Schuylkill Haven, PA

Schuylkill Haven is a small town located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The population was 10,821 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Schuylkill County.

The town was founded in 1792 and named for General James Schuyler, who was a general in the American Revolution. The first settler in the area was Ebenezer Allen, who built a cabin on what is now known as Allen Street. The town's early economy depended on agriculture and timber production. In 1810, Schuylkill Haven became incorporated as a borough and by 1850 had reached its peak population of 2,000 residents. However, during the late 19th century and early 20th century, coal mining became increasingly important to the local economy and by 1930 Schuylkill Haven had become one of the largest coal-producing towns in Pennsylvania with a population of 10,000 people. However, by 1970 coal mining had ceased to be an important part of the local economy and by 1990 Schuylkill Haven had lost most of its industrial base.

Today, Schuylkill Haven is primarily an agricultural community with businesses that provide services related to agriculture and tourism being its main economic drivers. There are also several colleges and universities located in or near Schuylkill Haven including Dickinson College (the largest private college in Pennsylvania), Penn State University-Schuylkill Campus (the largest university campus in Pennsylvania), Mercyhurst University (a private liberal arts college) and Saint Joseph's University (a Catholic university). Additionally, there are several museums located within or near Schuyllkille Haven including the Historical Society Museum at 401 North Second Street which features exhibits about local history; The Children's Museum at 601 East Pine Street which features exhibits about children's activities; The Art Gallery at 501 North Second Street which features exhibits about local art; The Museum at 502 North Second Street which features exhibits about natural history; The Museum at 505 North Second Street which features exhibits about archaeology; and The Library at 505 North Second Street which has more than 100 thousand items available for public use.