Beaver County, Pennsylvania

Beaver County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 170,539.[2] Its county seat is Beaver.[3] The county was created on March 12, 1800, from parts of Allegheny and Washington Counties.[4] It took its name from the Beaver River.[5]

Beaver County
U.S. county
Beaver County Courthouse
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°41′N 80°21′W
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
FoundedMarch 12, 1800
Named forBeaver River
SeatBeaver
Largest cityAliquippa
Area
 • Total444 sq mi (1,150 km2)
 • Land435 sq mi (1,130 km2)
 • Water9.3 sq mi (24 km2)  2.1%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
163,929
 • Density379/sq mi (146/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district17th
Websitewww.beavercountypa.gov
DesignatedJuly 5, 1982[1]

Beaver County is part of the Pittsburgh, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The original townships at the date of the erection of Beaver County (1800) were North Beaver, east and west of the Big Beaver Creek; South Beaver, west of the Big Beaver; and Sewickley, east of the Big Beaver—all north of the Ohio River; and Hanover, First Moon, and Second Moon, south of the Ohio.[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 444 square miles (1,150 km2), of which 435 square miles (1,130 km2) is land and 9.3 square miles (24 km2) (2.1%) is water.[7] It has a humid continental climate (Dfa/Dfb) and average monthly temperatures in the Beaver/Rochester vicinity range from 29.4 °F in January to 73.2 °F in July.[8]

Bodies of water
  • The Ohio River flows north through Beaver County from a point near Ambridge, then turns west near Beaver and on to the Ohio and West Virginia borders. It divides the southern third of the county from the northern two-thirds.
  • The Beaver River flows south from Lawrence County entering Beaver County near Koppel and continuing south to its confluence with the Ohio near Beaver.

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18005,776—
181012,168110.7%
182015,34026.1%
183024,18357.6%
184029,36821.4%
185026,689−9.1%
186029,1409.2%
187036,14824.0%
188039,6059.6%
189050,07726.4%
190056,43212.7%
191078,25338.7%
1920111,62142.6%
1930149,06233.5%
1940156,7545.2%
1950175,19211.8%
1960206,94818.1%
1970208,4180.7%
1980204,441−1.9%
1990186,093−9.0%
2000181,412−2.5%
2010170,539−6.0%
2019 (est.)163,929[9]−3.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12]
1990–2000[13] 2010–2019[2]

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 181,412 people, 72,576 households, and 50,512 families residing in the county. The population density was 418 people per square mile (161/km2). There were 77,765 housing units at an average density of 179 per square mile (69/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.55% White, 5.96% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 0.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 23.0% were of German, 17.4% Italian, 9.9% Irish, 6.5% English, 6.4% Polish and 5.8% American ancestry.

There were 72,576 households, out of which 28.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.50% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.40% were non-families. Of all households 26.90% were made up of individuals, and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the age distribution of the population shows 22.60% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 18.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.20 males.

Birth rate

Beaver County's live birth rate was 2,437 births in 1990. Beaver County's live birth rate in 2000 was 1,891 births, while in 2011 it had declined to 1,690 babies.[15] Over the past 50 years (1960 to 2010), rural Pennsylvania saw a steady decline in both the number and proportion of residents under 18 years old. In 1960, 1.06 million rural residents, or 35 percent of the rural population, were children.

Teen pregnancy rate

Beaver County reported 1,069 babies born to teens (age 15–19) in 2011. In 2015, the number of teen births in Beaver County was 1,025.[16]

County poverty demographics

According to research by The Center for Rural Pennsylvania, which is a legislative Agency of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the poverty rate for Beaver County was 11.7% in 2014.[17] The statewide poverty rate was 13.6% in 2014. The 2012 childhood poverty rate by school district was: Ambridge Area School District: 40.6% living at 185% or below than the Federal Poverty Level; Aliquippa School District: 82.7%; Beaver Area School District: 17.4%; Big Beaver Falls Area School District: 71.3%; Blackhawk School District: 27.9%; Central Valley School District: 30.8%; Freedom Area School District: 40.8%, Hopewell Area School District: 24.9%; Midland Borough School District: 64.9%; New Brighton Area School District: 54.4%; Riverside Beaver County School District: 31.9%; Rochester Area High School: 66.3%; South Side Area School District: 31.5%; and Western Beaver County School District: 36.5%.[18] The child poverty rate is collected by the school districts as part of the federal free school lunch program.

