2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Kutztown had a population of 4,162. The median age was 37.6 years. 17.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.6% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 87.8 males age 18 and over.

There were 1,814 households in Kutztown, of which 22.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 37.7% were married-couple households, 22.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The Old Order Mennonites in the area belong to the Groffdale Conference Mennonite Church and use the horse and buggy as transportation. There are several farms in the area belonging to the Old Order Mennonite community and a meetinghouse is located south of Kutztown. The Old Order Mennonites first bought land in the area in 1949.

Government

Kutztown has a mayor–council system of government with a mayor and a six-member council. As of 2019, the mayor of Kutztown is James F. Schlegel (D) and the council members are Council President Kevin J. Snyder (R), Council Vice President Derek D. Mace (D), Council President Pro Tempore Scott R. Piscitelli (R), Edwin K. Seyler (R), Richard J. Diehm (D), and Arabel J. Elliott (D).

Police services in the borough is provided by the Kutztown Police Department, which consists of twelve full-time officers. Fire protection in Kutztown and surrounding areas is provided by the Kutztown Fire Department, a volunteer fire department with 30 members and six pieces of equipment.

Education

Primary and secondary

thumb|Old Main at [[Kutztown University of Pennsylvania]]

Public school students in Kutztown, along with Lyons, Maxatawny Township, Greenwich Township, Lenhartsville, and Albany Township, are served by the Kutztown Area School District. Schools in the district serving the borough include Greenwich Elementary School, Kutztown Elementary School, Kutztown Area Middle School, and Kutztown Area High School.

Higher education

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania is a four-year public university located just outside the borough to the southwest. The university, which is one of the 14 schools of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, has an enrollment of 7,391 undergraduates and 918 postgraduates.

Infrastructure

Transportation

As of 2007, there were of public roads in Kutztown, of which were maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and were maintained by the borough.

U.S. Route 222 skims the northern and western edge of the borough on a freeway called the Kutztown Bypass, heading northeast to Allentown and southwest to Reading. Pennsylvania Route 737 heads north on Krumsville Road to Krumsville and Interstate 78/U.S. Route 22. Main Street runs southwest–northeast through Kutztown, becoming Kutztown Road outside the borough and connecting to US 222 at both ends. Greenwich Street heads north from Main Street and becomes PA 737 past an interchange with US 222. Noble Street heads south from Main Street toward Lyons.

The Allentown and Auburn Railroad operates a freight and tourist railroad from a station in Kutztown east to Topton; the tracks are owned by the Kutztown Transportation Authority.

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania has a zero-fare shuttle bus service that serves the campus and the adjacent town when school is in session, consisting of four routes operating at different times and to different locations. Klein Transportation provides bus service from a stop at Kutztown University to Douglassville, Reading, Wescosville, Hellertown, and Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Kutztown-based Bieber Transportation Group formerly provided bus service from the Bieber Bus Terminal in Kutztown to Reading, Allentown, Bethlehem, Philadelphia, and Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Bieber ended bus service on February 8, 2019. Kutztown Airport was located outside the borough but closed on January 31, 2009.

Utilities

The Borough of Kutztown Electric Department provides electricity to most of the borough, with portions of the borough receiving electricity from Met-Ed, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy. The borough's electric department dates back to the early 1900s and is one of 35 municipal electric departments in Pennsylvania. The borough purchases its electric power from American Municipal Power. The Public Works department provides trash collection and recycling to the borough. The borough also provides cable, internet, and telephone service through Home Net, a division of Hometown Utilicom. Natural gas service in Kutztown is provided by UGI Utilities.

Health care

Lehigh Valley Health Network operates the Health Center at Kutztown, which offers various services such as blood testing, family medicine, speciality care, and rehabilitation services. The nearest hospitals to Kutztown are located in the Allentown and Reading areas. Emergency medical services are provided by Kutztown Area Transport Service.

Economy

thumb|View of West Main Street from Noble Street

Kutztown's economy is strong and diverse, with workers employed by Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, and others. Companies formerly based in Kutztown include Bieber Transportation Group and the athletic shoe company Saucony.

Notable people

  • Luther Adler (1903-1984), actor, died in Kutztown
  • Joseph A. Baer (1878-1958), Brigadier general
  • Keith Haring (1958-1990), artist, born in Kutztown; his ashes are scattered nearby and a historical marker in his memory was dedicated by the Kutztown Area Historical Society on October 11, 2024
  • Ranger Bill Miller (1878-1939), silent Western film actor, born in Kutztown
  • Ray O'Connell (b 1949), former mayor of Allentown, Pennsylvania
  • G Rene Ryan (b 1995), national champion swimmer
  • Gary Mark Smith (b 1956), artist and author, grew up nearby

Sister city

Kutztown has one sister city:

  • Altrip, Rhineland-Palatine, Germany

References

  • Kutztown Borough official website