Westmont, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Westmont is a borough in Cambria County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 5,523 at the 2000 census.
of Altoona, Pennsylvania
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²), all of it land.
of 1889, Yoder Hill consisted of nothing more than a few farms, accessible by only a few steep, muddy roads. However, since the Flood was so devastating to the city and to its major employer, the Cambria Iron Company
, the iron company decided to develop the top of the hill as a suburb for its top personnel to live in. The company commissioned the famous landscape architect, Charles Miller, to lay out the grid for the settlement of "Tiptop", later renamed Westmont. Westmont was located on a ridge above the valley in which Johnstown is located, and thus in a place of safety. As such, it was also above the smoke, noise, and stench of the city, and attracted the well-to-do of the town, eager to escape what (in many cases) their own factories had wrought. An inclined railway, the Johnstown Inclined Plane
was built for easy travel to the city. With the problem of transportation solved, the new settlement began to grow, and it was incorporated as the Borough of Westmont on June 13, 1892. In 1935, the Borough bought the inclined railway from Bethlehem Steel
.
Because of its upland location, Westmont escaped destruction in the subsequent floods that damaged flood-prone Johnstown.
Westmont is currently governed by the “Weak Mayor-Council” form of government. There are seven council members and a mayor who are elected by the voters for four-year staggered terms. The mayor votes only in case of a tie. The Borough Council determines municipal policy, enacts laws, approves borough officials, etc. Daily operations are supervised by the Borough Secretary and the Public Works Director.
Westmont has a volunteer Fire Company and an ambulance service. Police protection is provided by the West Hills Regional Police Department.
Today Westmont Borough, even though considerably larger than that envisioned by the Cambria Iron Company officials, still retains many of the characteristics which attracted residents here in the first place. It is, for the most part, still a quiet. tree-lined community. One can see joggers, walkers and children throughout the community at all times of the day. Borough restrictions against commercial enterprise are still enforced.
Perhaps the town's standout feature is the allee of American Elm
trees along Luzerne Street, the last cathedral-arched boulevard left in the United States. Today there are 195 elms, the longest continuous stand of American Elms in the country, planted along Luzerne Street. Westmont's elm trees are intensively maintained to protect them from Dutch Elm Disease
.
of 2000, there were 5,523 people, 2,238 households, and 1,627 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 2,330.0 people per square mile (899.8/km²). There were 2,376 housing units at an average density of 1,002.4 per square mile (387.1/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.59% White, 0.31% African American, 0.09% Native American, 1.29% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races
, and 0.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.91% of the population.
There were 2,238 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.1% were married couples
living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the borough the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $53,580, and the median income for a family was $64,185. Males had a median income of $47,477 versus $32,111 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $30,868. About 3.1% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 1.6% of those age 65 or over.
Cambria County, Pennsylvania
Cambria County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It comprises the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 143,679....
, 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...
. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County...
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 5,523 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Westmont is located at 40°19′7"N 78°56′56"W (40.318707, -78.948825), about 28 miles WSWWSW
WSW may refer to:*WSW, the SAME code for a Winter Storm Warning*Wall Street Week, a business show on the US Public Broadcasting Service *War§ow, a video game*West-Southwest, a compass point for "Boxing the compass"...
of Altoona, Pennsylvania
Altoona, Pennsylvania
-History:A major railroad town, Altoona was founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1849 as the site for a shop complex. Altoona was incorporated as a borough on February 6, 1854, and as a city under legislation approved on April 3, 1867, and February 8, 1868...
.
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 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²), all of it land.
History
Before the Johnstown FloodJohnstown Flood
The Johnstown Flood occurred on May 31, 1889. It was the result of the catastrophic failure of the South Fork Dam situated upstream of the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA, made worse by several days of extremely heavy rainfall...
of 1889, Yoder Hill consisted of nothing more than a few farms, accessible by only a few steep, muddy roads. However, since the Flood was so devastating to the city and to its major employer, the Cambria Iron Company
Cambria Iron Company
Cambria Iron Company is a National Historic Landmark located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The company was founded in 1852 and made many important contributions to the iron and steel industry...
