Fayette County Pennsylvania Warrant Search

Fayette County, Pennsylvania 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. History The first European settlers to Fayette County were western explorers, who used an ancient American Indian trail that bisected Fayette County, as part of their journey across the Appalachian Mountains. When the control 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. During the American Revolution, Fayette County was hit hard by attacks from British-allied Indian groups and remained an isolated frontier hinterland. Also retarding settlement was a border dispute with Virginia, which led to competing jurisdictions: Virginia's District of West Augusta and Pennsylvania's Westmoreland County. The dispute was settled in favor of Pennsylvania in 1780, and Fayette County was formed from Westmoreland County in 1783.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, the new President George Washington called out federal soldiers to quell the uprising. In the early portions of the 19th century, Fayette County continued to be an important travel point. The National Road provided access through the mountains for settlers heading west. The shipyards in Brownsville on the Monongahela River created vessels that were used for shipping for domestic and international trade.As Pittsburgh developed as an industrial powerhouse in the mid-19th century, Fayette County transitioned to become a center of coal mining and coke production. From the 1880s to the first decade of the 20th century, an explosion in steel production led to area industry becoming extremely profitable and nationally important. Because cheap labor was needed, thousands of the new immigrants in the United States were attracted to Fayette County en masse for industrial jobs. The traditional Scottish and German farming communities were overshadowed by new populations of Southern and Eastern Europeans. The region's wealth remained concentrated in old ethnic English and Scots families with connections to Pittsburgh.By the mid-20th century, Fayette County industry had created a new unionized working class that enjoyed increased prosperity. In the 1950s, the coal industry fell into decline; and in the 1970s, the collapse of American steel brought hard times to Fayette County. Industrial restructuring meant the loss of union jobs which had provided for a rise to the middle class. 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. Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 798 square miles (2,066.8 km2), of which 790 square miles (2,046.1 km2) is land and 8 square miles (20.7 km2) (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. 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 Fort Necessity National Battlefield Friendship Hill National Historic Site Transportation 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. U.S. and Pennsylvania Highways Pennsylvania Route 21- designated as the Roy E. Furman Highway, it serves as one of the main routes throughGreene County, then this route travels crosses theMonongahela RiverinMasontownand terminates inUniontown U.S. Route 40- a portion of the famous National Road, it connects in the west withWashington Countyand provides access to the Pittsbugh edge suburb ofWashington; after forming part of a freeway bypass of Uniontown, it becomes a major two lane mountain highway heading towardMaryland Business U.S. Route 40 (Brownsville)- recent designation for a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) two-lane section of the original path of US 40 that has been replaced by a realigned route; highway runs in its entirety throughRedstone Townshipand was kept as part of the federal highway system to prevent a decrease in traffic for area businesses Business U.S. Route 40 (Uniontown)- bypassed by a freeway through the more suburbanized areas of the small city, the original routing of US 40 has been turned into this downtown connector; from its western expressway terminus, the route runs as a narrow four-lane street toward the business district, at which its eastbound and westbound lanes split to become East Fayette St and East Main St respectively; the road then continues with a two-lane segment through hilly but populatedSouth Union Township, before ending as US 40's freeway stretch transitions to a mountain climb Pennsylvania Route 43- part of the Mon-Fayette Expressway, it serves as a toll freeway currently connecting Uniontown to the southern Pittsburgh suburb ofJefferson Hills, with eventually plans to extend the route to the city limits; to the south, it currently connects withSpringhill Township, and eventually will also provide freeway access toMorgantown, West Virginia Pennsylvania Route 51- provides the major connection between Uniontown and Pittsburgh city limits, which functions as a four-lane route except during its final mile as a major Uniontown city street Pennsylvania Route 88- winding riverfront highway that connected Pittsburgh's southern suburbs and theMonongahela Valley, before briefly entering Fayette County to terminate inPort Marion U.S. Route 119- provides access to Morgantown in