Ellwood City, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Ellwood City is a borough
in Beaver
and Lawrence
counties in the U.S. state
of Pennsylvania
. Ellwood City is 30 miles (48 km) northwest of Pittsburgh and some 8 miles (13 km) south by southeast of New Castle
. In the past, Ellwood City sustained many light industries such as steel-tube mills, steel-car works, building-stone and limestone quarries, foundries and machine shops, coal-mining, etc. In 1900, 2,243 people lived in Ellwood City, 3,902 lived there in 1910, and 12,329 lived there in 1940. The population was 8,688 at the 2000 census. The 2008 population estimate is 7966.
Prosperous and thriving borough that it is, with its enormous manufacturing plants which produce millions of dollars’ worth of products and pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in salaries, yearly, with its well stocked stores and its modern homes, Ellwood City, located within the limits of Wayne Township, has a history which dates back less than a score of years. It is the home of such plants as those of the American Steel Car Forge Company, Glen Manufacturing Company, Ellwood Foundry Company, Standard Engineering Company, National Tube Company, Ellwood City Glass Company, Ellwood Brick and Limestone Company, Standard Tube Company, the Tindel-Morris Company, the Oarlock Packing Company, the National Supply and Construction Company and the Ellwood Lumber Company. However these past few years have really hurt the town's economy. Nevertheless a new business has taken hold, Adam's Manufacturing.
The American Steel Car Forge. Company is the outgrowth of a business begun in 1894 under the name and style of the Baker Forge Company, which was organized for the purpose of manufacturing wagon hardware. The plant occupies 7.5 acres (30,351.5 m²) of land and gives employment to about 700 men. Its officers are J. M. Hanson, president; C. W. Wright, secretary; T. A. Gillespie, treasurer, and C. A. Martin, general manager.
The Standard Tube Company, the largest seamless tube plant in the world, was originally conducted as a stock company, with R. C. Steifel as president and general manager; the stock was owned by R. C. Steifel, J. H. Micholson and C. E. Pope. It was conducted as an independent concern until 1901, when it was purchased by the National Tube Company, and shortly afterwards incorporated as a part of the United States Steel Corporation. The various seamless tube manufacturing plants are operated under the Shelby Steel Tube Company, with general offices in Pittsburgh. The Ellwood City plant covers 9 acres (36,421.7 m²) and has a capacity of 350 tons per day, employing 2,200 men. Its capital stock is $600,000.
The Elmwood Brick and Limestone Company is a successor to the Ellwood Brick Company, Limited, which was organized in May, 1892, and was one of the first plants of any consequence in the borough. J.M. Montgomery is president, and T. J. Fulmer, secretary and treasurer. It is capitalized at $30,000.
The Glen Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of gray iron castings, derrick fittings, wire fencing, builders’ iron work, etc., originated in 1902, and started in business in January, 1903. It bought out the Hartman Manufacturing Company, which was established in Ellwood City in 1892. H. S. Blatt serves as president, and A. M. Jones as secretary and treasurer of this company, which is capitalized at $100,000.
The Standard Engineering Company, employing about 250 men, is engaged in the manufacture of rolling and tube mill machinery, pipe threading machines, sand rolls and high grade gray iron castings, up to thirty tons weight. It is capitalized at $3,000,000, and its officers are C. D. Coban, president, and H. M. Criswell, secretary and treasurer. The plant was erected in 1902.
The plant of the Tindel-Morris Company in. Ellwood City was erected in 1895, and incorporated in 1898. It had its inception in 1862 as the Frankfort Steel Company, a plant having been established at that date in Frankfort, Pennsylvania.
The name was later changed to the Frankfort Steel and Forge Company, and in 1895 the factory was moved to Ellwood City, where it covers 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) of ground. Two hundred men are employed in the manufacture of machine tools, gas and steam engines, and automobiles. The officers of the company are Adam Tindel, president; L. G. Morris, vice-president; L. W. Gruber, secretary, and G. B. Reed, assistant vice-president and manager.
The Ellwood City Glass Company, with capital stock at $60,000, in 1905 grew out of the re-organization of the Clark Bros. Glass Company, which was established in 1892 by Harry Northwood. It manufactures a high grade of blown tumblers and employs about 210 men. Charles Runyon is president and treasurer, and W. M. Gertman, secretary.
