Penn Hills, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Penn Hills is a large Home Rule Municipality
(formerly a township) in Allegheny County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population as of the 2010 census was 42,329, making it Pittsburgh's second largest suburb
by population.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the township has a total area of 19.3 square miles (50 km²), of which 19 square miles (49.2 km²) is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), or 1.40%, is water.
Penn Hills uses the ZIP code
s of 15235 and 15147; and the community is within area code 412
.
and Oakmont
to the north, by Plum Borough
to the east, by Monroeville
to the southeast, by Wilkins Township, Churchill
, Wilkinsburg
, and the Pittsburgh neighborhoods of East Hills
and Homewood
to the south, and by the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Lincoln–Lemington–Belmar to the west. The Allegheny River
borders Penn Hills to the northwest, and across it are O'Hara Township and the borough of Blawnox
.
of 2000, there were 46,809 people, 19,490 households, and 13,272 families residing in the township. The population density
was 2,460.1 people per square mile (949.7/km²). There were 20,355 housing units at an average density of 1,069.8 per square mile (413.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 73.58% White, 24.24% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races
, and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.63% of the population. The Italian American
population is very numerous in the township.
There were 19,490 households out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples
living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the township the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $39,960, and the median income for a family was $46,971. Males had a median income of $36,143 versus $27,331 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $20,161. About 5.6% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
runs through the southernmost part of Penn Hills, linking it and other eastern suburbs to downtown Pittsburgh.
Pennsylvania Route 791
, more commonly referred to as Rodi Road, connects heavily-traveled Frankstown Road (at PA-791's northern terminus) with I-376 at its southern terminus. Numerous restaurants, fast food locations, stores, gas stations, and hotels can be found on Rodi, as many truckers/travelers using I-376 use the Penn Hills exit to refuel, or even stay overnight.
For air travel, Pittsburgh International Airport
, located in the western portion of the county, is most commonly used. However, the Allegheny County Airport
in West Mifflin
is also still in use.
Several bus lines of the Port Authority of Allegheny County
offer service to Downtown Pittsburgh, and the Port Authority also has several routes and "flyers" located in Penn Hills.
Home Rule Municipality (Pennsylvania)
A Home Rule Municipality in Pennsylvania is one incorporated under its own unique charter, created pursuant to the state's Home Rule and Optional Plans Law and approved by referendum. "Local governments without home rule can only act where specifically authorized by state law; home rule...
(formerly a township) 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...
. The population as of the 2010 census was 42,329, making it Pittsburgh's second largest suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
by population.
History
In 1788, when Allegheny County was formed, the area now known as Penn Hills was part of Pitt Township. On January 16, 1850, Robert Logan, Thomas Davison and Daniel Bieber were appointed by the court to review the boundaries of a new township to be formed from the northwestern part of Wilkins. This new township was formed and named Adams, until August 1850 when the action of the court was reconsidered to change the name to McNair Township. The name was again changed to Penn Township by Act of Assembly and approved on February 10, 1851. In 1958 Penn Township became Penn Hills Township, and in 1976 Penn Hills became a home rule municipality. The earliest population was given in 1860, when there were 1,821 people living in Penn Township. The population grew to 2,685 in 1870 and 3,291 in 1880.Geography
Penn Hills is located at 40°28′34"N 79°50′0"W (40.476218, -79.833302).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 township has a total area of 19.3 square miles (50 km²), of which 19 square miles (49.2 km²) is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), or 1.40%, is water.
Penn Hills uses the 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...
s of 15235 and 15147; and the community is within area code 412
Area code 412
Area code 412 is a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania telephone area code which serves most of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania , along with small portions of Washington and Westmoreland counties, except the northern edge of Allegheny County served by the Consolidated Communications, formerly the North...
.
Surrounding communities
Penn Hills is bordered by VeronaVerona, Pennsylvania
Verona is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is northeast of downtown Pittsburgh, along the left bank of the Allegheny River. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 2,474.-Industry:...
and Oakmont
Oakmont, Pennsylvania
Oakmont is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA. It is a Pittsburgh suburb and part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 6,303 at the 2010 census....
to the north, by Plum Borough
Plum, Pennsylvania
Plum is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 27,126 at the 2010 census.Plum is often referred to as "Plum Boro" or more correctly "Plum Borough" by locals to distinguish it from its previous status as a township...
to the east, by Monroeville
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
Monroeville is a home rule municipality in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. Located about east of the city of Pittsburgh, Monroeville is a bustling suburb with mixed residential and commercial developments...
to the southeast, by Wilkins Township, Churchill
Churchill, Pennsylvania
Churchill is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,011 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Churchill is located at ....
, Wilkinsburg
Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania
Wilkinsburg is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States adjacent to the city of Pittsburgh. The population was 15,930 at the 2010 census, having lost more than 13,000 in the 70 years since 1940, when 29,853 people were enumerated...
