Peters Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Peters Township is a township in Washington County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 17,566 at the 2000 census.
, the township has a total area of 19.8 square miles (51.2 km²), of which 19.6 square miles (50.7 km²) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) is water. The main thoroughfares in Peters Township are U.S. Route 19
heading North and South, and East McMurray Road heading East and West.
. Over the years, portions of Peters Township were sectioned off to form other municipalities; eventually, leaving the present configuration of 19.5 square miles (50.5 km²).
Peters Township was named after William “Indian” Peters. There is uncertainty as to whether Mr. Peters was an Indian
or a white man who traded with the Indians of the area. Regardless, the Indian name has long-been associated with Peters Township.
Some of the first settlers were the Wright Brothers (James & Joshua), James Matthews, John Sweringer, Rev. David Phillips, Andrew Dunlevy, Daniel Townsend and Robert Bell. Peters was initially a farm
ing community and then later on coal
became a major industry that resulted in the development of Hackett.
Peters Township remained a sparsely populated rural community until the 1950s. In 1950 the population was 3,004. By the year 2000, this number had increased to 17,556. In 1976, the Township’s Home Rule
Charter became effective. This altered the form of government from the prevalent Second Class Township Supervisor format to the present Council-Manager form.
The Township’s current Arrowhead logo was adopted with the new Home Rule Charter. It was designed by local artist, Robert Chamberlain, who used an arrowhead found in Peters Township as the pattern.
of 2010, there were 21,213 people, 7,292 households, and 6,079 families residing in the township. The population density
was 1,071.4 people per square mile (414.9/km²). There were 7,559 housing units at an average density of 381.8 per square mile (148.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.2% White, 0.5% African American, 0.1% Native American, 2.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races
, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population.
Of the 7,292 total households, 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.3% were married couples
living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.6% were non-families. 14.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the township the population was spread out with 31.1% under the age of 18, 2.7% from 18 to 24, 19.7% from 25 to 44, 33.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.3 males.
(PTSD) has two Elementary Schools (Bower Hill Elementary School and Pleasant Valley Elementary School) that educate students in grades K-3. The secondary elementary school (McMurray Elementary School) educates students in grades 4-6. The Peters Township Middle School
(PTMS) educates students in grades 7-8. The Peters Township High School
(PTHS) educates students in grades 9-12.
Washington County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 152,534 registered voters in Washington County .* Democratic: 89,027 * Republican: 49,025 * Other Parties: 14,482...
, 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 was 17,566 at the 2000 census.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 19.8 square miles (51.2 km²), of which 19.6 square miles (50.7 km²) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) is water. The main thoroughfares in Peters Township are U.S. Route 19
U.S. Route 19 in Pennsylvania
U.S. Route 19 in Pennsylvania closely parallels Interstate 79 for its entire length. US 19 enters Pennsylvania in Greene County near Mount Morris. Its northern terminus is in the city of Erie. Part is named for Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, hero of the Battle of Lake Erie.-Route description:In...
heading North and South, and East McMurray Road heading East and West.
Inner-township neighborhoods
- McMurrayMcMurray, PennsylvaniaMcMurray is a community in Peters Township, Washington County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The U.S. Census Bureau defined the community as a census-designated place , though it has no legal status as a separately incorporated municipality. The population was 4,726 at the 2000 census...
- Venetia
Surrounding neighborhoods
- Union TownshipUnion Township, Washington County, PennsylvaniaUnion Township is a township in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,599 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 15.7 square miles , of which, 15.4 square miles of it is land and...
- Nottingham Township
- North Strabane Township
- Cecil Township
- Upper St. Clair (Allegheny County)
- Bethel Park (Allegheny County)Bethel Park, PennsylvaniaBethel Park is a home rule municipality in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area, approximately 7 miles southwest of Pittsburgh...
History
Peters Township was incorporated in 1781 as one of the 13 original Townships of Washington County when it became part of Pennsylvania. Prior to 1781, the Peters Township area was part of VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Over the years, portions of Peters Township were sectioned off to form other municipalities; eventually, leaving the present configuration of 19.5 square miles (50.5 km²).
Peters Township was named after William “Indian” Peters. There is uncertainty as to whether Mr. Peters was an Indian
Native 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...
or a white man who traded with the Indians of the area. Regardless, the Indian name has long-been associated with Peters Township.
Some of the first settlers were the Wright Brothers (James & Joshua), James Matthews, John Sweringer, Rev. David Phillips, Andrew Dunlevy, Daniel Townsend and Robert Bell. Peters was initially a farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
ing community and then later on coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
became a major industry that resulted in the development of Hackett.
Peters Township remained a sparsely populated rural community until the 1950s. In 1950 the population was 3,004. By the year 2000, this number had increased to 17,556. In 1976, the Township’s Home Rule
Home rule
Home rule is the power of a constituent part of a state to exercise such of the state's powers of governance within its own administrative area that have been devolved to it by the central government....
Charter became effective. This altered the form of government from the prevalent Second Class Township Supervisor format to the present Council-Manager form.
The Township’s current Arrowhead logo was adopted with the new Home Rule Charter. It was designed by local artist, Robert Chamberlain, who used an arrowhead found in Peters Township as the pattern.
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 2010, there were 21,213 people, 7,292 households, and 6,079 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 1,071.4 people per square mile (414.9/km²). There were 7,559 housing units at an average density of 381.8 per square mile (148.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.2% White, 0.5% African American, 0.1% Native American, 2.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.3% 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 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population.
Of the 7,292 total households, 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.3% 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, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.6% were non-families. 14.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the township the population was spread out with 31.1% under the age of 18, 2.7% from 18 to 24, 19.7% from 25 to 44, 33.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.3 males.
Education
The Peters Township School DistrictPeters Township School District
Peters Township School District is a large, suburban, public school district located in Peters Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania and encompasses an area of 19.5 square miles. The school district has a population of 17,566, according to the 2000 federal census. In 2009, the per capita income...
(PTSD) has two Elementary Schools (Bower Hill Elementary School and Pleasant Valley Elementary School) that educate students in grades K-3. The secondary elementary school (McMurray Elementary School) educates students in grades 4-6. The Peters Township Middle School
Peters Township Middle School
Peters Township Middle School is a middle school located in McMurray, Pennsylvania and is part of the Peters Township School District serving students in grades 7-8....
(PTMS) educates students in grades 7-8. The Peters Township High School
Peters Township High School
Peters Township High School is a public high school in McMurray, Pennsylvania, at 264 East McMurray Road. It was built in 1968 and renovated in 1981. In January 2001, a 16-month, $24 million renovation was completed. The high school includes students from grades 9 through 12...
(PTHS) educates students in grades 9-12.