Duquesne, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Duquesne is a city along the Monongahela River
in Allegheny County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
, and is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area. The population was 5,565 at the 2010 census.
Duquesne Works, a productive steel mill
that was part of Carnegie Steel Corporation
and later part of U.S. Steel
, was the heart and soul of Duquesne during its brightest moments in the early 20th century. Duquesne was home to the largest blast furnace
in the world, named the "Dorothy Six". The city's population peaked in 1930, then declined with deindustrialization beginning in the 1960s. Today a stark post-industrial landscape, Duquesne has fewer total residents (5,565 at the 2010 U.S. census) than were the city's mill workers in 1948. According to the McKeesport Daily News, Duquesne has the worst performing schools in the state of Pennsylvania
. Duquesne was designated a financially distressed municipality
in 1991 by the state.
Duquesne High School closed in 2007. Beginning with the 2007-08 school year, Duquesne students have reported to West Mifflin Area
High School, or East Allegheny
High School. Since July 2007, the Allegheny Intermediate Unit
(AIU) has managed all academic and business operations of the Duquesne's K-8 school district.
approximately 12 miles (19.3 km) south of Pittsburgh.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2 square miles (5.2 km²), of which 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²), or 10.84%, is water.
of 2000, there were 7,332 people, 3,179 households, and 1,853 families residing in the city. The population density
was 4,035.0 people per square mile (1,555.4/km²). There were 3,768 housing units at an average density of 2,073.7 per square mile (799.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 38.92% White, 57.75% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.74% from other races
, and 2.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.72% of the population.
There were 3,179 households out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.8% were married couples
living together, 27.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.7% were non-families. 37.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 80.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $19,766, and the median income for a family was $25,898. Males had a median income of $25,046 versus $22,272 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $12,067. About 31.3% of families and 34.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 52.9% of those under age 18 and 19.7% of those age 65 or over.
Monongahela River
The Monongahela River is a river on the Allegheny Plateau in north-central West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania in the United States...
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...
, and is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area. The population was 5,565 at the 2010 census.
History
The borough of Duquesne was settled in 1789 and incorporated in 1891. Its population in 1900 was 9,036; in 1910, 15,727; in 1920, 19,011; in 1930, 21,000; and in 1940, 20,693.Duquesne Works, a productive steel mill
Steel mill
A steel mill or steelworks is an industrial plant for the manufacture of steel.Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon. It is produced in a two-stage process. First, iron ore is reduced or smelted with coke and limestone in a blast furnace, producing molten iron which is either cast into pig iron or...
that was part of Carnegie Steel Corporation
Carnegie Steel Company
Carnegie Steel Company was a steel producing company created by Andrew Carnegie to manage business at his steel mills in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area in the late 19th century.-Creation:...
and later part of U.S. Steel
U.S. Steel
The United States Steel Corporation , more commonly known as U.S. Steel, is an integrated steel producer with major production operations in the United States, Canada, and Central Europe. The company is the world's tenth largest steel producer ranked by sales...
, was the heart and soul of Duquesne during its brightest moments in the early 20th century. Duquesne was home to the largest blast furnace
Blast furnace
A blast furnace is a type of metallurgical furnace used for smelting to produce industrial metals, generally iron.In a blast furnace, fuel and ore and flux are continuously supplied through the top of the furnace, while air is blown into the bottom of the chamber, so that the chemical reactions...
in the world, named the "Dorothy Six". The city's population peaked in 1930, then declined with deindustrialization beginning in the 1960s. Today a stark post-industrial landscape, Duquesne has fewer total residents (5,565 at the 2010 U.S. census) than were the city's mill workers in 1948. According to the McKeesport Daily News, Duquesne has the worst performing schools in the state 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...
. Duquesne was designated a financially distressed municipality
Financially Distressed Municipalities Act
The Financially Distressed Municipalities Act , also known as Act 47, empowers the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to declare certain municipalities as financially distressed...
in 1991 by the state.
Duquesne High School closed in 2007. Beginning with the 2007-08 school year, Duquesne students have reported to West Mifflin Area
West Mifflin Area School District
West Mifflin Area School District is a suburban, public school district in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is located in the south hills of Allegheny County. It serves the boroughs of West Mifflin, and Whitaker. West Mifflin Area School District encompasses approximately 15 square miles. ...
High School, or East Allegheny
East Allegheny School District
The East Allegheny School District is a midsized, suburban, public school district covering the Boroughs of East McKeesport, Wall and Wilmerding and North Versailles Township in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The East Allegheny School District encompasses approximately 5 square miles. According...
High School. Since July 2007, the Allegheny Intermediate Unit
Allegheny Intermediate Unit
The Allegheny Intermediate Unit is a branch of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and is the largest of the 29 intermediate units in Pennsylvania...
(AIU) has managed all academic and business operations of the Duquesne's K-8 school district.
Geography
Duquesne is located at 40°22′12"N 79°51′3"W (40.369969, -79.850957). Duquesne is nestled along the Monongahela RiverMonongahela River
The Monongahela River is a river on the Allegheny Plateau in north-central West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania in the United States...
approximately 12 miles (19.3 km) south 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 2 square miles (5.2 km²), of which 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²), or 10.84%, 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 7,332 people, 3,179 households, and 1,853 families residing in the city. 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 4,035.0 people per square mile (1,555.4/km²). There were 3,768 housing units at an average density of 2,073.7 per square mile (799.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 38.92% White, 57.75% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.74% 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 2.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.72% of the population.
There were 3,179 households out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.8% 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, 27.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.7% were non-families. 37.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 80.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $19,766, and the median income for a family was $25,898. Males had a median income of $25,046 versus $22,272 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 $12,067. About 31.3% of families and 34.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 52.9% of those under age 18 and 19.7% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Earl HinesEarl HinesEarl Kenneth Hines, universally known as Earl "Fatha" Hines, was an American jazz pianist. Hines was one of the most influential figures in the development of modern jazz piano and, according to one source, is "one of a small number of pianists whose playing shaped the history of jazz".-Early...
, jazz pianist - Frederick J. OsterlingFrederick J. OsterlingFrederick John Osterling was an American architect, practicing in Pittsburgh from 1888....
, architect - Alex ShigoAlex ShigoAlex L. Shigo was a plant pathologist with the United States Forest Service whose studies of tree decay resulted in many improvements to standard arboricultural practices. He travelled and lectured widely to promote understanding of tree biology among arborists and foresters...
, horticulturist