Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

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Westmoreland County
U.S. county
Westmoreland County Courthouse
Westmoreland County Courthouse
Flag of Westmoreland County
Flag
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Westmoreland County
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Map of the United States highlighting Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°19′N 79°28′W / 40.31°N 79.47°W / 40.31; -79.47
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
FoundedFebruary 26, 1773
Named forWestmorland
SeatGreensburg
Largest cityMurrysville
Area
 • Total1,036 sq mi (2,680 km2)
 • Land1,028 sq mi (2,660 km2)
 • Water8.5 sq mi (22 km2)  0.8%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
348,899
 • Density341/sq mi (132/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts13th, 14th
Websitewww.co.westmoreland.pa.us

Westmoreland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. At the 2010 census, the population was 365,169.[1] The county seat is Greensburg.[2] Formed from, successively, Lancaster, Northumberland, and later Bedford Counties, Westmoreland County was founded on February 26, 1773, and was the first county in the colony of Pennsylvania whose entire territorial boundary was located west of the Allegheny Mountains. Westmoreland County originally included the present-day counties of Fayette, Washington, Greene, and parts of Beaver, Allegheny, Indiana, and Armstrong counties. It is named after Westmorland, a historic county of England.

Westmoreland County is included in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History[]

Formed from, successively, Lancaster, Northumberland, and later Bedford Counties, Westmoreland County was founded on February 26, 1773, and was the first county in the Pennsylvania colony whose entire territorial boundary was located west of the Allegheny Mountains. Westmoreland County originally included the present-day counties of Fayette, Washington, Greene, and parts of Beaver, Allegheny, Indiana, and Armstrong counties. It is named after Westmorland, a historic county of England.

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,036 square miles (2,680 km2), of which 1,028 square miles (2,660 km2) is land and 8.5 square miles (22 km2) (0.8%) is water.[3] Westmoreland has a humid continental climate (Dfa/Dfb). Average monthly temperatures in Greensburg range from 28.7 °F in January to 71.8 °F in July, while in Murrysville they range from 29.4 °F in January to 73.1 °F in July, in Latrobe they range from 28.9 °F in January to 72.0 °F in July, and in Ligonier they range from 28.1 °F in January to 71.1 °F in July. [1]

Adjacent counties[]

  • Armstrong County (north)
  • Indiana County (northeast)
  • Cambria County (east)
  • Somerset County (southeast)
  • Fayette County (south)
  • Washington County (southwest)
  • Allegheny County (west)
  • Butler County (northwest)

Major highways[]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
179016,019—
180022,72641.9%
181026,39216.1%
182030,54015.7%
183038,40025.7%
184042,69911.2%
185051,72621.1%
186053,7363.9%
187058,7199.3%
188078,03632.9%
1890112,81944.6%
1900160,17542.0%
1910231,30444.4%
1920273,56818.3%
1930294,9957.8%
1940303,4112.9%
1950313,1793.2%
1960352,62912.6%
1970376,9356.9%
1980392,2944.1%
1990370,321−5.6%
2000369,993−0.1%
2010365,169−1.3%
2019 (est.)348,899[4]−4.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2019[1]

At the 2010 census,[9] there were 365,169 people, 153,650 households and 101,928 families residing in the county. The population density was 355.4 per square mile (137.2/km2). There were 168,199 housing units at an average density of 163.7 per square mile (63.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.3% White, 2.3% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.2% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. 0.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 153,650 households, of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32, and the average family size was 2.86.

22.3% of the population were under 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 31.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.

Politics and government[]

In November 2008, there were 249,147 registered voters in Westmoreland County.[10]

  • Democratic: 136,882 (54.94%)
  • Republican: 87,813 (35.25%)
  • Other Parties: 24,452 (9.81%)

The Democratic Party historically dominated county-level politics between the New Deal realignment and the turn of the century; however, Westmoreland has trended Republican at the national and statewide levels in the 21st century (in direct lockstep with most other Appalachian counties). In 2000, Republican George W. Bush became the first Republican to carry the county since 1972, and Republicans have carried the county in every election since, increasing the margin of victory in every successive election until 2020. Democratic Governor Ed Rendell lost Westmoreland in both 2002 and 2006. In 2008, Republican Tim Krieger picked up the 57th House district left open by the retirement of Democratic state representative Tom Tangretti. In 2010, both Pat Toomey and Tom Corbett won Westmoreland in their statewide bids. Also, the GOP gained control of two more State House districts, the 54th with Eli Evankovich and the 56th with George Dunbar. In 2011, the Republican Party swept all county row offices.[11] A Democratic resurgence in 2015 gave that party a majority of the county commissioners. However, in the 2019 elections, Democratic elected officials lost that majority and carried only one row office.