Government and politics
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[19][20]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 58.2% 54,759 40.5% 38,122 1.3% 1,516
2016 57.0% 48,167 38.5% 32,531 4.5% 3,764
2012 52.4% 42,344 45.9% 37,055 1.7% 1,394
2008 50.5% 42,895 47.6% 40,499 1.9% 1,638
2004 48.4% 39,916 51.1% 42,146 0.6% 481
2000 44.1% 32,491 52.9% 38,925 3.0% 2,233
1996 35.1% 26,048 53.3% 39,578 11.7% 8,653
1992 25.9% 21,361 54.5% 44,877 19.6% 16,102
1988 33.7% 25,764 65.8% 50,327 0.5% 378
1984 36.8% 32,052 62.9% 54,765 0.3% 300
1980 38.2% 30,496 55.1% 43,955 6.7% 5,314
1976 41.4% 33,593 56.8% 46,117 1.8% 1,440
1972 56.4% 43,637 40.8% 31,570 2.8% 2,130
1968 34.5% 28,264 55.3% 45,396 10.2% 8,368
1964 27.6% 23,174 72.0% 60,492 0.4% 327
1960 43.7% 36,796 56.0% 47,182 0.3% 212
1956 51.2% 38,263 48.7% 36,373 0.1% 79
1952 45.2% 31,700 54.4% 38,136 0.5% 334
1948 43.8% 22,324 52.3% 26,629 3.9% 1,983
1944 41.6% 23,555 57.8% 32,743 0.6% 360
1940 41.8% 24,324 57.7% 33,609 0.5% 282
1936 34.7% 20,223 63.8% 37,205 1.5% 884
1932 47.9% 19,751 48.0% 19,805 4.1% 1,704
1928 69.5% 27,949 29.5% 11,868 1.0% 400
1924 64.1% 16,768 12.3% 3,220 23.5% 6,153
1920 62.9% 11,691 25.7% 4,771 11.4% 2,124
1916 48.7% 6,864 41.2% 5,805 10.2% 1,434
1912 21.9% 2,759 24.1% 3,037 54.0% 6,806
1908 56.0% 7,008 33.5% 4,200 10.5% 1,318
1904 68.9% 7,122 22.7% 2,342 8.5% 876
1900 60.1% 6,759 36.3% 4,076 3.6% 409
1896 60.0% 6,842 37.9% 4,322 2.2% 248
1892 52.0% 4,890 40.7% 3,822 7.3% 684
1888 58.2% 5,552 38.9% 3,706 2.9% 276
1884 56.5% 5,075 39.5% 3,546 4.0% 360
1880 56.4% 4,700 42.0% 3,498 1.6% 136

Voter registration

In November 2008, there were 118,269 registered voters in Beaver County.[21]

By April 2016, there were 109,091 registered voters, a decrease of 7.7% since 2008.

The county is divided into 129 precincts.[22]

  • Democratic: 58,828 (53.93%)
  • Republican: 38,015 (34.85%)
  • Other parties/non-partisan: 12,248 (11.23%)

As of November 7, 2017 there were 108,931 registered voters in the county. Democrats had a majority of the voters. There were 55,600 registered Democrats, 40,101 registered Republicans, 12,581 voters registered to other parties, 568 to the Libertarian Party and 81 voters registered to the Green Party.[23]

Voter registration

  Democratic (51.04%)
  Republican (36.81%)
  NPA/other parties (11.55%)
  Libertarian (0.52%)
  Green (0.07%)
Voter registration and party enrollment
Party Number of voters Percentage
Democratic 55,600 51.04
Republican 40,101 36.81
Others 12,581 11.55
Libertarian 568 0.52
Green 81 0.07
Total 108,931 100%

