Fayette County, Pennsylvania | |
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![]() Location in the state of Pennsylvania |
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![]() Pennsylvania's location in the U.S. |
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Seat | Uniontown |
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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) |
Founded | September 26, 1783 |
![]() Fayette County
Courthouse
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Website | www.co.fayette.pa.us |
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].
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The first European settlers to Fayette County were western explorers who used an Indian trail that bisected Fayette County as part of their journey across the Appalachian Mountains. 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. British forces under Washington and General Edward Braddock improved roads throughout the region, making the future Fayette County an important supply through route. Despite being originally claimed by Virginia, the region became part of Pennsylvania, eventually becoming its own jurisdiction after seceding from Westmoreland County in 1783. During the American Revolution, Fayette County was hit hard by attacks from British-allied Indian groups and remained an isolated frontier hinterland.
Fayette County settlers provided the first real test for the authority of the more centralized incarnation of the American government after the signing of the Constitution. During the 1793 Whiskey Rebellion, rural farmers took up arms against tax collectors in protest of a new excise on liquor. However, new President Washington called out federal soldiers to quell the uprising. In the early portions of the Nineteenth Century, Fayette County continued to be an important travel point. The National Road provided access for settlers heading west, while the shipyards in Brownsville created vessels that were used for shipping for domestic and international trade.
As Pittsburgh developed as an industrial powerhouse in the mid-1800s, Fayette County transitioned to become a center of the coal mining and coke production. From the 1880s to the 1900s, an explosion in steel production led to area industry becoming extremely profitable and nationally important. Because cheap labor was needed, new immigrant populations arrived to Fayette County en masse. The traditional Scottish and German farming communities soon became dwarfed by Southern and Eastern Europeans. However, the region's wealth remained concentrated in old English families with connections to Pittsburgh.
By the mid-1900s, Fayette County industry had created a new unionized working class that enjoyed increased prosperity. However, by the 1950s, the coal industry fell into decline and in the 1970s, the collapse of American steel brought hard times to Fayette County. Only a few mines remain, but natural resources remain crucial to the local economy. The region continues to struggle but is slowly transitioning toward the service sector, with jobs added in fields such as telemarketing.
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. The western portion of the county contains rolling foothills and two valleys along the Monongahela River and Youghiogheny Rivers. The eastern portion of the county is highly mountainous and forested. Many coal mines are located within the area.[2]
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. Future 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 the region is Fayette Area Coordinated Transportation, which features local bus routes as well as twice-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.
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. Current judges are Gerald R. Solomon, President Judge, John F. Wagner, Jr., Ralph C. Warman, Steve P. Leskinen, and Nancy Vernon, plus Senior Judge Conrad B. Capuzzi.
As of November 2008, there are 91,386 registered voters in Fayette County [1].
Fayette County tends to be Democratic-leaning in statewide and national elections. While Democratic politics are entrenched because of a strong union history, the county is generally socially conservative. 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.
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]
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 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.
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Fayette County, Pennsylvania view Community messages | |
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Fayette County, Pennsylvania | |
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File:Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Fayette County.png Location in the state of Pennsylvania |
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![]() Pennsylvania's location in the USA |
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Statistics | |
Founded | September 26, 1783 |
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Seat | Uniontown |
Area - Total - Land - Water |
sq mi ( km²) sq mi ( km²) sq mi ( km²), 0.98% |
wikipedia:Population - (2000) - Density |
148644 |
Website: www.co.fayette.pa.us |
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 Uniontown6.
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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,067 km² (798 sq mi). 2,046 km² (790 sq mi) of it is land and 20 km² (8 sq mi) of it (0.98%) is water.
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 Washington 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.
As of the census² of 2000, there were 148,644 people, 59,969 households, and 41,198 families residing in the county. The population density was 73/km² (188/sq mi). There were 66,490 housing units at an average density of 32/km² (84/sq mi). 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.
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.
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 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.
Municipalities and communities of Fayette County, Pennsylvania ![]() ![]() |
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County seat![]() ![]() |
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Cities |
Connellsville | Uniontown |
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Boroughs |
Belle Vernon | Brownsville | Dawson | Dunbar | Everson | Fairchance | Fayette City | Markleysburg | Masontown | Newell | Ohiopyle | Perryopolis | Point Marion | Seven Springs | Smithfield | South Connellsville | Vanderbilt |
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Townships |
Brownsville | Bullskin | Connellsville | Dunbar | Franklin | Georges | German | Henry Clay | Jefferson | Lower Tyrone | Luzerne | Menallen | Nicholson | North Union | Perry | Redstone | Saltlick | South Union | Springfield | Springhill | Stewart | Upper Tyrone | Washington | Wharton |
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Communities and CDPs |
East Uniontown | Grindstone-Rowes Run | Hiller | Hopwood | Leith-Hatfield | Lynnwood-Pricedale | New Salem-Buffington | Oliver | Republic |
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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Harrisburg (capital) |
Cities | |
This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Fayette County, Pennsylvania. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License. |
County names | Fayette County, Pennsylvania + |
County of country | United States + |
County of subdivision1 | Pennsylvania + |
Short name | Fayette County + |
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