North Huntingdon Township, Pennsylvania

Last updated

North Huntingdon Township, Pennsylvania
FULLERTON INN, WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PA.jpg
The Fullerton Inn, a historic site in the township
Map of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Highlighting North Huntingdon Township.PNG
Map of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Highlighting North Huntingdon Township
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Westmoreland County.svg
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting
Westmoreland County
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Westmoreland
Area
[1]
  Total27.32 sq mi (70.75 km2)
  Land27.26 sq mi (70.60 km2)
  Water0.06 sq mi (0.15 km2)
Population
 (2020) [2]
  Total31,847 Decrease2.svg
  Estimate 
(2021) [2]
31,757
  Density1,125.50/sq mi (434.55/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
  Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
FIPS code 42-129-55128

North Huntingdon Township is a township in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 31,847 at the 2020 census. [2]

Contents

History

Named after England's Earl of Huntingdon, Huntingdon Township was founded on April 6, 1772, in Pennsylvania.

Huntingdon's boundaries started at the mouth of Brush Run where it emptied into Brush Creek. The area is approximately 26 square miles (67 km2)with the Township maintaining about 125 miles (200 km)of roads. If these roads were placed end-to-end, they would stretch from North Huntingdon to Cleveland, Ohio. [3] The boundaries, following along Byerly's Path to Braddock Road, continued to the lines that mark Mount Pleasant, Tyrone and Pitt Townships. Huntingdon Township was later divided into the townships North Huntingdon, East Huntingdon, South Huntingdon and Sewickley. Around this same time, Westmoreland County, where North Huntingdon is located, became the townships of Fairfield, Donegal, Mount Pleasant, Hempfield, Pitt, Tyrone, Springhill, Menallen, Rostraver and Armstrong.

Many Native American tribes inhabited this area before the European settlers. The Alligewe Indians are believed to be the first people to live in this area. [4] After this tribe, there were also the Shawnee, Seneca, Cornplanter and Delaware, also known as Lenni Lenape, tribes. The first white man did not come along until 1662.

Arnold Viele, a Dutch trader from Albany, New York was the first white man to enter this territory. [5] Viele had wanted to establish Indian trading posts that were closer to other communities. In doing this, he persuaded the Shawnee tribe to move near the Potomac and Susquehanna Rivers. After Viele, James Le Tort, Andrew Montour, Conrad Weiser and George Croghan were some of the other settlers to move to North Huntingdon.

Many different European groups settled in this area. Two of them were the German and Scottish-Irish immigrants. In the late 1670s, North Huntingdon Township was settled from both the eastern and western ends. [6] This section is divided but what is now known as Irwin. The Germans settled in the east and to the west was the Scottish-Irish settlement. In the German settlement, the Lutheran church ran the schools, and they exclusively taught the German language. The Scottish-Irish settlement was Presbyterian. This group settled mostly in the areas of Circleville, Cavitt's Mills and Robbin's Station.

The settlers wanted to provide their children with some education in their new homes. Farmers donated land so they could have schools for their children that weren't far from home. The schools were made with logs and a clapboard roof. Established in 1782, Birch Spring School was the first school in the township. [7] It was also called Master Jack's school after its first teacher. Teachers did not have to meet many requirements to get the job. [8] They had to pass an exam and have a basic knowledge of reading, writing and math. They also had to know how to mend quill pens and wield birch rods. Another school named Fairview was built in 1816. This school was used in the eastern end of the township, while Master Jack's school was used in the western end. Today, Norwin Middle School is located in the area.

Schools were not the only thing that these settlers built. They also made their homes. The homes were about 10 feet (3m) high with only one room and one window. They had to use mud for insulation against the cold winters. Chairs were made of logs and beds were stuffed with hay or straw. There was a hole in the roof, instead of a chimney, to let cooking smoke out of the house.

About a century after the German and Scottish-Irish settlers, the Township's population was recorded as 3,000 in 1860. [9] According to a census taken in 1980, North Huntingdon Township was the second largest municipality in Westmoreland County with 31,517 residents. [4] Another census in 2000 recorded that the population was down to 29,123 people.[ citation needed ]

The Fullerton Inn and Andrew and Jennie McFarlane House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [10]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 27.4 square miles (70.9 km2), of which 27.3 square miles (70.8 km2) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1 km2) (0.15%) is water.

