South Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
South Greensburg is a borough in Westmoreland County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 2,280 at the 2000 census.
In the 1870s, a local industrialist, George Franklin Huff
, bought 189 acre (0.76485654 km²) of the Rugh farm. In 1881, this was sold to Greensburg Coal and Coke Company (later Keystone Coal and Coke Company), which established a mine and brickyard along Broad Street. Fifty workers' houses were built in 1888. During this time, the community was known as Huff, Hufftown, or Huff's Station.
A trolley line was constructed in 1890 along Broad Street, running north into Greensburg. This line was later acquired by West Penn Railways
, which operated trolley service until 1952.
In 1891, the community was incorporated as the Borough of South Greensburg.
. In July 1910, a group of striking coal miners were authorized to conduct a protest by the borough's Chief of Police, William B. Keltz. A confrontation ensued between the marchers and security personnel working for Jamison Coal and Coke Company. In the resulting melee, one miner, Peter Gale, was shot by J.A. Willis, who was a member of the company's security forces. Chief Keltz attempted to arrest the shooter and instead was arrested himself by constables under Jamison's control.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.9 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 2,280 people, 1,048 households, and 630 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 3,087.0 people per square mile (1,189.6/km²). There were 1,129 housing units at an average density of 1,528.6 per square mile (589.1/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.25% White, 0.66% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.31% from other races
, and 0.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.53% of the population.
There were 1,048 households out of which 22.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples
living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 35.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the borough the population was spread out with 18.1% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $32,540, and the median income for a family was $47,607. Males had a median income of $32,097 versus $25,896 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $17,910. About 2.7% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.
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...
, 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 2,280 at the 2000 census.
Early history
In 1780, Michael Rugh acquired title to 229.25 acre (0.927742655 km²), which he operated as a farm. The land was passed on to his son, Jacob Rugh, and later to Jacob's son, Peter Rugh. The Rugh family house is still extant at 1213 Broad Street. The current building dates from the Civil War, but was built on the foundation of a much older structure. The area was known as Rughtown, although it was not yet a town in any meaningful sense.In the 1870s, a local industrialist, George Franklin Huff
George Franklin Huff
George Franklin Huff was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.George F. Huff was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania. He attended the public schools in Middletown, Pennsylvania, and later in Altoona, Pennsylvania...
, bought 189 acre (0.76485654 km²) of the Rugh farm. In 1881, this was sold to Greensburg Coal and Coke Company (later Keystone Coal and Coke Company), which established a mine and brickyard along Broad Street. Fifty workers' houses were built in 1888. During this time, the community was known as Huff, Hufftown, or Huff's Station.
A trolley line was constructed in 1890 along Broad Street, running north into Greensburg. This line was later acquired by West Penn Railways
West Penn Railways
West Penn Railways, one part of the West Penn System, was an interurban electric railway headquartered in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. It was part of the region's power generation utility.-History:...
, which operated trolley service until 1952.
In 1891, the community was incorporated as the Borough of South Greensburg.
Coal strike of 1910-1911
The borough was the scene of violence during the Westmoreland County Coal Strike of 1910–1911Westmoreland County Coal Strike of 1910–1911
The Westmoreland County Coal Strike of 1910–1911 was a strike by coal miners represented by the United Mine Workers of America. The strike is also known as the "Slovak strike" because about 70 percent of the miners were Slovak immigrants....
. In July 1910, a group of striking coal miners were authorized to conduct a protest by the borough's Chief of Police, William B. Keltz. A confrontation ensued between the marchers and security personnel working for Jamison Coal and Coke Company. In the resulting melee, one miner, Peter Gale, was shot by J.A. Willis, who was a member of the company's security forces. Chief Keltz attempted to arrest the shooter and instead was arrested himself by constables under Jamison's control.
Walworth Valves
For nearly a century, South Greensburg's largest employer was Walworth Valves. This factory began in 1888, as the Kelly & Jones Company (John T. Kelly and George M. Jones), and Huff was a member of their board of directors. Walworth Company purchased the facility in 1925. The factory filled a large plot of land bordered by (using current street names) Route 30 Bypass, South Main Street, Huff Avenue, and the railroad. Including adjacent properties used by the company, this industrial complex covered 31 acre (0.12545266 km²) and had 1500 employees at its height. The factory closed in 1980 and was later demolished. The site is now occupied by the Wellington Square office building and various commercial businesses.Geography
South Greensburg is located at 40°16′38"N 79°32′55"W (40.277309, -79.548663).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 0.7 square miles (1.9 km²), all of it land.
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 2,280 people, 1,048 households, and 630 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 3,087.0 people per square mile (1,189.6/km²). There were 1,129 housing units at an average density of 1,528.6 per square mile (589.1/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.25% White, 0.66% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.31% 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 0.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.53% of the population.
There were 1,048 households out of which 22.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% 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, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 35.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the borough the population was spread out with 18.1% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $32,540, and the median income for a family was $47,607. Males had a median income of $32,097 versus $25,896 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 $17,910. About 2.7% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.