Political history

Beaver County used to be a Democratic stronghold, and still has a large Democratic edge in registration. In 2015, however, the GOP took majority status in the Commissioners' Office for the first time since 1955. Multiple Democratic seats in both houses of the Pennsylvania Legislature have been lost to Republicans over the past few years. In statewide and federal elections it has been moving rightward as well. In 2004 Democrat John Kerry won Beaver County over Republican George Bush 51% to 48%. In 2008 Republican John McCain defeated Democrat Barack Obama 50% to 47%, becoming the first Republican to win there since 1972 and only the third since 1928. Mitt Romney and Donald Trump (twice) carried the county in the next three elections, cementing its status as a "red county" in presidential politics.

Each of the three state row office winners carried Beaver. In 2010 Republican Governor Tom Corbett and Republican Senator Pat Toomey both carried Beaver in their successful statewide bids. However, Beaver County voted for Bob Casey Jr. in his reelection bid in 2012 50% to 47%.

County commissioners
  • Tony Amadio, Democrat
  • Jack Manning, Republican [24]
  • Daniel C. Camp III, Chairman, Republican

Other county offices
  • Clerk of Courts, Judy Enslen, Democrat
  • Controller, Maria Longo, Republican [25]
  • Coroner, David Gabauer, Republican
  • District Attorney, David Lozier, Republican
  • Prothonotary, Michael Rossi, Democrat [26]
  • Recorder of Deeds, Ronald Alberti, Republican [27]
  • Register of Wills, Tracey Antoline Patton, Democrat
  • Sheriff, Tony Guy, Republican
  • Treasurer, Sandie Egley, Republican [28]

State senators

State representatives
  • Aaron Bernstine, Republican, Pennsylvania's 10th Representative District
  • Jim Marshall, Republican, Pennsylvania's 14th Representative District
  • Josh Kail, Republican, Pennsylvania's 15th Representative District
  • Robert F. Matzie, Democrat, Pennsylvania's 16th Representative District

United States House of Representatives

United States Senators

Attractions

Beaver County offers many shops and places to eat. Beaver County is home to the Beaver Valley Mall in Center Township which is home to hundreds of shops and restaurants.

Near Koppel there is Buttermilk Falls,[29] a naturally occurring waterfall.

Transportation

Major roads and highways

Airports

Public transit

Public transit is provided by the Beaver County Transit Authority.

Education

Colleges and universities

Community, junior, and technical colleges
Map of Beaver County, Pennsylvania public school districts. Note that two districts on this map, Monaca School District and Center Area School District, merged in 2009 to form the Central Valley School District.

Public school districts

The 498 school districts of Pennsylvania that have high schools were ranked for student academic achievement as demonstrated by three years of math and reading PSSA results by the Pittsburgh Business Times[30] in 2008.

High schools

Charter schools

As reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Education – EdNA, as of April 2010.

Private schools

As reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Education – EdNA, as of April 2010.

  • Agapeland Children Garden – Beaver
  • Beaver County Christian School -Upper – Beaver Falls
  • Beaver Co Christian -West Park Elementary – Beaver Falls
  • Bethel Christian School – Aliquippa
  • Deliverance Temple Ministries ROOTS Inc Christian Academy – Aliquippa
  • Divine Mercy Academy – Beaver Falls
  • Hope Christian Academy – Aliquippa
  • North Hills Christian School – Baden
  • Our Lady of Fatima School – Aliquippa
  • Pleasant Hill Wesleyan Academy – Hookstown
  • Quigley Catholic High School – Baden
  • St John the Baptist School – Monaca
  • Sts Peter & Paul School – Beaver
  • Sylvania Hills Christian – Rochester

Former school districts

In 2009, Center Area School District and Monaca School District merged to form Central Valley School District.

