McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
McKees Rocks, also known as "The Rocks", is a borough
in Allegheny County
, Pennsylvania
, along the south bank of the Ohio River
. The borough population was 6,104 at the 2010 census.
In the past, it was known for its extensive iron
and steel
interests. Also, there were large railroad
machine shops
, and manufacturers
of locomotive
s, freight and passenger cars, and springs
, enamel
ware, lumber
, wall materials, plaster
, nuts
and bolts
, malleable casting
s, chain
s and forging
s, tin
ware, concrete
, and cigar
s.
The Pittsburgh, Allegheny and McKees Rocks Railroad
is located in an area known as the "Bottoms".
The name of the borough is often incorrectly stated as "Mc Kees Rocks," "McKee's Rocks," or "McKees Rock," but the official name is "McKees Rocks." It is within the Sto-Rox School District
, which serves McKees Rocks and neighboring Stowe Township. The local high school is Sto-Rox High School
.
The McKees Rocks Bridge, which carries traffic between McKees Rocks and Pittsburgh, is the longest bridge in Allegheny County
, at 7293 feet (2,222.9 m).
The area is well-served by Port Authority
bus routes 20, 21, 22, 24, and CO.
inhabited the region. The Adena culture
built a large mound at the future site of McKees Rocks. The mound, a burial site, was augmented in later years by members of the Hopewell culture. Much later, it was considered by George Washington
as a possible location for Fort Pitt
, which was eventually built on the site of the destroyed French Fort Duquesne
in what is now Pittsburgh's Point State Park
.
The borough derives its name from Alexander McKee
, to whom a 1300 acres (526.1 ha) tract of land was given in 1764, and from a rocky projection into the river at this site. In 1769, McKees Rocks officially got its name on a deed, and that year is considered to be its founding date. In 1892, it was incorporated as a borough
. In 1900, 6,353 people resided in the borough; in 1910, 14,702; in 1920, 16,713; and in 1940, 17,021 people inhabited McKees Rocks. The population was 6,104 at the 2010 census.
Mann's Hotel, which was possibly one of the oldest buildings in the Pittsburgh area, was located at 23 Singer Avenue in McKees Rocks. It was built around 1803, although other sources put the construction in the 18th century. It is rumored that George Washington stayed there when he was surveying the Indian mound. On October 12, 2009, Mann's Hotel was condemned due to neglect and had to be demolished due to its deteriorating condition.
McKees Rocks lent its name to one of the pivotal labor conflicts of the early 20th century, the 1909 McKees Rocks Strike
. In the summer and early fall of 1909, some 5,000 workers of the Pressed Steel Car Company
's plant at McKees Rocks went on strike, joined by 3,000 others who worked for the Standard Steel Car Company
of Butler
and others in New Castle
. The strike, led by organizers of the Industrial Workers of the World
, was repressed by armed security guards and the state militia, resulting in at least a dozen deaths, involving participants on both sides.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), of which 1 square miles (2.6 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²), or 6.31%, is water. McKees Rocks is made up of several neighborhoods, such as West Park
, Meyers Ridge, and "The Bottoms".
of 2000, there were 6,622 people, 2,905 households, and 1,652 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 6,377.5 people per square mile (2,458.4/km²). There were 3,402 housing units at an average density of 3,276.4 per square mile (1,263.0/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 82.71% White, 14.06% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races
, and 1.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.09% of the population.
Households: There were 2,905 households out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.4% were married couples
living together, 21.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.1% were non-families. 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.96.
Age Distribution: The population included 24.1% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38. For every 100 females, there were 89.1 males; for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.2 males.
Income: The median income for a household in the borough was $22,278, and the median income for a family was $29,063. Males had a median income of $25,872 versus $23,402 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $13,858. About 20.5% of families and 25.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.8% of those under age 18 and 17.0% of those age 65 or over.
The "Bottoms" neighborhood is the site of the McKees Rocks Indian Mound, a designated historic landmark, where the oldest human bones in eastern North America have been discovered.
