O'Hara Township, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
The Township of O'Hara is a Home Rule Municipality
in Allegheny County
, Pennsylvania
in the United States
six miles northeast of Downtown Pittsburgh. The community was long organized as a township
, and retains "Township" in its official name, but adopted a home rule charter in 1973 (taking effect on January 5, 1976) and is no longer subject to the Pennsylvania Township Code. The population was 8,407 at the 2010 census.
It is named for James O'Hara
(1752?–1819), an early American industrialist in western Pennsylvania
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the township has a total area of 7.3 square miles (18.9 km²), of which 7 square miles (18.1 km²) is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), or 4.22%, is water.
of 2000, there were 8,856 people, 3,248 households, and 2,536 families residing in the township. The population density
was 1,259.1 people per square mile (486.4/km²). There were 3,381 housing units at an average density of 480.7 per square mile (185.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.25% White
, 0.84% African American
, 0.05% Native American
, 3.04% Asian
, 0.26% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races
. 1.14% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos
of any race.
There were 3,248 households out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.5% were married couples
living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.9% were non-families. 19.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.05.
The age distribution was 25.6% under 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $67,725, and the median income for a family was $77,594. Males had a median income of $58,125 versus $36,458 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $33,356. About 2.7% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.
s that are responsible for portions of the township: Pleasant Valley VFD (Station 217) and Parkview VFD (Station 218). Parkview VFD also provides emergency medical services
for the entire township through Parkview EMS (Station 180).
The Police Department (3300 units) is supervised by Police Superintendent James Farringer and maintains a full-time police department.
The local Emergency Management Agency for O'Hara Township consist of one Coordinator (James Farringer) and two Deputy Coordinators (Thomas Polczynski and Thomas Heilmann).
.
Home Rule Municipality (Pennsylvania)
A Home Rule Municipality in Pennsylvania is one incorporated under its own unique charter, created pursuant to the state's Home Rule and Optional Plans Law and approved by referendum. "Local governments without home rule can only act where specifically authorized by state law; home rule...
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...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
six miles northeast of Downtown Pittsburgh. The community was long organized as a township
Township (Pennsylvania)
A township in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a state of the United States of America, is one of four types of municipalities in the state . Townships were established based on convenient geographical boundaries and vary in size from six to forty square miles...
, and retains "Township" in its official name, but adopted a home rule charter in 1973 (taking effect on January 5, 1976) and is no longer subject to the Pennsylvania Township Code. The population was 8,407 at the 2010 census.
It is named for James O'Hara
James O'Hara (quartermaster)
James O'Hara was an American military officer, businessman, and captain of early industry in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.-Early life:...
(1752?–1819), an early American industrialist in western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania consists of the western third of the state of Pennsylvania in the United States. Pittsburgh is the largest city in the region, with a metropolitan area population of about 2.4 million people, and serves as its economic and cultural center. Erie, Altoona, and Johnstown are its...
.
Geography
O'Hara Township is located at 40°29′52"N 79°53′12"W (40.498001, -79.886789).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 township has a total area of 7.3 square miles (18.9 km²), of which 7 square miles (18.1 km²) is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), or 4.22%, 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 8,856 people, 3,248 households, and 2,536 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 1,259.1 people per square mile (486.4/km²). There were 3,381 housing units at an average density of 480.7 per square mile (185.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.25% White
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
, 0.84% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.05% Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, 3.04% Asian
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
, 0.26% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races
Multiracial American
Multiracial Americans, US residents who identify themselves as of "two or more races", were numbered at around 9 million, or 2.9% of the population, in the census of 2010. However there is considerable evidence that the real number is far higher. Prior to the mid-20th century many people hid their...
. 1.14% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
of any race.
There were 3,248 households out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.5% 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, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.9% were non-families. 19.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.05.
The age distribution was 25.6% under 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $67,725, and the median income for a family was $77,594. Males had a median income of $58,125 versus $36,458 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 $33,356. About 2.7% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.
Services
The township has two volunteer fire departmentVolunteer fire department
See also the Firefighter article and its respective sections regarding VFDs in other countries.A volunteer fire department is a fire department composed of volunteers who perform fire suppression and other related emergency services for a local jurisdiction.The first organized force of...
s that are responsible for portions of the township: Pleasant Valley VFD (Station 217) and Parkview VFD (Station 218). Parkview VFD also provides emergency medical services
Emergency medical services
Emergency medical services are a type of emergency service dedicated to providing out-of-hospital acute medical care and/or transport to definitive care, to patients with illnesses and injuries which the patient, or the medical practitioner, believes constitutes a medical emergency...
for the entire township through Parkview EMS (Station 180).
The Police Department (3300 units) is supervised by Police Superintendent James Farringer and maintains a full-time police department.
The local Emergency Management Agency for O'Hara Township consist of one Coordinator (James Farringer) and two Deputy Coordinators (Thomas Polczynski and Thomas Heilmann).
Culture
Primarily a residential suburban neighborhood, O'Hara is home to the Bayernhof Music MuseumBayernhof Music Museum
Bayernhof Music Museum features a major collection of automated musical instruments from the 19th and 20th centuries. Located six miles northeast of downtown Pittsburgh in the suburb of O'Hara Township, Pennsylvania, it is housed in German-style mansion sited on an , dramatic overlook some above...
.