The Oarlock Packing Company, with main office and factory at Elmira, N. Y., operates a plant in Ellwood City, as well as in most of the largest cities of the United States. They are patentees and manufacturers of the Oarlock fibrous and Pitt metal packings, their product reaching the markets of all the civilized world. This company has been in operation in Ellwood City since 1905, when it leased the plant of the Pitt Manufacturing Company, which had been organized and was operated by Pittsburgh capitalists. The Oarlock Packing Company was incorporated in 1905 with O. J. Garlock as president; F.W. Griffith, vice-president and treasurer, and J. H. L. Galagher, secretary. E. T. R. Holt is superintendent of the Ellwood plant.
Zeigler & Lambert, manufacturers of carriages and wagons, making a specialty of delivery wagons, established a factory in Ellwood City in 1907, and conducts a thriving business.
The Ellwood Lumber Company, with principal office and yard at Ellwood City, was incorporated under the laws of Pennsylvania, May 21, 1904, and has a capital stock of $100,000, although it was in operation many years prior to that date. It operates branches at Aliquippa and Ambridge, Pa., having a large planing mill
at the latter point. The officers of the company are W. J. McKim, president; Thomas L. Haines, vice-president, and John F. Haines, secretary, treasurer and general manager.
The National Supply and Construction Company, which is engaged in general contracting, the lumber and planing mill business, was organized in 1906, and has a cap ital stock of $50,000. Its officers are Albert C. Frey, president; B. F. Boss, vice-president, and B. F. Mosher, secretary and treasurer.
Ellwood City boasts of two banking institutions which class with the leading financial institutions of Lawrence County, the First National and the People’s National Bank. The First National Bank of Ellwood City was organized in 1892, and has a capital stock of $100,000; its officers are John A. Gelbach, president; H. S. Blatt, vice-president, and W. J. McKim, cashier. The People’s National Bank was organized May 9, 1907, and is capitalized at $50,000. Its officers are C. A. Martin, president; J. E. VanGorder, vice-president, and J. E. Cobler, cashier.
The borough is well provided with good substantial public service companies, particularly the Ellwood Water Company and the Manufacturers’ Light and Heat Company. It has two newspapers of a high order, namely: The Ellwood Citizen and the Ellwood Eagle and Motor.
The affairs of the borough are efficiently administered by the following officers: John H. Hassler, burgess; John A. Gelbach, treasurer; William McElroy, clerk; Captain Moon, chief of police; H. R. Johnson, chief of the fire department; George Cron, high constable; Jacob Bair, tax collector, and Matthew Strohecker, road commissioner. The council consists of the following: Dr. Silas Stevenson, president; James Lenigen, E. J. Hazen, Henry W. Dambach, M. P. McCarthy, W. J. Krok and Dr. P. C. Vosler. The school board is made up of the following citizens: Joseph Humphrey, president; George Dambach, Dr. C. M. Iseman, B. U. Brown, secretary; Charles E. Whistler and William Kearns. The following constitute the Board of Health: Rev. A. B. Lentz, president; Dr. S. S. Davidson, Dr. P. P. Cunningham, John Scheidamantle, Howard McCliman and John McKim. B. A. Todd has been postmaster of the borough since 1901, when he was appointed by William McKinley, president; he was re-appointed by President Roosevelt in 1905.
The following are the officers of the Ellwood City Board of Trade: Charles E. Whistler, president; A. M. Jones, vice-president; D. J. Mulcahy, secretary, and A. C. Frey, treasurer. Its board of directors includes Charles E. Whistler, Matthew A. Riley, A. C. Frey, H. S. Blatt and J. A. Gelbach.
The moral tone of a community is ever reflected by the number and conditions of its churches and benevolent societies. Both of these agencies for the accomplishment of good are numerically strong in Ellwood City, and the individual bodies in a prosperous and healthy condition. Following are the churches in the borough, together with the names of the pastors: Baptist, Rev. U. M. Davis; Catholic, Rev. Father Hisson; Christian, Rev. F. L. Taylor; Free Methodist, Rev. J. T. Barkas; German Lutheran, Rev. A. P. Lentz; Lutheran, Rev. A. P. Lentz; Methodist, Rev. A. Benton; Reformed, Rev. A. K. Kline; Presbyterian, Rev. Rendall; United Presbyterian, Rev. J. A. McDonald.
The following are the fraternal societies of Ellwood City: Masons, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Odd Fellows (two lodges), Knights of the Golden Eagle, Knights and Ladies of Honor, German Beneficial Union, Uniformed Rank, Knights of the Maccabees, Ladies of the Maccabees, Protective Home Circle and Sons of Veterans.
