Saint Marys, Pennsylvania
City
Saint Marys City Hall
Flag Seal
Location in Elk County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
Coordinates: 41°25′40″N 78°33′40″W / 41.42778°N 78.56111°W / 41.42778; -78.56111
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Elk
Settled	1804
Incorporated (borough)	1848
Incorporated (city)	1992
Government
• Type	Council-Manager Government
• Mayor	Lyle Garner
Area [1]
• Total	99.51 sq mi (257.72 km2)
• Land	99.32 sq mi (257.23 km2)
• Water	0.19 sq mi (0.49 km2)
Elevation	1,666 ft (508 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	12,738
• Density	128.0/sq mi (49.43/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST)
• Summer (DST)	EDT
Zip code	15857
Area code	814 / 582
FIPS code	42-67344
Website	City of Saint Marys

St. Marys is a city in Elk County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population is 12,738 as of the 2020 census.^[2] Originally a small town inhabited by mostly Bavarian Roman Catholics, it was founded December 8, 1842. It is home to Straub Brewery and the first Benedictine convent in the United States. In 1992, the borough of St. Marys absorbed the surrounding township of Benzinger and incorporated as a city.^[3] Despite its place as the second-largest city by area in Pennsylvania behind Philadelphia, it is one of the state's least densely populated cities.

St. Marys lies in the center of Pennsylvania's Elk country. It is one of the few places east of the Mississippi River that allows hunting of wild elk. The area is known for its access to outdoor activities, including trout streams and state hunting lands inside the city limits. ^{[citation needed]}

St. Marys is located at 41°26′15″N 78°32′34″W / 41.437600°N 78.542724°W / 41.437600; -78.542724 (41.437600, -78.542724).^[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 99.5 square miles (258 km²), of which 99.3 sq mi (257 km²) is land and 0.2 sq mi (0.52 km²) (0.16%) is water. Most of that area is unurbanized, and the large size is due to the city's 1992 merger with surrounding Benzinger Township.^[3] The city is at a relatively high elevation of 1,666 ft (508 m) above sea level. The city's territory is bordered by Jones Township to the north, Cameron County to the east, Fox and Jay Townships to the south, and Ridgway Township to the west.

The downtown area lies directly on the Eastern Continental Divide, such that water on the eastern side of the city drains into the Atlantic Ocean, while the western side drains to the Gulf of Mexico.^[5]

As of the 2020 census, St. Marys had a population of 12,738. The median age was 48.3 years. 18.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.5 males age 18 and over.^[11]

73.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 26.2% lived in rural areas.^[12]

There were 5,565 households in St. Marys, of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.7% were married-couple households, 19.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[11]

There were 6,048 housing units, of which 8.0% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.6%.^[11]

As of the 2010 census^[14] of 2010, there were 13,070 people, 5,579 households, and 3,695 families residing in the city. The population density was 131.6 inhabitants per square mile (50.8/km²). There were 6,124 housing units at an average density of 61.7 units per square mile (23.8 units/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.5% White, 0.3% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.4% of the population.

There were 5,579 households, out of which 26% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.1% under the age of 18, 59.5% from 18 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.6 years.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,802, and the median income for a family was $55,045. Males had a median income of $41,968 versus $29,489 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,208. About 7% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.3% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.

Historically, St. Mary's economy was heavily based off agricultural, lumber, and logging industries. During the 20th century, multiple carbon/graphite companies were formed and quickly transformed the economy of St. Marys into a manufacturing powerhouse. Companies such as the Speer Carbon Company, Stackpole Battery Company^[15], and Keystone Carbon Company(Now Keystone Powdered Metal Company) were founded, these industries bolstered the local economy and created many jobs, and the area was coined as the "Carbon Capital of the World".

This industry was pivotal for World War II, it played key roles in developing carbon products for the war effort. Many of the technologies and processes developed by this industry during the war lead to an evolution of the powdered metal industry post-war.^[16]

Today, the area of north-central Pennsylvania, and even more so St. Marys, is coined as the "Powdered Metal Capital of the World". Approximately 40% of the world's powdered metal parts are produced in this region at approximately 64 local and internationally owned powdered metal manufacturing facilities. Applications for powdered metal parts include automotive, small engines, power tools, consumer goods, medical equipment and devices, industrial motors, defense, and aerospace.^[17]

There is still an active carbon/graphite industry. International corporations such as Mersen^[18], SGL Carbon^[19], Morgan Advanced Materials^[20], and GrafTech^[21] operate large-scale carbon and/or graphite manufacturing in the city.

