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AHistory
History · Kittanning

Kittanning dates to 1803, and 48% of its homes were built before 1940

More historic than 94% of U.S. towns · #128 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. What drives it

Its Register listings are the Armstrong County Courthouse and Jail, the Allegheny River Lock and Dam No. 7 and the Kittanning Passenger Station and Freight Depot. Below: 17 old photos and papers, maps from 1886 on, and the census since 1810.

1803founded
3on the National Register
48%homes built before 1940
17old photos & papers
29famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Kittanning’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Kittanning began

When was Kittanning founded?

1803

Kittanning dates its founding to 1803 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1810.

First census: 309 in 18102020 census: 3,921223 years

How historic is Kittanning?

A

More historic than 94% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1807.The full story ↓
History grade

What drives Kittanning’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Kittanning is more historic than 94% of U.S. towns, #128 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its share of homes from before 1940 ranks highest and its National Register listings lowest.

A
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Kittanning’s overall grade.
Founding era1803, from Wikidata: founded 1776–1849, an older era than 75% of U.S. townsA−Homes built before 194047.5% of homes (±10.8) · typical PA town 17.7% · U.S. 8.4%A+National Register3 listings, 5 historic buildings, 12.8 per 10,000 residents · typical PA town 2.1 · U.S. 2.4B+
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 94%
NewerOlder
Pennsylvania towns of 2,500+ (1,035)Ahead of 88%

Pennsylvania towns list about as much on the Register as the country (a typical Pennsylvania town has 2.1 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Kittanning’s 12.8 sits above most of its state (79% of Pennsylvania towns have fewer) while its 5 historic buildings outnumber those of 70% of U.S. towns.

How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from A− to A+. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±10.8 points). Two sources give 1803.

Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →

What stands out about Kittanning’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

Mapped building by building6 fire insurance maps, 1886 to 1913, drew every building in Kittanning.On the map since 19005 editions of the USGS map, 1900 to 1993. Watch Kittanning change.A town in old photos17 old photos, postcards and papers, 1860–1933.Boom and bustPeaked at 7,808 in 1930; 3,921 people lived here in 2020.
★ What stands out · Every building

Kittanning, building by building, 1886–1913

Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.

Kittanning fire insurance map, 1886, sheet 11886Sheet 1 of 4
Edition
BrickWoodStone

Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

On the map

Kittanning on the map, 1900 to 1993

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Kittanning. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Kittanning on the 1900 USGS mapKittanning on the 1958 USGS mapKittanning on the 1969 USGS mapKittanning on the 1979 USGS mapKittanning on the 1993 USGS map1900Kittanning sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Kittanning.