Twentieth Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County, 1908, pages 363-365
Ellwood Shafting & Tubing Company was the first manufacturing institution to establish itself in Ellwood City in 1891 and the first to manufacture seamless tubing in the United States. Just three years later in October 1894, the Ellwood Shafting & Tube Company was sold to H.A. Lozier the “Bicycle King of America” and the name of the company was changed to Ellwood Weldless Tube Company. The founder of Ellwood City, Henry W. Hartman was appointed vice president of the new company. The Ellwood plant was only the second seamless tube plant in America. Also in 1894, Ralph C. Stiefel came to the Ellwood City from England for the company. Along with becoming a stockholder in the company, Stiefel accepted the position of general manager and introduced his own patented process for making seamless tubing. Ellwood Weldless became the first company in the United States to make tubing by the Stiefel method making it one of the leaders in the tubing industry.
From the time Ralph C. Stiefel accepted the position of Superintendent at Ellwood Seamless Tube Co. straight from England, he was connected with the Shelby Seamless Tube Company until 1899. At that time along with J.H. Nicholson, he left the Shelby Company and erected the Standard Seamless Tube Company with some friends in Ellwood City and was in direct competition with Shelby Seamless. The National Steel Tube Co. bought the Standard Company in 1901.
Soon after National purchased Standard, the United States Steel Corporation absorbed National Tube and at the end of June 1901, it also absorbed the Shelby Steel Tube Company and Mr. Stiefel was made General Superintendent of all the plants in the country. Now all the seamless tube works were now conducted under the name of the Shelby Steel Tube Company.
In 1905, the U.S. Steel Ellwood plant consolidated Shelby Steel Tube Company (Mill A) and National Steel Tube Company (Mill B) and became National Tube Company (a subsidiary of United States Steel Corporation). After a fire destroyed the Shelby Ohio Works plant in 1908, all the seamless tube works was produced in Ellwood City. Due to the growth, the Ellwood City Works of the National Tube Company expanded to 127 acres (513,951.2 m²) in total with 23 acres (93,077.8 m²) under a roof. The plants were served by direct connection with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and by the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad. The Ellwood Works had an annual capacity of 350,000 gross tons of tubular goods in 1942. Employment during World War II reached 4,000 employees.
August 1, 1946 an announcement was made that operations at the Ellwood Works would be phased out over a three year period. The closing was avoided and 1959 saw major expansion adding two new structures for stainless steel adding 40000 square feet (3,716.1 m²) more. In 1974, U.S. Steel closed its doors in Ellwood City and the last seamless tube was produced at the National Tube Company. When the plant closed employment had dipped down to a little over one thousand people.
The city was linked to New Castle
and Pittsburgh in 1908 and Beaver Falls
in 1914 by the Pittsburgh, Harmony, Butler and New Castle Railway
, an interurban
trolley line. The line to New Castle closed on June 15, 1931 and Pittsburgh on August 15, 1931 with the trolleys replaced by buses.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 2.4 mi2, of which, 2.3 mi2 of it is land and 0.1 mi2 of it (2.09%) is water.
of 2000, there were 8,688 people, 3,716 households, and 2,393 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 3,716.6 people per square mile (1,433.5/km2). There were 4,006 housing units at an average density of 1,713.7 per square mile (661.0/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.22% White, 0.81% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.18% from other races
, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.60% of the population.
There were 3,716 households out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were married couples
living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the borough the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.4 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $28,926, and the median income for a family was $40,758. Males had a median income of $31,703 versus $21,285 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $15,784. About 8.6% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.
Population in July 2008: 7,966. Population change since 2000: -8.3%
Males: 3,704 (46.5%)
Females: 4,262 (53.5%)
Median resident age: 40.8 years
Pennsylvania median age: 38.0 years
Zip codes: 16117.
Estimated median household income in 2007: $35,555 (it was $28,926 in 2000)
Ellwood City: $35,555
Pennsylvania: $48,576
Estimated per capita income in 2007: $18,674
Ellwood City: $18,674
Pennsylvania: $26,228
Estimated median house or condo value in 2007: $91,245 (it was $75,700 in 2000)
Ellwood City: $91,245
Pennsylvania: $155,000
Borough
Ellwood City is in Lawrence County. The county seat is New Castle.
