Girardville is a borough in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, 58 miles (93 km) northwest of Reading. Anthracite coal deposits are in the region. Coal-mining provided employment and incomes for many of the 3,666 people who lived there in 1900. In 1910, 4,396 individuals called it home. The population was 1,742 at the 2000 census. It was founded in 1832 and is named after Stephen Girard of Philadelphia who purchased large land holdings in and around the town. It was incorporated as a borough in 1872. It is known to many in Schuylkill County as "Gun-Town", for reasons unknown.

Girardville is the site of an annual St. Patrick's Day parade that is one of the best and largest in Pennsylvania. It made history in on March 29, 2008 when former President Bill Clinton joined the marchers to the delight of 30,000 parade goers that lined the streets of the small coal town.

Geography

Girardville is located at 40°47′32″N, 76°17′4″W (40.792104, -76.284555)^[1].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.4 km²), of which, 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it is land and 1.85% is water.

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 1,742 people, 767 households, and 486 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,327.4 people per square mile (1,293.4/km²). There were 886 housing units at an average density of 1,692.4/sq mi (657.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.43% White, 0.11% Native American, 0.06% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.17% of the population.

There were 767 households out of which 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the borough the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $23,702, and the median income for a family was $30,000. Males had a median income of $26,906 versus $20,433 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $13,735. About 10.5% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.7% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

Notable natives and residents

One of Girardville's most famous citizens was John "Black Jack" Kehoe, the high constable of Girardville during the 1870's, whose charismatic leadership in the fight for labor rights by the coal miners of the period earned him a place in local, state, national and world history. Jack Kehoe was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and several divisions of the AOH now proudly bear his name.

Black Jack has gone down in history as a member of the Mollie Maguires, a group of Irish immigrants who allegedly committed acts against the mine and railroad owners for their own gains and was hung along with 19 other alleged Mollie Maguires in a series of trials that today would be considered travesties of justice. These hangings are popularly known as "The Day of the Rope." More information can be found at the Wikipedia site Mollie Maguires.

Today, Black Jack's tavern in Girardville, The Hibernian House, continues to be operated by his great grandson, Joseph Wayne and is a popular destination for historians, genealogists, and tourists searching for information on the Mollie Maguires, the coal region culture, and their Irish roots. Through Joe Wayne's exhaustive efforts in the 1970's, he secured pardon for his great grandfather through then Pennsylvania governor, Milton Schapp.

John Kehoe, a native of Wicklow Ireland, was buried in old St. Jerome's Cemetary in Tamaqua, Pa. His gravesite is a historical site maintained by the Ancient Order of Hibernians.

References

1. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
2. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

External links

• Upper Schuylkill

• Girardville, Pennsylvania is at coordinates 40°47′32″N 76°17′04″W / 40.792104, -76.284555 (Girardville, Pennsylvania)Coordinates: 40°47′32″N 76°17′04″W / 40.792104, -76.284555 (Girardville, Pennsylvania)
• Girardville: The culture, history, and people of Girardville, Pennsylvania

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