Wilmerding, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Wilmerding is a borough
in Allegheny County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 2,190 at the 2010 census. It is located 12 miles (19.3 km) southeast of Pittsburgh. At the start of the twentieth century, it had extensive foundries and machine shops of the Westinghouse Air Brake Company
. In 1900, the population stood at 4,179 people; in 1910, it stood at 6,133. 5,662 residents were counted in 1940. Wilmerding is adjacent to the borough of Turtle Creek
, which takes its name from a small stream that flows past both places.
purchased land in the Turtle Creek valley in 1887 and 1888 as a site for his Westinghouse Air Brake Company
and related facilities. Westinghouse then sold the land to the East Pittsburgh Improvement Company, incorporated in December 1888, to develop the site, and it began the sale of lots in June 1889.
Wilmerding's most notable historic structure is the Westinghouse Air Brake Company General Office Building
(1889–1890, rebuilt 1896), designed by Frederick J. Osterling
and now listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
The community was named for Joanna Wilmerding (Bruce) Negley, wife of William B. Negley, who in turn was a local landowner and nephew of Thomas Mellon
.
Wilmerding officially became a borough on March 8, 1890. The first burgess (mayor
) was T. W. Walsh, elected on June 14, 1890.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1 km²), all of it land.
to the northeast, Wall
to the east, East McKeesport
to the south, North Versailles Township to the southwest, and Turtle Creek
, via Greensburg Pike/Lincoln Highway Bridge, to the northwest.
of 2000, there were 2,145 people, 1,032 households, and 509 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 4,789.7 people per square mile (1,840.4/km²). There were 1,199 housing units at an average density of 2,677.3 per square mile (1,028.7/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 91.33% White, 6.34% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.33% from other races
, and 1.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.26% of the population.
There were 1,032 households out of which 21.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.8% were married couples
living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.6% were non-families. 45.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the borough the population was spread out with 20.7% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 82.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.5 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $24,811, and the median income for a family was $31,667. Males had a median income of $28,125 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $14,330. About 12.2% of families and 16.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over.
Borough (Pennsylvania)
In the U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a borough is a self-governing municipal entity that is usually smaller than a city. There are 958 boroughs in Pennsylvania. All municipalities in Pennsylvania are classified as either cities, boroughs, or townships...
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...
. The population was 2,190 at the 2010 census. It is located 12 miles (19.3 km) southeast of Pittsburgh. At the start of the twentieth century, it had extensive foundries and machine shops of the Westinghouse Air Brake Company
Westinghouse Air Brake Company
The railway air brake was invented by George Westinghouse of New York state in 1869. Soon after, he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he established the Westinghouse Air Brake Company on September 28, 1869...
. In 1900, the population stood at 4,179 people; in 1910, it stood at 6,133. 5,662 residents were counted in 1940. Wilmerding is adjacent to the borough of Turtle Creek
Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania
Turtle Creek is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, southeast of Pittsburgh. The population was 5,349 at the 2010 census. George Westinghouse gave life to the place by constructing a manufacturing plant nearby. Turtle Creek takes its name from a small stream that flows into the...
, which takes its name from a small stream that flows past both places.
History
George WestinghouseGeorge Westinghouse
George Westinghouse, Jr was an American entrepreneur and engineer who invented the railway air brake and was a pioneer of the electrical industry. Westinghouse was one of Thomas Edison's main rivals in the early implementation of the American electricity system...
purchased land in the Turtle Creek valley in 1887 and 1888 as a site for his Westinghouse Air Brake Company
Westinghouse Air Brake Company
The railway air brake was invented by George Westinghouse of New York state in 1869. Soon after, he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he established the Westinghouse Air Brake Company on September 28, 1869...
and related facilities. Westinghouse then sold the land to the East Pittsburgh Improvement Company, incorporated in December 1888, to develop the site, and it began the sale of lots in June 1889.
Wilmerding's most notable historic structure is the Westinghouse Air Brake Company General Office Building
Westinghouse Air Brake Company General Office Building
The Westinghouse Air Brake Company General Office Building in Wilmerding, Pennsylvania is a building from 1890. It was listed on the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation in 1975, National Register of Historic Places in 1987...
(1889–1890, rebuilt 1896), designed by Frederick J. Osterling
Frederick J. Osterling
Frederick John Osterling was an American architect, practicing in Pittsburgh from 1888....
and now 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...
.
The community was named for Joanna Wilmerding (Bruce) Negley, wife of William B. Negley, who in turn was a local landowner and nephew of Thomas Mellon
Thomas Mellon
Thomas Alexander Mellon was a Scotch-Irish American, entrepreneur, lawyer, and judge, best known as the founder of Mellon Bank and patriarch of the Mellon family of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.-Early life:...
.
Wilmerding officially became a borough on March 8, 1890. The first burgess (mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
) was T. W. Walsh, elected on June 14, 1890.
Geography
Wilmerding is located at 40°23′40"N 79°48′31"W (40.394538, -79.808576).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 0.4 square miles (1 km²), all of it land.
Surrounding communities
Wilmerding is bordered by MonroevilleMonroeville, Pennsylvania
Monroeville is a home rule municipality in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. Located about east of the city of Pittsburgh, Monroeville is a bustling suburb with mixed residential and commercial developments...
to the northeast, Wall
Wall, Pennsylvania
Wall is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 580 at the 2010 census.-History:Wall is located at the site of a farm purchased by James Walls in 1829. The property, on the south bank of Turtle Creek, was passed to James' sons Henry and John Walls, who lived...
to the east, East McKeesport
East McKeesport, Pennsylvania
East McKeesport is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 2,126 at the 2010 census.-Geography:East McKeesport is located at ....
to the south, North Versailles Township to the southwest, and Turtle Creek
Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania
Turtle Creek is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, southeast of Pittsburgh. The population was 5,349 at the 2010 census. George Westinghouse gave life to the place by constructing a manufacturing plant nearby. Turtle Creek takes its name from a small stream that flows into the...
, via Greensburg Pike/Lincoln Highway Bridge, to the northwest.
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 2,145 people, 1,032 households, and 509 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 4,789.7 people per square mile (1,840.4/km²). There were 1,199 housing units at an average density of 2,677.3 per square mile (1,028.7/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 91.33% White, 6.34% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.33% 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 1.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.26% of the population.
There were 1,032 households out of which 21.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.8% 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, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.6% were non-families. 45.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the borough the population was spread out with 20.7% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 82.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.5 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $24,811, and the median income for a family was $31,667. Males had a median income of $28,125 versus $21,250 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 $14,330. About 12.2% of families and 16.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over.