Geography of Altoona
Altoona, Pennsylvania, a city in Blair County. It is in the Allegheny Mountains in the south-central part of the state. Altoona is a commercial, industrial, and transportation center. In Baker Mansion are exhibits pertaining to Blair County history. The Railroad Memorial Museum features a large collection of locomotives and railway cars. The Horseshoe Curve, near Altoona, is part of a scenic railway route that crosses the Allegheny Mountains.
Altoona was laid out in 1849 by the Pennsylvania Railroad. It served as the base of operations for railway construction westward. In its early days Altoona was known as the “Gateway to the West.”
Population: 49,523.