Connellsville, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Connellsville, Pennsylvania
City
East Crawford Avenue
Seal
Location of Connellsville in Fayette County, Pennsylvania.
Connellsville, Pennsylvania Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Connellsville, Pennsylvania Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Fayette
Established	March 1, 1806
Incorporated	May 12, 1911
Founded by	Zachariah Connell
Named for	Zachariah Connell
Area
• Total	2.27 sq mi (5.87 km2)
• Land	2.18 sq mi (5.65 km2)
• Water	0.09 sq mi (0.22 km2)
Elevation	919 ft (280 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	7,031
• Density	3,222.27/sq mi (1,244.16/km2)
Time zone	UTC−4 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (EDT)
ZIP Code	15425
Area code(s)	724
FIPS code	42-15776

Connellsville is a city located in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It's about 36 miles (58 km) southeast of Pittsburgh. The city sits along the Youghiogheny River, which flows into the Monongahela River. Connellsville is part of the larger Pittsburgh metropolitan area. In 2020, about 7,031 people lived there.

History of Connellsville

During the French and Indian War, a British army led by General Edward Braddock marched through this area. They crossed the Youghiogheny River right where Connellsville is today.

Connellsville was officially started as a township in 1793. Then, on March 1, 1806, it became a borough. This was thanks to Zachariah Connell, who was a captain in the army during the American Revolution. In 1909, two boroughs, New Haven and Connellsville, voted to join together. They officially became the first city in Fayette County on May 12, 1911.

Because Connellsville is in the middle of the Connellsville Coalfield, coal mining became very important. Producing coke (a type of fuel made from coal) and other related businesses were the main jobs. This happened in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Connellsville was even called the "Coke Capital of the World." This was because of how much and how good the coke was that came from its many special ovens.

In August 2016, a big rainstorm caused flooding in a local area called Dutch Bottom. Other parts of the city were also affected. Neighboring towns and the government agency FEMA helped the city recover. After almost two years, the city had mostly recovered. Many homes in Dutch Bottom are no longer lived in due to agreements with FEMA.

Geography of Connellsville

Connellsville is in the northeastern part of Fayette County. It is located along the Youghiogheny River. This river flows north and eventually joins the Monongahela River. The city is on both sides of the river, with the main downtown area on the eastern side.

To the south, Connellsville borders the borough of South Connellsville. U.S. Route 119 runs through the northern and western parts of the city. This route goes north about 22 miles (35 km) to Greensburg. It also goes southwest about 11 miles (18 km) to Uniontown, which is the main town of Fayette County. Pittsburgh is about 50 miles (80 km) to the northwest if you take US 119 and Interstate 76.

The U.S. Census Bureau says that Connellsville covers a total area of about 2.29 square miles (5.92 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 2.18 square miles (5.65 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.10 square miles (0.27 square kilometers), is water.

Population Information

In 2000, there were 9,146 people living in Connellsville. These people lived in 3,963 households. About 28% of these households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 2.28 people.

The population of the city was spread out by age. About 24.5% of the people were under 18 years old. About 19.3% were 65 years old or older. The average age in the city was 38 years.

Local Media

The Daily Courier is a newspaper based in Connellsville. It has been printed for over 100 years, sharing local news and stories.

Parks and Trails

The Youghiogheny River Trail runs right through Connellsville. This trail is part of the larger Great Allegheny Passage. It brings many visitors to the town, which helps the local economy. The trail has helped the town grow again, much like when it was known as the "Coke Capital of the World." In 2023, the Governor of Pennsylvania chose Connellsville to launch the state's new "Office of Outdoor Recreation."

East Park is another important spot. It was built by the Works Progress Administration. Workers turned what used to be a city garbage dump into this park. East Park was officially opened on October 12, 1940. It has many special features because of its location in a hollow. These include an underground tunnel, a castle lookout, a large outdoor stage, stone walls, and a waterfall.

Transportation in Connellsville

Connellsville has been a hub for many different ways to travel.

Railroads

At one time, five different railroads served Connellsville. These included the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the Pennsylvania Railroad, and the Western Maryland Railroad. The Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad and the Norfolk and Western Railroad also had lines here.

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (now CSX Transportation) followed the Youghiogheny River. It connected cities like Baltimore, Cumberland, and Pittsburgh.

The Pennsylvania Railroad had a branch that crossed the Youghiogheny River in the middle of town. This line went to Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Parts of this line are no longer used, but some sections are still active for moving coal.

The Western Maryland Railroad connected with two other companies in Connellsville. It met the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad, which went to Pittsburgh. It also connected with the Norfolk and Western Railroad. Some old railway lines are now used for other things, like the Youghiogheny River Trail.

Amtrak's Capitol Limited train also stops in Connellsville. This train provides passenger service to major cities like Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C..

Union Passenger Depot / P&LE (1913)

Connellsville Amtrak Station (Capitol Limited line)

Looking south at the Connellsville rail yard from West Crawford Avenue

West Penn Railways

In the past, the area around Connellsville had a large trolley system called the West Penn Railways. This system had 339 miles of tracks. It helped people travel between towns for work in mining and steel. The bright orange trolleys ran every hour and cost only 5 cents a ride. This system operated until 1952, before more people owned cars.

Transit Center

The Fayette Area Coordinated Transportation (FACT) has a main hub at the Connellsville Airport. This airport is located in Lemont Furnace. It's about halfway between Connellsville and Uniontown, the two biggest towns in Fayette County.

Roads

The main road through Connellsville is U.S. Route 119. This road connects Connellsville to nearby cities like Uniontown and Greensburg. It also gives access to many businesses on the edges of the city. Pennsylvania Route 201 ends in Connellsville. PA 711 serves as the main street through downtown before heading into the local mountains.

Notable People from Connellsville

• Bob Bailor, professional baseball player
• Harold Betters, jazz trombonist
• Scott Blasey, lead singer for the rock band the Clarks
• Jim Braxton, professional football player
• William A. Clark, politician and businessman
• James J. Davidson, politician and businessman
• Justin Deas, actor
• Gene Hasson, professional baseball player
• Denny Hickey, racing driver
• David R. Jones, journalist
• Johnny Lujack, Heisman-winning quarterback for Notre Dame and Chicago Bears
• Jerry McKenna, sculptor and author
• Herbert Morrison, radio reporter
• Edwin S. Porter, movie director
• Jim Rugg, comics creator
• Bo Scott, professional football player
• Bob Shrum, journalist
• Edgar Snyder, area attorney
• John Woodruff, 1936 Olympic gold medalist in the 800 metres race

Images for kids

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  Carnegie Free Library (1903)
  National Register of Historic Places

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  US Post Office (1913)
  National Register of Historic Places

See also

In Spanish: Connellsville (Pensilvania) para niños