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Avella
Avella is located in Pennsylvania
Avella
Avella
Location in Pennsylvania
Avella is located in the United States
Avella
Avella
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Washington
Area
 • Total 0.90 sq mi (2.33 km2)
 • Land 0.90 sq mi (2.33 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 782
 • Density 867.92/sq mi (335.02/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
15312
Area code(s) 724
FIPS code 42-03616
Civil War Era Home Avella PA 11 1995
Civil War era home in Avella
1930s Era School Avella PA 11 1995
1930s era schoolhouse in Avella
Independence Cemetery Entrance Avella PA 11 1995
Entrance to Independence Cemetery near Avella

Avella is a census-designated place in Independence Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2010 census the population was 804 residents. It is located at 40.27° north & 80.45° west.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
2020 782
U.S. Decennial Census

History

The ancient history of the area includes some of North America's earliest inhabitants. The Meadowcroft Rockshelter is a prehistoric shelter found below a rock outcropping that is believed to have provided shelter for a succession of early foragers as far back as 16,000 years and possibly as far back as 19,000 years ago, although the dates are controversial. The area also was the site of Eastern Woodland Indians communities some 400 years ago. Today a National Historic Landmark includes a historic interactive display that provides a view of life for early Woodland Indians, as well as 19th Century rural American life.

Avella's early history included American frontiersmen, grist mills and refuge forts during the 18th century, when the area was part of the western frontier. It remains the site of a significant farming community. However, it began to grow after the arrival of the railroad in the early 20th century (the last railroad tunnel was completed in 1903 and served the Wabash Railroad). Completion of the railroad enabled coal mining companies to open numerous mines, making the Avella/Burgettstown area one of the world's most important bituminous coal mining regions.

The mining and railroad opportunities attracted many immigrants in the early 20th century, principally southern and eastern Europeans, and the area grew greatly in size and importance in the first third of the 20th century.

Avella, and the former nearby town of Cliftonville, were the site of labor strife in the coal mining industry. In the midst of a strike, the mine owners began firing union mine works and replacing them with non-union workers. In the Cliftonville Riot, 500 union mine workers marched on the mine in an attempt to shut down the non-union labor. This led to gunfire between the union mineworkers, non-union workers, owners, and the local police department. Between 4 and 13 people died in the riot, including Brooke County Sheriff H.H. Duval. No one involved was ever convicted in crimes relating to the riot and the sheriff's killer was never identified.

The town began a gradual decline as the local coal seams began to give out and the demand for and price of coal dropped. The population declined as the coal mines closed and families moved away looking for other employment opportunities.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Avella (Pensilvania) para niños

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