47-726: Connellsville is a city in Fayette County, Pennsylvania , United States, 36 miles (58 km) southeast of Pittsburgh and 50 miles (80 km) away via the Youghiogheny River , a tributary of the Monongahela River . It is part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area . The population was 7,031 at the 2020 census . During the French and Indian War , a British army commanded by General Edward Braddock approached Fort Duquesne and crossed
94-448: A city garbage dump along Connell Run, near Wills Road, into East Park. The park was dedicated on October 12, 1940. Its location in a hollow contributes to many unique features, which include an underground entrance tunnel along Connell Run, a castle lookout up above, a large outside stage bandshell, many stone walls and pillars, and a waterfall at one end. Connellsville has the distinction of having been served at one time by five railroads:
141-592: A coal loading facility behind the location of the former Back Creek Lumber Co where the line was severed. This line is now operated by the Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad . The Western Maryland Railroad's line crossed the Alleghenies from Cumberland and entered Connellsville on the right side of the Youghiogheny River, connecting with two separate railroad companies. The first connection was with
188-538: A new liquor tax. President George Washington called out the militias to restore order. However, they were talked out of any violent action by owner of Friendship Hill and future Secretary of the Treasury, Albert Gallatin . Fayette County continued to be important to travelers in the early 1800s. The National Road provided a route through the mountains of the county for settlers heading west. The shipyards in Brownsville on
235-518: A wide variety of services to public, charter and private schools in the region. Early screening, special educations services, speech and hearing therapy and driver education are available. Services for children during the preschool years are provided without cost to their families when the child is determined to meet eligibility requirements. The IU1 also provides the state mandated multiple background screenings for potential school employees. A variety of professional development services are also available to
282-536: Is U.S. Route 119 , which links Connellsville with nearby cities Uniontown and Greensburg, and provides access to many of the business on the outskirts of the city. Pennsylvania Route 201 ends in Connellsville, and PA 711 serves as the main street through downtown before heading into the local mountains. Fayette County, Pennsylvania Fayette County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania . It
329-444: 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 member, guaranteeing a political split. Each member serves a four-year term. Current commissioners are Democrat Vince Vicites and Republicans David Lohr and Scott Dunn. In October 2015, Sidney Bush, the first African-American elected to county office,
376-602: Is located in southwestern Pennsylvania, adjacent to Maryland and West Virginia . As of the 2020 census , the population was 128,804. Its county seat is Uniontown . The county was created on September 26, 1783, from part of Westmoreland County and named after the Marquis de Lafayette . The county is part of the Southwest Pennsylvania region of the state. Fayette County is part of the Pittsburgh, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area . The southern border of Fayette County
423-447: Is often difficult, since methodologies, definitions and data quality can vary greatly. Since the 1990s, the OECD has conducted regular surveys among its 38 member countries using a standardized methodology and set of questions. Per capita income is often used to measure a sector's average income and compare the wealth of different populations. Per capita income is also often used to measure
470-779: Is the southern border of Pennsylvania at both the Pennsylvania–Maryland state line (the Mason–Dixon line ) and the Pennsylvania–West Virginia state line. The first Europeans in Fayette County were explorers, who had used an ancient American Indian trail that bisected the county on their journey across the Appalachian Mountains . In 1754, when control of the area was still in dispute between France and Great Britain, 22-year-old George Washington fought against
517-694: The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad , the Pennsylvania Railroad , the Western Maryland Railroad , the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad , and the Norfolk and Western Railroad . The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (now CSX Transportation ) entered Connellsville on the right (east) side of the Youghiogheny River. This main line originated in Baltimore, passed through Cumberland, Maryland heading west followed
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#1732855128900564-506: The French at the Battle of Jumonville Glen and Fort Necessity . British forces under Washington and General Edward Braddock improved roads throughout the region, making the future Fayette County an important supply route. During the Revolutionary War , Fayette County was plagued by attacks from British-allied Indians and remained isolated as a frontier region. Also retarding settlement
611-562: The Great Migration from the rural South were attracted to the Pittsburgh area for industrial jobs. The historic Scottish and German farming communities established in the earlier 19th century were soon overshadowed by the wave of immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe. The region's wealth has been concentrated largely among the old English and Scottish families who had established businesses and political power in Pittsburgh prior to and in
658-433: The Monongahela River built ships for both the domestic and international trade. As Pittsburgh developed its industries in the mid-19th century, Fayette County became a center of coal mining and coke production. From the 1880s to the early 1900s, the area's great expansion in steel production became nationally important, and labor unions shaped national policies. Both new European immigrants and African Americans in
705-642: 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. The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Fayette County. † county seat In 1967 Uniontown was the birthplace of the McDonald's Big Mac sandwich. 39°55′N 79°39′W / 39.92°N 79.65°W / 39.92; -79.65 Per capita income Per capita income ( PCI ) or average income measures
