Baldwin Township, Pennsylvania

Geobox|Settlement
name = Baldwin
native_name =
other_name =
other_name1 =
category = Township
etymology_type = Named for
etymology = Henry Baldwin
official_name =
motto =
nickname =


image_size =
image_caption =


flag_size =
symbol = Baldwin_Township_Seal.gif
symbol_type = Seal
symbol_size =
country = United States
country_

state = Pennsylvania
state_

region = Allegheny
region_type = County
district =
district_type =
landmark =
river =
location =
lat_d = 40
lat_m = 22
lat_s = 00
lat_NS = N
long_d = 79
long_m = 58
long_s = 59
long_EW = W
elevation_imperial = 1171
elevation_round = 0
area_imperial = 0.5
area_land_imperial = 0.5
area_water_imperial = 0.0
area_water_percentage = auto
area_percentage_round = 2
area_round = 1
area_land_round = 1
area_water_round = 1
population_as_of = 2000
population = 2244
population_density_imperial = 4148.9
population_density_round = 1
established_type = Settled
established = c. 1780
established1_type = Incorporated
established1 = February 24, 1844
mayor =
timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
postal_code = 15234
postal_code_type = ZIP code
area_code = 412
area_code_type =
code2_type =
code2 =
free_type = School District
free = Baldwin-Whitehall

---

map_caption = Location of Baldwin Township in Allegheny County
map1 = Pennsylvania Locator Map.png map1_caption = Location of Baldwin Township in Pennsylvania
map1_locator = Pennsylvania
map2 = Map of USA PA.svg
map2_caption = Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
website = http://www.baldwintownship.com

Baldwin Township is a township in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,244 at the 2000 census.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of convert|0.5|sqmi|km2, all of it land. Its average elevation is convert|1171|ft|m above sea level GR|3.

urrounding communities

*Pittsburgh neighborhoods
**Brookline (north)
**Overbrook (north)
*Castle Shannon (southeast)
*Mt. Lebanon (southwest)

History

The area that would become Baldwin Township was originally settled around 1780. The Allegheny County Court of Quarter Sessions established Baldwin Township on February 24, 1844, from Upper St. Clair, Lower St. Clair, Jefferson, and Mifflin Townships.cite web| url =http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/counties/pdfs/Allegheny.pdf | title = "Allegheny County - 2nd Class" | accessdate = 2007-08-25| language = English] The area was named for Henry Baldwin, a Pittsburgh lawyer who served as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1830 until his death in 1844.

Baldwin Township was originally 10,550 acres (43 km²) and consisted of the present day Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Carrick, Hays, Brookline, and Overbrook along with the present day municipalities of Brentwood, Whitehall, Castle Shannon, and Baldwin Borough.

The coal seam lying underneath Baldwin Township made mining the township's largest industry. The township was also home to the first glass factories in Allegheny County. Agriculture was important part of Baldwin Township's economy from 1753 - 1876. Its most well-known agricultural exports were cherries and whisky (many citizens of Baldwin Township were part of the Whiskey Rebellion).

The township continued to thrive until the late 19th century, when its size became too cumbersome to handle. Due to the lack of maintenance throughout the township's roads, residents of many areas broke off to form their own municipalities. In 1901, 201 acres (0.8 km²) became the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Hays. Three years later in 1904, Carrick and Brookline, became Pittsburgh wards, taking with them 1,058 acres (4 km²) and 138 acres (0.6 km²), respectively. From 1915 - 1951, approximately 8,700 acres (35 km²) of the original Baldwin Township broke off to become the municipalities of Brentwood, Castle Shannon, Mt. Lebanon, Whitehall, and Baldwin Borough. The City of Pittsburgh annexed off an additional area of land that is now the city's Overbrook neighborhood.

Today, only 400 of the township's original 10,550 acres (43 km²) remain. Historians believe that if Baldwin Township had never been divided, it would now be the second largest community in Allegheny County with a population of over 100,000. [cite web | title =History | work =baldwintownship.com | url =http://www.baldwintownship.com/about_history.html]

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 2,244 people, 869 households, and 637 families residing in the township. The population density was 4,148.9 people per square mile (1,604.5/km²). There were 880 housing units at an average density of 1,627.0/sq mi (629.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.62% White, 0.27% African American, 0.58% Asian, 0.13% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.40% of the population.

There were 869 households out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the township the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.5 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $45,071, and the median income for a family was $52,200. Males had a median income of $38,750 versus $29,342 for females. The per capita income for the township was $20,918. About 3.3% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.

References

External links

* [http://www.baldwintownship.com/ Official Site]
* [http://www.abbott-lavalle.info/places/baldwin.html History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Volume II, Chapter V.]
* [http://digital.library.pitt.edu/maps/ Historic Pittsburgh Map Collections]
** [http://images.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/maps/showmap.pl?client=maps&
]
** [http://digital.library.pitt.edu/maps/86v01ind.html 1886 - Atlas of the Vicinity of the Cities Pittsburgh and Allegheny Pennsylvania]
** [http://digital.library.pitt.edu/maps/05vsvind.html 1906 - Southern Vicinity of Pittsburgh]