West Alexander, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
West Alexander
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Main Street
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Location of West Alexander in Washington County
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 West Alexander
Location in Pennsylvania
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Washington |
| Established | 1796 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 604 |
| • Density | 3,000/sq mi (1,170/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-4 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (EDT) |
| Area code(s) | 724 |
West Alexander is a small community in Pennsylvania, located in Washington County. It's very close to the border of West Virginia. This place used to be its own town, called a "borough," but it became part of a larger area called Donegal Township in 2009. In 2010, about 604 people lived here.
Contents
Where is West Alexander Located?
West Alexander is found at 40°6′15″N 80°30′28″W / 40.10417°N 80.50778°W. It sits right on the border with West Virginia. The community is quite small, covering an area of about 0.2 square miles (0.5 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
How Many People Live Here?
In 2000, there were 320 people living in West Alexander. By 2010, the population had almost doubled to 604 people. This shows that more people moved to the area during that time.
Why Did West Alexander Change?
West Alexander used to be a busy place with many shops, especially those selling antiques and gifts. These shops were part of a special area called the historic district.
Challenges for the Town
In 1990, a big fire sadly destroyed many of these businesses. The town found it hard to fully recover after this event. On top of that, West Alexander had a large debt of $3.2 million for a new sewage treatment plant.
Joining Donegal Township
Because of the fire and the debt, the people of West Alexander decided it would be better to join with the nearby Donegal Township. This change happened on January 1, 2009. After this, West Alexander was no longer its own separate borough but became part of the township.
Getting Around West Alexander
West Alexander is located between two important roads: U.S. Route 40, also known as the National Road, and Interstate 70. These roads connect West Alexander to bigger cities like Pittsburgh and Wheeling. Drivers can get to West Alexander from Interstate 70 by taking Exit 1.
Important Places in Town
In the middle of West Alexander, you can find a US Post Office, a volunteer fire department, and an elementary school. All of these places share the name West Alexander. Liberty Street is the main road that runs north to south through the center of the community and connects to the National Road.
Air Travel Options
While there isn't an airport right in West Alexander, people can fly from nearby airports. Smaller planes can use either Wheeling Ohio County Airport or Washington County Airport. For bigger commercial flights, the closest major airport is Pittsburgh International Airport.
See also
In Spanish: West Alexander (Pensilvania) para niños