752-481: The U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 798 square miles (2,070 km ), of which 790 square miles (2,000 km ) is land and 8.0 square miles (21 km ) (1.0%) is water. The western portion of the county contains rolling foothills and two valleys along the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers. The eastern portion of the county is highly mountainous and forested. Many coal mines are located within
799-445: The Fayette County seat. Pittsburgh is 50 miles (80 km) to the northwest via US 119 and Interstate 76 . According to the U.S. Census Bureau , Connellsville has a total area of 2.29 square miles (5.92 km), of which 2.18 square miles (5.65 km) is land and 0.10 square miles (0.27 km), or 4.63%, is water. Demographics As of the 2000 census , there were 9,146 people, 3,963 households, and 2,377 families residing in
846-534: The Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad's line from Pittsburgh which continued down the right side of the river to Pittsburgh. This was in direct competition with the B & O directly across the river. The second connection of the Western Maryland was to the Norfolk and Western Railroad which crossed the river to the left side on the former Pittsburgh & West Virginia railroad bridge. The Norfolk & Western branch
893-466: The Republican party has continued to gain support in each successive election, and the county was one of only 41 counties nationwide to flip from Democratic to Republican in 2008. Despite losing nationwide and statewide by a large margin, John McCain became the first Republican since 1972 and only the second Republican since 1928 to win Fayette County in 2008, and four years later, Mitt Romney became only
940-519: The Youghiogheny River at Stewart's Crossing, which is situated in the middle of what is now the city of Connellsville. Connellsville was officially founded as a township in 1793 then as a borough on March 1, 1806, by Zachariah Connell , a militia captain during the American Revolution. In February 1909, balloting in New Haven and Connellsville resulted in these two boroughs joining and becoming
987-441: The advent of industrialization, often building the new manufacturing concerns, as did Andrew Carnegie . By World War II , Fayette County had a new unionized working class that enjoyed increased prosperity. In the 1950s, however, the coal industry fell into decline. In the 1970s, the restructuring and collapse of American steel resulted in a massive loss of industrial jobs and hard times in the area. The population has declined since
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#17328551289001034-496: The affected area. Connellsville is located in northeastern Fayette County along the Youghiogheny River , a northward-flowing tributary of the Monongahela River . The city lies on both sides of the river, with the downtown on the eastern side. It is bordered to the south by the borough of South Connellsville . U.S. Route 119 passes through the northern and western sides of the city, leading north 22 miles (35 km) to Greensburg and southwest 11 miles (18 km) to Uniontown ,
1081-420: The age of 18 living with them, 40.3% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. Of all households, 35.9% were made up of individuals, and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.97. In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.5% under
1128-460: The age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.7 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 21,070, and the median income for a family was $ 28,105. Males had a median income of $ 28,942 versus $ 23,016 for females. The per capita income for
1175-634: The area. Fayette County is one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission , and it is identified as part of "Greater Appalachia" by Colin Woodard in his book American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America . Fayette has a humid continental climate ( Dfa / Dfb ). As of the 2010 census , there were 136,606 people, 59,969 households, and 41,198 families residing in
1222-489: The average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such as the American Community Survey . This allows the calculation of per capita income for both the country as a whole and specific regions or demographic groups. However, comparing per capita income across different countries
1269-579: The better economy of the area plus improved roads allowed more ownership and use of automobiles, the run every hour 5 cents a ride bright orange West Penn trolleys provided reliable local transportation. The Fayette Area Coordinated Transportation transit center hub is located at the Connellsville Airport in Lemont Furnace, about halfway between Fayette's two largest urban centers, Connellsville and Uniontown. The main route through Connellsville
1316-487: The city was $ 14,165. About 22.4% of families and 28.2% of the population were below the poverty line , including 45.5% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over. The Daily Courier , a newspaper based in the city, has been in publication for over a century. The Youghiogheny River Trail , a part of the Great Allegheny Passage , runs through Connellsville. The trail provides a significant portion of
1363-467: The city's many beehive ovens. In August of 2016, the city was hit with a major rainstorm that flooded the local community known as Dutch Bottom, along with several other areas. The city received help from neighboring communities and FEMA. The city recovered after nearly 2 years, and most of the affected area in Dutch Bottom is no longer inhabitable due to terms of agreements with FEMA and others to buy out
1410-465: The city. The population density was 4,053.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,565.1/km). There were 4,434 housing units at an average density of 1,965.2 per square mile (758.8/km). The racial makeup of the city was 94.54% White, 3.93% Black, 0.13% American Indian, 0.33% Asian, 0.17% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population. There were 3,963 households, out of which 28.2% had children under
1457-470: The county in the 2018 Senate and gubernatorial races, respectively, despite both losing statewide by landslide margins of over 10 points, although both won by narrow margins of less than 3 points in Fayette County. Source: Serve 2 year terms in Pennsylvania House of Representatives Source: Serves six year terms in U.S. Senate Fayette County is served by Intermediate Unit #1 which provides
Connellsville, Pennsylvania - Misplaced Pages Continue
