Leechburg, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Leechburg is a borough
in southern Armstrong County
in the U.S. state
of Pennsylvania
, 35 miles (56.3 km) northeast of Pittsburgh. Leechburg was founded by David Leech, for whom it was later named, and was incorporated as a borough in 1850.
Located along the Kiskiminetas River
, Leechburg was known as a major port of the Pennsylvania Canal
. Early in the 20th century, it had been the site of extensive steel sheet works, foundries, cement plants, and productive coal mines. Leechburg was the first place where natural gas was used for industrial purposes.
Mayor Anthony C. Roppolo (2014)
Council President Anthony Defilippi (R)(2012)
Council Members: Robert T. Foster (D)(2012), Shawn Lerch (D)(2014), Keith Knepshield (R)(2014, Nancy Bono (D)(2014), G. Paul Simon (D)(2014), and Jim Spiering (D)(2012).
Leechburg is one of only three municipalities in Armstrong County to have full time, seven day a week police coverage. The police department consists of three full time and several part-time police officers. The Chief of Police is Michael Diebold.
At the state level, Leechburg is in the 38th Senatorial District, represented by State Senator Jim Ferlo
(D), and in the 55th Legislative District, represented by Rep. Joe Petrarca (D).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), of which, 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (8.16%) is water.
The town is bordered by the Kiskiminetas River
to the south, on the border of Westmoreland County
, and Gilpin Township to the north.
of 2000, there were 2,386 people, 1,109 households, and 645 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 5,320.9 people per square mile (2,047.2/km²). There were 1,193 housing units at an average density of 2,660.5 per square mile (1,023.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.53% White, 1.26% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.04% from other races
, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.
There were 1,109 households out of which 23.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% were married couples
living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.8% were non-families. 39.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the borough the population was spread out with 21.1% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 23.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 83.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.5 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $27,434, and the median income for a family was $38,785. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $25,901 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $16,242. About 7.9% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.
1850: 359
1870: 368
1880: 1,123
1890: 1,921
1900: 2,459
1910: 3,624
1930: 4,489
1940: 4,275
1950: 4,042
1960: 3,545
1970: 2,999
1980: 2,682
1990: 2,504
2000: 2,386
2011: 2,400
Prior to 1850, the settlement was known as White Plains. David Leech purchased the land from a local Native American known as White Maddock.
. The school district consists of Leechburg, Gilpin Township
and West Leechburg Borough
.
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 southern 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...
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...
, 35 miles (56.3 km) northeast of Pittsburgh. Leechburg was founded by David Leech, for whom it was later named, and was incorporated as a borough in 1850.
Located along the Kiskiminetas River
Kiskiminetas River
The Kiskiminetas River is a tributary of the Allegheny River, approximately long, in Western Pennsylvania in the United States...
, Leechburg was known as a major port of the 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...
. Early in the 20th century, it had been the site of extensive steel sheet works, foundries, cement plants, and productive coal mines. Leechburg was the first place where natural gas was used for industrial purposes.
Local government
Leechburg is governed by a Mayor and Council. The current elected officials for the borough (and the year their current terms expire) are as follows:Mayor Anthony C. Roppolo (2014)
Council President Anthony Defilippi (R)(2012)
Council Members: Robert T. Foster (D)(2012), Shawn Lerch (D)(2014), Keith Knepshield (R)(2014, Nancy Bono (D)(2014), G. Paul Simon (D)(2014), and Jim Spiering (D)(2012).
Leechburg is one of only three municipalities in Armstrong County to have full time, seven day a week police coverage. The police department consists of three full time and several part-time police officers. The Chief of Police is Michael Diebold.
Federal and state representatives
Leechburg is in Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District, represented in Congress by Rep. Tyler Foster (D).At the state level, Leechburg is in the 38th Senatorial District, represented by State Senator Jim Ferlo
Jim Ferlo
James "Jim" Ferlo is a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate who has represented the 38th Senatorial District since 2003. His district consists of parts of Allegheny, Westmoreland and Armstrong counties.- Background and career :...
(D), and in the 55th Legislative District, represented by Rep. Joe Petrarca (D).
Geography
Leechburg is located at 40°37′45"N 79°36′13"W (40.629304, -79.603727), and is 800 feet above sea level.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 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), of which, 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (8.16%) is water.
The town is bordered by the Kiskiminetas River
Kiskiminetas River
The Kiskiminetas River is a tributary of the Allegheny River, approximately long, in Western Pennsylvania in the United States...
to the south, on the border of Westmoreland County
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...
, and Gilpin Township to the north.
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 2,386 people, 1,109 households, and 645 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 5,320.9 people per square mile (2,047.2/km²). There were 1,193 housing units at an average density of 2,660.5 per square mile (1,023.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.53% White, 1.26% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.04% 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 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.
There were 1,109 households out of which 23.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% 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, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.8% were non-families. 39.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the borough the population was spread out with 21.1% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 23.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 83.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.5 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $27,434, and the median income for a family was $38,785. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $25,901 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 $16,242. About 7.9% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.
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Historical population
Population:1850: 359
1870: 368
1880: 1,123
1890: 1,921
1900: 2,459
1910: 3,624
1930: 4,489
1940: 4,275
1950: 4,042
1960: 3,545
1970: 2,999
1980: 2,682
1990: 2,504
2000: 2,386
2011: 2,400
History
Leechburg was founded in 1850 by David Leech.Prior to 1850, the settlement was known as White Plains. David Leech purchased the land from a local Native American known as White Maddock.
Education
The children of Leechburg are educated by the Leechburg Area School DistrictLeechburg Area School District
The Leechburg Area School District is a public school district serving K–12 students from Leechburg Borough and Gilpin Township in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, and West Leechburg Borough in Westmoreland County in the U.S...
. The school district consists of Leechburg, Gilpin Township
Gilpin Township, Pennsylvania
Gilpin Township is a township in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, United States. Pennsylvania Route 66 is the main highway that runs through the township, with Leechburg Borough and Parks Township at each entrance. Gilpin is bordered on the West by the Kiskiminetas River and the Allegheny River...
and West Leechburg Borough
West Leechburg, Pennsylvania
West Leechburg is a borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,290 at the 2000 census.-Geography:West Leechburg is located at ....
.
External links
- http://www.leechburgmuseum.org - Leechburg Area Museum and Historical Society
- http://www.15656.com - The Leechburg Business Connection
- http://www.15656.com/lip/ - The Leechburg Intersection Project (Pictures of intersections in Leechburg)
- http://www.leechburgwiki.com - The Leechburg Wiki