Whitehall, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Whitehall is a borough
in Allegheny County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 13,944 at the 2010 census.
, which was re-named White Hall in the 1850s. The building is still in existence, but is in Brentwood
.
In 1946, residents of Baldwin Township's
fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh wards began the process of secession. A petition was filed on October 14, 1946, in the Quarterly Sessions of Allegheny County, with 1320 signatures out of the 1627 freeholder
s in the proposed borough. In response to this, Baldwin Township officials called an emergency meeting to file a petition to have Baldwin Township incorporated into a borough, as it is much more difficult to secede from a borough than from a township. On January 5, 1948, Whitehall separated from Baldwin Township to become an independent municipality. According to former mayor Edwin F. Brennan, residents of Whitehall wanted better services and zoning than they received under the jurisdiction of the township.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 3.3 mi2, all of it land.
to the northeast, Baldwin
to the south and east, Bethel Park
to the southwest, and Castle Shannon
to the northwest. Overbrook
, a neighborhood of the city of Pittsburgh, is to the north.
of 2000, there were 14,444 people, 6,294 households, and 3,958 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 4,397.8 people per square mile (1,700.3/km²). There were 6,519 housing units at an average density of 1,984.9 per square mile (767.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.60% White, 1.42% African American, 0.02% Native American, 0.93% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.66% of the population.
There were 6,294 households out of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples
living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the borough the population was spread out with 19.4% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 24.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 86.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.7 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $45,111, and the median income for a family was $60,371. Males had a median income of $42,658 versus $31,167 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $24,730. 6.4% of the population and 2.9% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 5.7% are under the age of 18 and 7.2% are 65 or older.
community since January 1, 1975. The borough is governed by a mayor and seven council members, all elected at-large. Services are provided by a full-time administrator, twenty full-time police officers, a ten-person public works department and a handful of other staff members.
The Whitehall Volunteer Fire Company and Medical Rescue Team South Authority provide fire and ambulance service to the borough.
, a major area artery, delivers traffic from and through Whitehall to downtown Pittsburgh. The borough is also served by four county bus lines.
, making it one of the top 25 in the state. Six ballfields and playgrounds are distributed throughout the borough. Swimming and tennis are also available at the private Whitehall Country Club, which draws members from surrounding communities that lack such facilities. The private South Hills Country Club provides golf, swimming, dining and social activities.
Caste Village, a large shopping center including a strip mall
, outbuildings and offices, is the hub of retail activity in this largely residential community. Additional stand-alone storefronts line Pennsylvania Route 51.
Whitehall is named one of the two "Most Livable Communities" in Metropolitan Pittsburgh by PHH Technologies Services
, a company that advises corporations on employee relocations.
Borough (Pennsylvania)
In the U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a borough is a self-governing municipal entity that is usually smaller than a city. There are 958 boroughs in Pennsylvania. All municipalities in Pennsylvania are classified as either cities, boroughs, or townships...
in Allegheny County
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 13,944 at the 2010 census.
History
The Whitehall is probably named after Silas D. Prior's tavern on Brownsville RoadBrownsville Road
Brownsville Road is a road in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. It has had several names over its history, and was also known at the Red Stone Road and the Brownsville Plank Road, or Southern Avenue.-Pre-history to eighteenth century:...
, which was re-named White Hall in the 1850s. The building is still in existence, but is in Brentwood
Brentwood, Pennsylvania
Brentwood is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 9,643 at the 2010 census.-Geography and climate:Brentwood is located at ....
.
In 1946, residents of Baldwin Township's
Baldwin, Pennsylvania
Baldwin is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 19,767 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh wards began the process of secession. A petition was filed on October 14, 1946, in the Quarterly Sessions of Allegheny County, with 1320 signatures out of the 1627 freeholder
Freeholder
A freeholder can refer to:* one who is in freehold* one who holds title to real property in Fee simple* an official of county government in the U.S. state of New Jersey...
s in the proposed borough. In response to this, Baldwin Township officials called an emergency meeting to file a petition to have Baldwin Township incorporated into a borough, as it is much more difficult to secede from a borough than from a township. On January 5, 1948, Whitehall separated from Baldwin Township to become an independent municipality. According to former mayor Edwin F. Brennan, residents of Whitehall wanted better services and zoning than they received under the jurisdiction of the township.
