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Economy -- Altoona’s economy encompasses manufacturing, retail, education and services. Our largest employers are: Norfolk Southern, our hospitals, Altoona School District and the Penn State Altoona Campus, but includes small manufacturing businesses, such as Benzel’s Pretzels, SKF, Veeder Root, Cove Shoe, and the Envelope factories.

Blair County – Has 130,549 population in 1995. 65% is urban / 35% rural.

Transportation -- The story of Altoona is tied up with the movement of people west. It began with the westward expansion from the original thirteen colonies. Visits to the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Park Service site – can give people more information about how the progress west was stopped by the Allegheny mountains until a canal system was dug to compliment a railroad that operated on a gravity and pulley system over the Allegheny Ridge. Eventually our economy became very much tied to the Pennsylvania railroad and in the 1940’s was a hub of transportation for WWII supplies. When the Pennsylvania railroad fortunes changed, Altoona had a bit of an economic down turn but has rebounded becoming a center for service and commerce. Currently, ConRail has merged with Norfolk Southern and may again change the story of Altoona’s economy and transportation.

Cost of Living -- Our cost of living is lower than Allentown, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Scranton, Williamsport, York and Chambersburg.

Education -- There are 7 public school districts. The Altoona – Johnstown diocese operates Bishop Guilfoyle High School and a feeder network of elementary schools. Private schools include several Christian Schools/Academies and a Montessori preschool and elementary program. Penn State Altoona campus offers four and two year degree and fits into programs with the Penn State Main Campus leading to BA, BS, MA and Ph.D. programs. Higher education is also available through Altoona School of Commerce, Computer Learning Network, Juniata College – 30 minutes east, Mount Aloysius College – 20 minutes west, and Penn State Main Campus & Research Park – 45 minutes north and St. Francis College, Loretto – 40 minutes west.

Sports -- We have available Penn State Football and high school level football. We have the Altoona Curve minor league baseball associated with the Pittsburgh Pirates with a state-of-the-art stadium. Participatory sports on both the elementary, high school and college level include everything from baseball, soccer, swimming, gymnastics and amateur sports and fitness activities available at the Hollidaysburg YMCA and the Altoona Summit. An ice skating rink at Lakemont Park. It will offer opportunities for ice hockey and figure skating. We also have the AFP softball team!

Local Newspaper – Altoona Mirror – It is a resource for what is going on in our area and can lend a lot of information for those not familiar with the recreational and cultural opportunities that are here in Altoona.

State College – Besides Nittany Lion football, there is the Bryce Jordan Center which brings national performances such as Garth Brooks, Riverdance, the Bolshoi Ballet etc. Several theaters, music and dance series are also available at Eisenhower Auditorium on the Penn State Main Campus. The second week in July brings the Penn State Arts Festival with five days of performance and artists displaying, including a children’s kick off day on Wednesday.

Arts -- The Mishler Theatre has a delightful children’s series throughout the year. Also hosts other performances, including theater, musicals, and individual artists. It is a turn of the century theatre that has served Altoona continuously for most of this century with performers such as George Burns and other famous vaudevillians regularly stopping off the train to entertain those in Altoona. The Blair County Arts Festival takes place each May at the Altoona Penn State Campus.

Amusement Parks – Lakemont and Delgrosso's Park (formally Bland's Park) offer rides, picnic facilities and water parks.

Airport -- We have available to us the Blair County Airport in Martinsburg approximately 25 minutes from the Altoona Hospital; the State College Airport approximately 50 minutes from the Altoona Hospital; Pittsburgh International Airport 2 ½ hours, Dulles within three hours, and Baltimore/Washington within approximately three hours. Thus, there are many opportunities for connecting to international flights.

Natural Resources -- We are lucky to have a national park in the Allegheny Railroad Historic Site in Cresson. During the summer, concerts are offered in the outdoor amphitheater and during the day in the summer and fall, tours with park rangers reenacting the history of the area are also offered. Gallitzin State Park is a wonderful place for swimming, sailboating, and picnicking, Moshannon is wonderful for hiking and canoeing. Shaver’s Creek Nature Center in State College has an animal shelter and nature area. Allen Seeger Natural area has the oldest original stand of forest, rhododendrons and an original bog habitat. Canoe Creek State Park has nature programs, swimming, fishing, and canoeing available. A good resource is 50 hikes in Pennsylvania for additional areas to explore. Raystown Lake (man made) offers camping, boating, and water skiing.

Hunting and Fishing -- Don Hennaman is a good contact person for information about hunting and fishing. We do have some of the finest trout fishing in the country available. Deer, bear, turkey and small game season are extremely popular in our county.

Shopping – Logan Valley Mall has anchor stores JC Penney, Sears, Kaufmann’s and over 100 shops and services with additional specialty stores including Gap, Old Navy, Eddie Bauer, and Gymboree. Target, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club + numerous other retailers also offer a wide variety of goods. We are a retail hub for central Pennsylvania.

I hope that this helps give people some basic facts to become familiar with our area.

If I can be of any help, please contact me. Any questions regarding the area can be given to Donna Benson, who will make sure they get to the appropriate resource person.