Geography
Jennerstown is located at 40°9'42" North, 79°3'46" West (40.161763, -79.062686)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 5.2 km² (2.0 mi²). 5.0 km² (1.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 3.50% water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 714 people, 302 households, and 212 families residing in the borough. The population density is 142.8/km² (369.4/mi²). There are 343 housing units at an average density of 68.6/km² (177.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough is 100.00% White, 0.00% African American, 0.00% Native American, 0.00% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from other races, and 0.00% from two or more races. 0.00% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 302 households out of which 25.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% are married couples living together, 6.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% are non-families. 27.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.30 and the average family size is 2.77.
In the borough the population is spread out with 19.2% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 44 years. For every 100 females there are 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.3 males.
The median income for a household in the borough is $39,886, and the median income for a family is $46,111. Males have a median income of $28,750 versus $22,273 for females. The per capita income for the borough is $19,540. 5.3% of the population and 4.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 2.8% are under the age of 18 and 9.4% are 65 or older.
Jennerstown was first settled in the late 1700s as a stage coach stop on the Forbes Road, one of the first roads constructed by English-speaking settlers over the Allegheny Mountains. Through its history, Jennerstown has served primarily as a wayside for travelers and a farming community. Jennerstown is home to the Mountain Playhouse, one of the oldest venues for summer stock theatre in the United States. Jennerstown Speedway is a popular summer destination for stock car racing. Jennerstown has never been a large town, and its current population represents a peak. Jennerstown was named in honor of Dr. Edward Jenner, discoverer of the smallpox vaccine, by early settlers. The town boasts several buildings almost 200 years old, which is not common in the immediate area.