Crooked Creek near Ford City in Armstrong County
'Armstrong County' is a
county located in the
U.S. state of
Pennsylvania. As of the
2000 census, the population was 72,392. 2006 Census figures had the county's population at 70,096, which represents a 3% drop since 2000. It is located northeast of
Pittsburgh and
Allegheny County. Armstrong County was added to the
Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area in 2003.
The
county seat is
Kittanning. The county was organized on
March 12,
1800 from parts of
Allegheny,
Westmoreland and
Lycoming Counties. It was named in honor of
John Armstrong, who had represented Pennsylvania in the
Continental Congress.
Geography
According to the
U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,721
km² (664
mi²). 1,694 km² (654 mi²) of it is land and 27 km² (11 mi²) of it (1.58%) is water.
Adjacent Counties
★
Clarion County (north)
★
Jefferson County (northeast)
★
Indiana County (east)
★
Westmoreland County (south)
★
Allegheny County (southwest)
★
Butler County (west)
★
Venango County(northwest)
History
The County was named after Brigadier-General
John Armstrong.
Armstrong County is home to the City of Parker, an incorporated third-class city, which was an oil boom town with a population rumored to be approximately 20,000 in 1873, but now is the "Smallest City in America" with a population under 800. Parker is located in the extreme northwest part of the county.
Iron was made in the Brady's Bend area of the county twenty years before there was a foundry in Pittsburgh doing so. Ford City is home to the plate-glass industry, as John Ford created the company which later became Pittsburgh Plate Glass.
Kittanning once boasted more millionnaires than anywhere else in Pennsylvania during the 1880s.
Leechburg was the first place in the United States to use natural gas for metallurgical purposes, in 1869. Natural gas was found while drilling for oil, and eventually introduced into the boilers and furnaces of Siberian Iron Works here.
Freeport, Leechburg and Apollo were communities built along the Pennsylvania Canal, which passed through on the Allegheny and Kiskiminetas Rivers, at the southern border of the county.
Tourism and Local Attractions
Armstrong County Tourist Bureau
Demographics
As of the
census² of 2000, there were 72,392 people, 29,005 households, and 20,535 families residing in the county. The
population density was 43/km² (111/mi²). There were 32,387 housing units at an average density of 19/km² (50/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.32%
White, 0.82%
Black or
African American, 0.09%
Native American, 0.12%
Asian, 0.02%
Pacific Islander, 0.13% from
other races, and 0.50% from two or more races. 0.43% of the population were
Hispanic or
Latino of any race.
There were 29,005 households out of which 29.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.90% were
married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.20% were non-families. 25.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the county, the population was spread out with 22.90% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 18.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.
History
The County was named after Brigadier-General
John Armstrong.
Armstrong County is home to the City of Parker, an incorporated third-class city, which was an oil boom town with a population rumored to be approximately 20,000 in 1873, but now is the "Smallest City in America" with a population under 800. Parker is located in the extreme northwest part of the county.
Iron was made in the Brady's Bend area of the county twenty years before there was a foundry in Pittsburgh doing so. Ford City is home to the plate-glass industry, as John Ford created the company which later became Pittsburgh Plate Glass.
Kittanning once boasted more millionnaires than anywhere else in Pennsylvania during the 1880s.
Leechburg was the first place in the United States to use natural gas for metallurgical purposes, in 1869. Natural gas was found while drilling for oil, and eventually introduced into the boilers and furnaces of Siberian Iron Works here.
Freeport, Leechburg and Apollo were communities built along the Pennsylvania Canal, which passed through on the Allegheny and Kiskiminetas Rivers, at the southern border of the county.
Politics
County Government
County Commissioners:
★ Patricia L. Kirkpatrick, Chairman (Republican)
★ James V. Scahill (Republican)
★ Richard L. Fink (Democrat)
District Attorney:
★
Scott J. Andreassi (Democrat)
Sheriff:
★ Larry Crawford (Democrat)
Controller:
★ Myra "Tammy" Miller (Republican)
Treasurer:
★ Sonie Mervis (Republican)
Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds:
★ Beverly Claypool Casella (Republican)
Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts:
★ Brenda C. George (Republican)
Jury Commissioners:
★ Karen Shreckengost (Republican)
★ Patricia Graff Fiorina (Democrat)
Judges:
★ Joseph A. Nickleach, President Judge
★ Kenneth G. Valasek, Judge
Pennsylvania State Senate
★
Jim Ferlo, Democrat,
Pennsylvania's 38th Senatorial District
★
Donald White, Republican,
Pennsylvania's 41st Senatorial District
Pennsylvania House Of Representatives
★
John E. Pallone, Democrat,
Pennsylvania's 54th Representative District
★
Jeff Pyle, Republican,
Pennsylvania's 60th Representative District
★
Joseph A. Petrarca, Democrat,
Pennsylvania's 55th Representative District
★
Fred McIlhattan, Republican,
Pennsylvania's 63rd Representative District
★
Sam Smith, Republican,
Pennsylvania's 66th Representative District
United States House of Representatives
★
Phil English, Republican,
Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district
★
John Murtha, Democrat,
Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district
Municipalities
Map of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Cities and Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).
Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities:
cities,
boroughs, , and, in at most two cases,
towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Armstrong County:
Cities
★
Parker
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.
Map of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts
Education
Colleges and universities
★
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Public School Districts
★
Allegheny-Clarion Valley School District
★
Apollo-Ridge School District
★
Armstrong School District
★
Freeport Area School District
★
Karns City Area School District
★
Kiski Area School District
★
Leechburg Area School District
★
Redbank Valley School District
External links
★
Armstrong County Chamber of Commerce
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