Geography
Whitehall is located at 40°21′37"N 79°59′11"W (40.360292, -79.986271).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 3.3 mi2, all of it land.
Surrounding communities
Whitehall is bordered by the following boroughs: BrentwoodBrentwood, Pennsylvania
Brentwood is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 9,643 at the 2010 census.-Geography and climate:Brentwood is located at ....
to the northeast, Baldwin
Baldwin, Pennsylvania
Baldwin is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 19,767 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
to the south and east, Bethel Park
Bethel Park, Pennsylvania
Bethel 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...
to the southwest, and Castle Shannon
Castle Shannon, Pennsylvania
Castle Shannon is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 8,316 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
to the northwest. Overbrook
Overbrook (Pittsburgh)
Overbrook is a neighborhood on Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's South Hills area. It has a zip codes of 15227, 15234 and 15210 and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 4 . Originally called Fairhaven, the name was changed to Overbrook when breaking away from...
, a neighborhood of the city of Pittsburgh, is to the north.
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 14,444 people, 6,294 households, and 3,958 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 4,397.8 people per square mile (1,700.3/km²). There were 6,519 housing units at an average density of 1,984.9 per square mile (767.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.60% White, 1.42% African American, 0.02% Native American, 0.93% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.66% of the population.
There were 6,294 households out of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% 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, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the borough the population was spread out with 19.4% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 24.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 86.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.7 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $45,111, and the median income for a family was $60,371. Males had a median income of $42,658 versus $31,167 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 $24,730. 6.4% of the population and 2.9% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 5.7% are under the age of 18 and 7.2% are 65 or older.
Government
Whitehall has been a home ruleHome Rule in the United States
In the United States, the legislative authority granted to local governments varies by state. In some states, known as Home Rule States, an amendment to the state constitution grants cities, municipalities, and/or counties the ability to pass laws to govern themselves as they see fit...
community since January 1, 1975. The borough is governed by a mayor and seven council members, all elected at-large. Services are provided by a full-time administrator, twenty full-time police officers, a ten-person public works department and a handful of other staff members.
The Whitehall Volunteer Fire Company and Medical Rescue Team South Authority provide fire and ambulance service to the borough.
Transportation
Pennsylvania Route 51Pennsylvania Route 51
Pennsylvania Route 51 is a major state highway in Western Pennsylvania. It runs for from Uniontown to the Ohio state line near Darlington, where it connects with Ohio State Route 14. Route 51 is the termination point for Pennsylvania Route 43, Pennsylvania Route 48 and Pennsylvania Route 88. ...
, a major area artery, delivers traffic from and through Whitehall to downtown Pittsburgh. The borough is also served by four county bus lines.
Recreation and amenities
A large swimming pool, wading pool, four tennis courts and community room are provided at the municipal complex, as well as the Whitehall public library, which has a Hennen American Public Library 90th percentile Rating (HAPLR)Public library ratings
There are several national systems for rating the quality of public libraries.-United States:The basic public library statistics are published by the National Center for Educational Statistics; the most recent version was published in July 2006, using data from fiscal year 2005...
, making it one of the top 25 in the state. Six ballfields and playgrounds are distributed throughout the borough. Swimming and tennis are also available at the private Whitehall Country Club, which draws members from surrounding communities that lack such facilities. The private South Hills Country Club provides golf, swimming, dining and social activities.
Caste Village, a large shopping center including a strip mall
Strip mall
A strip mall is an open-area shopping center where the stores are arranged in a row, with a sidewalk in front. Strip malls are typically developed as a unit and have large parking lots in front...
, outbuildings and offices, is the hub of retail activity in this largely residential community. Additional stand-alone storefronts line Pennsylvania Route 51.
Whitehall is named one of the two "Most Livable Communities" in Metropolitan Pittsburgh by PHH Technologies Services
PHH Corporation
The PHH Corporation is an American corporation founded in 1946 that focuses on home mortgages, employee relocation, and fleet management. Based in Mount Laurel Township, New Jersey, this billion-dollar corporation, including subsidiaries, employs over 5,000 individuals. In 2007, PHH was engaged...
, a company that advises corporations on employee relocations.