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Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania
City
Allegheny River Lock and Dam No. 4
Location of Lower Burrell in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
Location of Lower Burrell in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania is located in Pennsylvania
Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania
Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Westmoreland
Settled 1852
Incorporated (city) 1959
Government
 • Type City council
Area
 • Total 11.52 sq mi (29.84 km2)
 • Land 11.26 sq mi (29.17 km2)
 • Water 0.26 sq mi (0.66 km2)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 11,761
 • Estimate 
(2019)
11,078
 • Density 983.49/sq mi (379.72/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
Zip code
15068
FIPS code 42-44864
Website http://www.cityoflowerburrell.com/

Lower Burrell is a city in Westmoreland County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Located approximately 18 miles northeast of downtown Pittsburgh, it is part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The population was 11,761 at the 2010 census. The population of Lower Burrell was 11,078 in 2019.

History

In 1852, Burrell Township was carved out of Allegheny Township in Westmoreland County due to an increase in population in the area, by Judge Jeremiah Murry Burrell. In 1879 Burrell Township was divided into two separate townships, Lower Burrell and Upper Burrell. The present-day cities of New Kensington and Arnold were once part of Lower Burrell Township. In the years that followed, Lower Burrell transformed from a quiet, rural farm community to a residential and commercial area while Upper Burrell stayed primarily rural. Upper Burrell Township is still somewhat rural, though it has experienced some suburban growth in recent years due to many employment opportunities nearby. In 1959, in the midst of the growth of their community, township residents voted to make Lower Burrell a third class city. Lower Burrell continued to grow substantially until the 1980s. Like many communities in Western Pennsylvania, Lower Burrell suffered economic and population stagnation with the collapse of local heavy industry. Since the early 1990s, Lower Burrell experienced slight growth, though one of its only large shopping centers remains mostly vacant. Preliminary data from the 2010 census shows that Lower Burrell has lost about 5 percent of its population since 2000.

The Allegheny River Lock and Dam No. 4 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

Geography

Lower Burrell is located at 40°35′2″N 79°43′19″W / 40.58389°N 79.72194°W / 40.58389; -79.72194 (40.583966, -79.721948).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.8 square miles (31 km2), of which, 11.6 square miles (30 km2) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) of it (2.28%) is water.

Informally, the city is divided into different neighborhoods and areas including Bon Air, Braeburn, Braeburn Heights, Central City, Edgecliff, Gladeview, Indian Fields I & II and Kinloch. Lower Burrell's central Business District overlaps Bon Air-Central City-Gladeview neighborhoods.

Lower Burrell is located in the Appalachian Plateau, the western portion of the Appalachian Mountain range. The landscape varies greatly, with large swaths of flat land (typically in Bon Air, Central City and Gladeview) to areas with gentle slopes, and even steep cliffs and hillsides in certain areas. The city is bounded on the north and southwestern corner by the Allegheny River. Jacks Island, a river island approximately 0.96 km (0.60 mi) in length, is located near the Braeburn neighborhood.

Streams

  • Pucketa Creek joins the Allegheny River where the creek forms the boundary between both the city of Lower Burrell and the borough of Plum.
  • Little Pucketa Creek joins Pucketa Creek at Lower Burrell.
  • Chartiers Run joins the Allegheny River at Lower Burrell.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1960 11,952
1970 13,654 14.2%
1980 13,200 −3.3%
1990 12,251 −7.2%
2000 12,608 2.9%
2010 11,761 −6.7%
2019 (est.) 11,078 −5.8%
Sources:

As of the census of 2000, there were 12,608 people, 5,133 households, and 3,654 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,091.8 people per square mile (421.5/km2). There were 5,324 housing units at an average density of 461.0 per square mile (178.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.95% White, 0.93% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.44% of the population.

There were 5,133 households, out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.6% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.5% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 22.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,000, and the median income for a family was $50,036. Males had a median income of $38,900 versus $25,706 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,143. About 4.3% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Lower Burrell and Upper Burrell Township are jointly served by the Burrell School District. The district consists of Bon Air (K-3rd) and Stewart elementary schools (4th-5th), the Charles A. Huston Middle School, and Burrell High School.

On a post-secondary level, Lower Burrell was once home to Newport Business Institute and Oakbridge Academy of Arts, both located in the Kinloch neighborhood. The for-profit schools shut down in the middle of a school day on December 16, 2013. Penn State New Kensington is located in nearby Upper Burrell Township and a branch campus of Westmoreland County Community College is in neighboring New Kensington.

Notable people

  • Jason Altmire, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives
  • Pete Babando, NHL player for Detroit Red Wings and winner of the 1950 Stanley Cup
  • Shane Black, film director, producer, screenwriter and actor
  • Tom Brown, NFL running back for the Miami Dolphins
  • Linda Drane Burdick, prosecutor known for State of Florida vs. Casey Anthony
  • Stefan Lundberg, former soccer player for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds
  • Leonard R. Olijar, accountant and director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
  • Tom Squitieri, journalist and former foreign correspondent for USA Today

See also

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