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Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

From Wikipedia - Reading time: 19 min

Westmoreland County
County
Westmoreland County Courthouse
Westmoreland County Courthouse
Flag of Westmoreland County
Flag
Official seal of Westmoreland County
Seal
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Westmoreland County
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Map of the United States highlighting Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°19′N 79°28′W / 40.31°N 79.47°W / 40.31; -79.47
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
FoundedFebruary 26, 1773
Named forWestmorland
SeatGreensburg
Largest cityHempfield Township
Area
 • Total
1,036 sq mi (2,680 km2)
 • Land1,028 sq mi (2,660 km2)
 • Water8.5 sq mi (22 km2)  0.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
354,663
 • Density345/sq mi (133/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts13th, 14th
Websitewww.westmorelandcountypa.gov

Westmoreland County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, located in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 354,663.[1] The county seat is Greensburg and the most populous community is Hempfield Township.[2] It is named after Westmorland, a historic county of England. The county is part of the Southwest Pennsylvania region of the state.[a]

Formed from, successively, Lancaster, Northumberland, and later Bedford counties, Westmoreland County was founded on February 26, 1773, and was the first county in the colony of Pennsylvania whose entire territorial boundary was located west of the Allegheny Mountains. Westmoreland County originally included the present-day counties of Fayette, Washington, Greene, and parts of Beaver, Allegheny, Indiana, and Armstrong counties.

History

[edit]

Formed from Lancaster, Northumberland, and later Bedford counties, Westmoreland County was founded on February 26, 1773, and was the first county in the Pennsylvania colony whose entire territorial boundary was located west of the Allegheny Mountains. Westmoreland County originally included the present-day counties of Fayette, Washington, Greene, and parts of Beaver, Allegheny, Indiana, and Armstrong counties. It is named after Westmorland, a historic county of England.

Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,036 square miles (2,680 km2), of which 1,028 square miles (2,660 km2) is land and 8.5 square miles (22 km2) (0.8%) is water.[3] Westmoreland County is one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission,[4] and it is identified as part of "Greater Appalachia" by Colin Woodard in his book American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America.[5]

Climate

[edit]

Westmoreland has a humid continental climate (Dfa/Dfb). Average monthly temperatures in Greensburg range from 28.7 °F in January to 71.8 °F in July, while in Murrysville they range from 29.4 °F in January to 73.1 °F in July, in Latrobe they range from 28.9 °F in January to 72.0 °F in July, and in Ligonier they range from 28.1 °F in January to 71.1 °F in July.[6]

Adjacent counties

[edit]

Major highways

[edit]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
179016,019—
180022,72641.9%
181026,39216.1%
182030,54015.7%
183038,40025.7%
184042,69911.2%
185051,72621.1%
186053,7363.9%
187058,7199.3%
188078,03632.9%
1890112,81944.6%
1900160,17542.0%
1910231,30444.4%
1920273,56818.3%
1930294,9957.8%
1940303,4112.9%
1950313,1793.2%
1960352,62912.6%
1970376,9356.9%
1980392,2944.1%
1990370,321−5.6%
2000369,993−0.1%
2010365,169−1.3%
2020354,663−2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2019[11] 2010-2020[12]

At the 2010 census,[13] there were 365,169 people, 153,650 households and 101,928 families residing in the county. The population density was 355.4 people per square mile (137.2 people/km2). There were 168,199 housing units at an average density of 163.7 units per square mile (63.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.3% White, 2.3% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.2% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. 0.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 153,650 households, of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32, and the average family size was 2.86.

22.3% of the population were under 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 31.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.

2020 census

[edit]
Westmoreland County Racial Composition[14]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 323,114 91.1%
Black or African American (NH) 8,985 2.53%
Native American (NH) 295 0.1%
Asian (NH) 3,301 1%
Pacific Islander (NH) 36 0.01%
Other/Mixed (NH) 13,702 3.86%
Hispanic or Latino 5,230 1.47%

Politics and government

[edit]

Voter registration

[edit]

As of March 4, 2024, there are 245,262 registered voters in Westmoreland County.[15]

Chart of Voter Registration

  Republican (50.51%)
  Democratic (37.06%)
  Independent (8.37%)
  Other Parties (4.06%)

Political history

[edit]

The Democratic Party historically dominated county-level politics between the New Deal realignment and the turn of the century; however, Westmoreland has trended Republican at the national and statewide levels in the 21st century (in direct lockstep with most other Appalachian counties).