, and the Pittsburgh neighborhoods of East Hills
East Hills (Pittsburgh)
East Hills is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA's east city area. It has a ZIP Code of 15221, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 9 ....
and Homewood
Homewood (Pittsburgh)
Homewood is a predominantly African American neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, officially divided into three neighborhoods: Homewood North, Homewood South and Homewood West....
to the south, and by the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Lincoln–Lemington–Belmar to the west. 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...
borders Penn Hills to the northwest, and across it are O'Hara Township and the borough of Blawnox
Blawnox, Pennsylvania
Blawnox is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,432 at the 2010 census.-Name:The name, Blawnox, is derived from the Blaw-Knox Company, which had a manufacturing plant there providing much of the town's employment...
.
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 46,809 people, 19,490 households, and 13,272 families residing in the township. 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 2,460.1 people per square mile (949.7/km²). There were 20,355 housing units at an average density of 1,069.8 per square mile (413.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 73.58% White, 24.24% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.34% 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 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.63% of the population. The Italian American
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
population is very numerous in the township.
There were 19,490 households out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% 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, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the township the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $39,960, and the median income for a family was $46,971. Males had a median income of $36,143 versus $27,331 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 township was $20,161. About 5.6% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Interstate 376Interstate 376
Interstate 376 is a major auxiliary route of the Interstate Highway System in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, located entirely within the Allegheny Plateau. It runs from I-80 near Sharon south and east to a junction with the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Monroeville, after having crossed the Turnpike...
runs through the southernmost part of Penn Hills, linking it and other eastern suburbs to downtown Pittsburgh.
Pennsylvania Route 791
Pennsylvania Route 791
Pennsylvania Route 791 is a state highway located in Penn Hills, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. It runs from US Route 22 Business in Churchill, Pennsylvania to PA 380 in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania. The entire route is part of the Pittsburgh Yellow Belt system of roads...
, more commonly referred to as Rodi Road, connects heavily-traveled Frankstown Road (at PA-791's northern terminus) with I-376 at its southern terminus. Numerous restaurants, fast food locations, stores, gas stations, and hotels can be found on Rodi, as many truckers/travelers using I-376 use the Penn Hills exit to refuel, or even stay overnight.
For air travel, Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport , formerly Greater Pittsburgh Airport, Greater Pittsburgh International Airport and commonly referred to as Pittsburgh International, is a joint civil–military international airport located in the Pittsburgh suburb of Findlay Township, approximately west of...
, located in the western portion of the county, is most commonly used. However, the Allegheny County Airport
Allegheny County Airport
Allegheny County Airport is located in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, four miles southeast of the city of Pittsburgh. It is the fifth busiest airport in Pennsylvania following Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and Harrisburg...
in West Mifflin
West Mifflin, Pennsylvania
West Mifflin is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, located southeast of downtown Pittsburgh. The population was 20,313 at the 2010 census....
is also still in use.
Several bus lines of the Port Authority of Allegheny County
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...
offer service to Downtown Pittsburgh, and the Port Authority also has several routes and "flyers" located in Penn Hills.
Government/elected officials
- Mayor- Anthony DeLuca, Jr.
- Deputy Mayor- Sara Kuhn
- Council Member- Gary N. Underwood
- Council Member- Joseph N. Palumbo
- Council Member- Dr. J-LaVon Kincaid, Sr.
- Controller- Theresa A. Sciulli
- Municipal Manager- Moe Rayan (Interim)
- Deputy Clerk- Diane Gionta Fitzhenry
- District Justice- Leonard Hromyak
- US Congress - 14th District- Michael F. Doyle
- US Congress - 18th District- Tim Murphy
- State Senate - 43rd District- Jay Costa
- US Senate- Toomey, Patrick J.
- US Senate- Bob Casey, Jr.
- State Legislature - 32nd District- Anthony M. DeLuca
Municipal building
The Penn Hills Municipal Building is located at 12245 Frankstown Road. This is the home to all municipal offices, including the Penn Hills Police Department. Penn Hills EMS is dispatched out of the municipal building. Location of municipal building via Google MapsSee also
- Blackridge, PennsylvaniaBlackridge, PennsylvaniaBlackridge is a community in eastern Allegheny County and is a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This community consists of about 650 private homes built in 1920-1949, Blackridge Estates was and remains one of the area's largest residential communities....
- Penn Hills School DistrictPenn Hills School DistrictThe Penn Hills School District is a public school district located in suburban Pittsburgh, serving the community of Penn Hills, which is about east of Downtown Pittsburgh...
- Penn Hills Fire ServicePenn Hills Fire ServiceThe Penn Hills Volunteer Fire Service was started in the Lincoln Park Community of Penn Hills Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in the 1920s....