Millvale, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Millvale
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Borough
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St. Nicholas Croatian Church in Millvale
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Location in Allegheny County and the state of Pennsylvania.
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Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Allegheny |
| Founded | February 13, 1868 |
| Government | |
| • Body | Millvale Borough Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.68 sq mi (1.75 km2) |
| • Land | 0.62 sq mi (1.60 km2) |
| • Water | 0.06 sq mi (0.15 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,376 |
| • Density | 5,453.96/sq mi (2,106.58/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
15209
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| Area code(s) | 412 |
| FIPS code | 42-49920 |
| Website | www.millvalepa.com |
Millvale is a small town, called a borough, in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located along the Allegheny River, right across from the big city of Pittsburgh. You can find Millvale just off Pennsylvania Route 28. In 2020, about 3,376 people lived here. Today, around 3,247 residents call Millvale home.
Contents
Exploring Millvale's Location
Millvale is found at coordinates 40°28′59″N 79°58′25″W / 40.48306°N 79.97361°W. This means it's at 40 degrees, 28 minutes, 59 seconds North and 79 degrees, 58 minutes, 25 seconds West.
The United States Census Bureau says Millvale covers about 0.7 square miles (1.8 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 0.6 square miles (1.6 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.1 square miles (0.26 square kilometers), is water.
Millvale sits where a stream called Girty's Run meets the Allegheny River. Because much of the town is on flat land near the river, it has often experienced big floods. The main business area, especially, has been damaged many times by these floods.
Millvale's Past: A Look Back in Time
Before Europeans arrived, the Millvale area was the start of the Venango Path. This was an important trail used by Native Americans that led all the way to Lake Erie. The Seneca people used to hunt and fish in these lands.
Early Settlements and European Arrival
An early European settler named Simon Girty and his father lived in this area. During a raid by Chief Tewea of the Lenape and Captain François Coulon de Villiers of the French, Girty's stepfather was captured and sadly killed. Chief Guyasuta adopted Simon, and he became part of the Seneca culture. Simon found it hard to live with Europeans, so he settled near the Venango Path by a creek. This creek is now named Girty's Run Creek after him.
After fighting against the British Army in the American Revolution, Girty moved to Canada.
Growth and Industry in the 1800s
After the Continental Army won the American Revolutionary War, many soldiers were given land. John Sample received the Millvale area as a reward. Later, Allegheny City bought 164 acres of Sample's land. They used it to create a "poor farm," which operated for 23 years. This farm brought new businesses to Millvale. In 1847, a forge was built, which later became a rolling mill owned by Henry Phipps. Phipps and Andrew Carnegie later started the famous Carnegie Steel Company.
In 1849, a nearby area was named the Borough of Duquesne. This included Herrs Island and land along the river.
In 1857, the Pennsylvania Railroad bought land for its tracks from the Pennsylvania Canal System. Many immigrants came looking for work at the railroad, leading to the building of a train station.
Becoming the Borough of Millvale
In 1868, the Borough of Duquesne was divided. Part of it joined Allegheny City. The land upriver, near Herrs Island, combined with areas from Shaler Township to form Millvale.
On February 13, 1868, Millvale Borough officially became a town. It started with 668 people. The name "Millvale" comes from its main industry, milling, and its location in a valley. After the American Civil War, the town grew. It was connected to Lawrenceville by a covered bridge and a narrow railroad, which later became part of Pittsburgh's trolley system. Around 1900, Millvale grew even more by adding a part of Shaler Township.
Millvale in the 1900s
During the Great Depression, the Works Progress Administration worked to control Girty’s Run Creek in Millvale. The town was also very important for America's factories during World War II.
After World War II, Millvale's economy boomed. Until 1952, a trolley called the "3 Millvale" served the town. However, the 1970s energy crisis and the decline of the steel industry led to fewer people living in Millvale, a trend that continues today.
Neighboring Communities of Millvale
Millvale shares land borders with Shaler Township to the northwest and east. To the southwest, it borders the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Troy Hill, and to the west, Reserve Township.
Across the Allegheny River, Millvale is next to Lower Lawrenceville and Central Lawrenceville. Millvale often works together with its northern river neighbors, Etna and Sharpsburg.
