North Versailles Township, Pennsylvania

North Versailles (pronunciation: north ver-SAYLS IPA|nɔɹθ vɜɹseɪlz) is a first class township and coextensive census-designated place in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 11,125 at the 2000 census.

History

North Versailles Township was formed September 18, 1869 by a division of (the original) Versailles Township into North and South Versailles Townships. Versailles Township was one of the original seven townships of Allegheny County formed in 1788 from Westmoreland County. Additionally, the land which encompasses the present day North Versailles Township was disputed territory between Pennsylvania and Virginia which claimed the area as part of Yohogania County of the District of West Augusta.

The territory designated in 1788 as Versailles Township now contains the townships of North Versailles and South Versailles; the boroughs of White Oak, East McKeesport, Wall, Versailles, and portions of Wilmerding and Trafford; as well as the major portion (excluding 10th ward) of the City of McKeesport.

North Versailles was further divided with the formation of the boroughs of East McKeesport (1893), Wall (1904), and portions of the boroughs of Wilmerding (1890) and Trafford (1904). The section of Wilmerding on the north side of Turtle Creek was originally part of the former Patton Township and the majority of Trafford is situated in Westmoreland County. An area of North Versailles (Allequippa Grove later known as North McKeesport and Highland Grove) was also annexed by the City of McKeesport.

Early villages and population centers in North Versailles included Port Perry, Saltsburgh and Allequippa Grove along the Monongahela River; Pleasant Hill near to what is now East McKeesport; Point Pleasant located near the present intersections of Route 30 and McKee and Naser Roads; and Stewart's Station, Spring Hill, Mosside Station, Wall Station, and Wilmerding Station along Turtle Creek, a tributary of the Monongahela River.

North Versailles has a number of named neighborhoods including the following which roughly corresponds to the township's seven wards:
*Ward 1: Park Terrace
*Ward 2: Arlington
*Ward 3: Sunset and South Wilmerding
*Ward 4: Green Valley and Fite Station
*Ward 5: West Wilmerding
*Ward 6: Dixon Hollow and Oak Hill
*Ward 7: Crestas Terrace

At one time, North Versailles was served by eight volunteer fire departments. Each ward was served by one department with the exception of Ward 3 which had both the Sunset and South Wilmerding VFDs. Ward 4 and 6's fire departments were the Green Valley VFD and Dixon VFD respectively. Currently three fire stations serve the township.

chools

North Versailles, East McKeesport, Wilmerding, and Wall consolidated school systems in the early 1960s to form the East Allegheny School District. East Allegheny High School (the Wildcats - 1969) is situated off of Rt. 48 (Jack's Run Road) near the intersection of Rt. 30. Green Valley School (1955) is the only surviving school of the former North Versailles School District which included (but is not limited to) the following other schools during the township's history:

*Port Perry School
*Saltsburg(h) School
*Bowman School
*Pleasant Hills School
*Spring Hill School
*Kincaid School
*Point Pleasant School
*Oak Hill School
*North McKeesport School
*Arlington School
*Sunset School
*South Wilmerding School
*Dixon Avenue School
*Crestas School
*Keith School
*West Wilmerding School
*Park Terrace Junior High

Prior to the formation of the East Allegheny School District, North Versailles high school age students were able to choose to go to one of several high schools in other districts including: East McKeesport High School (the Rams), Westinghouse Memorial High School (the Wildcats), Turtle Creek High School (the Creekers), McKeesport Area High School (the Tigers), and East Pittsburgh High School (the Shamrocks).

At the formation of the East Allegheny School District, Westinghouse Memorial High School became the district's official high school until the building of East Allegheny High School in 1969. The former East McKeesport High School was transformed into a Junior High servicing East McKeesport, Wilmerding, Wall and certain portions of North Versailles near East McKeesport. Park Terrace Junior High (1955 -- the Bobcats) served the township. During the 1968-69 school year, Park Terrace was designated a middle school serving all seventh and eighth graders in the district and East McKeesport served only 9th grade students for this one year; it would serve other populations until its demise. Neither school building exists today.

Geography

North Versailles is located at coor dms|40|22|49|N|79|48|37|W|city (40.380219, -79.810178)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 8.3 square miles (21.4 km²), of which, 8.1 square miles (21.0 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (1.93%) is water.

North Versailles borders the Monongahela River to the west, Turtle Creek to the west and north, North Huntington, Westmoreland County to the east, and the City of McKeesport and the borough of White Oak to the south. The township surrounds East McKeesport, Wilmerding, and Wall.

The Lincoln Highway, US Route 30 traverses North Versailles and on its western border crosses the Turtle Creek valley via the George Westinghouse Bridge into East Pittsburgh.

Other highways in the township include: PA 48 (Jack's Run Road/Mosside Blvd -- the Orange Belt) and PA 148 (Fifth Avenue Extension -- the Yellow Belt). In addition to Routes 48 and 148, Greensburg Pike Section 2 and the East Pittsburgh McKeesport Blvd. provide access to the Tri Boro Expressway.

[http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/maps/pa/county/allegh/usgs/versaill.jpgTopographical Map of North Versailles and surrounding area]

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 11,125 people, 4,933 households, and 3,102 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,371.9 people per square mile (529.6/km²). There were 5,227 housing units at an average density of 644.6/sq mi (248.8/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 87.81% White, 9.77% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 1.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.49% of the population.

There were 4,933 households out of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the township the population was spread out with 19.9% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $30,617, and the median income for a family was $38,145. Males had a median income of $31,389 versus $25,451 for females. The per capita income for the township was $16,991. About 8.5% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.

Notable Residents

Comedienne Donna Jean Young whose career was built upon her material related to East McKeesport and Woolmerding (Wilmerding) was a resident of Broadway Extension, Arlington Plan, North Versailles Township. At the time of her youth, portions of North Versailles used East McKeesport as a postal address and were long time associated with this community. Ms. Young was also a cast member on Rowan and Martin’s Laugh In. Young also released an album for Epic Records titled “Live from East McKeesport.”

Further information

*1876 - Atlas of the Cities of Pittsburgh, Allegheny, and the Adjoining Boroughs. Philadelphia: G.M. Hopkins & Co., 1876.
*1903 - Eastern Vicinity of Pittsburgh. Philadelphia: G.M. Hopkins & Co., 1903.
*Bureau of Social Research -- Federation of Social Agencies of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County and Allegheny Conference on Community Development. Recreational Facilities Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, Volume III, Minor Civil Divisions: McKees Rocks to Wilmerding. Pittsburgh: by the author, 1947.
*Fleming, George Thornton. History of Pittsburgh & Environs, Volume III. New York: American Historical Society, 1922.
*Sokol, John L. (Szarc, John J. ed.) North Versailles 100th Anniversary. North Versailles, PA: by the author, 1970.
*Warrantee Atlas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: G.M. Hopkins & Co., 1914.

References

External links

* [http://www.tcvcog.com/North%20Versailles%20Township%20Page.htm North Versailles Township]
* [http://www.fdnv.org Fire Department of North Versailles]
* [http://www.eawildcats.net/index.htm East Allegheny School District]

Maps

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