As of 2020, the only majority-Dem cities within the county are Arnold and Monessen.[12]

Presidential elections[]

Presidential election results

County commissioners[]

  • Sean Kertes, Chairman, Republican
  • Gina Cerilli, Democratic
  • Doug Chew, Republican

Other county officials[]

  • Clerk of Courts, Bryan Kline, Republican
  • Controller, Jeff Balzer, Republican
  • Coroner, Kenneth Bacha, Democratic
  • District Attorney, John Peck, Democratic
  • Prothonotary, Christina O'Brien, Democratic
  • Recorder of Deeds, Frank Schiefer, Republican
  • Register of Wills, Sherry Magretti-Hamilton, Republican
  • Sheriff, James Albert, Sheriff, Republican
  • Treasurer, Jared M Squires, Republican

State House of Representatives[14][]

District Representative Party
33 Carrie Delrosso Republican
52 Ryan Warner Republican
54 Bob Brooks Republican
55 Republican
56 George Dunbar Republican
57 Eric Nelson Republican
58 Republican
59 Mike Reese Republican

State Senate[14][]

District Senator Party
32 Patrick J. Stefano Republican
39 Kim Ward Republican
41 Joe Pittman Republican
45 Jim Brewster Democratic

United States House of Representatives[]

District Representative Party
13 John Joyce Republican
14 Guy Reschenthaler Republican

United States Senate[]

Senator Party
Pat Toomey Republican
Bob Casey Democratic

Education[]

Public school districts[]

Map of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts

Public charter schools[]

  • Dr. Robert Ketterer Charter School grades 7th through 12th Latrobe (since 2008)

According to EdNA[15]

Private high school[]

Colleges and universities[]

  • Penn State New Kensington
  • Seton Hill University
  • Saint Vincent College
  • Westmoreland County Community College
  • University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg
  • Triangle Tech

Economy[]

A major coal strike occurred in the county in the winter of 1910–11.

Volkswagen's Westmoreland plant near New Stanton in Westmoreland County was the first foreign-owned factory mass-producing automobiles in the U.S. It operated from 1978 to 1988.

Recreation[]

Autumn on a small state road near the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Laurel Mountains.

There are four Pennsylvania state parks in Westmoreland County.

  • Keystone State Park
  • Laurel Ridge State Park
  • Laurel Summit State Park
  • Linn Run State Park

Communities[]

Map of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing cities and boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Westmoreland County:

Cities[]

  • Arnold
  • Greensburg (county seat)
  • Jeannette
  • Latrobe
  • Lower Burrell
  • Monessen
  • New Kensington

Boroughs[]

Townships[]

Census-designated places[]

Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well.

Unincorporated communities[]

Former community[]

  • Franklin Township - now known as Murrysville, Pennsylvania[16][17][18]

Population ranking[]