In 2000, Republican George W. Bush became the first Republican to carry the county since 1972. Republicans have won the county in every election since, increasing the margin of victory in every successive election until 2020. Democratic Governor Ed Rendell lost Westmoreland in 2002 and 2006. In 2004 Republican Bob Regola flipped the 39th Senate district by beating out incumbent Allen Kukovich. Then in 2008, Republican Tim Krieger picked up the 57th House district left open by the retirement of Democratic state representative Tom Tangretti.

In 2010, both Pat Toomey and Tom Corbett won Westmoreland in their statewide bids. Also, the GOP gained control of two more State House districts, the 54th with Eli Evankovich and the 56th with George Dunbar. In 2011, the Republican Party swept all county row offices.[16] A Democratic resurgence in 2015 gave that party a majority of the county commissioners. However, in the 2019 elections, Democratic elected officials lost that majority and carried only one row office. In 2020 the County Sheriff who was the lone Democrat who won a row office in 2019 switched party affiliations from Democratic to Republican. In 2021 Republicans carried all of the row offices including defeating the incumbent District Attorney and County Coroner, following the 2021 election the minority County Commissioner was the only Democrat to hold Countywide office. In 2023 Republicans retained their majority on the Board of Commissioners and held every row office.

As of 2020, the only majority-Democratic cities within the county are Arnold and Monessen.[17] That being said, local Democrats running statewide sometimes win additional cities and boroughs. For example, in the 2022 Gubernatorial race, the cities of Greensburg, New Kensington, Latrobe, and Jeannette all voted for Democrat Josh Shapiro over Republican Doug Mastriano despite voting Republican in the 2020 Presidential election.[18]

United States presidential election results for Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 135,008 63.85% 74,904 35.42% 1,538 0.73%
2020 130,299 63.46% 72,192 35.16% 2,839 1.38%
2016 116,522 63.50% 59,669 32.52% 7,301 3.98%
2012 103,932 61.29% 63,722 37.58% 1,918 1.13%
2008 102,294 57.62% 72,721 40.96% 2,532 1.43%
2004 100,087 56.01% 77,774 43.52% 835 0.47%
2000 80,858 51.60% 71,792 45.81% 4,059 2.59%
1996 62,058 43.30% 63,686 44.43% 17,585 12.27%
1992 47,315 30.63% 69,817 45.20% 37,319 24.16%
1988 61,472 44.13% 76,710 55.07% 1,108 0.80%
1984 71,377 46.82% 79,906 52.41% 1,181 0.77%
1980 63,140 45.06% 68,627 48.97% 8,372 5.97%
1976 59,172 43.47% 74,217 54.52% 2,745 2.02%
1972 75,085 54.60% 59,322 43.13% 3,120 2.27%
1968 52,206 35.08% 81,833 54.98% 14,800 9.94%
1964 41,493 27.77% 107,131 71.70% 792 0.53%
1960 68,825 44.45% 85,641 55.31% 374 0.24%
1956 66,580 47.77% 72,616 52.10% 192 0.14%
1952 58,923 42.24% 80,068 57.40% 503 0.36%
1948 41,709 39.05% 61,901 57.95% 3,204 3.00%
1944 43,202 41.16% 61,057 58.17% 705 0.67%
1940 42,643 39.56% 64,567 59.90% 577 0.54%
1936 36,079 32.23% 73,574 65.73% 2,282 2.04%
1932 30,426 37.73% 45,436 56.34% 4,789 5.94%
1928 51,760 61.88% 30,587 36.57% 1,296 1.55%
1924 34,522 55.22% 10,223 16.35% 17,769 28.42%
1920 27,077 59.71% 12,845 28.32% 5,427 11.97%
1916 15,283 46.68% 13,829 42.24% 3,625 11.07%
1912 4,299 14.66% 9,262 31.58% 15,764 53.76%
1908 15,429 52.00% 11,101 37.41% 3,141 10.59%
1904 17,239 63.16% 8,007 29.33% 2,050 7.51%
1900 16,014 57.00% 11,010 39.19% 1,072 3.82%
1896 14,928 56.23% 11,029 41.55% 589 2.22%
1892 10,804 48.84% 10,747 48.58% 569 2.57%
1888 9,926 49.37% 9,602 47.76% 577 2.87%
1884 8,339 47.52% 8,346 47.56% 864 4.92%
1880 7,113 44.47% 7,975 49.86% 908 5.68%

County commissioners

[edit]

Westmoreland County is administered by a three-member publicly elected commission. Each commissioner serves in four-year terms. Elections occur in the odd-numbered years that precede U.S. presidential elections. All three Commissioners are chosen in the same election, and voters may vote for no more than two candidates. By state law, the commission must have a minority party guaranteeing a political split on the commission. The Commissioners are responsible for the management of the fiscal and administrative functions of the county.

