| Fayette County, Pennsylvania | |
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| Map | |
 Location in the state of Pennsylvania |
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 Pennsylvania's location in the U.S. |
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| Statistics | |
| Founded | September 26, 1783 |
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| Seat | Uniontown |
| Largest city | Uniontown |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
798 sq mi (2,067 km²) 790 sq mi (2,046 km²) 8 sq mi (21 km²), 0.98% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
148,644 189/sq mi (73/km²) |
| Website: www.co.fayette.pa.us | |
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Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2000 census, the population was 148,644. The county is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Fayette County was created on September 26, 1783, from part of Westmoreland County and named after the Marquis de Lafayette. Its county seat is Uniontown[1].
Contents |
History
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Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page. (January 2009) |
When the ownership of the area was still undecided, 22-year-old George Washington fought his first battles against the French at Jumonville Glen and Fort Necessity in 1754.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 798 square miles (2,067 km²), of which, 790 square miles (2,046 km²) of it is land and 8 square miles (20 km²) of it (0.98%) is water. Many coal mines are located within the county.[2]
U.S. and Pennsylvania Highways
Pennsylvania Route 21
U.S. Route 40
Pennsylvania Route 88
U.S. Route 119
Pennsylvania Route 43
Pennsylvania Route 51
Pennsylvania Route 166
Pennsylvania Route 201
Pennsylvania Route 281
Pennsylvania Route 381
Pennsylvania Route 711
Pennsylvania Route 819
Pennsylvania Route 857
Pennsylvania Route 982
Adjacent counties
- Westmoreland County (north)
- Somerset County (east)
- Garrett County, Maryland (southeast)
- Preston County, West Virginia (south)
- Monongalia County, West Virginia (southwest)
- Greene County (west)
- Washington County (northwest)
National protected areas
Government
The County of Fayette is governed by a three-member publicly elected commission. The three commissioners serve in both executive and legislative capacities. By state law, the commission must have a minority party, guaranteeing a political split on the commission. Each term is for four years.
The three current commissioners for Fayette County are Vince Vicities (Democrat), Vince Zapotosky (Democrat), and Angela Zimmerlink (Republican).
Vicities is the son of a former county commissioner, and worked in the office of the state auditor general and as director of Fayette County Waste Management prior to taking office in 1996. Zapotosky formerly worked as an aide to Congressman Frank Mascara and later was an administrator at Douglas Business School. Zimmerlink previously held a career in real estate.
The Fayette County Court of Common Pleas serves as the primary judicial arm in the region. Judges are elected to ten-year terms in accordance with Commonwealth law. Additionally, district judges serve throughout the county for minor offences.
Other county officials
- Clerk of Courts, Janice Snyder, Democrat
- Controller, Sean Lally, Democrat
- Coroner, Phillip E. Reilly, Democrat
- District Attorney, Nancy Vernon, Democrat
- Prothonotary, Lance Winterhalter, Democrat
- Recorder of Deeds, David Malosky, Democrat
- Register of Wills, Donald Redman, Democrat
- Sheriff, Gary D. Brownfield, Sr., Democrat
- Treasurer, Robert F. Danko, Democrat
Politics
As of November 2008, there are 91,386 registered voters in Fayette County [1].
- Democratic: 62,879 (68.81%)
- Republican: 21,932 (24.00%)
- Other Parties: 6,575 (7.19%)
Fayette County tends to be Democratic-leaning in statewide and national elections. In 2000, Democrat Al Gore won 57% of the vote and Republican George W. Bush won 40%. In 2004, Democrat John Kerry won 53% of the vote and Republican George W. Bush won 45%. In 2006, Democrats Governor Ed Rendell and Senator Bob Casey, Jr. won 59% and 65% of the vote in Fayette County. In 2008 Fayette County trended Republican and went for Republican John McCain 49.62% over Democrat Barack Obama 49.21% a difference of 215 votes.
State Representatives
- Peter J. Daley, Democrat, 49th district
- H. William DeWeese, Democrat, 50th district
- Timothy S. Mahoney, Democrat, 51st district
- Deberah Kula, Democrat, 52nd district
- Ted Harhai, Democrat, 58th district
- Mike Reese, Republican, 59th district
State Senator
- Rich Kasunic, Democrat, 32nd district
US Representatives
- Bill Shuster, Republican, 9th district
- John Murtha, Democrat, 12th district
Demographics
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 148,644 people, 59,969 households, and 41,198 families residing in the county. The population density was 188 people per square mile (73/km²). There were 66,490 housing units at an average density of 84 per square mile (32/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.30% White, 3.51% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. 0.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 19.8% were of German, 13.2% Italian, 11.4% Irish, 9.2% American, 8.4% Polish, 7.9% English and 6.6% Slovak ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 59,969 households out of which 28.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.80% were married couples living together, 12.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.30% were non-families. 28.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the county, the population was spread out with 22.70% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 18.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 91.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.60 males.