The community straddles Lawrence and Beaver counties
Major ancestry groups reported by Ellwood City residents include:
. Italian - 28%
· German - 23%
· Irish - 13%
· English - 7%
· Polish - 6%
· Scotch-Irish - 3%
· Hungarian - 2%
· French (except Basque) - 2%
· Romanian - 1%
· Slovak - 1%
· Croatian - 1%
· Dutch - 1%
· Welsh - 1%
· Russian - 1%
· Black or African American - 1%
· Arab - 1%
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 Beaver
Beaver County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 181,412 people, 72,576 households, and 50,512 families residing in the county. The population density was 418 people per square mile . There were 77,765 housing units at an average density of 179 per square mile...
and Lawrence
Lawrence County, Pennsylvania
Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. In 2010, its population was 91,108. The county was added to the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area in 2003. The county seat is New Castle....
counties 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...
. Ellwood City is 30 miles (48 km) northwest of Pittsburgh and some 8 miles (13 km) south by southeast of New Castle
New Castle, Pennsylvania
New Castle is a city in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States, northwest of Pittsburgh and near the Pennsylvania-Ohio border just east of Youngstown, Ohio; in 1910, the total population was 36,280; in 1920, 44,938; and in 1940, 47,638. The population has fallen to 26,309 according to the...
. In the past, Ellwood City sustained many light industries such as steel-tube mills, steel-car works, building-stone and limestone quarries, foundries and machine shops, coal-mining, etc. In 1900, 2,243 people lived in Ellwood City, 3,902 lived there in 1910, and 12,329 lived there in 1940. The population was 8,688 at the 2000 census. The 2008 population estimate is 7966.
History
Per Twentieth Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County, 1908, pages 363-365Prosperous and thriving borough that it is, with its enormous manufacturing plants which produce millions of dollars’ worth of products and pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in salaries, yearly, with its well stocked stores and its modern homes, Ellwood City, located within the limits of Wayne Township, has a history which dates back less than a score of years. It is the home of such plants as those of the American Steel Car Forge Company, Glen Manufacturing Company, Ellwood Foundry Company, Standard Engineering Company, National Tube Company, Ellwood City Glass Company, Ellwood Brick and Limestone Company, Standard Tube Company, the Tindel-Morris Company, the Oarlock Packing Company, the National Supply and Construction Company and the Ellwood Lumber Company. However these past few years have really hurt the town's economy. Nevertheless a new business has taken hold, Adam's Manufacturing.
The American Steel Car Forge. Company is the outgrowth of a business begun in 1894 under the name and style of the Baker Forge Company, which was organized for the purpose of manufacturing wagon hardware. The plant occupies 7.5 acres (30,351.5 m²) of land and gives employment to about 700 men. Its officers are J. M. Hanson, president; C. W. Wright, secretary; T. A. Gillespie, treasurer, and C. A. Martin, general manager.
The Standard Tube Company, the largest seamless tube plant in the world, was originally conducted as a stock company, with R. C. Steifel as president and general manager; the stock was owned by R. C. Steifel, J. H. Micholson and C. E. Pope. It was conducted as an independent concern until 1901, when it was purchased by the National Tube Company, and shortly afterwards incorporated as a part of the United States Steel Corporation. The various seamless tube manufacturing plants are operated under the Shelby Steel Tube Company, with general offices in Pittsburgh. The Ellwood City plant covers 9 acres (36,421.7 m²) and has a capacity of 350 tons per day, employing 2,200 men. Its capital stock is $600,000.
The Elmwood Brick and Limestone Company is a successor to the Ellwood Brick Company, Limited, which was organized in May, 1892, and was one of the first plants of any consequence in the borough. J.M. Montgomery is president, and T. J. Fulmer, secretary and treasurer. It is capitalized at $30,000.
The Glen Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of gray iron castings, derrick fittings, wire fencing, builders’ iron work, etc., originated in 1902, and started in business in January, 1903. It bought out the Hartman Manufacturing Company, which was established in Ellwood City in 1892. H. S. Blatt serves as president, and A. M. Jones as secretary and treasurer of this company, which is capitalized at $100,000.
The Standard Engineering Company, employing about 250 men, is engaged in the manufacture of rolling and tube mill machinery, pipe threading machines, sand rolls and high grade gray iron castings, up to thirty tons weight. It is capitalized at $3,000,000, and its officers are C. D. Coban, president, and H. M. Criswell, secretary and treasurer. The plant was erected in 1902.
