Sewickley Heights, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Sewickley Heights is a borough in Allegheny County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 810 at the 2010 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 7.3 square miles (18.9 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 981 people, 336 households, and 273 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 133.9 people per square mile (51.7/km²). There were 355 housing units at an average density of 48.5 per square mile (18.7/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.35% White, 0.92% African American, 0.61% Asian, 0.20% from other races
, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.31% of the population.
There were 336 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.0% were married couples
living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.5% were non-families. 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the borough the population was spread out with 20.6% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 17.8% from 25 to 44, 30.1% from 45 to 64, and 28.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 74.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.3 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $115,672, and the median income for a family was $158,756. Males had a median income of $89,473 versus $40,417 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $79,541 placing it at #99 on the list of highest-income places in the United States
. About 5.2% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.
. Thawmont was featured in a 1903 print advertisement of the United States Battery Company that promoted electric lighting for country homes. Other notable estates included the Henry Robinson Rea residence, Farmhill, and B.F. Jones' 100-room mansion, Fairacres.
Many of the grand estates in Sewickley Heights began to fall into disrepair in the 1950s and 1960s. Many of the original massive houses were demolished and the lots subdivided. Sewickley Heights preserved the country character of the borough by requiring minimum lot sizes of 5 acres (20,234.3 m²), though many homes are on substantially larger parcels. Many "neighborhoods" of Sewickley Heights are named after the original estate and the clusters of homes on the estate parcel are marked by unique stone fences original to the old estate.
In the 1960s and 1970s, several parcels of land were donated or purchased to form the Sewickley Heights Borough Park. The park now occupies approximately 600 acres (2.4 km²) and is renowned regionally for its hiking and horse-riding trails and other recreation areas. Sewickley Heights is also home to the Fern Hollow Nature Center and the Sewickley Heights History Center, which are co-located on a 33 acres (133,546.4 m²) site.
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 was 810 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Sewickley Heights is located at 40°33′40"N 80°9′20"W (40.561091, -80.155541).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 7.3 square miles (18.9 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 981 people, 336 households, and 273 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 133.9 people per square mile (51.7/km²). There were 355 housing units at an average density of 48.5 per square mile (18.7/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.35% White, 0.92% African American, 0.61% Asian, 0.20% 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 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.31% of the population.
There were 336 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.0% 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, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.5% were non-families. 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the borough the population was spread out with 20.6% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 17.8% from 25 to 44, 30.1% from 45 to 64, and 28.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 74.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.3 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $115,672, and the median income for a family was $158,756. Males had a median income of $89,473 versus $40,417 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 $79,541 placing it at #99 on the list of highest-income places in the United States
Highest-income places in the United States
-100 highest-income places with at least 1,000 households:This is a list of the 100 richest places in the United States with at least 1,000 households. This is the most common list used for referring to the richest communities in the country, as it eliminates any places with insignificant populations...
. About 5.2% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.
History
Sewickley Heights was established as a borough in 1935, but the area's character was largely established with the move of the Allegheny Country Club from Pittsburgh to its Sewickley Heights location in 1902. The establishment of the country club accelerated the settlement of the area as a haven for wealthy Pittsburgh residents. Many estates established in Sewickley Heights up through the 1930s occupied hundreds of acres with houses of immense proportions. Among the grandest estates was Thawmont, the estate of banker, shipper and investor William ThawWilliam Thaw
William Thaw, Sr. was an American businessman who made his fortune in transportation and banking. -Biography:...
. Thawmont was featured in a 1903 print advertisement of the United States Battery Company that promoted electric lighting for country homes. Other notable estates included the Henry Robinson Rea residence, Farmhill, and B.F. Jones' 100-room mansion, Fairacres.
Many of the grand estates in Sewickley Heights began to fall into disrepair in the 1950s and 1960s. Many of the original massive houses were demolished and the lots subdivided. Sewickley Heights preserved the country character of the borough by requiring minimum lot sizes of 5 acres (20,234.3 m²), though many homes are on substantially larger parcels. Many "neighborhoods" of Sewickley Heights are named after the original estate and the clusters of homes on the estate parcel are marked by unique stone fences original to the old estate.
In the 1960s and 1970s, several parcels of land were donated or purchased to form the Sewickley Heights Borough Park. The park now occupies approximately 600 acres (2.4 km²) and is renowned regionally for its hiking and horse-riding trails and other recreation areas. Sewickley Heights is also home to the Fern Hollow Nature Center and the Sewickley Heights History Center, which are co-located on a 33 acres (133,546.4 m²) site.