It is traversed by the Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 76) and by Lincoln Highway (US 30). The southwestern corner of the township borders the Youghiogheny River for about 1½ Km.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1970 29,443
1980 31,5177.0%
1990 28,158−10.7%
2000 29,1233.4%
2010 30,6095.1%
2020 31,8474.0%
2021 (est.)31,757[ citation needed ]−0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [11]

At the 2000 census, there were 29,123 people, 11,216 households, and 8,625 families living in the township. The population density was 1,065.7 inhabitants per square mile (411.5/km2). There were 11,578 housing units at an average density of 423.7 per square mile (163.6/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 98.82% White, 0.32% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 0.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.41%. [12]

Of the 11,216 households 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.3% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.1% were non-families. 20.8% of households were one person and 10.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.96.

The age distribution was 21.8% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.

The median household income was $45,376 and the median family income was $51,933. Males had a median income of $39,693 versus $26,285 for females. The per capita income for the township was $20,786. About 4.4% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pottawatomie County, Kansas</span> County in Kansas, United States

Pottawatomie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Westmoreland. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 25,348. The county was named for the Potawatomi tribe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Londonderry Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Londonderry Township is a township in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is named after County Londonderry, now in Northern Ireland. The population was 1,643 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Farmington Township, Clarion County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Farmington Township is a township in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,778 at the 2020 census, a decrease from 1,934 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Hanover Township, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

West Hanover Township is a township in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 10,693 at the 2020 census, an increase over the figure of 9,343 tabulated in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jay Township, Elk County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Jay Township is a township in Elk County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,961 at the 2020 census, down from 2,072 in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penn Township, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Penn Township is a township in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,078 at the 2020 census. The township includes the village of Hesston and the Seven Points Marina of Raystown Lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franklin Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Franklin Township is a township in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Back Mountain, a 118 square mile region in northern Luzerne County. The population was 1,712 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jenkins Township, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Jenkins Township is a township in the Greater Pittston area of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,282 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plains Township, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Plains Township is a township in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 9,816 at the 2020 census. The municipality is the birthplace of Chicago White Sox hall of famer Ed Walsh and John J. Yeosock, a United States Army general who commanded the 3rd U.S. Army during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. Mohegan Pennsylvania is a casino in Plains Township.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bingham Township, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Bingham Township is a township in Potter County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 621 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulysses Township, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Ulysses Township is a township in Potter County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 census, the township population was 647. There are two Pennsylvania state parks in Ulysses Township. Denton Hill State Park is a ski resort along U.S. Route 6. Lyman Run State Park is in the southern part of the township and is partially in neighboring West Branch Township. Its population includes extreme white supremacy groups, and has done so for about 100 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fox Township, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Fox Township is a township in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 310 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derry Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Derry Township is a township in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. It surrounds the borough of Derry, which is a separate municipality. As of the 2020 census, the township population was 13,631.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

East Huntingdon Township is a township in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 7,712 at the 2020 census. From 1978 to 1988, the township had been home to the Volkswagen Westmoreland Assembly Plant, which later became a Sony plant. As of 2020 companies there include DNP, Cenveo, and Siemens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Fairfield Township is a township in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,051 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Hempfield Township is a township in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 41,585 at the 2020 census, making it the largest suburb in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area by population. Its name is derived from Hempfield in Lancaster County, which was formed in 1729 and is named after the hemp fields in the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irwin, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Irwin is a borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, 22 miles (35 km) southeast of Pittsburgh. Some of the most extensive bituminous coal deposits in the commonwealth are located here. In the past, iron foundries, flour mills, car shops, facing and planing mills, electricals goods, and mirror factories provided employment to the residents. In 1900, the population numbered 2,452; it increased to 2,886 in 1910. The population was 3,973 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rostraver Township, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Rostraver Township is a township in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 11,374 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manchester Township, York County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Manchester Township is a township in York County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 19,511 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norwin School District</span> School district in Pennsylvania

The Norwin School District is a large, suburban public school district. It is located in western Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States of America.

References

  1. "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 "City and Town Population Totals: 2020—2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  3. A. L. Historian, Irwin and the World Around It (Irwin, PA: Key Art, 1989), 9.
  4. 1 2 Irwin and the World Around It, 9
  5. 10 Score: North Huntingdon Township (Norwin PA, 1973), 16.
  6. 10 Score: North Huntingdon Township, 22
  7. The Diamond: Official Publication Commemorating Irwin's 75th Anniversary Celebration (Irwin, PA: Rodgers Printing, 1939), 27.
  8. The Diamond: Official Publication Commemorating Irwin's 75th Anniversary Celebration, 27.
  9. Irwin and the World Around It, 9.
  10. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.

Works cited

40°23′00″N79°44′29″W / 40.38333°N 79.74139°W / 40.38333; -79.74139