There are also support facilities for these industries, including numerous tool and die machine shops, heat treating and plating facilities, and warehouses.^[22]

As of the 2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, St. Mary's largest industry and source of employment is manufacturing, with the second largest being educational services, healthcare, and social services.^[23]

The city's main highways are PA 255 and PA 120.

St. Marys is served by the Area Transportation Authority of North Central Pennsylvania^[24], providing fixed routes, medical transportation, and Call-A-Bus^[25] service.

Fullington Trailways operates the Pittsburgh-Dubois-Buffalo and Buffalo-Dubois-Pittsburgh bus lines, which has a bus stop in downtown St. Marys.^[26]

The St. Marys Municipal Airport is located in the city's southeastern quadrant and provides general aviation.

Saint Marys Area School District has two elementary schools, one of which, the South St. Marys Street Elementary School, is located within the city.^[27] It houses preschool through fifth-grade classes for public school students within the city limits; similar services are provided to residents of Fox Township, the Fox Township Elementary School in Kersey. The Bennett's Valley Elementary, for residents of Jay Township, was previously part of the Saint Marys Area School District but merged with Fox Township Elementary in 2023.^[27]

The St. Marys Area Middle School and the St. Marys Area High School are located next to each other on a large complex near the edge of the city. Grades 6-8 are taught at the middle school, and grades 9-12 are taught at the high school. Saint Marys Area School District was ranked 165th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2012.

St. Marys Catholic Elementary School has one building, which is connected to Queen of the World Church.^[27] In 2002, an addition was built, adding four classrooms and a gymnasium. It also recently had a playground added. It houses grades pre-K through 5.

St. Marys Catholic Middle School, is located in the same building as the Elk County Catholic High School.^[27] The middle school formerly occupied the old Saint Mary's Parochial school building that was built in the early 1950s. Elk County Catholic High School, formally Elk County Christian High School, houses grades 6–12. It was built in 1961.^[28]

Until the early 2000s, the Catholic school system's elementary and middle schools, then known respectively as the Queen of the World School and the St. Marys Parochial School, each served all students up through eighth grade who attended their respective Catholic churches, as did the Sacred Heart School. When the school system was reworked into its current format due to declining attendance, the Sacred Heart School was closed.

• Decker's Chapel has been called the smallest chapel in America.^[29] It is located at 1000 South St. Marys Street.
• St. Joseph Monastery, home of the Benedictine Sisters of Elk County, was the oldest Benedictine women's religious order in the United States, founded in 1852. In 2013, the sisters voted unanimously to dissolve the community.^[30]
• Straub Brewery, was founded in St. Marys in 1872 by Peter Straub (1850–1913) of Felldorf, Württemberg, Germany, who purchased the Benzinger Spring Brewery from his father-in-law, Francis Xavier Sorg. Brewing continuously since that time, Straub is the third oldest brewery in the United States and considered an American Legacy Brewery™.^{[citation needed]} It is still owned and operated by the founding family, now in its seventh generation. Straub is also the smallest pre-Prohibition brewery still in business in the United States.

• The Bucksgahuda and Western Railroad is a 2 ft (610 mm) narrow-gauge^[31] railroad ran by enthusiasts.

• The Daily Press is St. Mary's daily newspaper.^[32]
• WDDH (FM 97.5) is a country music station based in Ridgway and the most powerful station in the region, being heard as far north as Cattaraugus County, New York.
• WKBI (AM 1400) operates an Adult Standards/Oldies format. Also heard on 94.5 FM, W233BS.
• WKBI (FM 93.9) operates a Contemporary Hit Radio format. WKBI-AM/FM was sold in early 2013 by longtime owner Cary Simpson to Laurel Media, Inc/WDDH 97.5

• George Albee, psychologist
• Gerard J. Campbell, president of Georgetown University
• Dan Conners, football player
• Joan Marie Engel, United States Navy Flag Officer
• Jeff Lloyd, football player
• Edward C. Meyer, Chief of Staff, United States Army 1979–83
• Anthony Joseph Schuler, Roman Catholic bishop
• Nate Sestina (born 1997), basketball player, playing for Fenerbahçe S.K. (basketball) in the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi
• Joanna Shields, UK Minister for Internet Safety and Security

• Saint Marys (Pennsylvania) travel guide from Wikivoyage
• City of St. Marys Official Website
• Saint Marys Area Chamber of Commerce
• Saint Marys at City-Data.com
• Bucksgahuda and Western Railroad - official website
• Reynolds, Francis J., ed. (1921). "Saint Marys, a borough of Pennsylvania" . Collier's New Encyclopedia. New York: P. F. Collier & Son Company.