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History · Shade Gap

Shade Gap dates to 1871, and 66% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1939 on and the census since 1880.

1871founded
0on the National Register
66%homes built before 1940
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Photo: Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's Commons talk page, my Commons user talk page, or my English Wikipedia user talk page; I'll know about it a lot faster) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answers

How Shade Gap began

When was Shade Gap founded?

1871

Shade Gap dates its founding to 1871 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1880.

First census: 170 in 18802020 census: 78155 years
Founding year: Wikidata.

What stands out about Shade Gap’s past

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

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Shade Gap are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.Old housesHalf of Shade Gap’s homes were built before 1938.Boom and bustPeaked at 209 in 1890; 78 people lived here in 2020.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Shade Gap’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Shade Gap’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
The story so far

Shade Gap, in brief

Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Shade Gap yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.

Shade Gap is a borough in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 census, Shade Gap had a population of 78.

Shade Gap was established in 1871. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell from 105 to 78 (-26%).

Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.

People over time

Shade Gap, census by census

010020018801900192019401960198020002020Peak: 209

Peaked at 209 in 1890; 78 people lived here in 2020.

15 censuses, 1880–2020.

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

Timeline

Shade Gap, 1871 to 1939

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

  1. 19th century
  2. 1871
    FoundingShade Gap is established
  3. 1890CensusPopulation peaks at 209
  4. 20th century
  5. 1939On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
By decade

Shade Gap, decade by decade

Today9 recent
Shade Gap, PA original school building, May 20242024Shade Gap, PA original school building, May 2024Main Street sb entering Shade Gap, PA, May 20242024Main Street sb entering Shade Gap, PA, May 2024Main Street nb in Shade Gap, PA (5), May 20242024Main Street nb in Shade Gap, PA (5), May 2024Main Street nb in Shade Gap, PA (4), May 20242024Main Street nb in Shade Gap, PA (4), May 2024Main Street nb in Shade Gap, PA (3), May 20242024Main Street nb in Shade Gap, PA (3), May 2024Main Street nb in Shade Gap, PA (2), May 20242024Main Street nb in Shade Gap, PA (2), May 2024Main Street nb in Shade Gap, PA (1), May 20242024Main Street nb in Shade Gap, PA (1), May 2024Main Street nb entering Shade Gap, PA, May 20242024Main Street nb entering Shade Gap, PA, May 2024Shade Gap Post Office2009Shade Gap Post Office
On the map

Shade Gap on the map, 1939 to 1973

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

Shade Gap on the 1939 USGS mapShade Gap on the 1940 USGS mapShade Gap on the 1966 USGS mapShade Gap on the 1973 USGS map1939Orbisonia 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 Shade Gap.

Famous people

Famous people close to Shade Gap

Nobody well known was born in Shade Gap itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
George M. ChilcottAmerican politician · b. 1828
James Monroe MillerAmerican politician (Republican) · b. 1852
I
Ira J. DeenAmerican artist · b. 1874
Robert Milton SpeerAmerican politician · b. 1838
R.W. DromgoldBusinessperson and Los Angeles, California poli… · b. 1856

Questions about Shade Gap’s history

What year was Shade Gap founded?

In 1871, according to Wikidata. the census of 1880 counted 170 people here.

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). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (9), U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.