(Pittsburgh via McKees Rocks Bridge), Esplen
(Pittsburgh), Kennedy Township, Stowe Township, Windgap
(Pittsburgh)
, Riot
, and more than a dozen by the crime writer K.C. Constantine
.
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...
, along the south bank of the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
. The borough population was 6,104 at the 2010 census.
In the past, it was known for its extensive iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
and steel
Steel
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...
interests. Also, there were large railroad
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
machine shops
Machining
Conventional machining is a form of subtractive manufacturing, in which a collection of material-working processes utilizing power-driven machine tools, such as saws, lathes, milling machines, and drill presses, are used with a sharp cutting tool to physical remove material to achieve a desired...
, and manufacturers
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
of locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
s, freight and passenger cars, and springs
Spring (device)
A spring is an elastic object used to store mechanical energy. Springs are usually made out of spring steel. Small springs can be wound from pre-hardened stock, while larger ones are made from annealed steel and hardened after fabrication...
, enamel
Vitreous enamel
Vitreous enamel, also porcelain enamel in U.S. English, is a material made by fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between 750 and 850 °C...
ware, lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
, wall materials, plaster
Plaster
Plaster is a building material used for coating walls and ceilings. Plaster starts as a dry powder similar to mortar or cement and like those materials it is mixed with water to form a paste which liberates heat and then hardens. Unlike mortar and cement, plaster remains quite soft after setting,...
, nuts
Nut (hardware)
A nut is a type of hardware fastener with a threaded hole. Nuts are almost always used opposite a mating bolt to fasten a stack of parts together. The two partners are kept together by a combination of their threads' friction, a slight stretch of the bolt, and compression of the parts...
and bolts
Screw
A screw, or bolt, is a type of fastener characterized by a helical ridge, known as an external thread or just thread, wrapped around a cylinder. Some screw threads are designed to mate with a complementary thread, known as an internal thread, often in the form of a nut or an object that has the...
, malleable casting
Casting
In metalworking, casting involves pouring liquid metal into a mold, which contains a hollow cavity of the desired shape, and then allowing it to cool and solidify. The solidified part is also known as a casting, which is ejected or broken out of the mold to complete the process...
s, chain
Chain
A chain is a sequence of connected links.Chain may also refer to:Chain may refer to:* Necklace - a jewelry which is worn around the neck* Mail , a type of armor made of interlocking chain links...
s and forging
Forging
Forging is a manufacturing process involving the shaping of metal using localized compressive forces. Forging is often classified according to the temperature at which it is performed: '"cold," "warm," or "hot" forging. Forged parts can range in weight from less than a kilogram to 580 metric tons...
s, tin
Tin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...
ware, concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
, and cigar
Cigar
A cigar is a tightly-rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco that is ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the mouth. Cigar tobacco is grown in significant quantities in Brazil, Cameroon, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, and the Eastern...
s.
The Pittsburgh, Allegheny and McKees Rocks Railroad
Pittsburgh, Allegheny and McKees Rocks Railroad
The Pittsburgh, Allegheny and McKees Rocks Railroad is a switching railroad that serves industrial complexes in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. It formerly served the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad yard across the Ohio River via a car ferry service, operated with the steamboat "Steel...
is located in an area known as the "Bottoms".
The name of the borough is often incorrectly stated as "Mc Kees Rocks," "McKee's Rocks," or "McKees Rock," but the official name is "McKees Rocks." It is within the Sto-Rox School District
Sto-Rox School District
The Sto-Rox School District is a diminutive, suburban, public school district in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The youth of the borough of McKees Rocks and Stowe Township are educated by the district. Sto-Rox School District encompasses approximately 3 square miles. According to 2000 federal...
, which serves McKees Rocks and neighboring Stowe Township. The local high school is Sto-Rox High School
Sto-Rox High School
Sto-Rox High School is a high school located in the West Park neighborhood of Stowe Township, Pennsylvania. It is the only high school of the Sto-Rox School District, which educates the children of Stowe Township and the borough of McKees Rocks....
.
The McKees Rocks Bridge, which carries traffic between McKees Rocks and Pittsburgh, is the longest bridge 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...
, at 7293 feet (2,222.9 m).
