Aspinwall, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Aspinwall is a borough
on the Allegheny River
in Allegheny County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
, and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area
. It is essentially a residential place. In 1900, 1,231 people resided in Aspinwall, and that number rose to 2,592 in 1910, and 3,170 by 1920. The population was 2,801 at the 2010 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1 km²), of which 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) is water. Its average elevation is 758 feet (231 m) above sea level.
industry was thriving in Pittsburgh, Henry Warner, superintendent of the Allegheny County Workhouse, had the idea of creating a residential community along the bank of a river.
Warner traveled to New York
to discuss the idea with Mrs. Annie Aspinwall. He purchased 155 acre (0.6272633 km²) of land from her and formed the Aspinwall Land Company in 1890. Pittsburghers, mostly from the upper-middle class, purchased lots from the 60 available home sites. By 1890, the town had 400 residents, most of whom were young couples with children. The existing government of O'Hara Township was having difficulty providing services to the rapidly growing area and, in 1892, 40 residents of the new community signed a petition requesting incorporation as "The Borough of Aspinwall, a self-governing unit."
Aspinwall was officially incorporated as a borough on December 28, 1892, from O'Hara Township.
Aspinwall was served by Pittsburgh Railways
streetcar service 94 Aspinwall from c.1910 until November 12, 1960, when the service was discontinued on the closure of the 62nd Street Sharpsburg Bridge. This was replaced by the Senator Robert D. Fleming Bridge
which did not have streetcar tracks.
From 1893 to 1905, Aspinwall developed in three phases, beginning with the area closest to the Allegheny River
. On September 25, 1905, a group of Aspinwall residents purchased 200 acre (0.809372 km²) from the Delafield Plan and annexed this additional land to the borough.
Early recreational facilities in the borough included tennis court
s and water fountains. During World War I
, the Patriots Committee of Aspinwall purchased wristwatches from a watch factory in Canton, Ohio
, which they presented to the approximately 164 Aspinwall men entering the service. Aspinwall held their own victory parade and memorial service for the soldiers of their borough.
of 2000, there were 2,960 people, 1,499 households, and 728 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 8,904.9 people per square mile (3,463.2/km²). There were 1,584 housing units at an average density of 4,765.3 per square mile (1,853.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.11% White, 0.27% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.17% from other races
, and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.01% of the population.
There were 1,499 households out of which 18.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.3% were married couples
living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.4% were non-families. 46.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the borough the population was spread out with 18.3% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 34.1% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 76.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.4 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $41,993, and the median income for a family was $58,750. Males had a median income of $45,231 versus $34,180 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $31,344. About 6.6% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.
Borough (Pennsylvania)
In the U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a borough is a self-governing municipal entity that is usually smaller than a city. There are 958 boroughs in Pennsylvania. All municipalities in Pennsylvania are classified as either cities, boroughs, or townships...
on the Allegheny River
Allegheny River
The Allegheny River is a principal tributary of the Ohio River; it is located in the Eastern United States. The Allegheny River joins with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River at the "Point" of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
in Allegheny County
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area
Pittsburgh Metro Area
The Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area is the metropolitan area surrounding the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is renowned for its industries including steel, glass and oil; moreover, its economy also thrives on healthcare, education, technology, robotics, financial services and more recently film...
. It is essentially a residential place. In 1900, 1,231 people resided in Aspinwall, and that number rose to 2,592 in 1910, and 3,170 by 1920. The population was 2,801 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Aspinwall is located at 40°29′35"N 79°54′11"W.According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the borough has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1 km²), of which 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) is water. Its average elevation is 758 feet (231 m) above sea level.
Surrounding communities
- Fox ChapelFox Chapel, PennsylvaniaFox Chapel is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA, and is a suburb of Pittsburgh located northeast of downtown.The population was 5,388 as of the 2010 census.-History:...
