New Wilmington, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
New Wilmington, Pennsylvania
|
|
|---|---|
|
Borough
|
|
.jpg)
Westminster College
|
|
Location in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Lawrence |
| Established | April 9, 1873 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.09 sq mi (2.82 km2) |
| • Land | 1.05 sq mi (2.73 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2) |
| Elevation
(middle of downtown)
|
1,050 ft (320 m) |
| Highest elevation
(southeast corner)
|
1,190 ft (360 m) |
| Lowest elevation
(Little Neshannock Creek)
|
940 ft (290 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 2,092 |
| • Density | 1,984.82/sq mi (766.68/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-4 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (EDT) |
| Area codes | 724, 878 |
New Wilmington is a small town, called a borough, located in northern Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It was first planned out in 1824 and officially became a borough on April 9, 1863. In 2020, about 2,097 people lived there. New Wilmington is special because it's home to Westminster College. It also serves as a center for the Old Order Amish community living in the nearby Wilmington Township. This borough is part of the larger Pittsburgh metropolitan area.
Contents
History of New Wilmington
The town of New Wilmington began around 1797 or 1798. The first house was built in 1824, and soon more buildings followed. In 1847, an Amish community settled between New Wilmington and Volant.
New Wilmington became a "half-borough" on April 4, 1863. It then became a full borough on April 9, 1873. In 1874, about 500 people lived there. By the year 2000, the population had grown to 2,452. This number included 1,315 local residents and 1,137 college students.
In 1999, a book was written about the full history of New Wilmington. You can find this book at the Westminster College Library. It has 12 chapters of history, starting from 1797, and includes over 100 photographs.
In 2014, community members, led by Mayor Sherie Babb, created the New Wilmington Economic Development Committee. This group works to improve the town's economy and other areas.
In January 2016, a project called LIVE New Wilmington was launched. This project aims to connect and celebrate the community. It highlights New Wilmington as a place for artists, good education, beautiful nature, and caring neighbors. The group focuses on arts, education, environment, and people to help the town grow. They believe these qualities make the community special.
Geography of New Wilmington
New Wilmington is located at 41°7′15″N 80°19′58″W / 41.12083°N 80.33278°W.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough covers a total area of about 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2). Most of this area, about 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2), is land. A small part, about 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) or 1.85%, is water.
The ZIP code for New Wilmington is 16142.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 628 | — | |
| 1890 | 684 | 8.9% | |
| 1900 | 791 | 15.6% | |
| 1910 | 758 | −4.2% | |
| 1920 | 886 | 16.9% | |
| 1930 | 907 | 2.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,018 | 12.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,948 | 91.4% | |
| 1960 | 2,203 | 13.1% | |
| 1970 | 2,721 | 23.5% | |
| 1980 | 2,774 | 1.9% | |
| 1990 | 2,706 | −2.5% | |
| 2000 | 2,452 | −9.4% | |
| 2010 | 2,466 | 0.6% | |
| 2020 | 2,097 | −15.0% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 2,091 | −15.2% | |
| Sources: | |||
In the year 2000, there were 2,452 people living in New Wilmington. There were 577 households and 324 families. The population density was about 2,313.2 inhabitants per square mile (893.1/km2).
Most people in the borough were White (98.21%). Other groups included African American, Native American, and Asian people. About 0.45% of the population was Hispanic or Latino. Most people (97.9%) spoke English as their first language.
About 23.1% of households had children under 18 living with them. Many households (45.4%) were married couples living together. The average household had 2.28 people.
The population was quite young. About 10.4% were under 18 years old, and 48.5% were between 18 and 24 years old. The average age was 22 years.
New Wilmington is surrounded by farms belonging to an Amish community. In 2013, this community had 19 congregations, which means about 2,500 people.
Education in New Wilmington
The Wilmington Area School District serves the borough. This district provides public education for students in the area.
Westminster College is located in New Wilmington. It is Lawrence County's only private college focused on liberal arts.
Transportation
Major Roads and Highways
PA 158
PA 208
PA 956
