Waynesburg, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Waynesburg is a borough in and the county seat
of Greene County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
, 60 miles (96.6 km) southwest of Pittsburgh. The population was 4,184 at the 2000 census
.
The region is underlaid with several strata of coking coal
, including the Pittsburgh No. 8 seam, the Waynesburg seam and the Sewickley, or Mapletown seam. The area is also rich with coalbed methane
, which is currently being developed from the several underlying coal seams as an alternative fuel source. At one time, there were also natural gas
and oil deposits in the area. The Marcellus Shale, the largest domestic natural gas reserve, is currently being developed in Waynesburg and throughout Greene County. Early in the twentieth century, four large gas compressing stations and a shovel factory were located in Waynesburg. It is named after General "Mad" Anthony Wayne
who served with George Washington
in the Revolutionary War
.
Waynesburg is home to Waynesburg University
and to Greene County Airport.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 4,184 people, 1,619 households, and 869 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 5,038.6 people per square mile (1,946.3/km²). There were 1,811 housing units at an average density of 2,180.9 per square mile (842.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.94% White, 1.63% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races
, and 0.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.65% of the population.
There were 1,619 households out of which 24.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.4% were married couples
living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.3% were non-families. 38.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the borough the population was spread out with 18.6% under the age of 18, 24.2% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $30,990, and the median income for a family was $42,933. Males had a median income of $31,577 versus $22,458 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $15,333. About 8.0% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Greene County
Greene 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...
, 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...
, 60 miles (96.6 km) southwest of Pittsburgh. The population was 4,184 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
.
The region is underlaid with several strata of coking coal
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 :...
, including the Pittsburgh No. 8 seam, the Waynesburg seam and the Sewickley, or Mapletown seam. The area is also rich with coalbed methane
Coalbed methane
Coalbed methane or Coal Bed Methane, coalbed gas or coal mine methane is a form of natural gas extracted from coal beds. In recent decades it has become an important source of energy in United States, Canada, and other countries...
, which is currently being developed from the several underlying coal seams as an alternative fuel source. At one time, there were also natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
and oil deposits in the area. The Marcellus Shale, the largest domestic natural gas reserve, is currently being developed in Waynesburg and throughout Greene County. Early in the twentieth century, four large gas compressing stations and a shovel factory were located in Waynesburg. It is named after General "Mad" Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne was a United States Army general and statesman. Wayne adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his military exploits and fiery personality quickly earned him a promotion to the rank of brigadier general and the sobriquet of Mad Anthony.-Early...
who served with George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
in the Revolutionary War
American 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...
.
Waynesburg is home to Waynesburg University
Waynesburg University
Waynesburg University is a private, university located in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, USA. The university offers graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations, and enrolls over 2,500 students, including approximately 1,500 undergraduates.Waynesburg University was...
and to Greene County Airport.
Geography
Waynesburg is located at 39°53′51"N 80°11′8"W (39.897403, -80.185597).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 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all 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 4,184 people, 1,619 households, and 869 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 5,038.6 people per square mile (1,946.3/km²). There were 1,811 housing units at an average density of 2,180.9 per square mile (842.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.94% White, 1.63% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.17% 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 0.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.65% of the population.
There were 1,619 households out of which 24.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.4% 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, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.3% were non-families. 38.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the borough the population was spread out with 18.6% under the age of 18, 24.2% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $30,990, and the median income for a family was $42,933. Males had a median income of $31,577 versus $22,458 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 $15,333. About 8.0% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.
Notable natives
- Arthur I. BoremanArthur I. BoremanArthur Inghram Boreman was the first Governor of the U.S. state of West Virginia and a United States Senator.-Biography:...
, first Governor of West Virginia who left the town at age four - Bill GeorgeBill GeorgeWilliam J. George was a professional football player, playing linebacker, for the Chicago Bears and the Los Angeles Rams....
, linebacker for the Chicago BearsChicago BearsThe Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the Los Angeles RamsSt. Louis RamsThe St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,... - Greg HopkinsGreg HopkinsGreg Hopkins is a former Arena Football League wide receiver/linebacker with the Albany Firebirds and the Los Angeles Avengers.-High school career:Greg Hopkins was born in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, United States...
, Arena Football League player who played High School football in Waynesburg - Josh KoscheckJosh KoscheckJosh D. Koscheck is an American mixed martial artist from Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, a former collegiate wrestling champion and is currently fighting at welterweight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He made his debut with the organization on the first season of the reality television show,...
, mixed martial artistMixed martial artsMixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be... - Edward Martin, 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...
Governor and SenatorUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
for Pennsylvania