Oakmont, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oakmont, Pennsylvania
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Borough
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Aerial photograph of Oakmont with Oakmont Country Club at bottom
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Location in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
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 Oakmont, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Oakmont, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Pennsylvania | ||
| County | Allegheny | ||
| Founded 1816 | Incorporated in 1889 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 1.78 sq mi (4.60 km2) | ||
| • Land | 1.58 sq mi (4.10 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.19 sq mi (0.49 km2) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,758 | ||
| • Density | 4,266.41/sq mi (1,647.75/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
15139
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| Area codes | 412 | ||
| FIPS code | 42-56088 | ||
| Website | Oakmont, PA | ||
Oakmont is a small town, also called a borough, in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. It is located along the Allegheny River in the United States. In 2020, about 6,758 people lived there.
Oakmont is a suburb of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. It is famous for the Oakmont Country Club. This golf course is one of the best and has hosted many major golf tournaments, like the U.S. Open.
Contents
History of Oakmont
Oakmont started in 1816 when a farmer named Michael Bright bought a large piece of land. This land was about 15 miles (24 km) northeast of Pittsburgh. The town got its name from a special black oak tree near the Allegheny River. Oakmont officially became a borough in 1889.
Cleaning Up the Edgewater Steel Site
The Edgewater Steel Company used to have a factory in Oakmont. After it closed in 2001, the land needed to be cleaned up. The Environmental Protection Agency helped with this project.
Workers cleaned up waste piles from the factory in the 1990s. Even though some hazardous waste was removed in 2005, later tests showed the area was safe. Today, this site has new homes, shops, and light industrial businesses.
Geography and Location
Oakmont is located at coordinates 40°31′10″N 79°50′15″W. The borough covers about 1.8 square miles (4.6 km²). Most of this area, about 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), is land. The rest, about 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²), is water.
The main shopping area is flat and close to the Allegheny River. However, most homes are on a hill that goes up towards the Oakmont Country Club. Plum Creek also flows through the town.
Neighboring Towns
Oakmont shares its borders with a few other towns. To the east is Plum. To the south are Penn Hills and Verona. Across the Allegheny River, to the west and northwest, are O'Hara Township and Harmar Township. You can reach Harmar Township by crossing the Hulton Bridge.
People of Oakmont
The population of Oakmont has changed over the years. Here's how many people lived there at different times:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 1,678 | — | |
| 1900 | 2,323 | 38.4% | |
| 1910 | 3,436 | 47.9% | |
| 1920 | 4,512 | 31.3% | |
| 1930 | 6,027 | 33.6% | |
| 1940 | 6,260 | 3.9% | |
| 1950 | 7,264 | 16.0% | |
| 1960 | 7,504 | 3.3% | |
| 1970 | 7,550 | 0.6% | |
| 1980 | 7,039 | −6.8% | |
| 1990 | 6,961 | −1.1% | |
| 2000 | 6,911 | −0.7% | |
| 2010 | 6,303 | −8.8% | |
| 2020 | 6,758 | 7.2% | |
| Sources: | |||
In 2000, there were 6,911 people living in Oakmont. Most residents were White (97.84%). About 19.3% of the population was under 18 years old. The average age was 45 years. The median income for a family was $57,821.
Voting in Oakmont
Here's how Oakmont voted in recent presidential elections:
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third parties |
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| 2020 | 42% 1,949 | 56% 2,627 | 1% 49 |
| 2016 | 46% 1,754 | 53% 2,031 | 1% 38 |
| 2012 | 50% 1,882 | 48% 1,787 | 2% 44 |
Arts and Culture
Oakmont has many interesting places for arts and culture.
Oakmont Country Club
The Oakmont Country Club is a very famous golf course. It is partly in Oakmont and partly in the nearby town of Plum. This club has hosted the U.S. Open golf tournament ten times. It also hosted other big events like the PGA Championship and the U.S. Women's Open.
Museums and Libraries
The Kerr Memorial Museum was once the home of the Kerr family. It was built in 1898. Today, it is a museum that shows what life was like for middle-class families in the late 1800s.
The Oakmont History Center & Museum also shares the town's past. The Carnegie Library of Oakmont opened in 1899. It was one of the first libraries funded by Andrew Carnegie in the United States.
The Oaks Theater
The Oaks Theater first opened on November 18, 1938. It was one of the first theaters in the area to have air conditioning. In 2015, it was updated but kept its original Art Deco style. Now, it hosts live music, comedy shows, plays, and movies.
Bridges and Parks
The Jonathon Hulton Bridge was built in 1908. It connected Oakmont and Harmarville across the Allegheny River. The old bridge was taken down on January 26, 2016. A new bridge was built in its place, just in time for the 2016 U.S. Open golf tournament.
Riverside Park is located along the Allegheny River. It has tennis courts, a basketball court, a running track, and playgrounds. It's a great place for outdoor activities. The Oakmont Verona Cemetery is a historic burial site for the community.
Education
Students in Oakmont attend schools in the Riverview School District. This district has two elementary/junior high schools for students up to 6th grade. Riverview High School serves students from Oakmont and parts of Verona for grades 7 through 12.
Notable People
Many interesting people have come from Oakmont, including:
- Paula Bauersmith, an actress
- Reb Beach, a rock guitarist for the bands Winger and Whitesnake
- Carrie DelRosso, a politician and businesswoman
- Alfred McClung Lee, a sociologist
- Emil Loeffler, a professional golfer and golf course designer
- Charley Mehelich, an American football player
- Edwin Foresman Schoch, a United States Navy pilot and engineer
- Bob Shoop, an American football coach
See also
In Spanish: Oakmont (Pensilvania) para niños
- List of crossings of the Allegheny River
- List of museums in Pennsylvania
