Phone Directory for Altoona
Altoona is a city in Blair County in central Pennsylvania. It sits at the base of the Allegheny Mountains and has a deep connection to the railroad industry. The city grew around the Pennsylvania Railroad shops in the mid-1800s. Today, about 44,000 people live in Altoona. The Altoona phone directory covers city offices, county agencies, police contacts, and public records services. Residents use these listings to reach local government, pay taxes, request permits, and access public documents throughout the Blair County area.
Altoona Quick Facts
Altoona City Government Phone Directory
The City of Altoona website lists departments with phone numbers, addresses, and office hours. Altoona uses a council-manager form of government. City Council makes policy decisions, and a city manager handles day-to-day operations. Each department runs its own phone line for public inquiries.
The city website is the primary source for the Altoona phone directory of municipal contacts.
Altoona city hall handles permits, codes enforcement, zoning matters, and tax collection. Public works manages roads, water, and sewer services. The parks and recreation department runs programs and maintains city parks. All of these departments appear in the Altoona phone directory with direct contact numbers.
Meeting agendas and minutes from City Council are public records. The city posts these on its website and makes them available at city hall during business hours.
Altoona Police Phone Contacts
The Altoona Police Department handles law enforcement within city limits. For emergencies, dial 911. For non-emergency matters, use the department's main number listed on the city website. The Altoona phone directory includes contacts for police administration, records, and other units.
Police reports and incident records can be requested through the department. The Pennsylvania State Police also serve parts of Blair County outside Altoona. Their emergency line is 1-800-932-0586. From a cell phone, dial *11.
The Altoona Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services. The main fire station number is listed in the city phone directory. For fire emergencies, always dial 911 first.
Note: Criminal investigative records are generally not available under the Right-to-Know Law. A subpoena may be needed to access those files.
Blair County Phone Directory Listings
Blair County provides county-level services for Altoona and the surrounding area. The county courthouse holds offices for the Recorder of Deeds, the Prothonotary, and the Register of Wills. These offices maintain property records, civil court filings, marriage licenses, and probate documents for the entire county.
The Recorder of Deeds keeps all land records for Blair County. You can search for deeds, mortgages, and other property documents at this office. The Prothonotary handles civil lawsuits, divorces, liens, and judgments. The Register of Wills manages estate records and marriage licenses.
Blair County also has its own Open Records Officer for Right-to-Know requests at the county level. The Altoona phone directory for county offices helps residents reach the right department for their needs. County and city offices are separate, so check which entity holds the records you need before calling.
Altoona Phone Directory for Public Records
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. 67.101) gives residents the right to request records from any government agency. Every record is presumed public unless a specific exemption applies. The law lists 30 exemptions under Section 708(b).
Each agency must name an Open Records Officer. Requests must be in writing and identify the records sought with reasonable detail. You can submit requests in person, by mail, email, or fax. The agency has five business days to respond. An extension of up to 30 days is possible if the records need redaction, are stored remotely, or require legal review.
Copies cost $0.25 per page for standard black and white prints. If the total is expected to exceed $100, the agency may require prepayment. The Altoona phone directory can help you find the right Open Records Officer for city, county, or state agencies in the area.
Appeals from denied requests go to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at 555 Walnut Street, Suite 605, Harrisburg, PA 17101. The office phone number is 717-346-9903. You must file an appeal within 15 business days of the denial.
Note: The Office of Open Records also offers mediation to resolve disputes without a formal hearing.
State Services for Altoona Residents
The Pennsylvania State Portal at pa.gov links to every state agency. Altoona residents can use it to renew licenses, register vehicles, find grants, and access online services. Official state websites end in "pa.gov" or "pennsylvania.gov."
The PA Department of Health maintains vital records. Birth certificates are available from 1915. Death certificates go back to 1906. The Division of Vital Records can be reached at 724-656-3100. For business entity searches, the PA Department of State maintains records for all corporations, LLCs, and partnerships registered in Pennsylvania.
- PA State Police emergency: 1-800-932-0586
- PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services: 1-800-932-4600
- PA Department of Health vital records: 724-656-3100
- PA Department of Corrections RTK Office: 717-728-7763
- Bureau of Publications directory orders: 717-704-1029
The 2025 Commonwealth Telephone Directory lists every state office and department. It is published by the Bureau of Publications in the Department of General Services. Individuals can order a copy online with a credit card.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Other cities in central Pennsylvania have their own phone directory resources. Select a city below to find local contacts.