Beaver County, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Beaver County
|
|
|---|---|
Beaver County Courthouse
|
|
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
|
|
 Pennsylvania's location within the U.S. |
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Pennsylvania |
| Founded | March 12, 1800 |
| 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 | |
| • Estimate
(2015)
|
168,871 |
| • Density | 388/sq mi (150/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 12th |
|
Pennsylvania Historical Marker
|
|
| Designated: | July 5, 1982 |
Beaver County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 170,539. Its county seat is Beaver. The county was created on March 12, 1800, from parts of Allegheny and Washington Counties. It took its name from the Beaver River.
Beaver County is part of the Pittsburgh, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
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.
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
- Lawrence County (north)
- Butler County (east)
- Allegheny County (southeast)
- Washington County (south)
- Hancock County, West Virginia (west)
- Columbiana County, Ohio (west)
Protected areas
- Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge (part)
- Raccoon Creek State Park, a Pennsylvania state park
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1800 | 5,776 | — | |
| 1810 | 12,168 | 110.7% | |
| 1820 | 15,340 | 26.1% | |
| 1830 | 24,183 | 57.6% | |
| 1840 | 29,368 | 21.4% | |
| 1850 | 26,689 | −9.1% | |
| 1860 | 29,140 | 9.2% | |
| 1870 | 36,148 | 24.0% | |
| 1880 | 39,605 | 9.6% | |
| 1890 | 50,077 | 26.4% | |
| 1900 | 56,432 | 12.7% | |
| 1910 | 78,253 | 38.7% | |
| 1920 | 111,621 | 42.6% | |
| 1930 | 149,062 | 33.5% | |
| 1940 | 156,754 | 5.2% | |
| 1950 | 175,192 | 11.8% | |
| 1960 | 206,948 | 18.1% | |
| 1970 | 208,418 | 0.7% | |
| 1980 | 204,441 | −1.9% | |
| 1990 | 186,093 | −9.0% | |
| 2000 | 181,412 | −2.5% | |
| 2010 | 170,539 | −6.0% | |
| 2015 (est.) | 168,871 | −1.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2013 |
|||
As of the census 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 according to Census 2000.
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. 26.90% of all households 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.
Attractions
Beaver County offers many shops and places to eat. Beaver County is home to the Beaver Valley Mall located in Center Township which is home to hundreds of shops and restaurants.
Near Koppel there is Buttermilk Falls, a naturally occurring waterfall.
Transportation
Major highways
I-76 / Penna Turnpike
I-376
US 30 / Lincoln Highway
Pennsylvania Route 18
Pennsylvania Route 51
Pennsylvania Route 65
Pennsylvania Route 68
Pennsylvania Route 151
Pennsylvania Route 168
Pennsylvania Route 351
Airports
- Beaver County Airport
- Zelienople Municipal Airport
Public transit
Public transit is provided by the Beaver County Transit Authority.
Communities
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 located in Beaver County:
Cities
Boroughs
- Ambridge
- Baden
- Beaver (county seat)
- Big Beaver
- Bridgewater
- Conway
- Darlington
- East Rochester
- Eastvale
- Economy
- Ellwood City (mostly in Lawrence County)
- Fallston
- Frankfort Springs
- Freedom
- Georgetown
- Glasgow
- Homewood
- Hookstown
- Industry
- Koppel
- Midland
- Monaca
- New Brighton
- New Galilee
- Ohioville
- Patterson Heights
- Rochester
- Shippingport
- South Heights
- West Mayfield
Townships
Census-designated places
- Harmony Township
- Patterson Township
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.
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Beaver County.
† 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 |
Images for kids
-
Map of Beaver County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts. Note that two of those districts on this map, Monaca School District and Center Area School District, merged in 2009 to form the Central Valley School District.
