Freeport, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Freeport is a borough
in Armstrong County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
; it is situated along the Allegheny River
in the southwest corner of the county. The population was 1,962 at the 2000 Census. Freeport received its name from David Todd, who declared it to be a free-port where no man would be charged to tie up rafts, boats, or barges. Freeport was a port on the former Pennsylvania Canal
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), of which, 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (2.54%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,962 people, 878 households, and 532 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 1,697.9 people per square mile (653.0/km²). There were 944 housing units at an average density of 816.9 per square mile (314.2/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.42% White, 0.25% African American, 0.25% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races
, and 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.46% of the population.
There were 878 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples
living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% were non-families. 36.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the borough the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $28,565, and the median income for a family was $40,000. Males had a median income of $31,397 versus $21,690 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $16,845. About 8.0% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.4% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.
serves the borough. Freeport was formerly home to Freeport Elementary School on High Street, which all Borough students attended kindergarten through 6th grade, until 2005 when the school district decided to change the school into the district's Kindergarten Center, where all of the district's students attend kindergarten. Currently the Borough students attend either Buffalo of South Buffalo Elementary. Freeport Junior High School is located on 4th Street and is the school for the district's 7th and 8th graders. Students attend 9th through 12th grade at the Senior High School in Buffalo Township. All of the districts home varsity football games are held at James Swartz Sr. Memorial Field in the Borough, as well as some varsity and JV baseball games, and some boys and girls soccer games.
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
in Armstrong County
Armstrong County, Pennsylvania
Armstrong County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 68,941. It is located northeast of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Armstrong County was added to the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area in 2003.The county seat is Kittanning...
, 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...
; it is situated along the Allegheny River
Allegheny River
The Allegheny River is a principal tributary of the Ohio River; it is located in the Eastern United States. The Allegheny River joins with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River at the "Point" of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
in the southwest corner of the county. The population was 1,962 at the 2000 Census. Freeport received its name from David Todd, who declared it to be a free-port where no man would be charged to tie up rafts, boats, or barges. Freeport was a port on the former Pennsylvania Canal
Pennsylvania Canal
Pennsylvania Canal refers generally to a complex system of canals, dams, locks, tow paths, aqueducts, and other infrastructure including, in some cases, railroads in Pennsylvania...
.
Geography
Freeport is located at 40°40′28"N 79°41′11"W (40.674337, -79.686320).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 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), of which, 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (2.54%) is water.
Streams
- The Kiskiminetas RiverKiskiminetas RiverThe Kiskiminetas River is a tributary of the Allegheny River, approximately long, in Western Pennsylvania in the United States...
joins the Allegheny RiverAllegheny RiverThe Allegheny River is a principal tributary of the Ohio River; it is located in the Eastern United States. The Allegheny River joins with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River at the "Point" of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
near Freeport; specifically on its eastern bank between SchenleySchenley, PennsylvaniaSchenley is an unincorporated community in Gilpin Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, United States. Pennsylvania Route 2062 is the main and only highway into the community. Schenley is bordered by the Allegheny River and the Kiskiminetas River...
and Kiskiminetas Junction.
- Buffalo CreekBuffalo Creek (Allegheny River)Buffalo Creek is a tributary of the Allegheny River in Armstrong and Butler counties in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.-Course:Buffalo Creek joins the Allegheny River at the borough of Freeport.-Tributaries:...
enters the Allegheny River on its western bank at Freeport.
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 1,962 people, 878 households, and 532 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 1,697.9 people per square mile (653.0/km²). There were 944 housing units at an average density of 816.9 per square mile (314.2/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.42% White, 0.25% African American, 0.25% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.41% 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 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.46% of the population.
There were 878 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% 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, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% were non-families. 36.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the borough the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $28,565, and the median income for a family was $40,000. Males had a median income of $31,397 versus $21,690 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 $16,845. About 8.0% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.4% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The Freeport Area School DistrictFreeport Area School District
Freeport Area School District is home of the Yellow Jackets and Buffalo Elementary, South Buffalo, Junior High School, and Senior High School. Buffalo Elementary School and the Senior High, along with the Administration building, are in Sarver, Butler County, and the Freeport Junior High School...
serves the borough. Freeport was formerly home to Freeport Elementary School on High Street, which all Borough students attended kindergarten through 6th grade, until 2005 when the school district decided to change the school into the district's Kindergarten Center, where all of the district's students attend kindergarten. Currently the Borough students attend either Buffalo of South Buffalo Elementary. Freeport Junior High School is located on 4th Street and is the school for the district's 7th and 8th graders. Students attend 9th through 12th grade at the Senior High School in Buffalo Township. All of the districts home varsity football games are held at James Swartz Sr. Memorial Field in the Borough, as well as some varsity and JV baseball games, and some boys and girls soccer games.
Government
Freeport Borough's fire, and rescue coverage is provided by Freeport Volunteer Fire Department located at 400 Market Street. The department operates two engines, a rescue, a squad, and two boats with over 40 volunteers. Medical coverage is provided by Freeport EMS, also located at 400 Market Street. Freeport EMS operates three ALS certified ambulances, with 13 Paramedics and 19 EMT's.Notable people
- David AlterDavid AlterDavid Alter was a prominent American inventor and scientist of the 19th century. He was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania and graduated from the Reformed Medical School in New York City. He had German and Swiss ancestry.-Inventions:Dr...
– scientist and inventor - Red BowserRed BowserJames Harvey "Red" Bowser was an outfielder in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox.-Biography:...
– outfielder in Major League Baseball - Bud CarsonBud CarsonLeon H. "Bud" Carson was an American football coach best known for his role on the Pittsburgh Steelers' championship teams of the 1970s.-Player:Carson played defensive back for North Carolina from 1949 to 1951, then entered the Marines.-Georgia Tech:...
– former NFL coach - Greg ChristyGreg ChristyGregory Alan "Greg" Christy is a former American football offensive tackle. He went to the Buffalo Bills in 1985 after being selected by the Baltimore Stars of the USFL in the Territorial Draft. His Bills jersey number was #69. He played in 7 NFL games in 1985 with the Bills before suffering a...
– former professional American football player - Jeff ChristyJeff ChristyJeffrey Allen Christy was an American football center for the Arizona Cardinals, the Minnesota Vikings, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He now helps coach for the Freeport Senior High School football team.-Early life:...
– former professional American football player - Donald R. LobaughDonald R. LobaughDonald Ronald Lobaugh was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.-Biography:...
– U.S. Army soldier and Medal of Honor recipient in World War II - Don TaylorDon Taylor (actor)Don Taylor was an American movie actor and director best known for his performances in 1950s classics like Stalag 17 and Father of the Bride and the 1948 film noir The Naked City...
– actor and director
See also
- Baker TrailBaker TrailThe Baker Trail is a hiking trail in Pennsylvania in the United States. The trail's southern terminus is in Allegheny Township, across the Allegheny River from the borough of Freeport. On its northern end, Baker Trail terminates inside of the Allegheny National Forest in Northwestern...
's southern terminus is across the river from Freeport. - Donald R. Lobaugh BridgeDonald R. Lobaugh BridgeThe Donald R. Lobaugh Bridge is a cantilever bridge that carries vehicular traffic across the Allegheny River between both Buffalo and Allegheny townships in Pennsylvania.-History:...
spans the Allegheny River between Freeport and Allegheny Township.