The area is well-served by Port Authority
Port Authority of Allegheny County
Port Authority of Allegheny County is the second-largest public transit agency in Pennsylvania and the 11th-largest in the United States. When considering that its service area is the 20th largest in the U.S...
bus routes 20, 21, 22, 24, and CO.
History
For thousands of years, Native AmericansNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
inhabited the region. The Adena culture
Adena culture
The Adena culture was a Pre-Columbian Native American culture that existed from 1000 to 200 BC, in a time known as the early Woodland Period. The Adena culture refers to what were probably a number of related Native American societies sharing a burial complex and ceremonial system...
built a large mound at the future site of McKees Rocks. The mound, a burial site, was augmented in later years by members of the Hopewell culture. Much later, it was considered by George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
as a possible location for Fort Pitt
Fort Pitt (Pennsylvania)
Fort Pitt was a fort built at the location of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.-French and Indian War:The fort was built from 1759 to 1761 during the French and Indian War , next to the site of former Fort Duquesne, at the confluence the Allegheny River and the Monongahela River...
, which was eventually built on the site of the destroyed French Fort Duquesne
Fort Duquesne
Fort Duquesne was a fort established by the French in 1754, at the junction of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers in what is now downtown Pittsburgh in the state of Pennsylvania....
in what is now Pittsburgh's Point State Park
Point State Park
Point State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on in Downtown Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA, at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers, forming the Ohio River....
.
The borough derives its name from Alexander McKee
Alexander McKee
Colonel Alexander McKee was an agent in the British Indian Department during the French and Indian War, the American Revolutionary War, and the Northwest Indian War....
, to whom a 1300 acres (526.1 ha) tract of land was given in 1764, and from a rocky projection into the river at this site. In 1769, McKees Rocks officially got its name on a deed, and that year is considered to be its founding date. In 1892, it was incorporated as a borough
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 1900, 6,353 people resided in the borough; in 1910, 14,702; in 1920, 16,713; and in 1940, 17,021 people inhabited McKees Rocks. The population was 6,104 at the 2010 census.
Mann's Hotel, which was possibly one of the oldest buildings in the Pittsburgh area, was located at 23 Singer Avenue in McKees Rocks. It was built around 1803, although other sources put the construction in the 18th century. It is rumored that George Washington stayed there when he was surveying the Indian mound. On October 12, 2009, Mann's Hotel was condemned due to neglect and had to be demolished due to its deteriorating condition.
McKees Rocks lent its name to one of the pivotal labor conflicts of the early 20th century, the 1909 McKees Rocks Strike
Pressed Steel Car Strike of 1909
The Pressed Steel Car Strike of 1909, also known as the "1909 McKees Rocks Strike," was an American labor strike which lasted from July 13 through September 8. The walkout drew national attention when it climaxed on Sunday August 22 in a bloody battle between strikers, private security agents, and...
. In the summer and early fall of 1909, some 5,000 workers of the Pressed Steel Car Company
Pressed Steel Car Company
On January 13 1899 the Pressed Steel Car Company was incorporated in New Jersey with an authorized capitalization of $25 million, for the stated purpose of “manufacturing passenger, freight and street railway cars and to make trucks, wheels, and other parts of cars”...
's plant at McKees Rocks went on strike, joined by 3,000 others who worked for the Standard Steel Car Company
Standard Steel Car Company
The Standard Steel Car Company was a manufacturer of railroad rolling stock in the United States that existed between 1902 and 1934....
of Butler
Butler, Pennsylvania
The city of Butler is the county seat of Butler County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, situated north of Pittsburgh. The population was 15,121 at the 2000 census.- History :...
and others in New Castle
New Castle, Pennsylvania
New Castle is a city in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States, northwest of Pittsburgh and near the Pennsylvania-Ohio border just east of Youngstown, Ohio; in 1910, the total population was 36,280; in 1920, 44,938; and in 1940, 47,638. The population has fallen to 26,309 according to the...
. The strike, led by organizers of the Industrial Workers of the World
Industrial Workers of the World
The Industrial Workers of the World is an international union. At its peak in 1923, the organization claimed some 100,000 members in good standing, and could marshal the support of perhaps 300,000 workers. Its membership declined dramatically after a 1924 split brought on by internal conflict...