Commissioner Party Title
Sean Kertes Republican Chairman
Ted Kopas Democratic Secretary
Doug Chew Republican Vice Chair

County row offices

[edit]
Office Official Party
Clerk of Courts Megan Loughner Republican
Controller Jeff Balzer Republican
Coroner Tim Carson Republican
District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli Republican
Prothonotary Gina O'Barto Republican
Recorder of Deeds Frank Schiefer Republican
Register of Wills Katie Pecarchik Republican
Sheriff James Albert Republican
Treasurer Jared M Squires Republican

State House of Representatives[20]

[edit]
District Representative Party
55 Jill N. Cooper Republican
56 George Dunbar Republican
57 Eric Nelson Republican
58 Eric Davanzo Republican
59 Leslie Rossi Republican
60 Abby Major Republican

State Senate[20]

[edit]
District Senator Party
32 Patrick J. Stefano Republican
39 Kim Ward Republican
41 Joe Pittman Republican

United States House of Representatives

[edit]
District Representative Party
12 Summer Lee Democrat
14 Guy Reschenthaler Republican

United States Senate

[edit]
Senator Party
John Fetterman Democratic
Bob Casey, Jr. Democratic

Education

[edit]

Public school districts

[edit]
Map of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts

School districts:[21]

Public charter schools

[edit]
  • Dr. Robert Ketterer Charter School grades 7th through 12th Latrobe (since 2008)

According to EdNA[22]

Private high school

[edit]

Colleges and universities

[edit]

Additional

[edit]

Economy

[edit]

Coal mining became a major industry in the county after the Civil War, followed by the expansion of iron, steel, and glass manufacturing. The 600-acre coke works for the Isabella Furnace were built in Cokeville (then Coketown) in the Spring of 1872.[25][26] At one point, company "coal patches" (towns built for miners) represented about one-third of the county's settlements.[27] A major strike by coal miners represented by the United Mine Workers of America took place in 1910–1911. Sixteen people were killed in the strike.[28]

In 2020, the top industries in the county were health care and social services (16.3% of jobs), manufacturing (13.8%), and retail trade (13.7%).[29] Mining comprised less than 1% of the jobs in the county. Westmoreland County is now believed to be the site of over 100 abandoned mines.[30][31]

Volkswagen's Westmoreland plant near New Stanton in Westmoreland County was the first foreign-owned factory mass-producing automobiles in the U.S. It operated from 1978 to 1988.

Recreation

[edit]
Autumn on a small state road near the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Laurel Mountains.

Westmoreland County has four Pennsylvania state parks.

Communities

[edit]
Map of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing cities and boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following cities, boroughs, and townships are located in Westmoreland County:

Cities

[edit]

Boroughs

[edit]

Townships

[edit]

Census-designated places

[edit]

Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may also be listed here.

Unincorporated communities

[edit]

Former community

[edit]

Population ranking

[edit]