People of Millvale: Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 668 | — | |
| 1880 | 1,824 | 173.1% | |
| 1890 | 3,809 | 108.8% | |
| 1900 | 6,736 | 76.8% | |
| 1910 | 7,861 | 16.7% | |
| 1920 | 8,031 | 2.2% | |
| 1930 | 8,166 | 1.7% | |
| 1940 | 7,811 | −4.3% | |
| 1950 | 7,287 | −6.7% | |
| 1960 | 6,624 | −9.1% | |
| 1970 | 5,815 | −12.2% | |
| 1980 | 4,772 | −17.9% | |
| 1990 | 4,341 | −9.0% | |
| 2000 | 4,028 | −7.2% | |
| 2010 | 3,744 | −7.1% | |
| 2020 | 3,376 | −9.8% | |
| Sources: | |||
In 2020, the census showed that 3,376 people lived in Millvale. There were 1,640 households, which are groups of people living together. The average household had about 2 people.
Most residents, 88.2%, were White. About 3.6% were Black, and 0.6% were Asian. People from two or more races made up 6.1% of the population. About 3.4% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.
Looking at age, 15.1% of the population was under 18 years old. Most people, 69.9%, were between 18 and 64 years old. About 15% were 65 years or older. The median age was about 42.9 years.
Many Millvale residents have finished high school (39.08%). Some have also earned college degrees, with 14.12% having a bachelor's degree and 7.38% having a graduate degree.
The average income for a household in Millvale was $48,512. For families, it was $66,938. About 10.13% of the people lived below the poverty line.
Millvale is also home to 134 veterans, who are people who have served in the military.
Culture and Fun in Millvale
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St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church, built in 1901, was the first Croatian church in the United States. Inside, you can see beautiful murals painted by the Croatian artist Maksimilijan Vanka. He painted these in the 1930s and 1940s as a gift to the United States.
Today, Millvale has a lively bar and music scene. One of Pittsburgh's most popular places for live music is Mr. Smalls Theatre. It used to be a church but now hosts bands from all over the world. It's a great spot for cultural events for both Millvale residents and people from Pittsburgh. You can also find many craft breweries and local bars in the area.
Millvale hosts several fun cultural events and festivals each year. These include the Millvale Music Festival, the Millvale Pride Festival, and the Millvale Days Festival. The town also has many well-known restaurants and food places.
Education in Millvale
Students in Millvale attend schools in the Shaler Area School District. This district has four schools for younger students (Kindergarten to 3rd grade). It also has one elementary school for grades 4-6, one middle school for grades 7-8, and one high school for grades 9-12. In 2019, about 4,162 students were in the district.
The district has a good student-teacher ratio of 12 students for every 1 teacher. The graduation rate is high at 95%, which is better than the national average of 87%. Students also do well on tests, with an average SAT score of 1180 and an average ACT score of 26.
The school district spends about $23,023 per student, which is more than the national average. Teachers in the district are also paid well, with an average salary of $87,092.
The school district's sports teams get medical help and training from UPMC sports medicine. This helps students stay safe and learn about preventing injuries. As of December 2023, the Shaler Area School District was ranked #152 out of 496 public school districts in Pennsylvania. It was also ranked #21 out of 41 districts in Allegheny County.
Fun and Recreation in Millvale
The Millvale Riverfront Park is a great place for outdoor activities. It has a 1.7-mile trail for biking and walking. This trail connects Millvale to Pittsburgh's North Shore, where you can find PNC Park and Acrisure Stadium. The trail is part of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail and follows the Allegheny River.
Along the trail, you'll pass Herrs Island and the TRRA Millvale Boathouse. There are plans to build a bridge for bikes and walkers from the Millvale riverfront to Herrs Island. There are also talks about extending the Millvale Trail further north. The park is less than half a mile from Millvale's business district, and restrooms are available.
The Riverfront Park offers many other things to do. It has a beautiful pavilion with a kitchen right by the river. There's also Mr. Smalls Skate Park, bike and boat rentals, and the Millvale Marina. You can launch kayaks and rowing boats, go fishing, and even buy bait and tackle. The park also hosts annual events like the BrewFest in August and the Harvest Moon Wine Festival in the Fall.
Recently, the Millvale Community Library was started by volunteers. They took empty buildings and lots and turned them into a multi-use space. The main goal was to create Millvale's first public library and a community garden. This project began in 2007 and has involved hundreds of volunteers.
Images for kids
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St. Nicholas Croatian Church in Millvale
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Location in Allegheny County and the state of Pennsylvania.
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Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
See also
In Spanish: Millvale (Pensilvania) para niños
