Wall, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Wall is a borough
in Allegheny County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 580 at the 2010 census.
near the heart of present-day Wall. A station on the Pennsylvania Railroad
opened in the early 1840s, which was named "Walls' Station" in honor of the Walls family. Eventually, the name of the station and the town that grew up around it was shortened to "Wall Station". Henry and John Walls sold their property to their cousin Francis Walls, also known as Frank Wall, who developed the property around the station.
The town around Wall Station was incorporated in 1904 as Wall Borough. The borough
grew rapidly during the first half of the twentieth century because a freight depot of the Pennsylvania Railroad was located at Wall. The population and economic vitality of the borough declined during the second half of the twentieth century as the railroad industry was eclipsed by the airline
and trucking
industries.
Channel 40, WPCB-TV
, broadcasts from Wall.
Wall, along with East Mckeesport
, is served by United Volunteer Fire/Rescue, formerly Wall VFD and East Mckeesport VFC #2.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 727 people, 324 households, and 197 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 1,641.0 people per square mile (637.9/km²). There were 363 housing units at an average density of 819.4 per square mile (318.5/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.25% White, 2.06% African American, 0.14% Asian, and 0.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.28% of the population.
There were 324 households out of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples
living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the borough the population was spread out with 19.7% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $26,595, and the median income for a family was $32,500. Males had a median income of $25,500 versus $23,333 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $14,720. About 10.7% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.0% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.
Borough (Pennsylvania)
In the U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a borough is a self-governing municipal entity that is usually smaller than a city. There are 958 boroughs in Pennsylvania. All municipalities in Pennsylvania are classified as either cities, boroughs, or townships...
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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 580 at the 2010 census.
History
Wall is located at the site of a farm purchased by James Walls in 1829. The property, on the south bank of Turtle Creek, was passed to James' sons Henry and John Walls, who lived in a log cabinLog cabin
A log cabin is a house built from logs. It is a fairly simple type of log house. A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "log cabin" and "log house." Historically most "Log cabins" were a simple one- or 1½-story structures, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or less...
near the heart of present-day Wall. A station on the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
opened in the early 1840s, which was named "Walls' Station" in honor of the Walls family. Eventually, the name of the station and the town that grew up around it was shortened to "Wall Station". Henry and John Walls sold their property to their cousin Francis Walls, also known as Frank Wall, who developed the property around the station.
The town around Wall Station was incorporated in 1904 as Wall Borough. The borough
Borough (Pennsylvania)
In the U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a borough is a self-governing municipal entity that is usually smaller than a city. There are 958 boroughs in Pennsylvania. All municipalities in Pennsylvania are classified as either cities, boroughs, or townships...
grew rapidly during the first half of the twentieth century because a freight depot of the Pennsylvania Railroad was located at Wall. The population and economic vitality of the borough declined during the second half of the twentieth century as the railroad industry was eclipsed by the airline
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
and trucking
Truck driver
A truck driver , is a person who earns a living as the driver of a truck, usually a semi truck, box truck, or dump truck.Truck drivers provide an essential service to...
industries.
Channel 40, WPCB-TV
WPCB-TV
WPCB-TV is a Christian television station in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA DMA. It broadcasts its digital signal on UHF channel 50. It is licensed to Greensburg with studios and transmitter in Wall and is the home of Cornerstone Television, which originates most of its programs from the station...
, broadcasts from Wall.
Wall, along with East Mckeesport
East McKeesport, Pennsylvania
East McKeesport is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 2,126 at the 2010 census.-Geography:East McKeesport is located at ....
, is served by United Volunteer Fire/Rescue, formerly Wall VFD and East Mckeesport VFC #2.
Geography
Wall is located at 40°23′36"N 79°47′16"W (40.393468, -79.787692).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 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 727 people, 324 households, and 197 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 1,641.0 people per square mile (637.9/km²). There were 363 housing units at an average density of 819.4 per square mile (318.5/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.25% White, 2.06% African American, 0.14% Asian, and 0.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.28% of the population.
There were 324 households out of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% 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, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the borough the population was spread out with 19.7% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $26,595, and the median income for a family was $32,500. Males had a median income of $25,500 versus $23,333 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 $14,720. About 10.7% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.0% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.