Washington, Pennsylvania

Geobox|City
name = Washington
official_name = City of Washington
category = City


image_size =
image_caption = The county courthouse in downtown Washington on a snowy, winter day.


flag_size =
symbol =
symbol_type =
etymology_type = Named for
etymology = George Washington
nickname =
motto =
country = United States
country_

state = Pennsylvania
state_

region_type = County
region = Washington
district =
part_type =
part_count =
part =
part1 =
area_imperial = 3.3
area_land_imperial =
area_water_imperial =
area_urban_imperial =
area_metro_imperial =
location =
elevation_imperial = 1156
lat_d = 40
lat_m = 10
lat_s = 30
lat_NS = N
long_d = 80
long_m = 15
long_s = 2
long_EW = W
coordinates_type = region:US_type:city
highest_name =
highest location =
highest_lat_d =
highest_lat_m =
highest_lat_s =
highest_lat_NS =
highest_long_d =
highest_long_m =
highest_long_s =
highest_long_EW =
highest_elevation_imperial =
lowest_name =
lowest_location =
lowest_lat_d =
lowest_lat_m =
lowest_lat_s =
lowest_lat_NS =
lowest_long_d =
lowest_long_m =
lowest_long_s =
lowest_long_EW =
lowest_elevation_imperial =
population_as_of = 2000
population = 15268
population_urban =
population_metro =
population_density_imperial = 5199.2
population_density_urban_imperial =
population_density_metro_imperial =
government =
established_type = Established
established = 1768
established1_type = Incorporated
established1 = 1810
government_type =
mayor = L. Anthony Spossey
leader_type =
leader1_name =
leader1_type =
timezone = EST
utc_offset = -4
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
postal_code =
postal_code_type =
area_code = 724
area_code_type =
code2_type =
code2 =
free_type =
free =
free1_type =
free1 =


map_size =
map_caption = Location of Washington within Pennsylvania
map_locator = Pennsylvania
map1 = Map of USA PA.svg
map1_caption = Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
website = [http://www.washingtonpa.us www.washingtonpa.us]
footnotes =

Washington is a city in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States and part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 15,268 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Washington CountyGR|6 and is located in the southwestern part of the state.

Geography

Washington is located at coor dms|40|10|30|N|80|15|2|W|city (40.174959, -80.250634)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 15,268 people, 6,259 households, and 3,486 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,199.2 people per square mile (2,005.1/km²). There were 7,111 housing units at an average density of 2,421.5/sq mi (933.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.88% White, 14.60% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.61% from other races, and 2.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.94% of the population.

There are 6,259 households out of which 24.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.7% were married couples living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.3% were non-families. 38.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.2% under the age of 18, 13.2% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,764, and the median income for a family was $34,862. Males had a median income of $29,977 versus $22,374 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,818. 20.7% of the population and 16.4% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 29.2% of those under the age of 18 and 15.8% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

History

Delaware Indian chief Tangooqua, commonly known as "Catfish", had a camp on a branch of Chartiers Creek in what is now part of the city of Washington.Walkinshaw, Lewis Clark (ca. 1939). "Annals of southwestern Pennsylvania, Vol. 1". New York. Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc, p. 16.] The French labeled the area "Wissameking", meaning "catfish place", as early as 1757. The area of Washington was settled by many immigrants from Scotland and the north of Ireland along with settlers from eastern and central parts of colonial Virginia. It was first settled by colonists around 1768.

The Pennsylvania General Assembly passed an act on March 28, 1781, erecting the County of Washington and naming Catfish Camp as the place for holding the first election. This was the first county in the U.S. to be named in honor of President George Washington. David Hoge laid out a plan of lots immediately after the legislature's action. His original plot carried the name "Bassett, alias Dandridge Town," but before the plot was recorded, lines were drawn through "Bassett, alias Dandridge Town" with ink, and the word "Washington" was written above.

