Everett, Pennsylvania

Over 200 years ago, the sun pierced through the thick forest on a small Indian village and trading post known as Bloody Run, which was located on a wagon road headed to Fort Dusquesne in south central Pennsylvania.

In 1787, Michael Barndollar purchased the land in this area, and laid out a town which was originally called Waynesburg.[4]

This name was never widely used and this small village was incorporated as a borough in November 1860, to be known as Bloody Run. While this name carries with it many interesting stories and much history, the name was changed in February 1873 to Everett.[4]

The Everett Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.[5]

The town came to national attention in 2014 when a 14-year-old boy was arrested for simulating a sex act on a statue and the district attorney defied outcry and asserted his intention to have the boy sentenced to two years of detention for the prank.[6]

• 
  Mural on building along Main Street in Everett
• 
  Everett United Methodist Church, along Main Street

Everett is located in eastern Bedford County at 40°0′51″N 78°22′24″W (40.014049, -78.373202).[7] It is bordered on the south by the unincorporated community of Earlston.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), all land.

Located in a valley of the Allegheny Mountains, Everett sits within a natural transportation corridor where the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River has carved a water gap, called The Narrows, through Tussey Mountain. The Alleghenies are a sub-region of the much larger Appalachian Mountains, and cover an area of central Pennsylvania, western Maryland and northern West Virginia. The countryside surrounding Everett is composed mainly of large forested areas, extensive agricultural fields, pasture, small villages, and woodlots.

U.S. Route 30 bypasses the borough along its north edge. The highway's former route, the Lincoln Highway (now US-30 Business), passes through the center of town as Main Street. Interstate 76, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, passes just south of the borough but does not provide access, with the nearest exits being Bedford 10 miles (16 km) to the west and Breezewood 8 miles (13 km) to the east.

Pennsylvania's longest hiking trail, the Mid State Trail, passes directly through the center of town.

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 1,905 people, 876 households, and 515 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,773.4 people per square mile (687.4/km²). There were 967 housing units at an average density of 900.2 per square mile (348.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.43% White, 0.52% African American, 0.26% Asian, 0.26% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.52% of the population.

There were 876 households, out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.1% were non-families. Of all households 38.5% were made up of individuals, and 18.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 22.9% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 83.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.9 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $23,919, and the median income for a family was $33,819. Males had a median income of $26,953 versus $16,196 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $15,841. About 13.3% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 18.7% of those age 65 or over.

Map of Bedford County, Pennsylvania public school districts showing Everett Area School District in green

Residents of Everett may attend the local, public schools operated by Everett Area School District which provides full day kindergarten through 12th grade. In 2014, the Everett Area School District's enrollment declined to 1,293 students.[11] In 2011, Everett Area School District enrollment was 1,422 pupils.[12] The District's enrollment was 1,447 pupils in 2005–2006.[13] Everett Area School District operates: Breezewood Elementary School (99 pupils in 2014); Everett Area Elementary School (448 pupils in 2014); Everett Area Middle School (291 pupils 6th–8th in 2014) and Everett Area High School (455 pupils in 2014). The high school and middle school share a single school building.

In 2014, Everett Area School District’s graduation rate was 87%.[14] In 2015, the Pittsburgh Business Times ranked Everett Area School District 340th out of 493 public schools for academic achievement of its pupils.[15] In 2012, Everett Area School District achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) despite the chronic, low academic achievement at the high school.[16]

High school students can attend the Bedford County Technology Center for training in the construction trades, child care, allied health careers as well as cosmetology. Everett residents may also apply to attend any of the Commonwealth's 14 public cyber charter schools (in 2013) at no additional cost to the parents. Tuition is paid by the state and local school district. The cyber school provides a computer and internet access.[17][18] In 2013 the tuition rate that Everett Area School District must pay was $8,864.08 elementary school, $9,725.26 for middle and high school students. By Commonwealth law, if the District provides transportation for its own students, then the District must provide transportation to any school that lies within 10 miles of its borders. Residents may also seek admission for their school aged child to any other public school district. When accepted for admission, the student's parents are responsible for paying an annual tuition fee set by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

The Appalachia Intermediate Unit (IU8) provides a wide variety of services to children living in its region which includes Everett. Early screening, special education services, speech and hearing therapy, autistic support, preschool classes and many other services like driver education are available. Services for children during the preschool years are provided without cost to their families when the child is determined to meet eligibility requirements. Intermediate units receive taxpayer funding: through subsidies paid by member school districts; through direct charges to users for some services; through the successful application for state and federal competitive grants and through private grants.[19]

There are also two private schools operating in Everett: Learning Lamp at Everett and Snake Spring Valley Christian Academy, Inc. Allegany College of Maryland operates a campus in Everett.

Library

Community members have access to the Everett Free Library, which is located on East Main Street. Everett residents may also use the Bedford County Library which is headquartered in Bedford. Through it Pennsylvania residents have access to all Pennsylvania POWER Library online resources.[20]

• Dean Koontz, author
• William Piper (1774-1852) - U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania
• Bud Shuster, Republican congressman[21]

• Bloody Run Canoe Classic
• Everett Area School District
• Tenley Park
• WSKE
• WZSK

• Everett Area Better Business Association - visitor information