Pennsylvania Route 21
Encyclopedia
Pennsylvania Route 21 is a 50.5 miles (81.3 km) long east–west state highway
in the US
state of Pennsylvania
. The western terminus of the route is at the West Virginia
state line in Richhill Township
, where PA 21 continues into West Virginia as West Virginia Route 891. The eastern terminus is at U.S. Route 40 Business in Uniontown
. The route is known as the Roy E. Furman Highway for most of its length.
in Richhill Township near the village of Polen. The highway winds its way through the hilly and sparsely populated area passing Ryerson Station State Park to the north. It continues to the northeast into Gray Township
where it veers to the southeast toward the village of Rogersville in Center Township
. Just before reaching Rogersville, Route 21 merges with Pennsylvania Route 18
near West Greene High School
. Route 18 leaves Route 21 near West Waynesburg while Route 21 continues into the borough of Waynesburg.
In Waynesburg, PA 21 is a one-way pair
as High Street (west) and Greene Street (east). Both streets are two lanes in the borough. High Street is the arterial road through Waynesburg's business district. While in Waynesburg, it shares its route with U.S. Route 19. PA 21 leaves Waynesburg entering the census-designated place
of Morrisville
. PA 21 becomes a two-lane road with a shared left turn lane for less than a mile before US 19 leaves the route and PA 21 stays east, becoming a four lane divided highway. Interstate 79
exit 14 is PA 21 in Morrisville signed for PA 21 to Masontown
and Waynesburg. PA 21 then leaves Morrisville in Jefferson Township
.
PA 21 travels east-southeast through the rest of rural Greene County. The road is mostly level and the countryside is mostly farmland. In Paisley, PA 21 intersects with Pennsylvania Route 88
at a busy intersection, then becomes a four-lane divided highway until it reaches Hatfield Ferry Power Station and the Masontown Bridge over the Monongahela River.
PA 21 enters Fayette County
in the borough of Masontown. It bypasses Masontown to the north and merges with PA 166
(Main St.). After leaving Masontown, the southernmost point on the route, PA 21 becomes McClellandtown Road. It turns to the northeast entering German Township
and leaving PA 166. Passing through McClellandtown, PA 21 traverses more densely populated western Fayette County entering South Union Township
.
The highway enters South Union Township in the village of Uledi. It intersects with Dixon Boulevard before entering the city of Uniontown
. It has an interchange with U.S. Route 40/U.S. Route 119 near Cherry Tree Square. It also passes Fayette County's main shopping district and Uniontown Hospital before ending at US Route 40 Business (Main St.).
. In 1953, it was realigned onto its current route from George St. in Cumberland Township
to Uniontown. PA 21 has been widened several times and several medians have been installed due to increased use since the 1950s. Improvements, including a new bridge over the Monongahela River
, are in the plans for the future.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state of 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...
. The western terminus of the route is at the West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
state line in Richhill Township
Richhill Township, Pennsylvania
Richhill Township is a township in Greene County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,062 at the 2000 census. Ryerson Station State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on Duke Lake in the township.-History:...
, where PA 21 continues into West Virginia as West Virginia Route 891. The eastern terminus is at U.S. Route 40 Business in Uniontown
Uniontown, Pennsylvania
Uniontown is a city in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, southeast of Pittsburgh and part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. Population in 1900, 7,344; in 1910, 13,344; in 1920, 15,692; and in 1940, 21,819. The population was 10,372 at the 2010 census...
. The route is known as the Roy E. Furman Highway for most of its length.
Greene County
Pennsylvania Route 21 enters Greene CountyGreene County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 40,672 people, 15,060 households, and 10,587 families residing in the county. The population density was 71 people per square mile . There were 16,678 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile...
in Richhill Township near the village of Polen. The highway winds its way through the hilly and sparsely populated area passing Ryerson Station State Park to the north. It continues to the northeast into Gray Township
Gray Township, Pennsylvania
Gray Township is a township in Greene County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 236 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
where it veers to the southeast toward the village of Rogersville in Center Township
Center Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania
Center Township is a township in Greene County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,393 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and 0.02% is water.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000,...
. Just before reaching Rogersville, Route 21 merges with Pennsylvania Route 18
Pennsylvania Route 18
Pennsylvania Route 18 is a major north–south highway in Western Pennsylvania whose southern terminus is at the West Virginia state line in Greene County, Pennsylvania near the village of Garrison, while the northern terminus is at PA Route 5 in Lake City, Pennsylvania...
near West Greene High School
West Greene School District
West Greene School District is a diminutive, rural, public school district located in Greene County, Pennsylvania. An estimated 500 students attend West Greene School District serves a large rural region, including Morris Township, Center Township, Gray Township, Jackson Township, Gilmore Township,...
