Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Mount Pleasant is a borough
in Westmoreland County
, Pennsylvania
, in the United States
. It stands 45 miles (72 km) southeast of Pittsburgh. Population in 1900, 4,745 people; in 1910, 5,812 people; and in 1940, 5,824 people. As of the 2000 census, the borough population was 4,728.
The Borough of Mount Pleasant, consisting of the town area, should not be confused with Mount Pleasant Township
, which is an entirely separate municipality. Mount Pleasant Township is predominantly rural and adjoins the borough to the north.
In the past, Mount Pleasant was a center of an extensive coke
-making industry. Other products included flour, lumber, iron, glass, foundry products, etc.
, there was a settlement of "not more than a half dozen houses." Braddock Road (Braddock expedition) passed through the western end of the future town in 1755, opening the area to settlement. In 1793 Michael Smith was licensed to operate an inn, which would have served traffic on Glades Road (sometimes spelled Glade Road), now Route 31
. In 1797, Nathaniel Marshall sold land to Andrew McCready, who laid out the design of the town.
Unfortunately, no pre-1800 structures remain within the borough limits. The borough’s three oldest existing buildings all date from approximately 1812: The Shupe House at 201 Main Street, Hitchman House at 355 Main Street, and the Rupert Building at 642-644 Main Street.
Mount Pleasant became a borough on February 7, 1828.
Glass manufacturing was a foundation of the local economy, with Bryce Brothers commencing operations in 1850, and L. E. Smith Glass in 1907. The invention of the Bessemer process
of steelmaking in 1859, which required coke (fuel)
, had a dramatic impact on the region. The town prospered as coal deposits were developed, from which coke was made. However, the lives of coal miners in the outlying "patch towns" (company-owned mining towns) were arduous, and labor-management disputes became frequent. The 1891 strike in Morewood, west of Mount Pleasant borough, was the most violent of the area’s strikes, in which seven miners were killed by sheriff’s deputies.
Mount Pleasant was disadvantaged when the main lines of the railroads bypassed the community in the 1850s. The community’s isolation lessened in 1871 with the opening of the Mount Pleasant and Broadford Railroad, later part of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
. In addition, a branch line of the Pennsylvania Railroad
connected the borough to Scottdale, and West Penn Railways
(an interurban
trolley) served Mount Pleasant from 1906 to 1952.
The Borough of Mount Pleasant has two sites on the National Register of Historic Places
: the Samuel Warden House (1886) at 200 South Church Street and the Mount Pleasant Historic District, which encompasses the oldest parts of the borough.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 1.1 square miles (3.0 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 4,728 people, 2,057 households, and 1,225 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 4,127.5 people per square mile (1,587.4/km²). There were 2,227 housing units at an average density of 1,944.1 per square mile (747.7/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.10% White, 1.67% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.15% from other races
, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.32% of the population.
A large proportion of the residents are of Polish descent, as evidenced by the Tadeusz Kościuszko
Club.
There were 2,057 households out of which 22.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples
living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.4% were non-families. 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the borough the population was spread out with 19.1% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 25.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 83.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.2 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $30,738, and the median income for a family was $41,438. Males had a median income of $30,655 versus $23,333 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $16,517. About 5.1% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
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...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It stands 45 miles (72 km) southeast of Pittsburgh. Population in 1900, 4,745 people; in 1910, 5,812 people; and in 1940, 5,824 people. As of the 2000 census, the borough population was 4,728.
The Borough of Mount Pleasant, consisting of the town area, should not be confused with Mount Pleasant Township
Mount 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...
, which is an entirely separate municipality. Mount Pleasant Township is predominantly rural and adjoins the borough to the north.
In the past, Mount Pleasant was a center of an extensive coke
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 :...
-making industry. Other products included flour, lumber, iron, glass, foundry products, etc.
History
The year of Mount Pleasant's first non-Indian resident is not known, although one source states that at the time of the American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, there was a settlement of "not more than a half dozen houses." Braddock Road (Braddock expedition) passed through the western end of the future town in 1755, opening the area to settlement. In 1793 Michael Smith was licensed to operate an inn, which would have served traffic on Glades Road (sometimes spelled Glade Road), now Route 31
Pennsylvania Route 31
Pennsylvania Route 31 is a long state highway located in Western Pennsylvania, paralleling U.S. Route 30 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike for most of its length. The designation begins at PA 136 near West Newton and ends at US 30 near Bedford....
. In 1797, Nathaniel Marshall sold land to Andrew McCready, who laid out the design of the town.
