The Juniata Locomotive Shop is a great source of jobs in the Juniata neighborhood.
Former rail community maintains its identity
Juniata was established as its own city in the late 1800s as the railroad industry in Altoona thrived and the Pennsylvania Railroad Company expanded north. This community of railroad employees, including scientists, engineers, accountants and mechanics was annexed to Altoona in 1929. But as the 20th century progressed, the railroad industry steadily declined, and "they took a wrecking ball to big sections of that part of Altoona," says Bob Baranik, lifelong Altoona resident and board member of Amtran, Altoona's public transportation authority. However, Juniata maintains its distinct identity and community, and many residents are descendants of Irish, German and Italian immigrants who originally populated the neighborhood and worked in the rail industry. "To this day, people born and raised in Juniata still claim Juniata as their home, even though it's part of Altoona, and wouldn't live anywhere else," Baranik says. The Juniata Locomotive Shop railyard still employs about 450 people in the neighborhood, though the industry is a shadow of what it was at its peak in the 1920s when it employed about 17,000 people in the town. Today, more people work at UPMC Altoona hospital and the Penn State Altoona campus, both within a mile of Juniata.
With brick-faced or wood-frams construction many of the houses in the Juniata are built to last.
American Foursquares on a gridded streetscape
Houses sit close together along hilly, gridded streets in Juniata, with views of the gently sloping, forested mountains in the distance. Some homes have stairs leading up to the entryway to accommodate the terrain, while others have small walkways. Some homes have detached parking garages in the backyard, but most cars park on the street. Houses have bigger backyards than front yards: some houses nearly abut the street or sidewalks in front of them. Many backyards have above-ground pools, trampolines or outdoor seating. Older homes in Juniata were built in the late 1800s through the 1920s and are mainly American Foursquare styles. These houses typically cost between $100,000 and $150,000, and many have had few updates or renovations since they were built. A handful of newer homes include split levels and bilevels built in the 1970s that cost between $100,000 and $200,000.
Juniata's Memorial Park and nearby mountains
Kids and families cool off in the summer at Juniata Memorial Spray Park, which has a sports-themed splash pad with several water features. Memorial Park also has a basketball court and playground. Penn State's Altoona campus nearby allows the public to use its outdoor recreation facilities, including the tennis courts, soccer field and track. The Allegheny Mountains surrounding Altoona have several state parks and many opportunities for hiking, biking and horseback riding throughout the year. One hiking option is the Lower Trail, which spans 17 miles from Blaire County to Huntingdon County. This crushed limestone trail is located in a former rail corridor abandoned in 1979 and starts at Canoe Creek State Park, about 12 miles east of Altoona. Canoe Creek State Park itself spans 961 acres. Park visitors can swim or fish in Canoe Creek Lake, a peaceful, deep blue body of water surrounded by gently sloping mountains.
Fishing is a popular pastime at Canoe Creek State Park where trout and other fish are caught.
The spray features at Memorial Park in Juniata cast a wide array of patterns in water.
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Juniata Elementary School in Altoona serves the residents of the Juniata neighborhood in K-6.
Altoona's public schools serve Juniata
Most students attend Juniata Elementary School, which has a C-plus grade from Niche. Students continue to Altoona Area Junior High School and Altoona Area High School, which both earn C-pluses. These are the only two public schools serving middle and high school students in Altoona. "Juniata used to have their own high school, but that was close to 100 years ago now," Baranik says. Altoona Area High School, which spans several buildings like a college campus, has facilities such as a planetarium, natatorium and an indoor basketball court. The Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center, just down the street from the high school's main building, offers students opportunities to learn vocational skills like welding and firefighting alongside their standard studies.
McGarvey's Bar and Grill is a favorite spot where Thursdays often feature pool tournaments.
Grabbing a drink on 4th Avenue and conveniences nearby
Locals grab a beer and pub grub at McGarvey's Bar and Grill on 4th Avenue and a slice across the block at Sal's Original Italian Pizza. Locals can swing by Family Dollar or Sheetz for quick errands or a bite to eat and pick up groceries at Martin's off Chestnut Avenue. Houses of worship in the neighborhood include Altoona Mennonite Church, Chabad of Altoona and Juniata United Methodist Church, among several others. Juniata's gridded, dense streets mean most necessities are within walking distance.
Many families from Juniata enjoy attending the Altoona Curve Baseball games.
Events with the Juniata Civic Association
The Juniata Civic Association hosts community events for residents, including crafting nights, monthly book clubs, fundraisers and social events. The Juniata Civic Association Pavilion in Memorial Park serves as the neighborhood's event space, hosting larger events. It has an indoor basketball court, and there's a meeting room for smaller parties. Neighbors come together each month to watch Imagine Pro Wrestling's live shows in the pavilion as well. For more entertainment, locals can drive across town to the Peoples Natural Gas Field to watch a minor league Altoona Curve baseball game or catch a show at the historic Mishler Theatre.
In the Juniata Locomotive Shop train repair is a long standing local tradition.
Roots in the railroad and getting around Altoona
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company established Altoona in the mid-1800s as a destination for building trains. "The Pennsylvania Railroad was built here because the weather is 2 or 3 degrees warmer than the mountains around us, winter or summer," Baranik says. "There was plenty of good, quality limestone-type quarry water, and there's no flooding. If you go 50 miles to Johnstown, a similar sized city, they've had three major floods that wiped the town out three times." Although many residents own cars, most are within walking distance of grocery stores, parks, restaurants and UPMC Altoona Hospital. Penn State's Altoona campus is also just outside the neighborhood. The Amtran bus system takes residents around town, while Pittsburgh is about 90 miles west by car.
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On average, homes in Juniata, Logan sell after 33 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Juniata, Logan over the last 12 months is $112,963, down 8% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome to this charming remodeled 3 bed, 1 and a half bath Cape Code situated on a corner lot. This cozy home boasts a carport for convenient parking and a small yard perfect for outdoor relaxation or entertaining guests. Inside, you'll find comfortable bedrooms waiting to provide restful nights of sleep. The seller is also including a one-year home warranty with First Premier Home Warranty.
Conveniently located near Penn State, this 3-bedroom home offers a fantastic opportunity for both homeowners and investors alike. The first floor includes a living room, dining room, laundry hookups & kitchen area. Second floor has a full bath & 2 bedrooms. The attic is finished with a bonus area outside of the 3rd bedroom. The sale includes three parcels, providing parking and a spacious
SINGLE FAMILY INVESTMENT PROPERTY BEING SOLD AS IS. SELLER WILL MAKE NO REPAIRS.BUYER TO VERIFY TAXES AND SQUARE FOOTAGE. SHOWINGS AFTER 5 O'CLOCK TENANT WORKS.
Now Leasing units for the Fall 2024 Semester! Close to Campus in the Juniata section of Altoona. Property includes large parking lot and separate private outside patio.Each unit is fully furnished and offers fully equipped kitchen. Property offers many types of options on rooms which include an efficiency apartment, private bedrooms or shared rooms. Each bedroom is secured. Each unit
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