Vandergrift, Pennsylvania

Infobox Settlement
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settlement_type = Borough
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Pennsylvania
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Westmoreland
government_footnotes =
government_type = Borough Council
leader_title = Mayor
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established_title = Settled
established_date = 1895
established_title1 = Incorporated
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unit_pref = Imperial
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area_total_sq_mi = 1.3
area_land_sq_mi = 1.2
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1
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population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_note =
population_total = 5455
population_density_km2 =
population_density_sq_mi = 4389.9
timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 40
latm = 35
lats = 58
latNS = N
longd = 79
longm = 34
longs = 11
longEW = W
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postal_code_type = Zip code
postal_code =
area_code = 15690
website =
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Vandergrift is a borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States, approximately 40 miles (64 km) east of Pittsburgh. Early in the 20th century, it had the largest sheet steel mill in the world. In July, 1915, the borough of Vandergrift Heights was consolidated with Vandergrift. In 1900, 2,076 people lived here; in 1910, 3,876. The population of Vandergrift Heights was 3,438 in 1910, therefore, the consolidation in 1915 almost doubled the population of Vandergrift. In 1940, 10,725 people lived in Vandergrift. The population was 5,455 at the 2000 census.

History

In the 1890s the Apollo Iron and Steel Company ended a bitterly contested labor dispute by hiring replacement workers from the surrounding countryside. To avoid future unrest, however, the company sought to gain tighter control over its workers not only at the factory but also in their homes. Drawing upon a philosophy of reform movements in Europe and the United States, the firm decided that providing workers with good housing and a good urban environment would make them more loyal and productive. In 1895, Apollo Iron and Steel built a new, integrated, non-unionized steelworks and hired the nation's preeminent landscape architectural firm, Olmsted, Olmsted and Eliot, to design the model industrial town: Vandergrift.multiple image
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header = Vandergrift, Pennsylvania - before and after
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caption1 = July, 1895, before construction of the town


caption2 = May, 1896

Geography

Vandergrift is located at coor dms|40|35|58|N|79|34|11|W|city (40.599527, -79.569843)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), of which, 1.2 square miles (3.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (5.34%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 5,455 people, 2,414 households, and 1,489 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,389.9 people per square mile (1,698.5/km²). There were 2,772 housing units at an average density of 2,230.8/sq mi (863.1/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.43% White, 3.45% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 1.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.37% of the population.

There were 2,414 households out of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the borough the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 23.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.7 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $26,935, and the median income for a family was $35,984. Males had a median income of $29,781 versus $20,829 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $16,285. About 12.0% of families and 15.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.9% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.

References

External links

* [http://books.google.com/books?id=688YPNQ5HNwC&printsec=frontcover#PPA392,M1 Self-help to Employees - The Success of Vandergrift, PA.] article in 1902 issue of "The World's Work" at Google Books