Charleroi, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charleroi, Pennsylvania
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Borough
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Overview of Charleroi from across the Monongahela River
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| Etymology: Charleroi, Belgium; Charles the King | |||
| Nickname(s):
Magic City
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| Motto(s):
Business Friendly
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Location of Charleroi in Washington County, Pennsylvania.
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Pennsylvania | ||
| County | Washington | ||
| Established | 1890 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 0.86 sq mi (2.23 km2) | ||
| • Land | 0.76 sq mi (1.97 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.10 sq mi (0.26 km2) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,234 | ||
| • Density | 5,556.43/sq mi (2,144.98/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
15022
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| Area code(s) | 724, 878 | ||
Charleroi (pronounced SHAR-lə-roy) is a small town, called a borough, in Washington County, Pennsylvania. It sits right along the Monongahela River, about 21 miles south of Pittsburgh.
This town was started by people from a region in Belgium called Walloons in 1890. It became an official borough in 1891. In 2020, about 4,210 people lived there.
For a long time, Charleroi was known for its busy steel-making industry. This industry used the Monongahela River to transport goods easily. The area from Charleroi north to McKeesport is often called the "Mon Valley." Charleroi was once nicknamed "Magic City" because it grew so quickly. Today, its business area is slowly becoming busy again.
Contents
History
Charleroi got its name from a city in Belgium. Many Belgian immigrants moved to the Monongahela area in the late 1800s. Some of them were skilled glass makers.
Glass Industry in Charleroi
The Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, now known as PPG Industries, had a huge factory in Charleroi. At one point, it employed up to a thousand people. This made it one of the largest glass factories in the world!
For many years, Charleroi was also home to a major factory for Corning Glass Companies. Today, Corelle Brands is located here, and they make Pyrex products. In 2015, to celebrate 100 years of Pyrex, Charleroi even changed its name to "Pyrex, PA" for 100 days!
Fun Facts About Charleroi
Charleroi was home to one of the very first movie theaters in the United States. It was called the Electric Theatre and opened in October 1905. Sadly, it has since been taken down.
Some important buildings in Charleroi are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Charleroi Historic District, the First National Bank of Charleroi, and the United States Post Office.
In 2020, the mayor of Charleroi, Belgium, Paul Magnette, actually visited the town in Pennsylvania that was named after his city!
Geography
Charleroi is located at coordinates 40.138088 N, -79.901333 W. The U.S. Census Bureau says the borough covers about 0.9 square miles (2.3 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part (about 0.1 square miles or 0.26 square kilometers) being water.
Nearby Towns
Charleroi shares its land borders with four other places:
- North Charleroi to the north.
- Speers to the southwest.
- Twilight to the south.
- Fallowfield Township to the west.
Across the Monongahela River to the east, Charleroi is next to Rostraver Township in Westmoreland County.
People of Charleroi
Population Changes
The number of people living in Charleroi has changed over the years. Here's how the population has looked:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 5,930 | — | |
| 1910 | 9,615 | 62.1% | |
| 1920 | 11,516 | 19.8% | |
| 1930 | 11,260 | −2.2% | |
| 1940 | 10,784 | −4.2% | |
| 1950 | 9,872 | −8.5% | |
| 1960 | 8,148 | −17.5% | |
| 1970 | 6,723 | −17.5% | |
| 1980 | 5,717 | −15.0% | |
| 1990 | 5,014 | −12.3% | |
| 2000 | 4,871 | −2.9% | |
| 2010 | 4,120 | −15.4% | |
| 2020 | 4,234 | 2.8% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 4,210 | 2.2% | |
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In 2000, there were 4,871 people living in Charleroi. About 22.3% of the households had children under 18. The average age of people in Charleroi was 41 years old.
A Diverse Community
In 2020, the population was 4,234 people. Most residents (78.1%) were White, and 10.6% were African American. There were also smaller groups of Native American, Asian, and people of two or more races. About 3.3% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Recently, Charleroi has welcomed immigrants from different countries, including Haiti, Jamaica, and Liberia. Many Haitians have even opened new businesses, which has helped the town's population grow.
Education
Students in Charleroi attend schools within the Charleroi School District.
Famous People from Charleroi
Many interesting people have connections to Charleroi:
- Keith Ackerman (born 1946), a bishop and former church leader.
- Barbara Bosson (1939-2023), an actress.
- Anne Feeney (1951-2021), a political activist, folk musician, and singer-songwriter.
- Shirley Jones (born 1934), a famous singer and actress from Broadway, movies, and TV.
- Robert Karvelas (1921-1991), an American actor who grew up in Charleroi.
- Lisa Kirk (1925-1990), a singer and actress.
- Craig McCracken (born 1971), an animator, director, and producer.
- Demi Moore (born 1962), an actress who lived in Charleroi for a short time.
- Mitchell Paige (1918-2003), a World War II hero who received the Medal of Honor.
- Myron Pottios (born 1939), a professional football player.
- Olive Thomas (1894-1920), a famous performer and actress from the Ziegfeld Follies.
Images for kids
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McKean Avenue in Charleroi
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First National Bank (built in 1922)
See also
In Spanish: Charleroi (Pensilvania) para niños