, the iron company decided to develop the top of the hill as a suburb for its top personnel to live in. The company commissioned the famous landscape architect, Charles Miller, to lay out the grid for the settlement of "Tiptop", later renamed Westmont. Westmont was located on a ridge above the valley in which Johnstown is located, and thus in a place of safety. As such, it was also above the smoke, noise, and stench of the city, and attracted the well-to-do of the town, eager to escape what (in many cases) their own factories had wrought. An inclined railway, the Johnstown Inclined Plane
Johnstown Inclined Plane
The Johnstown Inclined Plane is a funicular in Johnstown, Cambria County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The incline and its two stations connect the city of Johnstown, situated in a valley at the confluence of the Stonycreek and the Little Conemaugh Rivers, to the borough of Westmont on Yoder...
was built for easy travel to the city. With the problem of transportation solved, the new settlement began to grow, and it was incorporated as the Borough of Westmont on June 13, 1892. In 1935, the Borough bought the inclined railway from Bethlehem Steel
Bethlehem Steel
The Bethlehem Steel Corporation , based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was once the second-largest steel producer in the United States, after Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based U.S. Steel. After a decline in the U.S...
.
Because of its upland location, Westmont escaped destruction in the subsequent floods that damaged flood-prone Johnstown.
Westmont Today
Westmont continues to be a town of significant attractive, large, old houses. The present population of Westmont is approximately 6,000 residents.Westmont is currently governed by the “Weak Mayor-Council” form of government. There are seven council members and a mayor who are elected by the voters for four-year staggered terms. The mayor votes only in case of a tie. The Borough Council determines municipal policy, enacts laws, approves borough officials, etc. Daily operations are supervised by the Borough Secretary and the Public Works Director.
Westmont has a volunteer Fire Company and an ambulance service. Police protection is provided by the West Hills Regional Police Department.
Today Westmont Borough, even though considerably larger than that envisioned by the Cambria Iron Company officials, still retains many of the characteristics which attracted residents here in the first place. It is, for the most part, still a quiet. tree-lined community. One can see joggers, walkers and children throughout the community at all times of the day. Borough restrictions against commercial enterprise are still enforced.
Perhaps the town's standout feature is the allee of American Elm
American Elm
Ulmus americana, generally known as the American Elm or, less commonly, as the White Elm or Water Elm, is a species native to eastern North America, occurring from Nova Scotia west to Alberta and Montana, and south to Florida and central Texas. The American elm is an extremely hardy tree that can...
trees along Luzerne Street, the last cathedral-arched boulevard left in the United States. Today there are 195 elms, the longest continuous stand of American Elms in the country, planted along Luzerne Street. Westmont's elm trees are intensively maintained to protect them from Dutch Elm Disease
Dutch elm disease
Dutch elm disease is a disease caused by a member of the sac fungi category, affecting elm trees which is spread by the elm bark beetle. Although believed to be originally native to Asia, the disease has been accidentally introduced into America and Europe, where it has devastated native...
.
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 5,523 people, 2,238 households, and 1,627 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 2,330.0 people per square mile (899.8/km²). There were 2,376 housing units at an average density of 1,002.4 per square mile (387.1/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.59% White, 0.31% African American, 0.09% Native American, 1.29% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.13% 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 0.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.91% of the population.
There were 2,238 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.1% 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, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the borough the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $53,580, and the median income for a family was $64,185. Males had a median income of $47,477 versus $32,111 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 $30,868. About 3.1% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 1.6% of those age 65 or over.
See also
- Westmont Hilltop High SchoolWestmont Hilltop High School (Johnstown, Pennsylvania)Westmont Hilltop High School is the public high school for the Westmont Hilltop School District. The high school is located in Upper Yoder Township, Cambria County in the western suburbs of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The high school serves the populations living in Upper Yoder Township, Westmont...
- Stackhouse ParkStackhouse ParkStackhouse Park is a park in Westmont, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Johnstown. It is over 277 acres with 7 miles of hiking and bicycling trails.This natural, wooded, deep ravine was a gift from the Cambria Iron Company to the City of Johnstown on March 2, 1931...