Unfortunately, no pre-1800 structures remain within the borough limits. The borough’s three oldest existing buildings all date from approximately 1812: The Shupe House at 201 Main Street, Hitchman House at 355 Main Street, and the Rupert Building at 642-644 Main Street.
Mount Pleasant became a borough on February 7, 1828.
Glass manufacturing was a foundation of the local economy, with Bryce Brothers commencing operations in 1850, and L. E. Smith Glass in 1907. The invention of the Bessemer process
Bessemer process
The Bessemer process was the first inexpensive industrial process for the mass-production of steel from molten pig iron. The process is named after its inventor, Henry Bessemer, who took out a patent on the process in 1855. The process was independently discovered in 1851 by William Kelly...
of steelmaking in 1859, which required 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 :...
, had a dramatic impact on the region. The town prospered as coal deposits were developed, from which coke was made. However, the lives of coal miners in the outlying "patch towns" (company-owned mining towns) were arduous, and labor-management disputes became frequent. The 1891 strike in Morewood, west of Mount Pleasant borough, was the most violent of the area’s strikes, in which seven miners were killed by sheriff’s deputies.
Mount Pleasant was disadvantaged when the main lines of the railroads bypassed the community in the 1850s. The community’s isolation lessened in 1871 with the opening of the Mount Pleasant and Broadford Railroad, later part of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
. In addition, a branch line of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
connected the borough to Scottdale, and West Penn Railways
West Penn Railways
West Penn Railways, one part of the West Penn System, was an interurban electric railway headquartered in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. It was part of the region's power generation utility.-History:...
(an interurban
Interurban
An interurban, also called a radial railway in parts of Canada, is a type of electric passenger railroad; in short a hybrid between tram and train. Interurbans enjoyed widespread popularity in the first three decades of the twentieth century in North America. Until the early 1920s, most roads were...
trolley) served Mount Pleasant from 1906 to 1952.
The Borough of Mount Pleasant has two sites on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
: the Samuel Warden House (1886) at 200 South Church Street and the Mount Pleasant Historic District, which encompasses the oldest parts of the borough.
Geography
Mount Pleasant is located at 40°8′59"N 79°32′33"W (40.149847, -79.542609).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 (3.0 km²), all of it land.
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 4,728 people, 2,057 households, and 1,225 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 4,127.5 people per square mile (1,587.4/km²). There were 2,227 housing units at an average density of 1,944.1 per square mile (747.7/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.10% White, 1.67% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.15% 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 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.32% of the population.
A large proportion of the residents are of Polish descent, as evidenced by the Tadeusz Kościuszko
Tadeusz Kosciuszko
Andrzej Tadeusz Bonawentura Kościuszko was a Polish–Lithuanian and American general and military leader during the Kościuszko Uprising. He is a national hero of Poland, Lithuania, the United States and Belarus...
Club.
There were 2,057 households out of which 22.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% 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, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.4% were non-families. 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the borough the population was spread out with 19.1% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 25.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 83.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.2 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $30,738, and the median income for a family was $41,438. Males had a median income of $30,655 versus $23,333 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 $16,517. About 5.1% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Jack GantosJack GantosJohn Bryan Gantos, Jr., better known as Jack Gantos is an American author of children's books renowned for his portrayal of fictional Joey Pigza, a boy with ADHD. Gantos has won a number of awards, including the Newbery Honor, the Printz Honor, and the Sibert Honor from the American Library...
(born 1951), author of children's books - John W. GearyJohn W. GearyJohn White Geary was an American lawyer, politician, Freemason, and a Union general in the American Civil War...
(1819–1873), Union general in the American Civil War - Raymond V. KirkRaymond V. KirkRaymond V. Kirk, C.S.Sp. was a Roman Catholic priest and the sixth president of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, from 1940 until 1946.-Personal background:...
(1901–1947), president of Duquesne UniversityDuquesne UniversityDuquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of... - Rich RollinsRich RollinsRichard John Rollins is an American former Major League Baseball third baseman. He played with the Minnesota Twins , Seattle Pilots , Milwaukee Brewers and Cleveland Indians...
(born 1938), Major League Baseball player - Steve SwetonicSteve SwetonicStephen Albert Swetonic was a pitcher in Major League Baseball, who played his entire career for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1929 through 1935. Swetonic batted and threw right-handed...
(1903–1974), Major League Baseball pitcher - Jess M. StairsJess M. StairsJess M. Stairs was a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 59th District from 1977 onwards. In 2002, he was a candidate to replace John E. Barley as Majority Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, eventually losing to Dave Argall...
(born 1942), RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Pennsylvania House of RepresentativesPennsylvania House of RepresentativesThe Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....