West Middlesex, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
West Middlesex, Pennsylvania
|
|
|---|---|
|
Borough
|
|
Main Street funeral home, October 2014
|
|
Location of West Middlesex in Mercer County, Pennsylvania.
|
|
 West Middlesex, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Mercer |
| Established | 1836 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.84 sq mi (2.19 km2) |
| • Land | 0.84 sq mi (2.19 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation
(center of borough)
|
860 ft (260 m) |
| Highest elevation
(eastern border)
|
980 ft (300 m) |
| Lowest elevation | 820 ft (250 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 815  |
| • Estimate
(2021)
|
809 |
| • Density | 950.30/sq mi (366.75/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-4 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (EDT) |
| Zip code |
16159
|
| Area code(s) | 724 |
West Middlesex is a small town, called a borough, located in southwestern Mercer County, Pennsylvania, United States. It sits right along the Shenango River. In 2020, about 815 people lived here. West Middlesex is part of the Hermitage micropolitan area, which is a group of smaller towns around a larger city.
Contents
Where is West Middlesex Located?
West Middlesex is found at coordinates 41.173630° N, 80.456874° W. This means it's in the northern part of the United States.
Land and Water in West Middlesex
The borough covers an area of about 0.9 square miles (2.3 square kilometers). The Shenango River flows through West Middlesex, making it part of the beautiful Shenango Valley. This river is a key natural feature of the area.
A Look Back: The History of West Middlesex
West Middlesex is one of the oldest places in Mercer County. Early settlers, like Samuel Byers and Andrew Wylie, arrived in the late 1700s.
How West Middlesex Began
In 1787, James Gibson received land west of the Shenango River for his military service. This land later went to Jacob Edeburn. In 1818, Jacob's son, William Edeburn, built a log grist mill there. A grist mill grinds grain into flour. James McConnell bought the mill in 1821 and built a log house nearby.
In 1830, Edeburn built a sawmill, which cuts wood. McConnell also built a flour mill. In 1836, James Gilkey planned out the town on McConnell's land. Around this time, a store and a tavern opened. In 1840, the town got its first post office, with Robert Young as the first postmaster.
Becoming an Official Borough
West Middlesex officially became a borough in 1864. The first leader, called a burgess, was D. Edeburn. The first council members were C.W. Watson, Hiram Veach, and G.R. Tuttle.
The Iron Industry in West Middlesex
West Middlesex was important for the iron business early on. The old Middlesex furnace, built in 1845, used charcoal to make iron. Later, more furnaces were built, like the Fannie in 1873 and the Ella in 1882. These furnaces helped the town grow.
Who Lives in West Middlesex?
In 2010, there were 863 people living in West Middlesex. Most residents, about 96.9%, were White. A small number were African American (1.2%) or Asian (0.3%). About 0.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Families and Age Groups
There were 368 households in the borough. About 26.6% of these households had children under 18. Many households (46.5%) were married couples. The average household had 2.35 people.
The median age in West Middlesex was 43.3 years old. This means half the people were younger than 43.3 and half were older. About 20.2% of the population was under 18.
Income in West Middlesex
In 2015, the average income for a household was $46,103. For families, it was $53,750. About 16.6% of all people in West Middlesex had incomes below the poverty line.
Learning and Schools in West Middlesex
The West Middlesex Area School District serves students from West Middlesex and two nearby townships: Shenango Township and Lackawannock Township. The district offers classes for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. They also have a Head Start preschool program.
History of Education in West Middlesex
Education started in West Middlesex soon after the town was founded. A small building was built in 1837 for both school and church services. In 1855, a new two-story building replaced it. The first floor was for school, and the second floor was for worship. A larger, three-story brick schoolhouse was built in 1868.
Getting Around West Middlesex
West Middlesex has good highway connections. It's where Interstate 376 begins, which connects the town directly to Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh airport. Interstate 80, a major cross-country highway, also runs through West Middlesex. You can get to downtown West Middlesex using I-376.
Local Roads and Public Transport
The junction of I-80 and I-376 is also the start of Pennsylvania Route 760, which goes north into Mercer County. The main part of downtown West Middlesex is where Route 18 and Route 318 meet.
There are no public buses or train lines directly in West Middlesex. The closest bus stops are in New Wilmington.
West Middlesex Airport
West Middlesex has its own airport. However, it's only for small, private planes and does not have regular commercial flights. The closest airports with scheduled flights are Youngstown–Warren Regional Airport and Pittsburgh International Airport.
Famous People from West Middlesex
- Alfred M. Landon: He was a former Governor of Kansas and ran for president as a Republican.
- R. J. Bowers: A former professional football player.
Images for kids
-
Main Street funeral home, October 2014
-
Location of West Middlesex in Mercer County, Pennsylvania.
See also
In Spanish: West Middlesex para niños
