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Aliquippa, Pennsylvania

Coordinates: 40°36′54″N 80°15′47″W / 40.61500°N 80.26306°W / 40.61500; -80.26306
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Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
City
Downtown Aliquippa (2008)
Downtown Aliquippa (2008)
Flag of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
Flag
Official logo of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
Location in Beaver County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
Location in Beaver County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
Coordinates: 40°36′54″N 80°15′47″W / 40.61500°N 80.26306°W / 40.61500; -80.26306
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountyBeaver
Settled1793
Incorporated1894
 1928 (borough)
 1987 (city)
Government
 • TypeCity Council
Area
[1]
 • Total
4.60 sq mi (11.90 km2)
 • Land4.19 sq mi (10.86 km2)
 • Water0.40 sq mi (1.04 km2)
Elevation
850 ft (260 m)
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total
9,238
 • Density2,202.67/sq mi (850.54/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code
15001
FIPS code42-00820
WebsiteCity of Aliquippa website

Aliquippa is a city in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 9,238 at the 2020 census.[3] It is located 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Pittsburgh and is part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area.

Formerly the location of a large Native American trading center, Aliquippa grew to become a center for steel manufacturing by the early 20th century, similar to other towns in the area. With the closure of most large employers by the 1980s, Aliquippa has since become an economically distressed community.[4]

History

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An aerial view of Aliquippa in 1938 with Jones and Laughlin Steel Company's plant visible in the background

Aliquippa was founded by the merger of three towns: Aliquippa, Woodlawn,[5] and New Sheffield.[6][7] There is no known direct connection between Seneca Queen Aliquippa and the city; rather, "Aliquippa" was one of several Indian names selected arbitrarily by the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad in 1878 for stations along its route.[7] The oldest church within the current boundaries of Aliquippa is Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church (formerly White Oak Flats Presbyterian Church), established about 1793 in the New Sheffield region on Brodhead Road.[7]

Aliquippa is best known as the location of a productive steel mill that the Jones and Laughlin Steel Company constructed there along the Ohio River beginning in 1905. Employment at the facility sustained a population of 27,023 in 1940.[7] The mill closed in 1984 during the collapse of the steel industry during the 1980s, and was demolished in 1988. This major economic loss alongside suburbanization caused a major population loss through the end of the 20th century. Many of the city's businesses have left since the closing of the mill. This has left the city economically depressed, with the crime rate dramatically rising over time.

Aliquippa was formally chartered as a city in 1987 by the Aliquippa Borough Council. The B.F. Jones Memorial Library is a historical landmark of the community.

USAir Flight 427 crashed near Aliquippa on September 8, 1994.[8]

Geography

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Aliquippa from the air

Aliquippa is entirely landlocked by Hopewell Township. Across the Ohio River, the city runs adjacent with, from north to south, the borough of Baden, Harmony Township and the borough of Ambridge which connects to Aliquippa via the Ambridge–Aliquippa Bridge.

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1900620—
19101,743181.1%
19202,93168.2%
193027,116825.1%
194027,023−0.3%
195026,132−3.3%
196026,3690.9%
197022,277−15.5%
198017,094−23.3%
199013,374−21.8%
200011,734−12.3%
20109,438−19.6%
20209,238−2.1%
Sources:[9][10][11][12][3][2]
Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad's Aliquippa station

The city's population peaked in the 1930s. Since then, it has declined by two-thirds to just over 9,000 people, from a high of 27,116 in the 1930 census.

As of the 2010 census, the city had 9,438 people. The racial makeup of the city was 57.6% White, 38.6% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.4% Asian, and 2.8% were two or more races. 1.3% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.[13]

As of the 2000 census,[12] there were 11,734 people, 5,124 households, and 3,176 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,867.7 inhabitants per square mile (1,107.2/km2). There were 5,843 housing units at an average density of 1,428.0 per square mile (551.4/km2). The racial makeup was 62.59% White, 35.52% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.00% of the population.

There were 5,124 households, out of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.7% were married couples living together, 21.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. Of all households 35.0% were made up of individuals, and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,113, and the median income for a family was $34,003. Males had a median income of $27,954 versus $21,358 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,718. About 17.7% of families and 21.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.3% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education

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The city's residents are served by the public Aliquippa School District, which includes Aliquippa Junior/Senior High School and Aliquippa Elementary School.[citation needed] Children may also choose to attend an area public charter school.[citation needed]

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "QuickFacts: Aliquippa city, Pennsylvania". census.gov. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  4. ^ "History - City of Aliquippa". City of Aliquippa. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  5. ^ "Woodlawn, Beaver County, Pennsylvania". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  6. ^ "New Sheffield, Beaver County, Pennsylvania". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d "Aliquippa". Beaver County Bicentennial Atlas. 2002. Archived from the original on May 2, 2015. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  8. ^ Aircraft Accident Report – Uncontrolled Descent and Collision With Terrain, USAir Flight 427, Boeing 737-300, N513AU, Near Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, September 8, 1994 (PDF). National Transportation Safety Board. March 24, 1999. NTSB/AAR-99/01. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  9. ^ "1940 US Census". Archived from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  10. ^ "1960 US Census". Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  11. ^ "1990 US Census" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on October 16, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  12. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on December 27, 1996. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. ^ "USA Today Census profile". USA Today. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  14. ^ "Ben-Gurion University of the Negev - BGU President - Prof. Daniel Chamovitz". Archived from the original on June 13, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  15. ^ "Current Judges". Archived from the original on August 19, 2018. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
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