The plant of the Tindel-Morris Company in. Ellwood City was erected in 1895, and incorporated in 1898. It had its inception in 1862 as the Frankfort Steel Company, a plant having been established at that date in Frankfort, Pennsylvania.
The name was later changed to the Frankfort Steel and Forge Company, and in 1895 the factory was moved to Ellwood City, where it covers 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) of ground. Two hundred men are employed in the manufacture of machine tools, gas and steam engines, and automobiles. The officers of the company are Adam Tindel, president; L. G. Morris, vice-president; L. W. Gruber, secretary, and G. B. Reed, assistant vice-president and manager.
The Ellwood City Glass Company, with capital stock at $60,000, in 1905 grew out of the re-organization of the Clark Bros. Glass Company, which was established in 1892 by Harry Northwood. It manufactures a high grade of blown tumblers and employs about 210 men. Charles Runyon is president and treasurer, and W. M. Gertman, secretary.
The Oarlock Packing Company, with main office and factory at Elmira, N. Y., operates a plant in Ellwood City, as well as in most of the largest cities of the United States. They are patentees and manufacturers of the Oarlock fibrous and Pitt metal packings, their product reaching the markets of all the civilized world. This company has been in operation in Ellwood City since 1905, when it leased the plant of the Pitt Manufacturing Company, which had been organized and was operated by Pittsburgh capitalists. The Oarlock Packing Company was incorporated in 1905 with O. J. Garlock as president; F.W. Griffith, vice-president and treasurer, and J. H. L. Galagher, secretary. E. T. R. Holt is superintendent of the Ellwood plant.
Zeigler & Lambert, manufacturers of carriages and wagons, making a specialty of delivery wagons, established a factory in Ellwood City in 1907, and conducts a thriving business.
The Ellwood Lumber Company, with principal office and yard at Ellwood City, was incorporated under the laws of Pennsylvania, May 21, 1904, and has a capital stock of $100,000, although it was in operation many years prior to that date. It operates branches at Aliquippa and Ambridge, Pa., having a large planing mill
Planing mill
A planing mill is a facility that takes cut and seasoned boards from a sawmill and turns them into finished dimensional lumber. Machines used in the mill include the planer and matcher, the molding machines, and varieties of saws...
at the latter point. The officers of the company are W. J. McKim, president; Thomas L. Haines, vice-president, and John F. Haines, secretary, treasurer and general manager.
The National Supply and Construction Company, which is engaged in general contracting, the lumber and planing mill business, was organized in 1906, and has a cap ital stock of $50,000. Its officers are Albert C. Frey, president; B. F. Boss, vice-president, and B. F. Mosher, secretary and treasurer.
Ellwood City boasts of two banking institutions which class with the leading financial institutions of Lawrence County, the First National and the People’s National Bank. The First National Bank of Ellwood City was organized in 1892, and has a capital stock of $100,000; its officers are John A. Gelbach, president; H. S. Blatt, vice-president, and W. J. McKim, cashier. The People’s National Bank was organized May 9, 1907, and is capitalized at $50,000. Its officers are C. A. Martin, president; J. E. VanGorder, vice-president, and J. E. Cobler, cashier.
The borough is well provided with good substantial public service companies, particularly the Ellwood Water Company and the Manufacturers’ Light and Heat Company. It has two newspapers of a high order, namely: The Ellwood Citizen and the Ellwood Eagle and Motor.
The affairs of the borough are efficiently administered by the following officers: John H. Hassler, burgess; John A. Gelbach, treasurer; William McElroy, clerk; Captain Moon, chief of police; H. R. Johnson, chief of the fire department; George Cron, high constable; Jacob Bair, tax collector, and Matthew Strohecker, road commissioner. The council consists of the following: Dr. Silas Stevenson, president; James Lenigen, E. J. Hazen, Henry W. Dambach, M. P. McCarthy, W. J. Krok and Dr. P. C. Vosler. The school board is made up of the following citizens: Joseph Humphrey, president; George Dambach, Dr. C. M. Iseman, B. U. Brown, secretary; Charles E. Whistler and William Kearns. The following constitute the Board of Health: Rev. A. B. Lentz, president; Dr. S. S. Davidson, Dr. P. P. Cunningham, John Scheidamantle, Howard McCliman and John McKim. B. A. Todd has been postmaster of the borough since 1901, when he was appointed by William McKinley, president; he was re-appointed by President Roosevelt in 1905.
