Cheswick, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cheswick, Pennsylvania
Borough
Houses on Spruce Street
Motto(s):  A Community of Homes
Location in Allegheny County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
Cheswick, Pennsylvania Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Cheswick, Pennsylvania Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Allegheny
Incorporated	Mar 4, 1902
Area
• Total	0.55 sq mi (1.42 km2)
• Land	0.46 sq mi (1.20 km2)
• Water	0.09 sq mi (0.22 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,672
• Density	3,611.23/sq mi (1,395.20/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	15024
Area code(s)	724
School district	Allegheny Valley
Website	http://www.cheswick.us/

Cheswick is a small town, called a borough, in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. It is located right next to the Allegheny River. In 2020, about 1,672 people lived there.

Cheswick became an official borough in 1902. It is a quiet, residential area that is part of the larger Pittsburgh metropolitan area.

Cheswick's Story: A Look at Its History

Cheswick is named after a town in England. It is a small area, covering about 350 acres. Some of the earliest land in Cheswick was owned by the Keen family. Later, parts of this land were passed down to the Pillow family.

The flat land near the Allegheny River was once used for farming. Farmers like the Borland and Truck families grew vegetables. They would sell their produce in Pittsburgh by using the old canal.

In the past, barges and rafts of lumber floated down the river to the steel mills. Women would even take baked goods out in boats to feed the men on these slow-moving barges. Wealthy families built large Victorian houses along the canal.

When the railroad took over the canal's path, the area became noisy and dusty. Many of the beautiful old houses became neglected.

Early Families and Town Names

Many families were among the first settlers in Cheswick. Some of these names include Borland, Pillows, Macleans, Wilsons, and Armstrongs. The Armstrong family lived nearby and one member even became the postmaster for the borough.

Before the railroad, a tavern stood where the train station would later be built. Travelers going to Pittsburgh by carriage would often stop there for a break. The road between Pittsburgh and Freeport was busy with farmers, peddlers, and businessmen.

When the Pennsylvania Railroad was finished, the land was divided and sold. For a while, the town grew slowly. The town was first named Lincoln, but its name had to be changed because other towns had the same name. In 1902, at the first council meeting, the name Cheswick was chosen.

The streets in Cheswick were named after trees, like Beech, Pine, and Spruce. The first president of the town council was H. J. Hutchinson. Early rules for the town focused on public health, like managing sewage and garbage. Later, rules were made to pave streets and build sidewalks.

Industries and Community Life

One of the first businesses in Cheswick was the Penwick Distillery. This large brick building stored liquor for many years before it was sold. Several small factories were also built. However, coal, river sand, and gravel were the most important industries.

Many people living in Cheswick would travel by train each day to work in offices and stores. The Cheswick Fire Department was started in the early 1900s to keep the community safe.

Schools and Churches

In the early days, children from Cheswick went to school in nearby Harmar Township. Later, a school was built on Pittsburgh Road. The borough council used to meet in this school building.

Sadly, in 1919, a fire damaged the inside of the old school. Many of the young borough's records were lost in the fire. A newer and larger Cheswick School was later built. Today, the old elementary school building is part of the Cheswick Christian Academy.

The Presbyterian Church in Cheswick has a long history. It was built around 1873 on land donated by Mathew Maclean. The church cost about $2,441.01 to build and started with seventeen members.

A Significant Event

Cheswick was also the site of a very sad event in 1904. A mining accident at the Harwick Mine disaster caused many deaths.

Cheswick's Location: Geography

Cheswick is located at specific map coordinates: 40.5417° North and 79.7992° West.

It shares land borders with three other places: Harmar Township to the west, Springdale Township to the north, and Springdale Borough to the east. Across the Allegheny River to the south is Plum.

The United States Census Bureau says that Cheswick covers about 0.6 square miles in total. Most of this area, about 0.5 square miles, is land. The rest, about 0.1 square miles, is water.

Cheswick's People: Demographics

In 2000, there were 1,899 people living in Cheswick. These people lived in 853 households, and 590 of those were families. The population density was about 3,962 people per square mile.

Most of the people living in Cheswick in 2000 were White (99.47%). A small number were African American, Native American, or Asian. About 0.47% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

About 21.7% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (56.0%) were married couples living together. About 17.2% of households had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

The average age of people in Cheswick in 2000 was 47 years old. About 17.0% of the population was under 18. About 27.0% of the population was 65 years old or older.

The median income for a household in Cheswick was $40,625. This means half of the households earned more than this amount, and half earned less. For families, the median income was $47,019.

Learning in Cheswick: Education

Students in Cheswick attend schools within the Allegheny Valley School District. Cheswick also has a private school called the Cheswick Christian Academy.

See also

In Spanish: Cheswick (Pensilvania) para niños