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Westmoreland County.[35]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
1 Murrysville Municipality 20,079
2 † Greensburg City 14,892
3 New Kensington City 13,116
4 Lower Burrell City 11,761
5 Jeannette City 9,654
6 Latrobe City 8,338
7 Monessen City 7,720
8 Vandergrift Borough 5,205
9 Arnold City 5,157
10 Mount Pleasant Borough 4,454
11 Scottdale Borough 4,384
12 Level Green CDP 4,020
13 Irwin Borough 3,973
14 Loyalhanna CDP 3,428
15 Manor Borough 3,239
16 Trafford (partially in Allegheny County) Borough 3,174
17 Youngwood Borough 3,050
18 Derry Borough 2,688
19 Delmont Borough 2,686
20 West Newton Borough 2,633
21 Lawson Heights CDP 2,194
22 New Stanton Borough 2,173
23 Southwest Greensburg Borough 2,155
24 South Greensburg Borough 2,117
25 Lynnwood-Pricedale CDP 2,031
26 North Belle Vernon Borough 1,971
27 Ligonier Borough 1,573
28 St. Vincent College CDP 1,357
29 West Leechburg Borough 1,294
30 Calumet CDP 1,241
31 Fellsburg CDP 1,180
32 Collinsburg CDP 1,125
33 Avonmore Borough 1,011
34 Norvelt CDP 948
35 Export Borough 917
36 North Irwin Borough 846
37 Oklahoma Borough 809
38 Herminie CDP 789
39 Hostetter CDP 740
40 New Florence Borough 689
41 Yukon CDP 677
42 East Vandergrift Borough 674
43 Sutersville Borough 605
44 Millwood CDP 566
45 New Alexandria Borough 560
46 Bradenville CDP 545
47 Grapeville CDP 538
48 Mammoth CDP 525
49 Hyde Park Borough 500
50 Seward Borough 495
51 Wyano CDP 484
52 Penn Borough 475
53 Bolivar Borough 465
54 Smithton Borough 399
55 Madison Borough 397
56 Slickville CDP 388
57 Arona Borough 370
58 Youngstown Borough 326
59 Hunker Borough 291
60 Crabtree CDP 277
61 Webster CDP 255
62 Adamsburg Borough 172
63 Laurel Mountain Borough 167
64 Harrison City CDP 134
65 Donegal Borough 120

Notable people

[edit]
See also: List of people from the Pittsburgh metropolitan area

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Includes Westmoreland, Cambria, Fayette, Blair, Indiana, Somerset, Bedford, Huntingdon, Greene and Fulton Counties
  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  4. ^ "About the Appalachian Region". Appalachian Regional Commission. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  5. ^ Woodard, Colin (July 30, 2018). "The Maps That Show That City vs. Country Is Not Our Political Fault Line". New York Times. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  6. ^ "PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University".
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  9. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  11. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 7, 2011. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  12. ^ "Census 2020".
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  14. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania".
  15. ^ Pennsylvania Department of State (May 15, 2023). "Voter registration statistics by county". dos.pa.us. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  16. ^ "Voters shake up row offices, toss Democrats - TribLIVE". Archive.today. September 9, 2012. Archived from the original on September 9, 2012. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  17. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  18. ^ "Election Night Reporting". Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  19. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  20. ^ a b Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "Find Your Legislator". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  21. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Westmoreland County, PA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022. - Text list
  22. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Education Names and Addresses, 2012
  23. ^ "Valley School of Ligonier students give back to the Ligonier Valley community". Latrobe Bulletin. September 27, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  24. ^ Kadilak, Karen (January 31, 2024). "Handbell concert celebrates 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood' amid centuries-old coverlets". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  25. ^ Charles T G Looney (1974). "The Isabella Furnace at Etna, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, built 1872" (PDF). Washington, DC: Society for Industrial Archeology. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  26. ^ Baer, Christopher T. (May 2016). "PRR Chronology 1872" (PDF). Pennsylvania Railroad Historical and Technical Society. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  27. ^ Muller, Edward and Carlisle, Ronald (1994). "Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania: An Inventory of Historic Engineering and Industrial Sites". National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved February 8, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ Norwood, Stephen H. (2002). Strikebreaking and Intimidation: Mercenaries and Masculinity in Twentieth-Century America. The University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 978-0807853733.
  29. ^ "Westmoreland County Profile, January 2022" (PDF). Workstats. dli.pa.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  30. ^ Napsh, Joe (February 8, 2022). "Pa. mine cleanup funding hailed". Tribune-Review.
  31. ^ "Mine Maps Index, Westmoreland County". Pennsylvania Mine Map Atlas. Pennsylvania State University. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  32. ^ "History Franklin Township Westmoreland County, Pa". History.rays-place.com. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  33. ^ "Westmoreland County Pennsylvania Atlas, 1867". Usgwarchives.net. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  34. ^ "Franklin Township, Westmoreland County Pennsylvania". Pa-roots.com. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  35. ^ "This site has been redesigned and relocated. - U.S. Census Bureau". Census.gov. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  36. ^ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896. Marquis Who's Who. 1967.
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