The following are the officers of the Ellwood City Board of Trade: Charles E. Whistler, president; A. M. Jones, vice-president; D. J. Mulcahy, secretary, and A. C. Frey, treasurer. Its board of directors includes Charles E. Whistler, Matthew A. Riley, A. C. Frey, H. S. Blatt and J. A. Gelbach.
The moral tone of a community is ever reflected by the number and conditions of its churches and benevolent societies. Both of these agencies for the accomplishment of good are numerically strong in Ellwood City, and the individual bodies in a prosperous and healthy condition. Following are the churches in the borough, together with the names of the pastors: Baptist, Rev. U. M. Davis; Catholic, Rev. Father Hisson; Christian, Rev. F. L. Taylor; Free Methodist, Rev. J. T. Barkas; German Lutheran, Rev. A. P. Lentz; Lutheran, Rev. A. P. Lentz; Methodist, Rev. A. Benton; Reformed, Rev. A. K. Kline; Presbyterian, Rev. Rendall; United Presbyterian, Rev. J. A. McDonald.
The following are the fraternal societies of Ellwood City: Masons, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Odd Fellows (two lodges), Knights of the Golden Eagle, Knights and Ladies of Honor, German Beneficial Union, Uniformed Rank, Knights of the Maccabees, Ladies of the Maccabees, Protective Home Circle and Sons of Veterans.
Twentieth Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County, 1908, pages 363-365
Ellwood Shafting & Tubing Company was the first manufacturing institution to establish itself in Ellwood City in 1891 and the first to manufacture seamless tubing in the United States. Just three years later in October 1894, the Ellwood Shafting & Tube Company was sold to H.A. Lozier the “Bicycle King of America” and the name of the company was changed to Ellwood Weldless Tube Company. The founder of Ellwood City, Henry W. Hartman was appointed vice president of the new company. The Ellwood plant was only the second seamless tube plant in America. Also in 1894, Ralph C. Stiefel came to the Ellwood City from England for the company. Along with becoming a stockholder in the company, Stiefel accepted the position of general manager and introduced his own patented process for making seamless tubing. Ellwood Weldless became the first company in the United States to make tubing by the Stiefel method making it one of the leaders in the tubing industry.
From the time Ralph C. Stiefel accepted the position of Superintendent at Ellwood Seamless Tube Co. straight from England, he was connected with the Shelby Seamless Tube Company until 1899. At that time along with J.H. Nicholson, he left the Shelby Company and erected the Standard Seamless Tube Company with some friends in Ellwood City and was in direct competition with Shelby Seamless. The National Steel Tube Co. bought the Standard Company in 1901.
Soon after National purchased Standard, the United States Steel Corporation absorbed National Tube and at the end of June 1901, it also absorbed the Shelby Steel Tube Company and Mr. Stiefel was made General Superintendent of all the plants in the country. Now all the seamless tube works were now conducted under the name of the Shelby Steel Tube Company.
In 1905, the U.S. Steel Ellwood plant consolidated Shelby Steel Tube Company (Mill A) and National Steel Tube Company (Mill B) and became National Tube Company (a subsidiary of United States Steel Corporation). After a fire destroyed the Shelby Ohio Works plant in 1908, all the seamless tube works was produced in Ellwood City. Due to the growth, the Ellwood City Works of the National Tube Company expanded to 127 acres (513,951.2 m²) in total with 23 acres (93,077.8 m²) under a roof. The plants were served by direct connection with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and by the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad. The Ellwood Works had an annual capacity of 350,000 gross tons of tubular goods in 1942. Employment during World War II reached 4,000 employees.
August 1, 1946 an announcement was made that operations at the Ellwood Works would be phased out over a three year period. The closing was avoided and 1959 saw major expansion adding two new structures for stainless steel adding 40000 square feet (3,716.1 m²) more. In 1974, U.S. Steel closed its doors in Ellwood City and the last seamless tube was produced at the National Tube Company. When the plant closed employment had dipped down to a little over one thousand people.