, was repressed by armed security guards and the state militia, resulting in at least a dozen deaths, involving participants on both sides.
Geography
McKees Rocks is located at 40°28′13"N 80°3′49"W (40.470218, -80.063674).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 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), of which 1 square miles (2.6 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²), or 6.31%, is water. McKees Rocks is made up of several neighborhoods, such as West Park
West Park, Stowe Township
West Park is a residential and commercial neighborhood located in Stowe Township, Pennsylvania, United States, and partially in the borough of McKees Rocks...
, Meyers Ridge, and "The Bottoms".
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 6,622 people, 2,905 households, and 1,652 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 6,377.5 people per square mile (2,458.4/km²). There were 3,402 housing units at an average density of 3,276.4 per square mile (1,263.0/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 82.71% White, 14.06% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.41% 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 1.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.09% of the population.
Households: There were 2,905 households out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.4% 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, 21.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.1% were non-families. 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.96.
Age Distribution: The population included 24.1% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38. For every 100 females, there were 89.1 males; for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.2 males.
Income: The median income for a household in the borough was $22,278, and the median income for a family was $29,063. Males had a median income of $25,872 versus $23,402 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 $13,858. About 20.5% of families and 25.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.8% of those under age 18 and 17.0% of those age 65 or over.
Points of interest
The multi-million-dollar, 40000 sq ft (3,716.1 m²) Father Ryan Cultural Arts Center opened in 2008, at 420 Chartiers Avenue, adjacent to the F.O.R. Sto-Rox Library (at 500 Chartiers Avenue). It offers many creative and performing arts courses to the public.The "Bottoms" neighborhood is the site of the McKees Rocks Indian Mound, a designated historic landmark, where the oldest human bones in eastern North America have been discovered.
Surrounding and adjacent neighborhoods
Brighton HeightsBrighton Heights (Pittsburgh)
Brighton Heights is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's northside area. It has a zip code of 15212, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 1...
(Pittsburgh via McKees Rocks Bridge), Esplen
Esplen (Pittsburgh)
Esplen is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's west city area. It has a zip code of 15204, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 2 ....
(Pittsburgh), Kennedy Township, Stowe Township, Windgap
Windgap (Pittsburgh)
Windgap is a neighborhood in the west area of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It has a zip code of 15204, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 2 ....
(Pittsburgh)
Notable people
- Myron BrownMyron BrownJulian Myron Brown is a retired American basketball player, formerly in the NBA and the Italian basketball league. At 6'3" and 180 lb , he played as a shooting guard.-College:After a stellar high school career at Sto-Rox Jr./Sr...
, Slippery Rock University basketball star and NBA player - Tom Clements, quarterbacks coach of the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
- Chuck FusinaChuck FusinaCharles Anthony Fusina is a former professional American football quarterback. He played in both the National Football League and United States Football League and was an All-American and Maxwell Award winner at Penn State University in 1978.-Professional football:At 6'1" 195-lb., Fusina was a...
, Penn State, USFL, and NFL football player - John KasichJohn KasichJohn Richard Kasich is the 69th and current Governor of Ohio. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing from 1983 to 2001...
, Republican governor of Ohio, former congressman, and former presidential candidate - Catherine Baker KnollCatherine Baker KnollCatherine Baker Knoll was an American politician and member of the Democratic Party. She was the 30th Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, serving under Governor Ed Rendell from 2003 to 2008.-Background:...
, former Pennsylvania lieutenant governor - Carl KosakCarl KosakK. C. Constantine is an American mystery author.Little is known about Kosak, as he prefers anonymity and has given only a few interviews. He was born in 1934 and served in the Marines in the early 1950s...
, author - Ted KwalickTed KwalickThaddeus John Kwalick is a former American football tight end in the National Football League and World Football League. He played for the San Francisco 49ers from 1969-1974 and the Oakland Raiders from 1975-1977. In 1975 he also played with the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League...
