Castle Shannon, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Castle Shannon, Pennsylvania
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Borough
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Willow Avenue at Castle Shannon Boulevard
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| Etymology: Local farm named "Castle Shanahan" | |
| Nickname(s):
"Shannon"
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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 | December 20, 1919 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.60 sq mi (4.14 km2) |
| • Land | 1.60 sq mi (4.14 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,040 ft (320 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 8,249 |
| • Density | 5,162.08/sq mi (1,993.39/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
15234
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| Area code(s) | 412 |
| FIPS code | 42-11680 |
| School District | Keystone Oaks |
| Website | borough.castle-shannon.pa.us |
Castle Shannon is a small town, called a borough, located in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. In 2020, about 8,249 people lived there. It's part of the larger Pittsburgh metropolitan area.
Contents
History of Castle Shannon
The first families came to Castle Shannon in 1786. They were looking for farmland and wood. One important farm belonged to David Strawbridge. Many Irish settlers in the area named their farms after places in Ireland. David Strawbridge named his farm "Castle Shanahan." This name came from a place in County Donegal, Ireland, called Castleshanaghan. Over time, "Shanahan" changed to "Shannon," and the area became known as Castle Shannon.
In 1872, the Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Railroad was finished. This train line connected Castle Shannon directly to Pittsburgh. The railroad helped the area grow. For two years, people who built homes could get free transportation and lumber.
Another railroad was built in 1877. It went from Finleyville through Castle Shannon to the West End of Pittsburgh. In 1909, the Pittsburgh Railroad bought the rights to use the land for the railway. This made Castle Shannon an important place for coal mining. By 1904, there were eight coal mines working there. The Pittsburgh and West Virginia Railway, which is still used today, was built soon after.
In 1917, the First National Bank in Castle Shannon had a famous bank robbery. Money was taken, but some of it was quickly found. A group of men tried to catch the robber. From this group, Elmer J. Zeiler became the first Chief of Police when the police department started. He was a hero from World War I, earning medals for his bravery.
Castle Shannon officially became a borough on December 20, 1919. It was formed from parts of nearby areas like Baldwin Township, Mt. Lebanon, and Bethel Township.
Geography of Castle Shannon
Castle Shannon is about 1.6 square miles (4.14 square kilometers) in size. It's all land, with no large bodies of water. The average height of the land is about 1,040 feet (317 meters) above sea level.
Neighboring Towns
Castle Shannon shares its borders with five other communities:
- Baldwin Township is to the north.
- The Pittsburgh neighborhood of Overbrook is to the northeast.
- Whitehall is to the east and southeast.
- Bethel Park is to the south and southwest.
- Mt. Lebanon is to the west and northwest.
Population of Castle Shannon
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 306 | — | |
| 1920 | 2,353 | — | |
| 1930 | 3,810 | 61.9% | |
| 1940 | 3,970 | 4.2% | |
| 1950 | 5,459 | 37.5% | |
| 1960 | 11,836 | 116.8% | |
| 1970 | 12,036 | 1.7% | |
| 1980 | 10,164 | −15.6% | |
| 1990 | 9,135 | −10.1% | |
| 2000 | 8,556 | −6.3% | |
| 2010 | 8,316 | −2.8% | |
| 2020 | 8,249 | −0.8% | |
| Sources: | |||
In 2020, the population of Castle Shannon was 8,249 people. The town has seen its population grow and shrink over the years. For example, in 1960, there were 11,836 people living there, which was the highest population recorded.
Schools in Castle Shannon
Most of Castle Shannon is part of the Keystone Oaks School District. This district also includes the boroughs of Dormont and Green Tree.
The schools in the Keystone Oaks School District are:
- Keystone Oaks Middle and High Schools
- Myrtle Elementary School (in Castle Shannon)
- Dormont Elementary School (in Dormont)
- Aiken Elementary School (in Green Tree)
A small part of Castle Shannon is in the Bethel Park School District. Students from this area attend Bethel Park High School.
There is also a private Catholic elementary school in Castle Shannon called Saint Anne School.
Famous People from Castle Shannon
Several notable people have connections to Castle Shannon:
- Daniel DiNardo: He is a Cardinal in the Catholic Church. He grew up in Castle Shannon and went to St. Anne Elementary School.
- Lee Hartman: He is an animator, someone who creates cartoons and animated movies.
- Dennis Miller: He is a well-known comedian. He also grew up in Castle Shannon and attended St. Anne Elementary School and Keystone Oaks High School.
See also
In Spanish: Castle Shannon para niños