The city was linked to New Castle
New Castle, Pennsylvania
New Castle is a city in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States, northwest of Pittsburgh and near the Pennsylvania-Ohio border just east of Youngstown, Ohio; in 1910, the total population was 36,280; in 1920, 44,938; and in 1940, 47,638. The population has fallen to 26,309 according to the...
and Pittsburgh in 1908 and Beaver Falls
Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
Beaver Falls is a city in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,987 at the 2010 census. It is located 31 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, and on the Beaver River, six miles from its confluence with the Ohio River...
in 1914 by the Pittsburgh, Harmony, Butler and New Castle Railway
Pittsburgh, Harmony, Butler and New Castle Railway
The Pittsburgh, Harmony, Butler and New Castle Railway, commonly called the Harmony Line, was a broad gauge interurban streetcar line connecting Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States to Butler and New Castle via Harmony and a split at Evans City...
, an interurban
Interurban
An interurban, also called a radial railway in parts of Canada, is a type of electric passenger railroad; in short a hybrid between tram and train. Interurbans enjoyed widespread popularity in the first three decades of the twentieth century in North America. Until the early 1920s, most roads were...
trolley line. The line to New Castle closed on June 15, 1931 and Pittsburgh on August 15, 1931 with the trolleys replaced by buses.
Geography
Ellwood City is located at 40.860983°N 80.284849°W (40.860983, -80.284849).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 2.4 mi2, of which, 2.3 mi2 of it is land and 0.1 mi2 of it (2.09%) 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 8,688 people, 3,716 households, and 2,393 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 3,716.6 people per square mile (1,433.5/km2). There were 4,006 housing units at an average density of 1,713.7 per square mile (661.0/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.22% White, 0.81% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.18% 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 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.60% of the population.
There were 3,716 households out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% 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, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the borough the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.4 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $28,926, and the median income for a family was $40,758. Males had a median income of $31,703 versus $21,285 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 $15,784. About 8.6% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.
Population in July 2008: 7,966. Population change since 2000: -8.3%
Males: 3,704 (46.5%)
Females: 4,262 (53.5%)
Median resident age: 40.8 years
Pennsylvania median age: 38.0 years
Zip codes: 16117.
Estimated median household income in 2007: $35,555 (it was $28,926 in 2000)
Ellwood City: $35,555
Pennsylvania: $48,576
Estimated per capita income in 2007: $18,674
Ellwood City: $18,674
Pennsylvania: $26,228
Estimated median house or condo value in 2007: $91,245 (it was $75,700 in 2000)
Ellwood City: $91,245
Pennsylvania: $155,000
Borough
Ellwood City is in Lawrence County. The county seat is New Castle.
The community straddles Lawrence and Beaver counties
Major ancestry groups reported by Ellwood City residents include:
. Italian - 28%
· German - 23%
· Irish - 13%
· English - 7%
· Polish - 6%
· Scotch-Irish - 3%
· Hungarian - 2%
· French (except Basque) - 2%
· Romanian - 1%
· Slovak - 1%
· Croatian - 1%
· Dutch - 1%
· Welsh - 1%
· Russian - 1%
· Black or African American - 1%
· Arab - 1%
Notable people
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- Rock musician - Jim GerlachJim GerlachJames "Jim" Gerlach is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.- Early life, education and career :...
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- University of ArizonaUniversity of ArizonaThe University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
men's basketball coach - Matt OsborneMatt OsborneMatthew "Matt" Wade Osborne is an American semi-retired professional wrestler. Osborne is a second generation wrestler, being son of "Tough" Tony Borne, but he is best known as the first wrestler to portray the character of Doink the Clown, which he still uses to this day.-Independent...
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. - Don SchalyDon SchalyFor 40 years, Don Schaly was the baseball coach at Marietta College in Ohio from 1964 to 2003.Schaly, a native of Ellwood City, Pa., retired following the 2003 season after 40 years at the helm of the Marietta baseball program...
- College baseball coaching great; only coach in college baseball history to win 1,000 or more games and win more than 80% of his games. Won 3 national championships and 4 national coach of the year awards at Marietta CollegeMarietta CollegeMarietta College is a co-educational private college in Marietta, Ohio, USA, which was the first permanent settlement of the Northwest Territory. The school offers 42 majors along with a large number of minors, all of which are grounded in a strong liberal arts foundation...
. - Hack WilsonHack WilsonLewis Robert "Hack" Wilson was an American professional baseball player who played 12 seasons with the New York Giants, Chicago Cubs, Brooklyn Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies...
- Baseball Hall of Famer - George ZeberGeorge ZeberGeorge William Zeber was a Major League Baseball player from 1977 to 1978 for the New York Yankees. Zeber played as a backup second baseman to Willie Randolph.-External links:*...
- Former player for the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...