Arnold, Pennsylvania

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.0 km²).0.7 square miles (1.9 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (6.41%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 5,667 people, 2,589 households, and 1,439 families residing in the city. The population density was 7,706.6 people per square mile (2,956.8/km²). There were 2,976 housing units at an average density of 4,047.1/sq mi (1,552.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.84% White, 12.76% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 1.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.13% of the population.

There were 2,589 households out of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.5% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.4% were non-families. 39.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.6% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 86.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,190, and the median income for a family was $32,569. Males had a median income of $31,164 versus $23,953 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,631. About 14.0% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.8% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.

History

The beginnings of the area show that around the year 1781, Robert McCrea purchased the land on which Arnold now stands. Sometime later William Jack gained the property of Arnold who later passed it on to Wilson Jack. The area of Arnold was first settled in 1852 by Major Andrew Arnold, who grew up in Kittanning. However, it did not become a separate borough until January 14, 1896. This is because today’s Arnold was at one time part of the city New Kensington. It is known as the “Proud City of Proud People”. [ Serve U Net. “Arnold Pennsylvania”. http://www.arnoldpa.org. (Accessed September 25,2006)]

Local Landmarks

Arnold was at one time, home to many different local attractions. One being the Arnold Station, established in 1867, which was Arnold’s railroad stop. It was named so because the land on which it was built was given by the Arnold Family. [ The Woman’s Club of New Kensington. Lore of Yore. New Kensington,Pennsylvania:Buhl Brothers Printing,1986.] The Chambers Glass Company came into being in 1891, when the Chambers decided to start a glass company of their own. In that time it was the first, best equipped, and most efficient glass plant in the country. [The Woman’s Club of New Kensington. Lore of Yore. New Kensington,Pennsylvania: Buhl Brothers Printing,1986.] Arnold was also known in it’s earlier times for various job opportunities and the third class area that offered low living costs and the least luxurious accommodations in the surrounding areas.

It also has other local historical landmarks such as the George Moore Home that had 17 rooms. Now where the house used to stand is a parking lot for All Saints Church. The Morris Davis home is another locally known home that stands across from where the George Moore home stood. Morris Davis built it very precisely, rejecting many loads of lumber if they had knotholes or any defects. It was one of the very first homes that had electricity. The Hartley Howard Home was another home of that time, and it stills stands there today serving as apartments.

The Eiler Hall was “The Place” to be seen since it was used for things like parties, dances, banquets and public shows. It is now a parking lot for city employees of the Municipal Building. The Edna Hotel was named after George Moore‘s daughter Edna in the late 1800‘s. It was the meeting place for all of Arnold at the turn of the 20th century. The Arnold Drug Store began in 1898 and also included the post office at the time. W.R. Gott was one of the leading merchants of his time in Arnold. He opened his own grocery store in 1914 at the age of twenty and added appliances to his line in 1920. It was the largest electric appliance dealer in Allegheny Valley and was Tri-Boro’s leading grocery store. In 1921 he built his own store and then expanded it in 1932. In 1936, he took over the Arnold Traffic Store. The Arnold Traffic Store that was at one time a general store, a meeting place, a temporary church, an office, an amateur playhouse and a night club became W.R. Gott’s Furniture Store. In 1973, the building was sold to Goodwill and it was later sold to Arnold Furniture who still owns it today. The John Fedan Store began as a rental for other merchants. When that did not follow through, Fedan started his own business with a small hardware store and later added a furniture and appliance store.

Growth

The city has grown to include many family owned businesses, churches, volunteer ambulance and fire departments, the Arnold Police Department, YMCA, Roosevelt Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce among other things. The people of Arnold are also able to send their students to the New Kensington-Arnold School District where it includes seven schools in the New Kensington and Arnold cities. Of those seven; is one high school called Valley High School, one middle school, and five elementary schools. The middle school of today was originally the Arnold High School before the two cities merged.

Future

“As with most communities along the Allegheny River, it suffered from a loss of industry during the 1970’s and 1980’s when steel mills started closing down in this area of Pennsylvania. Since then, the city has been undergoing rebirth bringing in industry, new community projects, and new people who call Arnold their home.” [Serve U Net. “Arnold Pennsylvania”. http://www.arnoldpa.org.(Accessed September 25,2006)]

Bibliography

Key To The City. “USA City Information for nearly every city & town in the USA”. http://www.usacitiesonline.com. (Accessed September 25, 2006)

Member Laurel Highlands Chamber of Commerce. “Businesses, Services, and Events”. http://www.inwestmoreland.com/. (Accessed September 25, 20

References