Manns Choice, Pennsylvania

Manns Choice, Pennsylvania
Borough
Store in Manns Choice Store in Manns Choice
Manns Choice
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Bedford
Settled	1848
Incorporated	1886
Government
• Type	Borough Council
Area
• Total	0.51 sq mi (1.31 km2)
• Land	0.50 sq mi (1.30 km2)
• Water	0.004 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation	1,460 ft (450 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	300
• Density	599/sq mi (231.4/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Zip code	15550
Area code(s)	814

Manns Choice is a borough in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 300 at the 2010 census.

Name

In 1848, Congressman Job Mann pressured to have a post office at an unnamed village in Harrison Township. The Post Office Department approved the new post office, but as the village had no name, Congressman Mann was to give it one. Before he did so, postal maps were made with the temporary designation "Mann's Choice" written on it. The name was never changed, and became the permanent and official one.

Geography

Home of the world famous Coral Caverns housing the only fossilized Coral Reef open to the public in the world since 1932. Manns Choice is located in west-central Bedford County at (40.002836, -78.591440), in the valley of the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River. Buffalo Mountain and Wills Mountain rise to the east. The borough is mostly surrounded by Harrison Township, but it is bordered by Napier Township to the northwest.

Pennsylvania Routes 31 and 96 pass through the borough. Route 31 leads northeast 3.4 miles (5.5 km) to U.S. Route 30 west of Bedford, while Route 96 heads south 15 miles (24 km) to Hyndman and 29 miles (47 km) to Cumberland, Maryland. Route 31 and 96 together head northwest out of town, Route 96 leading to Shawnee State Park and Schellsburg, and Route 31 leading eventually to Somerset. Interstate 76, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, passes just north of the borough limits but does not provide access; the nearest exit is in Bedford.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.51 square miles (1.31 km²), of which 0.004 square miles (0.01 km²), or 1.02%, is water.

The historic White Sulphur Springs Hotel is located 4 miles (6 km) south of the borough in Harrison Township. Built in 1884, the building originated as a hotel and restaurant, and is now home to the non-profit ministry of Officers Christian Fellowship, which serves military service people and their families as a retreat center. In the fall, winter and spring off-season, the facility operates as a conference center for churches, business meetings, banquets and day gatherings.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1890	363		—
1900	312		−14.0%
1910	341		9.3%
1920	274		−19.6%
1930	271		−1.1%
1940	306		12.9%
1950	313		2.3%
1960	351		12.1%
1970	334		−4.8%
1980	286		−14.4%
1990	249		−12.9%
2000	291		16.9%
2010	300		3.1%
Est. 2014	298		−0.7%
Sources:

As of the census of 2000, there were 291 people, 116 households, and 75 families residing in the borough. The population density was 620.0 people per square mile (239.1/km²). There were 124 housing units at an average density of 264.2 per square mile (101.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.66% White, and 0.34% from two or more races.

There were 116 households, out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 28.2% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 85.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $31,500, and the median income for a family was $36,042. Males had a median income of $29,375 versus $17,917 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $13,533. About 6.7% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.5% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those sixty five or over.