Coraopolis, Pennsylvania
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Coraopolis [koreɔpəlɪs] is a borough in Allegheny County in the US state of Pennsylvania. The population was 6,131 at the 2000 census. In 1940 the population peaked at 11,086. It is a small town located to the west of Pittsburgh, along the Ohio River. The town is noted for its steep topography, numerous brick streets and many large, old and exquisite homes. The American Bridge Company is headquartered in Coraopolis.
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[edit] History
Coraopolis, founded in 1886, has a history replete with the names found on the borough's street signs' names like Montour, Vance, Ferree, McCabe, Neely and Watson. The first permanent settler in Coraopolis was Capt. Robert Vance, a Virginia native who was a member of the regiment commanded by Gen. George Washington at the Battle of Braddock in the Ameican Revolution. In 1795, Vance built a log stockade building and a stone blockhouse to protect the area against Indian raids. The site of the fort was around the present Broadway and Chestnut streets, near Second Ave.
One of the most important early industries in Coraopolis was begun by the Watson family, English immigrants who arrived in America in 1830. The Watsons built a sawmill on the site of the present municipal building on Fifth Avenue. Later, they operated a much larger grist mill on the river bank at Mill Street, until 1887.
Community development in Coraopolis (known as Middletown until 1886) moved along gradually with the building of the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad in 1877. Several Coraopolis residents were stockholders in this enterprise. In 1890, oil was discovered at both ends of town, which briefly stimulated a population boom. The effects did not last long, however, as the oil supplies were found to be rather modest.
In 1892, community development took off with the construction of the first high-speed electric street railway in the United States. The railway was scheduled to run up to 40 mph, going from Coraopolis, over Neville Island and to McKees Rocks. Along with the railway came Consolidated Lamp and Glass Company to Coraopolis, moving from its location in Fostoria, Ohio. Consolidated Glass employed up to 350 people. Other Coraopolis residents worked for the new industries established on Neville Island.
Coraopolis' first municipal building was built in 1897 on State Avenue and was used until 1929, when the current building was constructed. The town was incorporated as a borough in June 1886. Legend has the borough being named for a member of the Watson family, but research uncovered by longtime resident and local historian Dr. Frank "Buck" Braden shows it more likely took the appellation from a Greek word for "maiden city."
Coraopolis and Neville Township merged to form Cornell School District in 1971, and all students reported to the new Cornell Educational Center in 1976.
[edit] Geography
Coraopolis is located at (40.515818, -80.162791)[1].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.8 km²), of which, 1.3 square miles (3.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (9.46%) is water.
[edit] Surrounding communities
Coraopolis is situated along the banks of the Ohio River in Western Pennsylvania. The borough is bordered by Moon Township and Robinson Township. Coraopolis is connected to Neville Island (via Coraopolis Bridge). The town sits across the river from Haysville and Osborne.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 6,131 people, 2,880 households, and 1,552 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,582.3 people per square mile (1,766.6/km²). There were 3,119 housing units at an average density of 2,331.1/sq mi (898.7/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 84.96% White, 12.43% Black or African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.57% from other races, and 1.66% from two or more races. 0.98% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,880 households out of which 21.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.0% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.1% were non-families. 40.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the borough the population was spread out with 19.4% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.7 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $32,321, and the median income for a family was $41,081. Males had a median income of $31,374 versus $25,269 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $17,595. About 6.4% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Council Members
Mayor - John Haberland
Council President - John Pessy
Dan LaRocco
Ettore Pitassi
Anthony Celeste
Shelly Jones
Ray McCutcheon
Paul Pollastro
Gerard Thompson
Coraopolis Manager - Tom Cellante Jr.
Coraopolis Engineers - Lennon, Smith and Souleret - (Ned Metrovich)
Coraopolis Solicitor - Richard Start
Water Superintendent - Rich Deems
Cornell High School Representatives
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- Coraopolis, Pennsylvania is at coordinates Coordinates:
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