Calumet-Norvelt, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Calumet-Norvelt is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Westmoreland County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. Although the US Census treats Calumet and Norvelt as a single community, they are in reality two very different communities, each reflecting a different chapter in how the Great Depression
affected rural Pennsylvanians. Calumet was a typical “patch town,” built by a single company to house its miners as cheaply as possible. The closing of the Calumet mine during the Great Depression caused enormous hardship in an era when unemployment compensation and welfare payments were nonexistent. On the other hand, Norvelt was created during the depression by the US federal government as a model community, intended to increase the standard of living of laid-off coal miners.
. Calumet-Norvelt is located at 40°12′49"N 79°29′35"W (40.213730, -79.493121). According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), all of it land.
. In 1894, Calumet was the site of a bitter coal miners’ strike against the H. C. Frick Coke Company, which at that time was part-owner of Calumet Coke Company.
The coke works closed in the 1920s, and the mine closed in the early 1930s during the Great Depression
, causing enormous hardship for the community’s workers.
. These communities were intended to allow rural inhabitants to have an improved quality of living, while largely growing their own food. It was hoped that these new communities would raise the standard of living for unemployed coal miners from nearby Calumet and similar "patch towns" in the area. Accordingly, each lot was a minimum of 1.7 acres (6,879.7 m²), and other land was set aside as a cooperative farm. The community’s layout and home designs were created by Paul Bartholomew
, an architect who had also designed many notable buildings in Greensburg.
In 1937, the community’s name was changed to Norvelt (EleaNOR RooseVELT), following a visit by Eleanor Roosevelt
, wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt
.
of 2000, there were 1,682 people, 682 households, and 504 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 1,156.4 people per square mile (447.9/km²). There were 709 housing units at an average density of 487.5/sq mi (188.8/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 99.41% White, 0.36% African American, 0.18% from other races
, and 0.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.48% of the population.
There were 682 households out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.4% were married couples
living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 21.3% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $38,000, and the median income for a family was $47,292. Males had a median income of $29,966 versus $22,027 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $17,043. About 4.2% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 369,993 people, 149,813 households, and 104,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 361 people per square mile . There were 161,058 housing units at an average density of 157 per square mile...
, 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...
. Although the US Census treats Calumet and Norvelt as a single community, they are in reality two very different communities, each reflecting a different chapter in how the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
affected rural Pennsylvanians. Calumet was a typical “patch town,” built by a single company to house its miners as cheaply as possible. The closing of the Calumet mine during the Great Depression caused enormous hardship in an era when unemployment compensation and welfare payments were nonexistent. On the other hand, Norvelt was created during the depression by the US federal government as a model community, intended to increase the standard of living of laid-off coal miners.
Geography
Calumet-Norvelt is an unincorporated community within Mount Pleasant TownshipMount Pleasant Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Mount Pleasant Township is a township in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 11,153...
. Calumet-Norvelt is located at 40°12′49"N 79°29′35"W (40.213730, -79.493121). 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 CDP has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), all of it land.
History of Calumet
Calumet was founded by the Calumet Coke Company in 1888 as a housing site for its workers. The community, as originally laid out, consisted of twenty double-houses, twelve single-family houses, and a few commercial and industrial buildings. The workers were employed in a coal mine and also tended ovens that produced coke (fuel)Coke (fuel)
Coke is the solid carbonaceous material derived from destructive distillation of low-ash, low-sulfur bituminous coal. Cokes from coal are grey, hard, and porous. While coke can be formed naturally, the commonly used form is man-made.- History :...
. In 1894, Calumet was the site of a bitter coal miners’ strike against the H. C. Frick Coke Company, which at that time was part-owner of Calumet Coke Company.
The coke works closed in the 1920s, and the mine closed in the early 1930s during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, causing enormous hardship for the community’s workers.
History of Norvelt
Norvelt, originally named Westmoreland Homesteads, was created April 13, 1934, as one of a series of “subsistence homesteads” under the National Industrial Recovery ActNational Industrial Recovery Act
The National Industrial Recovery Act , officially known as the Act of June 16, 1933 The National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA), officially known as the Act of June 16, 1933 The National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA), officially known as the Act of June 16, 1933 (Ch. 90, 48 Stat. 195, formerly...
. These communities were intended to allow rural inhabitants to have an improved quality of living, while largely growing their own food. It was hoped that these new communities would raise the standard of living for unemployed coal miners from nearby Calumet and similar "patch towns" in the area. Accordingly, each lot was a minimum of 1.7 acres (6,879.7 m²), and other land was set aside as a cooperative farm. The community’s layout and home designs were created by Paul Bartholomew
Paul Bartholomew
Paul Amos Batholomew was an architect in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. From the beginning of his practice, he received a variety of high-profile commissions for both residential and non-residential structures, mainly in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. His buildings typically had historicist...
, an architect who had also designed many notable buildings in Greensburg.
In 1937, the community’s name was changed to Norvelt (EleaNOR RooseVELT), following a visit by Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was the First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945. She supported the New Deal policies of her husband, distant cousin Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and became an advocate for civil rights. After her husband's death in 1945, Roosevelt continued to be an international...
, wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
.
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 1,682 people, 682 households, and 504 families residing in the CDP. 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 1,156.4 people per square mile (447.9/km²). There were 709 housing units at an average density of 487.5/sq mi (188.8/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 99.41% White, 0.36% African American, 0.18% 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 0.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.48% of the population.
There were 682 households out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.4% 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, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 21.3% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $38,000, and the median income for a family was $47,292. Males had a median income of $29,966 versus $22,027 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 CDP was $17,043. About 4.2% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.