Hermitage, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hermitage, Pennsylvania
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Entering town from the east.
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Location of Hermitage in Mercer County, Pennsylvania.
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Pennsylvania | ||
| County | Mercer | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 29.56 sq mi (76.56 km2) | ||
| • Land | 29.46 sq mi (76.30 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.10 sq mi (0.26 km2) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 16,230 | ||
| • Density | 550.92/sq mi (212.71/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||
| Zip code |
16148
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| Area code(s) | 724 | ||
| FIPS code | 42-34064 | ||
Hermitage is a city in western Mercer County, Pennsylvania, USA. In 2020, about 16,230 people lived there. This makes it the biggest city in Mercer County. It's about 15 miles (24 km) northeast of Youngstown and 60 miles (97 km) northwest of Pittsburgh. Hermitage is the main city in its local area, which covers all of Mercer County.
Contents
A Look Back: Hermitage's History
Hermitage was first settled in 1796. It became known as Hickory Township in 1832. This happened when parts of Shenango and Pymatuning townships joined together. Later, other towns like Sharon and Farrell became separate cities. The remaining part of Hickory Township became a "first class township."
Becoming a Home Rule City
In 1972, a new law allowed towns to create their own rules. Hickory Township voted for this "home rule charter" in 1974. It officially started on January 1, 1976.
The local leaders then wanted to change the township's name. They surveyed people for ideas. The choices were "Hermitage," "Mount Hickory," and "Hickory Hills." In November 1975, people voted for "Hermitage." This name became official on January 2, 1976.
On November 8, 1983, voters decided to change Hermitage from a township to a city. It became a "third class city" on January 1, 1984.
Tornadoes in Hermitage
On May 31, 1985, a very strong tornado hit Hermitage. It was an F5 tornado, the strongest ever in Pennsylvania. This storm sadly killed 18 people and injured 310.
Thirty years later, on May 31, 2015, a smaller tornado (an EF0) touched down. It flipped two cars and damaged a gas station. It also knocked down some trees.
Joining Forces: Town Mergers
In 2004, some local leaders suggested creating a larger city called Shenango Valley City. This new city would include Hermitage, Farrell, Sharpsville, Sharon, and Wheatland. The idea was put to a vote.
The Governor of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell, supported this plan. He visited the area to encourage people to vote for it. The new city would mostly be an expansion of Hermitage, keeping its city government. However, the different school districts would stay separate. In the end, the idea was voted down. The rules said the merger couldn't be brought up again until 2009.
More recently, the nearby town of Wheatland did merge with Hermitage. This happened on January 1, 2024.
Where is Hermitage?
Hermitage covers about 29.6 square miles (76.7 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water. Based on its size, Hermitage is the third largest city in Pennsylvania.
The Shenango River Lake is located north of Hermitage. The US Army Corps of Engineers manages this lake.
People of Hermitage
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 49 | — | |
| 1920 | 4,569 | — | |
| 1930 | 3,984 | −12.8% | |
| 1940 | 4,295 | 7.8% | |
| 1950 | 6,725 | 56.6% | |
| 1960 | 12,635 | 87.9% | |
| 1970 | 15,399 | 21.9% | |
| 1980 | 16,365 | 6.3% | |
| 1990 | 15,300 | −6.5% | |
| 2000 | 16,157 | 5.6% | |
| 2010 | 16,220 | 0.4% | |
| 2020 | 16,230 | 0.1% | |
| Sources: | |||
In 2000, about 16,157 people lived in Hermitage. Most residents were White (94.97%). About 3.09% were African American, and 0.80% were Asian.
The average age of people in Hermitage was 44 years old. About 21.7% of the population was under 18. About 23.6% were 65 years or older.
Schools in Hermitage
Hermitage has its own public school district. This includes Karen A. Ionta Elementary, Artman Elementary, Delahunty Middle School, and Hickory High School.
There is also a private school called Kennedy Catholic High School. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie.
Media and News
Hermitage is covered by The Herald, a daily newspaper from nearby Sharon, Pennsylvania.
Because Hermitage is close to the Ohio border, people can watch TV stations from Youngstown, Ohio. These include WKBN-TV (CBS), WFMJ-TV (NBC), WYTV (ABC), WYFX-LD (Fox), and WBCB (CW).
You can also listen to several radio stations in Hermitage. These include AM stations like WLOA (1470 AM) and WPIC (790 AM). FM stations include WYFM ("Y-103" at 102.9 FM) and WLLF ("The River" at 96.7 FM).
Fun Things to See and Do
- Avenue of Flags – This special place has a memorial for victims of the War on Terror.
- Buhl Farm Golf Course – A great place for golf.
Famous People from Hermitage
Many notable people have come from Hermitage, including:
- Sincere Carry – A college basketball player.
- Andre Coleman – A former professional football player.
- Jon Kolb – A former professional football player.
- Sean Rowe – A leader in the Episcopal Church of America.
- Rod White – An Olympic archer who won a gold medal.
International Connections
Hermitage has a "sister city" relationship with a town in another country.
Žipov, Slovakia.
See also
In Spanish: Hermitage (Pensilvania) para niños
