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Gibsonia, Pennsylvania facts for kids

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Gibsonia, Pennsylvania
Location in Allegheny County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Location in Allegheny County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Allegheny
Township Richland
Area
 • Total 3.85 sq mi (9.96 km2)
 • Land 3.85 sq mi (9.96 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 2,785
 • Density 724.13/sq mi (279.58/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
15044
Area codes 724, 878
School District Pine-Richland School District, Deer Lakes School District, Hampton Township School District, Mars Area School District, North Allegheny School District

Gibsonia is a small community in Pennsylvania, located north of the big city of Pittsburgh. It's in a place called Richland Township, within Allegheny County.

In 2020, about 2,785 people lived there. Its special mail code, called a ZIP code, is 15044.

Where is Gibsonia Located?

Gibsonia is about 16 miles (26 km) north of downtown Pittsburgh. It sits about 1,037 feet (316 meters) above sea level. The area is in the Eastern time zone.

A Look at Gibsonia's Past

Historical population
Census Pop.
2010 2,733
2020 2,785 1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

Gibsonia got its name from the Gibson family, who were among the first people to settle here. Their original family home was taken down in 2019.

The story of Gibsonia began with the Gibson family. Around the time of the American Civil War, Charles Gibson Jr. built a special steam-powered flour mill. It was the first of its kind west of the Allegheny Mountains. Farmers would ride their horses to the mill with bags of grain.

The Gibson family home was built by Charles Gibson Jr. in 1839. Near where their home used to be, you can still see the foundation of Charles Gibson's general store. This store also served as Gibsonia's first post office. It was destroyed by a fire in 1908.

In 1907, a railway line connected Gibsonia to Pittsburgh and Butler. This made travel much easier! However, the railway closed in 1931, and buses took over the routes.

Today, Gibsonia is home to the Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad Museum. It's a fun place to see miniature trains and landscapes.

Learning in Gibsonia

The schools in Gibsonia are part of several different school districts. Most students attend schools in the Pine-Richland School District. Other parts of Gibsonia are in the Hampton Township School District, North Allegheny School District, Deer Lakes School District, and a small part of the Mars Area School District.

These school districts are known for their strong academic performance. For example, Pine-Richland and Hampton Township School Districts are highly rated.

There is also a private school called Aquinas Academy of Pittsburgh. It is a Catholic school for students from Pre-K all the way through 12th grade.

Chatham University has a special campus in Gibsonia called Eden Hall. This campus focuses on environmental studies. It also serves as a community college for local students.

Famous People from Gibsonia

Many interesting people have connections to Gibsonia:

  • Erik Buell: He founded Erik Buell Racing, a company that makes motorcycles.
  • David I. Cleland: He is known as the "Father of Project Management" for his work in organizing big projects.
  • Jackie Evancho: A talented classical crossover singer, actress, and model.
  • Stephen Frick: A retired NASA astronaut who commanded two space shuttle missions.
  • Meghan Klingenberg: A member of the United States Women's National Soccer Team.
  • Louis J. Reizenstein: A kind person who helped others and imported glass and china.
  • Florence S. Reizenstein: A civil rights activist who worked for fairness and equality.
  • Fran Rogel: A famous football player for Penn State and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
  • Brandon Saad: A professional hockey player who has won the Stanley Cup twice with the Chicago Blackhawks.
  • Jonas Salk: He lived in Gibsonia when he created the vaccine for polio, a very important medical discovery.
  • Joe Trees: An industrialist and generous person. His large estate in Gibsonia had many fruit trees.
  • Neil Walker: A former professional baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Gibsonia (Pensilvania) para niños

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