Beaver County, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Beaver County
U.S. county
Beaver County Courthouse
Flag Seal Logo
Motto(s):  Divided by its Rivers, United by its People
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
Founded	March 12, 1800
Named for	Beaver River
Seat	Beaver
Largest city	Aliquippa
Area
• Total	444 sq mi (1,150 km2)
• Land	435 sq mi (1,130 km2)
• Water	9.3 sq mi (24 km2)  2.1%
Population  (2020)
• Total	168,215
• Estimate  (2023)	165,677
• Density	378.9/sq mi (146.28/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	17th
Pennsylvania Historical Marker
Designated:	July 5, 1982

Beaver County is a county located in Pennsylvania, a state in the United States. In 2020, about 168,215 people lived here. The main town, or county seat, is Beaver. The biggest city in the county is Aliquippa. Beaver County is also part of the larger Greater Pittsburgh area.

Discovering Beaver County's Past

Beaver County was officially created on March 12, 1800. It was formed from parts of Allegheny and Washington counties. The county got its name from the nearby Beaver River.

When Beaver County was first formed in 1800, it had several original townships. These included North Beaver, South Beaver, and Sewickley, all located north of the Ohio River. South of the Ohio River were Hanover, First Moon, and Second Moon townships.

Exploring Beaver County's Geography

Beaver County covers a total area of about 444 square miles. Most of this area, about 435 square miles, is land. The remaining 9.3 square miles (2.1%) is water.

The county has a humid continental climate. This means it experiences all four seasons, with warm summers and cold winters. Average monthly temperatures in the Beaver/Rochester area range from about 29°F in January to 73°F in July.

Important Waterways

• The Ohio River flows through Beaver County. It enters near Ambridge, then turns west near Beaver. It continues towards the borders of Ohio and West Virginia. This river divides the southern part of the county from the northern two-thirds.
• The Beaver River flows south from Lawrence County. It enters Beaver County near Koppel and joins the Ohio River near Beaver.

Neighboring Counties

Beaver County shares its borders with several other counties:

• Lawrence County (north)
• Butler County (east)
• Allegheny County (southeast)
• Washington County (south)
• Hancock County, West Virginia (west)
• Columbiana County, Ohio (west)

Parks and Natural Areas

Beaver County is home to several beautiful protected areas where you can enjoy nature:

• Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge (part of it is in Beaver County)
• Raccoon Creek State Park, a large Pennsylvania state park
• Brady’s Run Park
• Brush Creek Park
• Old Economy Park

Beaver County's Population Story

In 2000, there were about 181,412 people living in Beaver County. The population density was about 418 people per square mile. The county had 72,576 households.

About 22.6% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age in the county was 41 years. This means half the people were younger than 41 and half were older.

2020 Census Snapshot

In 2020, the population of Beaver County was 168,215. Most residents, about 85.5%, identified as White. About 6.6% identified as Black or African American. Other groups made up smaller percentages of the population.

Fun and Recreation in Beaver County

Beaver County offers many places for outdoor fun and activities. Near Koppel, you can find Buttermilk Falls, a beautiful natural waterfall. Brighton Township is home to Brady's Run Park, a popular spot for recreation.

Raccoon Creek State Park is one of Pennsylvania's largest state parks. It covers over 7,500 acres and features the 101-acre Raccoon Lake. There are also many parks along the rivers throughout the county. The North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT) passes through the northern part of the county. This trail has sections near Darlington and New Galilee where you can hike off-road.

Getting Around Beaver County

Main Roads and Highways

Several major roads and highways help people travel through Beaver County:

• I-76 / Penna Turnpike
• I-376
• US 30 / Invalid type: road
• PA 18
• PA 51
• PA 65
• PA 68
• PA 151
• PA 168
• PA 251
• PA 288
• PA 351
• PA 551
• PA 588
• PA 989

Public Transportation

The Beaver County Transit Authority provides public bus services for residents.

Airports

For air travel, Beaver County has:

• Beaver County Airport
• Zelienople Municipal Airport

Learning in Beaver County

Colleges and Universities

Beaver County has several higher education institutions:

• Geneva College
• Penn State Beaver Campus
• Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry

Community and Technical Colleges

• Community College of Beaver County

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

High Schools

Charter Schools

Charter schools are public schools that operate independently. In Beaver County, these include:

• Baden Academy Charter School (for grades K–6)
• Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School (for grades 7–12)
• Midland Innovation + Technology Charter School (for grades 9-12)

Former School Districts

In 2009, the Center Area School District and Monaca School District joined together. They formed a new district called the Central Valley School District.

Communities of Beaver County

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

In Pennsylvania, there are different types of official communities: cities, boroughs, and townships. Here are the cities, boroughs, and townships in Beaver County:

Cities

• Aliquippa
• Beaver Falls

Boroughs

Townships

Census-Designated Places

These are areas identified by the census bureau for statistical purposes:

• Frisco
• Hazen

Unincorporated Communities

These are smaller communities that are not officially incorporated as cities, boroughs, or townships:

• Byersdale
• Cannelton
• Fombell
• Gringo
• Harshaville
• Kobuta
• West Aliquippa

Former Community

• Borough Township was established in 1804. In 1970, its name was changed to Vanport Township.

Community Population Ranking (2010 Census)

This table shows the population of the largest communities in Beaver County based on the 2010 census. † county seat

Famous Faces from Beaver County

Many notable people have connections to Beaver County, including:

• Jim Covert – a former NFL football player for the Chicago Bears.
• Mike Ditka – a former NFL player and coach, known for playing for the Chicago Bears.
• Tony Dorsett – a former NFL running back for the Dallas Cowboys.
• Shane Douglas – a professional wrestler.
• Terry Francona – a former Major League Baseball player and manager.
• Donnie Iris – a musician.
• Ty Law – a former NFL cornerback for the New England Patriots.
• Joe Letteri – an Academy Award-winning visual effects artist, known for movies like Avatar.
• Henry Mancini – a famous music composer, who wrote "Moon River" and "The Pink Panther Theme".
• "Pistol" Pete Maravich – a legendary NBA basketball player.
• Joe Namath – a former NFL quarterback for the New York Jets.
• Paul Posluszny – an NFL linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
• Darrelle Revis – an NFL cornerback for the New York Jets.
• Jesse Steinfeld – a former Surgeon General of the United States.

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Beaver (Pensilvania) para niños