Southwest Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Southwest Greensburg is a borough in Westmoreland County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 2,398 at the 2000 census.
In 1887, Richard Coulter
and George Franklin Huff
, both of whom had attained wealth in the local coal industry, saw the possibilities of developing the area as a residential community. Coulter and Huff purchased land from a farmer, John Mace, in 1887, and a community was laid out consisting of 413 lots. The first recorded use of the name "Southwest Greensburg" occurred in 1888, when Coulter and Huff's plan was submitted to the county courthouse.
Southwest Greensburg was incorporated as a borough on November 15, 1890. The first borough election was held on February 17, 1891, in which John Putnam was elected as the borough's first burgess (mayor), together with other borough officials.
A key element of the community's development was the Greensburg & Hempfield Street Railway, which built a trolley line on Greene Street in 1890. Shortly afterward, the company built an amusement park called "Electric Park" to increase trolley traffic. The boundaries of "Electric Park" were (approximately) Greene Street, Main Street, Welty Street, and Weaver Street. Nothing of "Electric Park" remains, which was eventually redeveloped as residential lots. The trolley line itself was later acquired by West Penn Railways
and operated until January 3, 1937.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 2,398 people, 1,097 households, and 645 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 6,001.9 people per square mile (2,314.7/km2). There were 1,187 housing units at an average density of 2,970.9 per square mile (1,145.8/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.62% White, 1.75% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races
, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.46% of the population.
There were 1,097 households out of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% were married couples
living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the borough the population was spread out with 21.1% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $35,750, and the median income for a family was $43,929. Males had a median income of $31,219 versus $24,613 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $18,281. About 5.8% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.
court, and a baseball
field. In the autumn, one should not be surprised to find an intense American football
match raging at the school in the evenings. Also, Red Devil's Field is a Mecca
for fans of amateur baseball who are in the area.
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 2,398 at the 2000 census.
History
In 1769, John Peter Miller was granted provisional ownership of land within the current-day boundaries of Southwest Greensburg, and he received full ownership rights in 1789. Miller was told that the first settler traditionally has the right to name a community, and when Miller was asked what name he preferred for the area, he responded with "What you please?" As a result, the community - at that point a mere collection of farms - bore the unusual name "What You Please?" for many decades, in what was undoubtedly an expression of settlers' sense of humor.In 1887, Richard Coulter
Richard Coulter (general)
Richard Coulter, Sr. was an American Civil War general in the Union Army, a businessman, and banker. During the Civil War he was colonel of the 11th Pennsylvania Infantry, often rising to brigade command upon the wounding of superior officers.-Early life and career:Richard Coulter, Sr...
and 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...
, both of whom had attained wealth in the local coal industry, saw the possibilities of developing the area as a residential community. Coulter and Huff purchased land from a farmer, John Mace, in 1887, and a community was laid out consisting of 413 lots. The first recorded use of the name "Southwest Greensburg" occurred in 1888, when Coulter and Huff's plan was submitted to the county courthouse.
Southwest Greensburg was incorporated as a borough on November 15, 1890. The first borough election was held on February 17, 1891, in which John Putnam was elected as the borough's first burgess (mayor), together with other borough officials.
A key element of the community's development was the Greensburg & Hempfield Street Railway, which built a trolley line on Greene Street in 1890. Shortly afterward, the company built an amusement park called "Electric Park" to increase trolley traffic. The boundaries of "Electric Park" were (approximately) Greene Street, Main Street, Welty Street, and Weaver Street. Nothing of "Electric Park" remains, which was eventually redeveloped as residential lots. The trolley line itself 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:...
and operated until January 3, 1937.
Geography
Southwest Greensburg is located at 40.293253°N 79.548635°W.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 0.4 square miles (1.0 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 2,398 people, 1,097 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 6,001.9 people per square mile (2,314.7/km2). There were 1,187 housing units at an average density of 2,970.9 per square mile (1,145.8/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.62% White, 1.75% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.38% 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 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.46% of the population.
There were 1,097 households out of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% 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, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the borough the population was spread out with 21.1% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $35,750, and the median income for a family was $43,929. Males had a median income of $31,219 versus $24,613 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 $18,281. About 5.8% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.
Culture and Recreation
In spite of its sleepy appearance, there are opportunities for a little bit of recreation in this quiet neighborhood. Amos K. Hutchinson Elementary School offers a playground, basketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
court, and a baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
field. In the autumn, one should not be surprised to find an intense American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
match raging at the school in the evenings. Also, Red Devil's Field is a Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
for fans of amateur baseball who are in the area.