. Route 18 leaves Route 21 near West Waynesburg while Route 21 continues into the borough of Waynesburg.
In Waynesburg, PA 21 is a one-way pair
One-way pair
A one-way pair, one-way couple, or just couplet is a pair of parallel, usually one-way streets that carry opposite directions of a signed route or major traffic flow, or sometimes opposite directions of a bus or streetcar route....
as High Street (west) and Greene Street (east). Both streets are two lanes in the borough. High Street is the arterial road through Waynesburg's business district. While in Waynesburg, it shares its route with U.S. Route 19. PA 21 leaves Waynesburg entering the census-designated place
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...
of Morrisville
Morrisville, Greene County, Pennsylvania
Morrisville is a census-designated place in Greene County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,443 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Morrisville is located at ....
. PA 21 becomes a two-lane road with a shared left turn lane for less than a mile before US 19 leaves the route and PA 21 stays east, becoming a four lane divided highway. Interstate 79
Interstate 79
Interstate 79 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern United States, designated from Interstate 77 in Charleston, West Virginia to Pennsylvania Route 5 and Pennsylvania Route 290 in Erie, Pennsylvania...
exit 14 is PA 21 in Morrisville signed for PA 21 to Masontown
Masontown, Pennsylvania
Masontown is a borough in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 3,611 at the 2000 census. The town is served by the Albert Gallatin Area School District...
and Waynesburg. PA 21 then leaves Morrisville in Jefferson Township
Jefferson Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania
Jefferson Township is a township in Greene County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,528 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of...
.
PA 21 travels east-southeast through the rest of rural Greene County. The road is mostly level and the countryside is mostly farmland. In Paisley, PA 21 intersects with Pennsylvania Route 88
Pennsylvania Route 88
Pennsylvania Route 88 is a long north–south state highway located in southwestern Pennsylvania. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 119 in Point Marion less than from the Pennsylvania-West Virginia border. The northern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 51 in Pittsburgh...
at a busy intersection, then becomes a four-lane divided highway until it reaches Hatfield Ferry Power Station and the Masontown Bridge over the Monongahela River.
Fayette County
Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the2010 census, the population was 136,606. The county is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area....
in the borough of Masontown. It bypasses Masontown to the north and merges with PA 166
Pennsylvania Route 166
Pennsylvania Route 166 is a north–south state route in Fayette County. It follows the path of the Monongahela River along the entire western border of Fayette County.-Route description:...
(Main St.). After leaving Masontown, the southernmost point on the route, PA 21 becomes McClellandtown Road. It turns to the northeast entering German Township
German Township, Pennsylvania
German Township is a township in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,595 at the 2000 census. McClellandtown is the township's largest village...
and leaving PA 166. Passing through McClellandtown, PA 21 traverses more densely populated western Fayette County entering South Union Township
South Union Township, Pennsylvania
South Union Township is a township in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 11,337 at the 2000 census.Villages within the township include Hopwood, Hatfield, Hutchinson, Chadville, South Uniontown, Leith, and Revere....
.
The highway enters South Union Township in the village of Uledi. It intersects with Dixon Boulevard before entering the city of Uniontown
Uniontown, Pennsylvania
Uniontown is a city in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, southeast of Pittsburgh and part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. Population in 1900, 7,344; in 1910, 13,344; in 1920, 15,692; and in 1940, 21,819. The population was 10,372 at the 2010 census...
. It has an interchange with U.S. Route 40/U.S. Route 119 near Cherry Tree Square. It also passes Fayette County's main shopping district and Uniontown Hospital before ending at US Route 40 Business (Main St.).
History
Pennsylvania Route 21 was first signed in 1928. It was first paved from the West Virginia state line to Ryerson in 1929. Originally, the highway was routed to CarmichaelsCarmichaels, Pennsylvania
Carmichaels is a borough in Greene County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 556 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Carmichaels is located at ....
. In 1953, it was realigned onto its current route from George St. in Cumberland Township
Cumberland Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania
Cumberland Township is a township in Greene County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,564 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of...
to Uniontown. PA 21 has been widened several times and several medians have been installed due to increased use since the 1950s. Improvements, including a new bridge over 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...
, are in the plans for the future.