Arnold, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Arnold is a city in Westmoreland County
in the U.S. state
of Pennsylvania
. It is a suburb of Pittsburgh, part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area
. The population was 5,667 at the 2000 census.
. Arnold was part of New Kensington
until it was designated as a separate borough in January, 1896.
, northeast of Pittsburgh. According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), of which 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (6.41%) is water.
was 7,706.6 people per square mile (2,956.8/km²). There were 2,976 housing units at an average density of 4,047.1 per square mile (1,552.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.84% White, 12.76% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races
, and 1.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.13% of the population.
There were 2,589 households of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.5% were married couples
living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.4% were non-families. 39.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.90.
Ages were reasonably balanced, with 21.6% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 86.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,190, and the median income for a family was $32,569. Males had a median income of $31,164 versus $23,953 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,631. About 14.0% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.8% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.
W.R. Gott was one of the leading merchants of his time in the city. He opened his own grocery store in 1914 at the age of twenty and added appliances to his line in 1920. It was the largest electric appliance dealer in Allegheny Valley and was Tri-Boro’s leading grocery store. In 1921 he built his own store and then expanded it in 1932. In 1936, he took over the Arnold Traffic Store, which had been a general store, a meeting place, a temporary church, an office, an amateur playhouse and a nightclub became W.R. Gott’s Furniture Store. In 1973, the building was sold to Goodwill
and it was later sold to Arnold Furniture, who still own it today.
, Roosevelt Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce.
, a middle school, and four elementary schools. The current middle school was Arnold's high school prior to the merger of the two districts.
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 369,993 people, 149,813 households, and 104,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 361 people per square mile . There were 161,058 housing units at an average density of 157 per square mile...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. It is a suburb of Pittsburgh, part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area
Pittsburgh Metro Area
The Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area is the metropolitan area surrounding the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is renowned for its industries including steel, glass and oil; moreover, its economy also thrives on healthcare, education, technology, robotics, financial services and more recently film...
. The population was 5,667 at the 2000 census.
History
Around 1781, Robert McCrea purchased the land on which Arnold is situated. William Jack acquired the property and later passed it on to Wilson Jack. The area around Arnold was first settled in 1852 by Major Andrew Arnold, who grew up in KittanningKittanning, Pennsylvania
Kittanning is a borough and the county seat of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania in the United States. It is situated northeast of Pittsburgh, along the east bank of the Allegheny River. The name means "at the great stream" in the Delaware language...
. Arnold was part of New Kensington
New Kensington, Pennsylvania
New Kensington is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania situated along the Allegheny River northeast of Pittsburgh. The population was 14,701 at the 2000 Census. The mayor of New Kensington is Tom Guzzo , elected in 2009. He succeeded Mayor Frank E. Link , elected in 2001.-History:New...
until it was designated as a separate borough in January, 1896.
Geography
Arnold is located on the eastern shore of the Allegheny RiverAllegheny River
The Allegheny River is a principal tributary of the Ohio River; it is located in the Eastern United States. The Allegheny River joins with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River at the "Point" of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, northeast of Pittsburgh. 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 city has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), of which 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (6.41%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,667 people, 2,589 households, and 1,439 families residing in the city. The population densityPopulation 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 7,706.6 people per square mile (2,956.8/km²). There were 2,976 housing units at an average density of 4,047.1 per square mile (1,552.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.84% White, 12.76% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.26% 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 1.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.13% of the population.
There were 2,589 households of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.5% 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, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.4% were non-families. 39.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.90.
Ages were reasonably balanced, with 21.6% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 86.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,190, and the median income for a family was $32,569. Males had a median income of $31,164 versus $23,953 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 city was $16,631. About 14.0% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.8% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.
Landmarks
Notable landmarks in Arnold have included:- Arnold Station, established in 1867, which was Arnold’s railroad stop. It was so named because the land on which it was built was given by the Arnold Family.
- The Chambers Glass Company, which opened in 1891, was at the time the first, best equipped, and most efficient glass plant in the country.
- George Moore Home, which was built with 17 rooms, but has since been demolished.
- The Morris Davis home stands across from where the George Moore home stood. Morris Davis built it very precisely, rejecting many loads of lumber if they had knotholes or any defects. It was one of the very first homes in the area that had electricity.
- The Hartley Howard Home was another home of that time, which still stands today, serving as apartments.
- Eiler Hall was a fashionable site for parties, dances, banquets and public shows. It is now a parking lot for city employees of the Municipal Building.
- The Edna Hotel was named after George Moore‘s daughter Edna in the late 1800s. It was the meeting place for all of Arnold at the turn of the 20th century.
- The John Fedan Store began as a rental for other merchants. When that did not follow through, Fedan started his own business with a small hardware store and later added a furniture and appliance store.
- The Arnold Drug Store opened in 1898 and was also the post office location at the time.
W.R. Gott was one of the leading merchants of his time in the city. He opened his own grocery store in 1914 at the age of twenty and added appliances to his line in 1920. It was the largest electric appliance dealer in Allegheny Valley and was Tri-Boro’s leading grocery store. In 1921 he built his own store and then expanded it in 1932. In 1936, he took over the Arnold Traffic Store, which had been a general store, a meeting place, a temporary church, an office, an amateur playhouse and a nightclub became W.R. Gott’s Furniture Store. In 1973, the building was sold to Goodwill
Goodwill Industries
Goodwill Industries International is a not-for-profit organization that provides job training, employment placement services and other community-based programs for people who have a disability, lack education or job experience, or face employment challenges...
and it was later sold to Arnold Furniture, who still own it today.
Growth
The city has grown to include many family owned businesses, churches, volunteer ambulance and fire departments, the Arnold Police Department, YMCAYMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
, Roosevelt Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce.
Education
Arnold is served by the New Kensington–Arnold School District, which includes six schools in New Kensington and Arnold: Valley High SchoolValley High School (New Kensington, Pennsylvania)
For schools of the same name, see Valley High SchoolValley High School is a public school in New Kensington, Westmoreland County in the U.S...
, a middle school, and four elementary schools. The current middle school was Arnold's high school prior to the merger of the two districts.
Notable people
- Johnny CostaJohnny CostaJohnny Costa was an American jazz pianist, born in Arnold, Pennsylvania. Given the title "The White Tatum" by jazz legend Art Tatum, Costa is best known for his work as musical director of the children's television program, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.Costa learned to play accordion at age 7 and...
– Jazz pianist - Fannie SellinsFannie SellinsFannie Sellins was an American union organizer.Born Fanny Mooney in New Orleans, Louisiana, she married Charles Sellins in St. Louis, Missouri. After his death she worked in a garment factory to support her four children. She helped to organize Local # 67 of the International Ladies' Garment...
– labor activist (interred)