Dawson, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Dawson is a borough in Fayette County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 451 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²), of which, 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it is land and 5.56% is water.
of 2000, there were 451 people, 183 households, and 120 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 2,692.6 people per square mile (1,024.3/km²). There were 205 housing units at an average density of 1,223.9 per square mile (465.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough is 99.78% White, 0.22% African American
, 0.00% Native American
, 0.00% Asia
n, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from other races, and 0.00% from two or more races. 0.00% of the population are Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 183 households out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples
living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the borough the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 86.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $27,500, and the median income for a family was $30,938. Males had a median income of $27,292 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $12,753. About 14.2% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.
, a gothic-style structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places
, is located in Dawson.
The ‘bottom land’ where Dawson is situated was acquired by John Smilie’s granddaughter, Sarah Huston Dawson, and her second husband, George Dawson.
The Smilie farm, except the river bottom, was sold to Stewart Strickler. The bottom land was sold to George Dawson, who used it for purposes of cultivation. The Pittsburgh and Connellsville Railroad was located through the tract, and upon the opening of the line Dawson's Station was established at this point. A post-office was established at the same time.
The property passed, in the division of the Dawson estate, to Mrs. Alfred [Elizabeth Dawson] Howell, and in 1866 a town plat was laid out and surveyed by Martin Dickson for Mr. Howell.
[Alfred Howell] caused the tract to be duly surveyed and laid out into building lots, and so conducted his enterprise as in the course of a few years to erect a prosperous and desirable village, with churches, public schools, etc., upon what was before, and but for his business foresight and energy would have remained, merely an uninhabitable portion of an old farm.
Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the2010 census, the population was 136,606. The county is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, 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 451 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Dawson is located at 40°2′52"N 79°39′31"W (40.047892, -79.658659).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 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²), of which, 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it is land and 5.56% is water.
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 451 people, 183 households, and 120 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 2,692.6 people per square mile (1,024.3/km²). There were 205 housing units at an average density of 1,223.9 per square mile (465.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough is 99.78% White, 0.22% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.00% Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, 0.00% Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from other races, and 0.00% from two or more races. 0.00% of the population are Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
or Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
of any race.
There were 183 households out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% 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, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the borough the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 86.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $27,500, and the median income for a family was $30,938. Males had a median income of $27,292 versus $25,000 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 $12,753. About 14.2% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.
Landmarks
The Philip G. Cochran Memorial United Methodist ChurchCochran Memorial United Methodist Church
Philip G. Cochran Memorial United Methodist Church is a cathedral-style church building located in Dawson, Pennsylvania, United States. A United Methodist facility and congregation, it has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1982....
, a gothic-style structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, is located in Dawson.
Municipal Services
The borough has sewage treatment services provided by the Yough Sanitary Authority.History
The land where Dawson was developed had belonged to the Honorable John Smilie, who held multiple public offices in the government of Pennsylvania and a member of Congress, being the Chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee when he died in December 1812. The property remained in a trust as a part of John’s estate until his last child died in 1851 when the property was sold.The ‘bottom land’ where Dawson is situated was acquired by John Smilie’s granddaughter, Sarah Huston Dawson, and her second husband, George Dawson.
The Smilie farm, except the river bottom, was sold to Stewart Strickler. The bottom land was sold to George Dawson, who used it for purposes of cultivation. The Pittsburgh and Connellsville Railroad was located through the tract, and upon the opening of the line Dawson's Station was established at this point. A post-office was established at the same time.
The property passed, in the division of the Dawson estate, to Mrs. Alfred [Elizabeth Dawson] Howell, and in 1866 a town plat was laid out and surveyed by Martin Dickson for Mr. Howell.
[Alfred Howell] caused the tract to be duly surveyed and laid out into building lots, and so conducted his enterprise as in the course of a few years to erect a prosperous and desirable village, with churches, public schools, etc., upon what was before, and but for his business foresight and energy would have remained, merely an uninhabitable portion of an old farm.