Rostraver Township, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Rostraver Township is a township in Westmoreland County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 11,634 at the 2000 census.
, which was once occupied by a Monongahela
village.
The name of the township has been traced back to Rostrevor
, a seaside community in County Down, Ireland. It is known that some of the early settlers, such as the McClains, came from County Down so it is surmised that they probably named their new community out of affection for the native village and spelled it phonetically as Rostraver. Unfortunately, they neglected to leave to posterity any record of having done so.
, the township has a total area of 32.9 square miles (85.2 km²), of which, 32.2 square miles (83.4 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it (2.13%) is water.
of 2000, there were 11,634 people, 4,590 households, and 3,442 families residing in the township. The population density
was 361.5 people per square mile (139.5/km²). There were 4,920 housing units at an average density of 152.9/sq mi (59.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.90% White, 1.94% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races
, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.52% of the population.
There were 4,590 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples
living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $39,538, and the median income for a family was $48,115. Males had a median income of $36,860 versus $26,799 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $20,455. About 5.5% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.
, which is located on Circle Drive. Fire protection is provided by three volunteer fire companies. Rostraver Central VFC (located in the Fellsburg area), Webster VFD (located in the village of Webster), and Collinsburg VFC (located in the village of Collinsburg) respond to calls for assistance. Emergency medical response is handled by Rostraver/West Newton Emergency Services.
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...
, 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 11,634 at the 2000 census.
History
Rostraver Township is the location of the Household No. 1 SiteHousehold No. 1 Site
The Household No. 1 Site is an archaeological site in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. Located off Timms Lane in Rostraver Township, the site lies on a bluff above the Youghiogheny River....
, which was once occupied by a Monongahela
Monongahela tribe
The Monongahela culture were a Native American cultural manifestation of Late Woodland peoples in present-day western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and West Virginia from AD 1050 to 1635...
village.
The name of the township has been traced back to Rostrevor
Rostrevor
Rostrevor is a village in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is within the Newry and Mourne District Council area. It lies at the foot of Slieve Martin on the coast of Carlingford Lough. The Kilbroney River flows through the village....
, a seaside community in County Down, Ireland. It is known that some of the early settlers, such as the McClains, came from County Down so it is surmised that they probably named their new community out of affection for the native village and spelled it phonetically as Rostraver. Unfortunately, they neglected to leave to posterity any record of having done so.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 township has a total area of 32.9 square miles (85.2 km²), of which, 32.2 square miles (83.4 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it (2.13%) 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 11,634 people, 4,590 households, and 3,442 families residing in the township. 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 361.5 people per square mile (139.5/km²). There were 4,920 housing units at an average density of 152.9/sq mi (59.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.90% White, 1.94% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.16% 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 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.52% of the population.
There were 4,590 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% 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, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $39,538, and the median income for a family was $48,115. Males had a median income of $36,860 versus $26,799 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 township was $20,455. About 5.5% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.
Public services
The township is protected by a full-time police force, headquartered at the municipal complex on Municipal Drive. Rostraver Township is also home to the Belle Vernon Barracks of the Pennsylvania State PolicePennsylvania State Police
The Pennsylvania State Police is the state police force of Pennsylvania, responsible for statewide law enforcement. It was founded in 1905 by order of Governor Samuel Pennypacker, in response to the private police forces used by mine and mill owners to stop worker strikes and the inability or...
, which is located on Circle Drive. Fire protection is provided by three volunteer fire companies. Rostraver Central VFC (located in the Fellsburg area), Webster VFD (located in the village of Webster), and Collinsburg VFC (located in the village of Collinsburg) respond to calls for assistance. Emergency medical response is handled by Rostraver/West Newton Emergency Services.