, Penn State all-America football player and San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ersThe San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
all-Pro tight end; member of the College Football Hall of FameCollege Football Hall of FameThe College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move... - Bob LigasheskyBob LigasheskyBob Ligashesky is an American football coach. He is currently the special teams assistant for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League.-Coaching career:...
, Sto-Rox graduate of 1985, tight ends coach for the Denver BroncosDenver BroncosThe Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Ettore J. MarsoloEttore J. MarsoloEttore J. Marsolo served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his action during the Battle of Tarawa.His award citation reads:...
, recipient of the Navy CrossNavy CrossThe Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all... - Billy MaysBilly MaysWilliam Darrell "Billy" Mays, Jr. was an American television direct-response advertisement salesperson most notable for promoting OxiClean, Orange Glo, and other cleaning, home-based, and maintenance products on the Home Shopping Network, and through his company, Mays Promotions, Inc...
, the late Oxi-Clean spokesperson, well known for his bearded face and distinct voice. - Jeff SmithJeff Smith (cartoonist)Jeff Smith is an American cartoonist, best known as the creator of the self-published comic book series Bone. His current series, RASL, focuses on an art thief who hops through dimensional barriers, hiding out on various parallel worlds.-Early life and education:Jeff Smith was born in McKees...
, cartoonist, best known as the creator of the self-published comic book series BoneBone (comics)Bone is an independently published graphic novel series originally serialized in 55 irregularly released issues from 1991 to 2004. Bone was drawn and written by Jeff Smith.... - Paul SpadaforaPaul SpadaforaPaul Spadafora is a native of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania who is a professional boxer. Spadafora was the IBF's world Lightweight champion.-Personal background:...
, former IBF world lightweight boxing champion, known as the "Pittsburgh Kid" - Olive ThomasOlive ThomasOlive Thomas was an American silent film actress and model. She is best remembered for her marriage to Jack Pickford and her death.-Early life:...
, silent film actress, and the original flapperFlapperFlapper in the 1920s was a term applied to a "new breed" of young Western women who wore short skirts, bobbed their hair, listened to jazz, and flaunted their disdain for what was then considered acceptable behavior... - Fredrick "Tex" Williams, world-record duckpin bowlerDuckpin bowlingDuckpin bowling is a variation of 10-pin bowling. The balls used in duckpin bowling are 4-3/4 in to 5 in in diameter , weigh 3 lb 6 oz to 3 lb 12 oz each, and lack finger holes...
in the 1930s; appeared in Ripley's Believe It or Not!Ripley's Believe It or Not!Ripley's Believe It or Not! is a franchise, founded by Robert Ripley, which deals in bizarre events and items so strange and unusual that readers might question the claims...
for rolling 25 consecutive strikesStrike (bowling)A strike is a term used in bowling to indicate that all of the pins have been knocked down with the first ball of a frame. On scoresheets, a strike is symbolized by an X.-Scoring:...
In popular culture
McKees Rocks is the fictionalized setting of the novels Duffy's RocksDuffy's Rocks
Duffy's Rocks is a young adult novel by the American writer Edward Fenton set in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania during the Great Depression....
, Riot
Riot (novel)
Riot is an historical novel based upon the Pressed Steel Car Strike of 1909 by William Trautmann, a founder of the U.S. Industrial Workers of the World ....
, and more than a dozen by the crime writer K.C. Constantine
Carl Kosak
K. C. Constantine is an American mystery author.Little is known about Kosak, as he prefers anonymity and has given only a few interviews. He was born in 1934 and served in the Marines in the early 1950s...
.
See also
- List of cities and towns along the Ohio River
- Pressed Steel Car Strike of 1909Pressed Steel Car Strike of 1909The Pressed Steel Car Strike of 1909, also known as the "1909 McKees Rocks Strike," was an American labor strike which lasted from July 13 through September 8. The walkout drew national attention when it climaxed on Sunday August 22 in a bloody battle between strikers, private security agents, and...
- Jenny Lee BakeryJenny Lee BakeryJenny Lee Bakery was a prominent bakery in McKees Rocks. It closed in 2008.In 2009, several members of the family re-started the company under the name "." The new version sells baked goods to local retail stores, such as Giant Eagle....