- O'Hara Township
- Pittsburgh
- Penn Hills
- SharpsburgSharpsburg, PennsylvaniaSharpsburg is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, northeast of Pittsburgh, along the Allegheny River. In the past, it had a rolling mill, foundries, machine shops, and manufacturers of varnish, brick, glass, lumber products, wire, hair, felt, and lubricating oil. In 1900, 6,842 people...
History
In the mid-1880s, the area which is now Aspinwall was primarily owned by the descendants of James Ross, but as the steelSteel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
industry was thriving in Pittsburgh, Henry Warner, superintendent of the Allegheny County Workhouse, had the idea of creating a residential community along the bank of a river.
Warner traveled to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to discuss the idea with Mrs. Annie Aspinwall. He purchased 155 acre (0.6272633 km²) of land from her and formed the Aspinwall Land Company in 1890. Pittsburghers, mostly from the upper-middle class, purchased lots from the 60 available home sites. By 1890, the town had 400 residents, most of whom were young couples with children. The existing government of O'Hara Township was having difficulty providing services to the rapidly growing area and, in 1892, 40 residents of the new community signed a petition requesting incorporation as "The Borough of Aspinwall, a self-governing unit."
Aspinwall was officially incorporated as a borough on December 28, 1892, from O'Hara Township.
Aspinwall was served by Pittsburgh Railways
Pittsburgh Railways
Pittsburgh Railways was one of the predecessors of the Port Authority of Allegheny County. It had 666 PCC cars, the third largest fleet in North America. It had 68 street car routes, of which only three are used by the Port Authority as light rail routes...
streetcar service 94 Aspinwall from c.1910 until November 12, 1960, when the service was discontinued on the closure of the 62nd Street Sharpsburg Bridge. This was replaced by the Senator Robert D. Fleming Bridge
Senator Robert D. Fleming Bridge
The Senator Robert D. Fleming Bridge, commonly known as the 62nd Street Bridge, is a truss bridge that carries PA Route 8 across the Allegheny River between the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Stanton Heights and the suburb of Sharpsburg.-History:...
which did not have streetcar tracks.
From 1893 to 1905, Aspinwall developed in three phases, beginning with the area closest to the Allegheny River
Allegheny River
The Allegheny River is a principal tributary of the Ohio River; it is located in the Eastern United States. The Allegheny River joins with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River at the "Point" of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
. On September 25, 1905, a group of Aspinwall residents purchased 200 acre (0.809372 km²) from the Delafield Plan and annexed this additional land to the borough.
Early recreational facilities in the borough included tennis court
Tennis court
A tennis court is where the game of tennis is played. It is a firm rectangular surface with a low net stretched across the center. The same surface can be used to play both doubles and singles.-Dimensions:...
s and water fountains. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the Patriots Committee of Aspinwall purchased wristwatches from a watch factory in Canton, Ohio
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, which they presented to the approximately 164 Aspinwall men entering the service. Aspinwall held their own victory parade and memorial service for the soldiers of their borough.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,960 people, 1,499 households, and 728 families residing in the borough. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 8,904.9 people per square mile (3,463.2/km²). There were 1,584 housing units at an average density of 4,765.3 per square mile (1,853.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.11% White, 0.27% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.17% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.01% of the population.
There were 1,499 households out of which 18.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.3% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.4% were non-families. 46.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the borough the population was spread out with 18.3% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 34.1% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 76.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.4 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $41,993, and the median income for a family was $58,750. Males had a median income of $45,231 versus $34,180 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the borough was $31,344. About 6.6% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Moe BarrMoe BarrThomas L. "Moe" Barr is a retired American basketball player. He played collegiately for the Duquesne University.Barr played for the Cincinnati Royals in the NBA for 31 games....
, former NBA player - Philip BeardPhilip BeardPhilip Beard is an American novelist.He was educated at Colgate University and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. He is an attorney who lives in Aspinwall, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh.Beard is married with three kids.-Works:...
, novelist - Frederick C. SauerFrederick C. SauerFrederick C. Sauer was a German-American architect, particularly in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, region of the late 19th and early 20th centuries....
, architect