1504-401: The county. The population density was 188 inhabitants per square mile (73/km ). There were 66,490 housing units at an average density of 84 units per square mile (32/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 93.30% White , 4.71% Black or African American , 0.11% Native American , 0.22% Asian , 0.01% Pacific Islander , 0.11% from other races , and 2.33% from two or more races. 1.38% of
1551-515: The first city in Fayette County on May 12, 1911. Due to the city's location in the center of the Connellsville Coalfield , coal mining, coke production, and other accompanying industries became the major sources of employment and revenue during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Connellsville became known as the "Coke Capital of the World" due to the amount and quality of coke produced in
1598-446: The first time in the county's history, the total number of registered Republican voters exceeded the number of registered Democrats. As of February 5, 2024, there are 77,979 registered voters in Fayette County. Chart of Voter Registration Historically, Fayette County tended to be strongly Democratic-leaning in statewide and national elections due to a strong union history, as county residents tend to be liberal on economic issues. At
1645-529: The part of the Youghiogheny River Trail . Amtrak 's Capitol Limited provides passenger rail service to Connellsville, with service to Chicago , Pittsburgh , Washington, D.C. , and other points in between. Historically, the mining and steel working Connellsville-Greensburg-Scottdale-Jeannette-Mt Pleasant-Irwin-Latrobe area was served by a 339-mile interurban trolley system, the wide track gauge West Penn Railways . It operated until 1952. Before
1692-401: The peak in 1940, as residents have had to move elsewhere for work. The loss of union jobs caused many working families to drop out of the middle class. Only a few mines are being worked in the 21st century, but natural resources remain crucial to the local economy. The region is slowly transitioning toward the service sector, with an increase in jobs in fields such as telemarketing. According to
1739-517: 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. 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
1786-537: The presidential level, the Democratic candidate won by over 15 points in every election from 1932 through 2004 except 1972, usually winning by 25 points or more. However, similar to much of the rest of Western Pennsylvania outside of Pittsburgh and Erie , most residents tend to be socially conservative, and the county has been trending steadily towards the Republicans since 1996. In the past six presidential elections,
1833-876: The region is Fayette Area Coordinated Transportation , which features local bus routes as well as four times-daily commuter service to Pittsburgh. Amtrak rail service along the Chicago-to-Washington-via-Cleveland Capitol Limited route stops at Connellsville Station . General aviation services are also provided at the Joseph A. Hardy Connellsville Airport . 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: Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by
1880-586: The river to Pittsburgh, then continuing on to Chicago. The Pennsylvania Railroad's Southwest branch from Greensburg entered Connellsville from Connellsville Township , crossing Route 119 and the North End, then crossing the Youghiogheny on a trestle in the middle of the town; this line terminated in Uniontown, Pennsylvania . The line has been abandoned, and the trestle was demolished in the late 1980s. It remains as
1927-429: The schools' employees. While Fayette County is a generally rural area and is not directly tied into the interstate system, it features four-lane access to the city of Pittsburgh and several of its major suburban areas. State highway plans call for the establishment of direct freeway connections with Pittsburgh to the north and Morgantown, West Virginia to the south. The primary provider of mass transportation within
Connellsville, Pennsylvania - Misplaced Pages Continue
1974-543: The second Republican since 1928 to win a majority of the county's vote. In 2016, Republican Donald Trump won the county by a massive margin of 31 points, carrying the county 64–33 and becoming the first Republican to win the county by double digits since 1928, as well as the first Republican to receive over 60% of the county's vote in history. Four years later, he improved on his margin, winning 66.4-32.9. The county has also become solidly Republican in non-presidential races, with Republicans Lou Barletta and Scott Wagner carrying
2021-495: The town's income and has provided a recent resurgence to the town, the likes of which have not been seen since Connellsville was known as the "Coke Capital of the World". In 2023, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro chose to use Connellsville as the backdrop for his launch of the state's new "Office of Outdoor Recreation". East Park was created by the Works Progress Administration. Laborers transformed what had been
2068-458: 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. The County of Fayette
2115-474: Was a border dispute with Virginia; Virginia's District of West Augusta and Pennsylvania's Westmoreland County both claimed the area. In 1780 the dispute was settled by the federal government in favor of Pennsylvania, and Fayette County was formed from Westmoreland County in 1783. Fayette County settlers provided the new United States government with an early test of authority in the 1793 Whiskey Rebellion , when farmers rebelled against tax collectors to protest
2162-461: Was acquired by the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad , which built a new connection on the left side of the river to CSX, which severed the old line across the bridge. This historic bridge is now threatened with demolition. Several of these former railway lines have been abandoned and the right of way acquired for other uses. The former Western Maryland Railroad and Pittsburgh & Lake Erie lines are now
2209-663: Was sworn in as controller. She served briefly before being replaced by Democrat Scott Abraham. Bush became Chief Deputy/Accounts Receivable for the county. 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 and rule on minor offenses. Current judges are President Judge John F. Wagner Jr., Steve P. Leskinen, Nancy Vernon, Linda Cordaro, and Joseph M. George Jr. The number of Republicans in Fayette County has increased in each presidential cycle since 1992. In August 2022, for
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