A study released in 2009 by PathWays PA, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, found that 35% of families in Fayette County were economically distressed, that is, failing to earn a wage that would adequately provide food, shelter, child care, health care, and other basic necessities.[4]
Municipalities
Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Fayette County:
Cities
Boroughs
Townships
Census-designated places
Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well.
Education
Public School Districts
- Albert Gallatin Area School District
- Belle Vernon Area School District (also in Westmoreland County)
- Brownsville Area School District (also in Washington County)
- Connellsville Area School District
- Frazier School District
- Laurel Highlands School District
- Southmoreland School District (also in Westmoreland County)
- Uniontown Area School District
Fixtures
- Fort Necessity is a reconstructed historic stockade that was originally built by George Washington to defend against an attack during the French and Indian War. Washington's loss at Fort Necessity was the only blemish on his military record. It is now operated as a national battlefield.[5]
- General Edward Braddock's Grave is across the highway from Fort Necessity. He was mortally wounded attacking Fort Duquesne (at the "forks of the Ohio River" in Pittsburgh) during the French and Indian War. It is a unit of the national battlefield. Under an agreement with British government, the site of Braddock's grave is considered British soil.
- The National Road (also known as the Cumberland Road) bisects Fayette County. It was the first long roadway to be paid for by the federal government and went from Baltimore, Maryland to Vandalia, Illinois. It was once a toll road, but it now exists as US 40.
- Two historic fixtures from the National Road exist within Fayette County's borders. Searights Toll House is one of few remaining toll collection stops along the old route. The Washington Tavern is a classic example of an early-19th-century inn along the National Road.
- The town of Perryopolis was designed by George Washington during his days as a surveyor. It includes a failed grist mill that Washington attempted to operate.
- Fallingwater, architect Frank Lloyd Wright's most famous home, is located within the county, atop a beautiful waterfall. His lesser known but equally impressive Kentuck Knob is also located in the county.[6]
- Albert Gallatin's home, called Friendship Hill, is maintained as National Historic Site.[7]
- Fayette County's southern border is marked with plaques that mark its significance as part of the Mason-Dixon Line
- Ohiopyle State Park
- Laurel Ridge State Park
Notable Fayette Countians
- John Dickson Carr, 1950, 1963, 1970 Edgar Allan Poe Award Winner, mystery writer
- Vinnie Colaiuta, Rock Drummer
- Ernie Davis, 1961 Heisman Trophy Winner
- Tom Foster, writer and television producer
- Philander C. Knox, Secretary of State, U.S. Senator, and U.S. Attorney General
- Johnny Lujack, 1947 Heisman Trophy Winner
- George C. Marshall, 1953 Nobel Peace Prize Winner
- Terry Mulholland, former Major League Baseball pitcher most notably with the Philadelphia Phillies
- Chuck Muncie, former NFL running back with the New Orleans Saints and the San Diego Chargers
- Tamora Pierce, Fantasy Novelist
- Edwin S. Porter, Director of The Great Train Robbery
- Henry Miller Shreve, pioneering steamboat captain and inventor
- Saul Swimmer, Co-Producer of Let It Be and director of The Concert For Bangladesh
- Albert Gallatin, Secretary of the Treasury to Jefferson and Madison built his home at Friendship Hill.
- Secretary of State and WW II Supreme Commander George C. Marshall of the Marshall Plan was born and educated through High School in the county seat, Uniontown.
- Two home-improvement families make Fayette County home. Both the Lowe family (of Lowe's) and the Hardy family (of 84 Lumber) reside in the county. The Hardys also maintain a huge resort and golf course.
- Rock and roller Fabian built and maintains a home in the county.
External links
References
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/usamap.cfm. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ http://patheoldminer.rootsweb.ancestry.com/fayecho1.html
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Zlatos, Bill (May 12, 2009). "Poverty worse in Pa. than reported: study". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. http://pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_624723.html. Retrieved on May 13, 2009.
- ^ "Fort Necessity National Battlefield". National Park Service. http://www.nps.gov/fone/. Retrieved on 2007-09-15.
- ^ "Fallingwater". Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. http://www.wpconline.org/fallingwaterhome.htm. Retrieved on 2007-09-15.
- ^ "Friendship Hill National Historic Site (Estate of Albert Gallatin)". National Park Service. http://www.nps.gov/frhi/. Retrieved on 2007-09-15.
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