Ben Avon, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ben Avon, Pennsylvania
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Borough
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The Arthurs-Johnson House, a historic site in the borough
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| Etymology: Scottish for "hill by the waters" |
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Location in Allegheny County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Allegheny |
| Incorporated | January 1891 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.46 sq mi (1.19 km2) |
| • Land | 0.38 sq mi (0.98 km2) |
| • Water | 0.08 sq mi (0.20 km2) |
| Elevation | 928 ft (283 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,918 |
| • Density | 5,060.69/sq mi (1,953.73/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
15202
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| Area code(s) | 412 |
| FIPS code | 42-05504 |
| School District | Avonworth |
| Website | Ben Avon Borough |
Ben Avon is a small town, called a borough, in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. It is located right next to the Ohio River. In 2020, about 1,918 people lived there. Ben Avon is part of the larger Pittsburgh metropolitan area.
The name "Ben Avon" comes from a Scottish phrase. It means "hill by the waters."
Contents
History of Ben Avon
Ben Avon became an official borough in January 1891. It was formed from a larger area called Kilbuck Township.
Early Days and Railroads
Like many towns back then, Ben Avon was first connected to Pittsburgh by train. One of the oldest homes in the area is the Arthur-Johnson House. It was built near a bend in the Ohio River. This area was even known to George Washington a long time ago!
A merchant from Allegheny City built the Arthur-Johnson House. He wanted a summer getaway from the busy steel industry in the city. To make it easier for people to travel, a special train line was built. It was called the Pittsburgh and Fort Wayne Railroad. The Laurel Run station was right by the Arthur-Johnson House.
This new railroad made Ben Avon and its neighbor, Avalon, popular places to live. Many rich merchants and business leaders moved there. Ben Avon even had its own newspaper, the Ben Avon Forum. In 1930, the newspaper proudly said that Ben Avon was the best place to live in all of Allegheny County.
Changes with the Ohio River Boulevard
In 1928, there were plans to build a big new road. It was called the Pittsburgh and Ohio River Boulevard. Today, we know it as Ohio River Boulevard. This road runs along the northern side of the Ohio River. It goes from Pittsburgh all the way to the Beaver River.
People living in Ben Avon worried about this new road. They thought it would change their quiet community. The wide, busy road did divide the town. It made it hard for people to walk from one side of Ben Avon to the other. Also, by 1950, the train station at Laurel Run was closed.
Today, parts of Ohio River Boulevard outside of Ben Avon have many businesses. You can find gas stations, thrift shops, and auto repair shops there. But in Ben Avon itself, the old houses and train tracks are still there. They remind us of a time when Ben Avon was a peaceful summer escape from Pittsburgh's busy steel industry.
Geography of Ben Avon
Ben Avon is located at 40°30′27″N 80°4′56″W / 40.50750°N 80.08222°W.
The United States Census Bureau says the borough covers about 0.5 square miles (1.3 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 0.4 square miles (1.0 square kilometer), is land. The rest, about 0.1 square miles (0.26 square kilometers), is water.
The average height of Ben Avon is about 928 feet (283 meters) above sea level.
Neighboring Areas
Ben Avon shares its land borders with three other places:
Across the Ohio River, Ben Avon is next to Neville Island. This island is part of Neville Township.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 859 | — | |
| 1910 | 1,828 | 112.8% | |
| 1920 | 2,198 | 20.2% | |
| 1930 | 2,472 | 12.5% | |
| 1940 | 2,516 | 1.8% | |
| 1950 | 2,465 | −2.0% | |
| 1960 | 2,553 | 3.6% | |
| 1970 | 2,713 | 6.3% | |
| 1980 | 2,314 | −14.7% | |
| 1990 | 2,096 | −9.4% | |
| 2000 | 1,917 | −8.5% | |
| 2010 | 1,781 | −7.1% | |
| 2020 | 1,918 | 7.7% | |
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In the year 2000, there were 1,917 people living in Ben Avon. There were 784 households, and 512 of these were families.
The population density was about 4,805 people per square mile (1,850 per square kilometer). There were 825 homes in total.
Most people in Ben Avon were White (95.93%). About 2.45% were African American, and smaller groups were Native American or Asian. About 0.47% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Households and Families
Out of the 784 households, 32% had children under 18 living with them. About 51.9% were married couples living together. About 11.6% had a female head of household with no husband. About 34.6% were not families.
About 28.6% of all households had only one person living there. About 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older. The average household had 2.43 people, and the average family had 3.05 people.
Age and Income
The population was spread out by age:
- 25.3% were under 18 years old.
- 5.2% were from 18 to 24 years old.
- 33.9% were from 25 to 44 years old.
- 23.7% were from 45 to 64 years old.
- 11.9% were 65 years or older.
The average age in Ben Avon was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were about 87.2 males.
In 2000, the average income for a household in Ben Avon was $54,926. For a family, the average income was $66,875. The average income per person in the borough was $26,408.
See also
In Spanish: Ben Avon (Pensilvania) para niños