By decade

Kittanning, decade by decade

4 decades in the archive, from the 1860s to the 1930s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1860s–1930s17 items
Kittaning, Pennsylvania.Alternate Title: Kittaning: bridge and townc. 1860Kittaning, Pennsylvania.Alternate Title: Kittaning: b…Kittanning, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania 18961896Kittanning, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania 1896Kittanning, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania 18961896Kittanning, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania 1896Picturesque on the Penn(sylvania) Central R. R. - The 'Baby' (of The Steam Saw Mill) at Kittaning Point (E and H T Anth…c. 1900Picturesque on the Penn(sylvania) Central R. R. - The…Corral Motel, Route 422, Kittanning, Pa (83920)c. 1930Corral Motel, Route 422, Kittanning, Pa (83920)Mateers Shoe Shop (80260)c. 1930Mateers Shoe Shop (80260)The Royle Motel (85276)c. 1930The Royle Motel (85276)Mahoning Creek Dam, Damtender's Dwelling No. 1, 6 miles east of S.R. 281933Mahoning Creek Dam, Damtender's Dwelling No. 1, 6 mil…Mahoning Creek Dam, Damtender's Dwelling No. 1, 6 miles east of S.R. 281933Mahoning Creek Dam, Damtender's Dwelling No. 1, 6 mil…Mahoning Creek Dam, Damtender's Dwelling No. 1, 6 miles east of S.R. 281933Mahoning Creek Dam, Damtender's Dwelling No. 1, 6 mil…Mahoning Creek Dam, Damtender's Dwelling No. 1, 6 miles east of S.R. 281933Mahoning Creek Dam, Damtender's Dwelling No. 1, 6 mil…Mahoning Creek Dam, Damtender's Dwelling No. 1, 6 miles east of S.R. 281933Mahoning Creek Dam, Damtender's Dwelling No. 1, 6 mil…Mahoning Creek Dam, Damtender's Dwelling No. 1, 6 miles east of S.R. 281933Mahoning Creek Dam, Damtender's Dwelling No. 1, 6 mil…Mahoning Creek Dam, Damtender's Dwelling No. 1, 6 miles east of S.R. 281933Mahoning Creek Dam, Damtender's Dwelling No. 1, 6 mil…Mahoning Creek Dam, Damtender's Dwelling No. 1, 6 miles east of S.R. 281933Mahoning Creek Dam, Damtender's Dwelling No. 1, 6 mil…Mahoning Creek Dam, Damtender's Dwelling No. 1, 6 miles east of S.R. 281933Mahoning Creek Dam, Damtender's Dwelling No. 1, 6 mil…Mahoning Creek Dam, Damtender's Dwelling No. 1, 6 miles east of S.R. 281933Mahoning Creek Dam, Damtender's Dwelling No. 1, 6 mil…
1940s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
The story

How Kittanning came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Kittanning.

Read it all →

The borough is located on the east bank of the Allegheny River, founded on the site of the eighteenth-century Lenape (Delaware) village of Kittanning at the western end of the Kittanning Path, an ancient Native American path.

In 1756, the village was destroyed by John Armstrong Sr. at the Battle of Kittanning during the French and Indian War. During the attack, a blast from the explosion of gunpowder stored in Captain Jacobs's house was heard at Fort Duquesne, present day Pittsburgh, 44 miles away.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

From the old history books

What they wrote about Kittanning, 1883–1914

Passages that mention Kittanning, cut from the printed page as they were published.

The town of Kittanning having been laid out in 1803, its lots were surveyed and a draft of them made by the late Judge Ross, who was then deputy surveyor general for this county, and were soon after offered for sale at public outcry, at the house of James Sloan, on the west side of the Allegheny ri…
History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania1883 · page 110Read the page →
Read the text

The town of Kittanning having been laid out in 1803, its lots were surveyed and a draft of them made by the late Judge Ross, who was then deputy surveyor general for this county, and were soon after offered for sale at public outcry, at the house of James Sloan, on the west side of the Allegheny river, nearly a mile below the present bridge across that river, which was then the only

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
3, and "composed of Kittanning and Middlesex townships." John Davidson, who then resided in the town of Kittanning, was at the same time commissioned and sworn as a justice of the peace for the same district and townshijas, and William Kirkpatrick, who then lived on the Pickering & Co. tract No. 25…
History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania1883 · page 386Read the page →
Read the text

3, and "composed of Kittanning and Middlesex townships." John Davidson, who then resided in the town of Kittanning, was at the same time commissioned and sworn as a justice of the peace for the same district and townshijas, and William Kirkpatrick, who then lived on the Pickering & Co. tract No. 25, in what is now Cowanshannock township, was commissioned a justice of the peace,

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
NEW KITTANNING The present town of Kittanning dates from 1800. In that year the Legislature passed an act establishing the seat of the county on the river "at a distance not greater than five miles from Old Kittanning Town."
Armstrong County, Pennsylvania1914 · page 105Read the page →
Read the text

NEW KITTANNING The present town of Kittanning dates from 1800. In that year the Legislature passed an act establishing the seat of the county on the river "at a distance not greater than five miles from Old Kittanning Town."

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.

Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

Timeline

Kittanning, 1803 to 1961

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1803
    FoundingKittanning is established
  3. 1807Post officeThe Kittanning post office opens
  4. 1836Born hereGeorge L. Shoup is born here
  5. 1860BuiltArmstrong County Courthouse and Jail is built
  6. 1860In the archiveKittaning, Pennsylvania.Alternate Title: Kittaning: bridge and town
  7. 1889Post officeThe Ewing post office opens
  8. 1896In the archiveKittanning, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania 1896
  9. 1897Born hereCharles Hartshorne is born here
  10. 1899Born hereRichard Hartshorne is born here
  11. 20th century
  12. 1900In the archivePicturesque on the Penn(sylvania) Central R. R. - The 'Baby' (of The Steam Saw Mill) at K…
  13. 1900On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  14. 1901Post officeThe Ewing post office closes
  15. 1930In the archiveCorral Motel, Route 422, Kittanning, Pa (83920)
  16. 1930CensusPopulation peaks at 7,808
  17. 1961Born hereTodd Holland is born here
Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

Kittaning, Pennsylvania.Alternate Title: Kittaning: bridge and town
Retake this viewKittaning, Pennsylvania.Alternate Title: Kittaning: bridge and town, c. 1860

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Kittanning’s page.

Retake this view · +15
On the National Register

3 historic places in Kittanning

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

places listed
3
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
5
each building in a district counts
first listed
1981
Armstrong County Courthouse and Jail
Armstrong County Courthouse and Jail, built 1860Allegheny River Lock and Dam No. 7Kittanning Passenger Station and Freight Depot
BuildingsStructures

Architectural styles listings

Greek Revival1
Late Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Century Revival1
Armstrong County Courthouse and JailGreek Revival · Built 1860
Allegheny River Lock and Dam No. 7Late Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Century Revival
All 3 listings
Kittanning Passenger Station and Freight DepotBuilding · listed 2025

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

People over time

Kittanning, census by census

02,0004,0006,0008,0001850190019502000Peak: 7,808

Peaked at 7,808 in 1930; 3,921 people lived here in 2020.

22 censuses, 1810–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Kittanning’s Wikipedia page.

Famous people

29 famous people were born in Kittanning

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
Richard HartshorneAmerican Geographer · b. 1899
C
Charles HartshorneAmerican philosopher · b. 1897
George L. ShoupAmerican politician · b. 1836
T
Todd HollandAmerican director and producer · b. 1961
Jason AltmireAmerican politician · b. 1968
M
Margaret Reed LewisAmerican cell biologist · b. 1881
Places that used to be

Lost post offices and old corners

Kittanning’s post office has been open since 1807. Another post office, Ewing, opened and closed inside today’s town.

Kittanning
1807–today
Ewing
1889–1901
18001910today
Hamlets and corners on the map
East KittanningEwingWick City

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Help out

Finish Kittanning’s story

Most archives stop around 1920. The photos from after that are in family albums, not libraries.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
2 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Retake an old viewKittaning, Pennsylvania.Alternate Title…: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Rayburn TownshipIts storyB−Manor TownshipIts storyC+East Franklin TownshipIts storyCWest HillsIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Kittanning’s history

What year was Kittanning founded?

In 1803, according to Wikidata. Kittanning’s post office opened in 1807, and the census of 1810 counted 309 people here.

How does Kittanning rank for history?

Kittanning is more historic than 94% of U.S. towns, #128 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.

What is on the National Register in Kittanning?

Three places: the Armstrong County Courthouse and Jail (listed 1981), the Allegheny River Lock and Dam No. 7 (2000) and the Kittanning Passenger Station and Freight Depot (2025).

How old are the homes in Kittanning?

48% of Kittanning’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±10.8 points), against a typical 18% for a Pennsylvania town; the median home was built in 1944.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

From Wikimedia Commons (17), Wikidata (1), the National Register of Historic Places (3), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System, Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.