The original plot dedicated a tract of ground to the people for recreational purposes. A lot was given for a courthouse where the current building now stands, and Lots 43 and 102, according to the plan, were presented by Hoge to "His Excellency, General Washington, and Mrs. Washington." The town was the center for the 'Whiskey Rebellion' of 1791, which was one of the first open rebellions against the new U.S. government and Constitution. The Rebellion was centered around a tax being imposed on whiskey distillation in the region. The town was incorporated as a borough on February 13, 1810, and became a city of the third class in 1924. [ [http://www.washingtonpa.us/general_info-history.html City of Washington home page] ]

Current projects

The city of Washington is currently working to improve the social conditions of the community through a $14-million street-scape improvement project that will significantly improve the infrastructure of downtown Washington. Along with the infrastructure improvements, Millcraft Industries has announced a $100 million revitalization project for downtown Washington.

As part of the revitalization, Land America is currently building a new 6 story office building at the corner of Beau and Franklin streets in Washington. Land America is expected to take about convert|100000|sqft|m2|-4 of the seven-story, convert|140000|sqft|m2|-3|sing=on building for its corporate headquarters, and will employ up to 1,000 people in the building upon completion in December, 2006.

Other aspects of the Crossroads Project include street level retail, residential lofts, an 80-room hotel, and an outdoor park and amphitheatre. In addition, the Carl Walker Construction Co. will build an $12 million, 850-space parking garage between Chestnut and Beau streets to accommodate the office building.

Points of interest

Washington is home to Washington & Jefferson College, a small, co-educational private liberal arts college founded in 1781. Located in downtown Washington, the college now enrolls over 1,500 students. It is noted as an excellent pre-med and pre-law institution due to its fine liberal arts curriculum and is considered a good preparatory school for graduate level studies in general. W&J’s 60 acre suburban campus includes more than 40 academic, recreational, and residential buildings, as well as a 54 acre biological field station. In the 2006 U.S. News and World Report "America's Best Colleges" guide, W&J was ranked #94 among the top 100 Liberal Arts Schools in the US.

Washington is also the home of CONSOL Energy Park, constructed in 2002. The six-year old 5,000-seat stadium serves as the shared home of the Washington Wild Things, a professional baseball team. The Wild Things are in the Frontier League, an independent professional baseball organization. Over their young history, the team has had considerable success, including a league-record 62 wins in 2004. The Wild Things have been the Frontier League Organization of the Year three times since moving to Washington in 2002. In 2007 The stadium has also started hosting concerts, with concerts such as Counting Crows, Perfect Circle, and Trace Atkins all being sold out concerts, They will host more based on this success.

Located next to CONSOL Energy Park is the PONY Baseball and Softball International Headquarters, constructed in 2005. The new facility replaces their old building, also located in Washington, Pennsylvania. The old building, a convert|6500|sqft|m2|-1|sing=on facility was replaced with the new building - a convert|12000|sqft|m2|-2|sing=on building that houses the offices, museum and shipping departments for PONY Baseball and Softball. Not only is Washington the home of PONY Baseball and Softball's headquarters, but also the PONY League World Series (for 13 and 14 year old players). The PONY League World Series is held at historic Lew Hays Field located in Washington Park, Washington PA.

Also in the city are two historic homes, that of David Bradford on Main St. and that of F. Julius LeMoyne on Maiden St. LeMoyne built the first crematory in America. Both homes are listed on the List of Registered Historic Places in Washington County, Pennsylvania.

On January 27, 2006, to commemorate the Pittsburgh Steelers appearance in Super Bowl XL, the city council voted to symbolically rename the city "Steelers, Pennsylvania" through February 5, 2006. [ [http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_417692.html Washington, Pa., renamed until end of Super Bowl - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ] ]

ports

Notable residents

*Author and journalist Rebecca Harding Davis was born in Washington in 1831.
*NHL player George Parros was born in Washington.
*Professional wrestler and Mixed Martial artist Sylvester Terkay was born in Washington.
*International Boxing Hall of Fame member Sammy Angott was born in Washington in 1915.
*Noted Inventor Edward Acheson was born in Washington in 1856
*Former NFL player/coach, member of Pro Football Hall of Fame Pete Henry.
*Union army general Absalom Baird was born in Washington in 1824.

References

External links

* [http://www.washingtonwildthings.com/ Washington Wild Things]
* [http://www.washjeff.edu Washington & Jefferson College]
* [http://www.washsym.org Washington Symphony]
* [http://www.pony.org PONY Baseball and Softball]