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Westmoreland County.[19]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
1 Murrysville Municipality 20,079
2 † Greensburg City 14,892
3 New Kensington City 13,116
4 Lower Burrell City 11,761
5 Jeannette City 9,654
6 Latrobe City 8,338
7 Monessen City 7,720
8 Vandergrift Borough 5,205
9 Arnold City 5,157
10 Mount Pleasant Borough 4,454
11 Scottdale Borough 4,384
12 Level Green CDP 4,020
13 Irwin Borough 3,973
14 Loyalhanna CDP 3,428
15 Manor Borough 3,239
16 Trafford (partially in Allegheny County) Borough 3,174
17 Youngwood Borough 3,050
18 Derry Borough 2,688
19 Delmont Borough 2,686
20 West Newton Borough 2,633
21 Lawson Heights CDP 2,194
22 New Stanton Borough 2,173
23 Southwest Greensburg Borough 2,155
24 South Greensburg Borough 2,117
25 Lynnwood-Pricedale CDP 2,031
26 North Belle Vernon Borough 1,971
27 Ligonier Borough 1,573
28 St. Vincent College CDP 1,357
29 West Leechburg Borough 1,294
30 Calumet CDP 1,241
31 Fellsburg CDP 1,180
32 Collinsburg CDP 1,125
33 Avonmore Borough 1,011
34 Norvelt CDP 948
35 Export Borough 917
36 North Irwin Borough 846
37 Oklahoma Borough 809
38 Herminie CDP 789
39 Hostetter CDP 740
40 New Florence Borough 689
41 Yukon CDP 677
42 East Vandergrift Borough 674
43 Sutersville Borough 605
44 Millwood CDP 566
45 New Alexandria Borough 560
46 Bradenville CDP 545
47 Grapeville CDP 538
48 Mammoth CDP 525
49 Hyde Park Borough 500
50 Seward Borough 495
51 Wyano CDP 484
52 Penn Borough 475
53 Bolivar Borough 465
54 Smithton Borough 399
55 Madison Borough 397
56 Slickville CDP 388
57 Arona Borough 370
58 Youngstown Borough 326
59 Hunker Borough 291
60 Crabtree CDP 277
61 Webster CDP 255
62 Adamsburg Borough 172
63 Laurel Mountain Borough 167
64 Harrison City CDP 134
65 Donegal Borough 120

Notable people[]

See also: List of people from the Pittsburgh metropolitan area
  • David Alter, born in Westmoreland County, noted inventor[20]
  • Pete Babando, former NHL Hockey player, played for 1950 Stanley Cup champions Detroit Red Wings, born in Braeburn neighborhood of the City of Lower Burrell.
  • George Blanda, Hall of Fame football player, born in Youngwood.
  • D.J. Coffman, comic book artist and writer, creator of Hero By Night. Born in Mt. Pleasant. Resides in Scottdale.
  • Johnny Costa, jazz pianist, was born and raised in Arnold.
  • Jesse Root Grant, (father of Ulysses S. Grant General and President) born in Greensburg.
  • Shirley Jones, Academy Award-winning actress and singer, grew up in Smithton.
  • Sheila Kelley, American actor, born and raised in Greensburg, Pa. Founder of Sheila Kelley S Factor exercise and lifestyle program.
  • Bill Mazeroski, Hall of Fame baseball player
  • Michael Moorer, boxer
  • Arnold Palmer, golfer, was born and raised in Latrobe.
  • Terrelle Pryor NFL quarterback, attended Jeannette high school.
  • Fred Rogers, television personality, was born, raised, and lived in Latrobe; buried in Unity Cemetery, Unity Township just outside Latrobe.
  • Arthur St. Clair, American Revolution Major General, buried in Greensburg, Pa.
  • Willie Thrower, football player, was born and raised in New Kensington.
  • Jim White, KMOX radio talk show host, born and raised in Greensburg, Pa.
  • Jacob Zimmerman (born 1831), newspaper editor, newspaper owner, Illinois politician, mine owner, real estate entrepreneur, and businessman.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  4. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  7. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  9. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  10. ^ "Home". Dos.state.pa.us. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  11. ^ "Voters shake up row offices, toss Democrats - TribLIVE". Archive.today. September 9, 2012. Archived from the original on September 9, 2012. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  12. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "Find Your Legislator". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  15. ^ Pennsylvania Department of Education, Education Names and Addresses, 2012
  16. ^ "History Franklin Township Westmoreland County, Pa". History.rays-place.com. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  17. ^ "Westmoreland County Pennsylvania Atlas, 1867". Usgwarchives.net. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  18. ^ "Franklin Township, Westmoreland County Pennsylvania". Pa-roots.com. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  19. ^ "This site has been redesigned and relocated. - U.S. Census Bureau". Census.gov. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  20. ^ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896. Marquis Who's Who. 1967.

External links[]

Coordinates: 40°19′N 79°28′W / 40.31°N 79.47°W / 40.31; -79.47

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