Elizabeth, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth is a borough
in Allegheny County
, Pennsylvania
, on the east bank of the Monongahela River
, where Pennsylvania Route 51
crosses, 15 miles (24.1 km) upstream (south) of Pittsburgh and close to the county line. The population was 1,493 at the 2010 census. The borough of Elizabeth is entirely contained within the 15037 USPS
ZIP code
.
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 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²), or 14.63%, is water.
of 2000, there were 1,609 people, 681 households, and 422 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 4,544.8 people per square mile (1,775.0/km²). There were 758 housing units at an average density of 2,141.1 per square mile (836.2/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.84% White, 3.60% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.19% Asian, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.25% of the population.
Households: There were 681 households out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples
living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.98.
Age Distribution: The population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 21.1% who were 65 or older. The median age was 40. For every 100 females, there were 82.2 males; for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.1 males.
Income: The median income for a household in the borough was $30,556, and the median income for a family was $36,607. Males had a median income of $28,088 versus $22,350 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $17,618. About 7.3% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.
making, safe
making, steamboat
building, and ship
building. The town had two coal inclines
in 1876, the O'Neil and Company Coal Incline on pool 1, and the Lobb's Run Incline on pool 2.
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...
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...
, on the east bank of the Monongahela River
Monongahela River
The Monongahela River is a river on the Allegheny Plateau in north-central West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania in the United States...
, where Pennsylvania Route 51
Pennsylvania Route 51
Pennsylvania Route 51 is a major state highway in Western Pennsylvania. It runs for from Uniontown to the Ohio state line near Darlington, where it connects with Ohio State Route 14. Route 51 is the termination point for Pennsylvania Route 43, Pennsylvania Route 48 and Pennsylvania Route 88. ...
crosses, 15 miles (24.1 km) upstream (south) of Pittsburgh and close to the county line. The population was 1,493 at the 2010 census. The borough of Elizabeth is entirely contained within the 15037 USPS
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
.
Geography
Elizabeth is located at 40°16′16"N 79°53′11"W (40.271189, -79.886347).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 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²), or 14.63%, is water.
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 1,609 people, 681 households, and 422 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 4,544.8 people per square mile (1,775.0/km²). There were 758 housing units at an average density of 2,141.1 per square mile (836.2/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.84% White, 3.60% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.19% Asian, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.25% of the population.
Households: There were 681 households out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% 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, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.98.
Age Distribution: The population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 21.1% who were 65 or older. The median age was 40. For every 100 females, there were 82.2 males; for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.1 males.
Income: The median income for a household in the borough was $30,556, and the median income for a family was $36,607. Males had a median income of $28,088 versus $22,350 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 $17,618. About 7.3% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.
History
- 1787 - Elizabeth (formerly Elizabeth Town) was founded by Samuel Mackay, Colonel Stephen Bayard and his wife Elizabeth Mackay Bayard (for whom the town was named).
- 1803 - The keelboatKeelboatKeelboat has two distinct meanings related to two different types of boats: one a riverine cargo-capable working boat, and the other a classification for small- to mid-sized recreational sailing yachts.-Historical keel-boats:...
used for the first stages of the Lewis and Clark ExpeditionLewis and Clark ExpeditionThe Lewis and Clark Expedition, or ″Corps of Discovery Expedition" was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William...
was built in Elizabeth. (This claim is disputed by the city of Pittsburgh, which makes a similar claim. See references below.) - 1834 - On April 2, 1834, a charter was issued to incorporate the Town of Elizabeth as a borough.
Early industry
Among the earliest industries of Elizabeth were glassGlass
Glass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives...
making, safe
Safe
A safe is a secure lockable box used for securing valuable objects against theft or damage. A safe is usually a hollow cuboid or cylinder, with one face removable or hinged to form a door. The body and door may be cast from metal or formed out of plastic through blow molding...
making, steamboat
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
building, and ship
Ship
Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
building. The town had two coal inclines
Funicular
A funicular, also known as an inclined plane or cliff railway, is a cable railway in which a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope; the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalance each other.-Operation:The basic principle of funicular...
in 1876, the O'Neil and Company Coal Incline on pool 1, and the Lobb's Run Incline on pool 2.
Nike missile site
From 1956 to 1963 Elizabeth was the location of a Nike anti-aircraft missile site (40°15′17"N 79°57′59"W).External links
- Lewis and Clark timeline from the United States National Park Service
- The Elizabeth Borough official website