marie Doro, silent screen actress
• Mollie Woods Hare, educator
• William J. Kirkpatrick, Christian musician and composer
• Langhorne Wister (1834-1891), Union army officer

Gallery

• Former Duncannon train depot
  Former Duncannon train depot
• A train passing through Duncannon
  A train passing through Duncannon
• A historical name marker
  A historical name marker
• A view of a crossroads
  A view of a crossroads