Communities
Map of Beaver County, Pennsylvania with municipal labels showing cities and boroughs (red), townships (white), and census-designated places (blue)

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are in Beaver County:

Cities

Boroughs

Townships

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Former community
  • Borough Township – established in 1804 from the small southeast corner of South Beaver Township. In 1970, it was renamed Vanport Township.[32]

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Beaver County.[33]

† county seat

Rank City/town/etc. Population (2010 Census) Municipal type Incorporated
1 Aliquippa 9,438 City 1928 (borough) 1987 (city)
2 Beaver Falls 8,987 City 1868 (borough) 1928 (city)
3 Economy 8,970 Borough 1957
4 Ellwood City (partially in Lawrence County) 7,921 Borough
5 Ambridge 7,050 Borough 1905
6 New Brighton 6,025 Borough 1838
7 Monaca 5,737 Borough 1840
8 † Beaver 4,531 Borough 1802
9 Baden 4,135 Borough 1868
10 Rochester 3,657 Borough 1849
11 Ohioville 3,533 Borough 1860
12 Harmony Township 3,197 CDP and township 1851
13 Patterson Township 3,029 CDP and township 1845
14 Midland 2,635 Borough 1906
15 Conway 2,176 Borough 1902
16 Big Beaver 1,970 Borough 1858
17 Industry 1,835 Borough 1960
18 Freedom 1,569 Borough 1838
19 West Mayfield 1,239 Borough 1923
20 Koppel 762 Borough 1910
21 Bridgewater 704 Borough 1835
22 Patterson Heights 636 Borough 1899
23 East Rochester 567 Borough 1908
24 South Heights 475 Borough 1910
25 New Galilee 379 Borough 1854
26 Fallston 266 Borough 1829
27 Darlington 254 Borough 1820
28 Eastvale 225 Borough 1892
29 Shippingport 214 Borough 1910
30 Georgetown 174 Borough 1850
31 Hookstown 147 Borough 1843
32 Frankfort Springs 130 Borough 1844
33 Homewood 109 Borough 1910
34 Glasgow 60 Borough 1854

Notable people
See also: List of people from the Pittsburgh metropolitan area

See also

References
  1. "PHMC Historical Markers Search" (Searchable database). Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. Laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 4 vols. (Philadelphia: John Bioren, 1810), vol. 3, pages 421–422, Chapter MMCXIX, Section 1, "An Act to erect certain parts of Allegheny, Westmoreland, Washington and Lycoming counties, into separate counties," 12 March 1800, creation of Beaver County, digital images, Google Books (https://books.google.com : 22 July 2018).
  5. Hoover, Gladys L. (September 18, 1974). "County Got its Name From Stream". Beaver County Times. pp. C11. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  6. Joseph Henderson Bausman, History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania: And Its Centennial Celebration, 2 volumes (New York: Knickerbocker Press, 1904), vol. 2, pp. 863–864; digital images, Google Books (https://books.google.com : accessed 2 Nov 2018).
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  9. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  12. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  15. Pennsylvania Department of Health, Birth Age County Reports 1990 and 2011, 2011
  16. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (2016). "Pennsylvania Teen Births 2015".
  17. US Census Bureau (2015). "Poverty Rates by County Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates".
  18. Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center (2012). "Student Poverty Concentration 2012". Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-13.
  19. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  20. http://geoelections.free.fr/. Retrieved January 13, 2021. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. Running for Office Archived November 26, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Dos.state.pa.us. Retrieved on July 23, 2013.
  22. "2016 General Primary Results". Beaver County, Pennsylvania. May 10, 2016. Archived from the original on May 31, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  23. http://www.dos.pa.gov/VotingElections/CandidatesCommittees/RunningforOffice/Documents/2017%20Election%20VR%20Stats.pdf
  24. "Board of Commissioners". www.beavercountypa.gov. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  25. "Welcome to the Office of the Controller". www.beavercountypa.gov. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  26. "Welcome to the Prothonotary Office". www.beavercountypa.gov.
  27. "Welcome to the Recorder of Deeds". www.beavercountypa.gov.
  28. "Welcome to the Treasurer's Office". www.beavercountypa.gov.
  29. Buttermilk Falls
  30. Pittsburgh Business Times
  31. "Baden Academy Charter School". badenacademy.org. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  32. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-11-20. Retrieved 2014-12-19.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  33. "2010 U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  34. Kelly, Joey. "Page Turners: Profiles of Beaver Valley authors". The Times. Retrieved 31 March 2020.

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