the south as a rolling two-lane highway, before becoming Fayette County's main street; serves as part of a freeway bypass of Uniontown, then functions as a four lane route throughConnellsville, before traveling toward the Pittsburgh edge suburb ofGreensburg Pennsylvania Route 166- rural connecting route between Point Marion and a portion of Brownsville Township just outside ofBrownsville, this highway connects small communities in the eastern portion of the county Pennsylvania Route 201- its trajectory shaped in almost the figure of an arch, this route provides access between Connellsville and southwestern Westmoreland County, and serves as a major cross-county truck route Pennsylvania Route 281- rural connecting route between Maryland border andSomerset County, this highway also serves ruralMarkleysburgandHenry Clay Township Pennsylvania Route 381- a rural mountain highway between the West Virginia border andWestmoreland County, the route runs through the hart of Fayette County'sLaurel Highlandsregion; through the area surroundingOhiopyle State Park, it is a designated as a scenic route Pennsylvania Route 653- mountain cut-off highway connectingSpringfield Townshipwith Somerset County; the portion of the route throughLaurel Ridge State Parkis designated as a scenic highway Pennsylvania Route 711- mountain highway terminating in Connellsville and connecting with Westmoreland County, this route is the backbone of the Laurel Highlands Truck Pennsylvania Route 711- bypass of Downtown Connellsville that is partially cosigned with US 119 near its southern terminus and follows somewhat narrow but relatively flat city streets to avoid the hilly city center Pennsylvania Route 819- rural access route fromVanderbiltto the small Westmoreland County city ofMount Pleasant Pennsylvania Route 857- rural highway running from a freeway exit in South Union Township to the West Virginia border that is largely bipassed by Route 43 Pennsylvania Route 906- short, riverfront highway that terminates inWashington Township, just outside theFayette Cityline; runs throughBelle Vernonand then serves as the main access route to the Westmoreland County town ofMonessen Pennsylvania Route 982- two lane access route connectingBullskin Townshipwith the city ofLatrobein Westmoreland County Public Transportation 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. 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. 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. Other county officials Clerk of Courts, Janice Snyder, Democrat Controller, Sean Lally, Democrat Coroner, Phillip Reilly, Democrat District Attorney, Jack Heneks, Democrat Prothonotary, Lance Winterhalter, Democrat Recorder of Deeds, Dave Malosky, Democrat Register of Wills, Don Redman, Democrat Sheriff, Gary Brownfield, Sr., Democrat Treasurer, Robert Danko, Democrat Politics As of November 2008, there are 91,386 registered voters in Fayette County .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. 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. State Representatives Pete Daley, Democrat, 49th district Bill DeWeese, Democrat, 50th district Tim 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 Mark Critz, Democrat, 12th district Demographics As of the census 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. 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 Connellsville Uniontown 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. 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 Private Schools Per EdNA - Pennsylvania Department of Education = Entity names and addresses.All Saints Regional School - Masontown Apostolic Christian Academy - Dunbar Bible Baptist Academy - Uniontown Champion Christian School - Champion Chestnut Ridge Chr Academy - Uniontown Connellsville Area Catholic School - Connellsville Geibel Catholic High School Mount Carmel Christian School - Mount Pleasant Mount Moriah Christian School - Smithfield Mount Zion Christian Academy - Acme New Meadow Run Parochial School - Farmington Spring Valley School - Farmington St John Evangelist School - Uniontown St Mary (Nativity) School - Uniontown Verna Montessori School - Mount Pleasant Fixtures Fort Necessityis a reconstructed historic stockade that was originally built byGeorge Washingtonto defend against an attack during theFrench 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.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. TheNational Road(also known as theCumberland Road) bisects Fayette County. It was the first long roadway to be paid for by the federal government and went fromBaltimore, MarylandtoVandalia, 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, a unit of Fort Necessity National Battlefield, 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 flowing waterfall. His lesser known but equally impressiveKentuck Knobis also located in the county. Albert Gallatin's home,Friendship Hill, is maintained as a National Historic Site. Fayette County's southern border is adorned with plaques that mark its significance as part of theMason-Dixon Line A collection of waterfalls surrounding theYoughiogheny RiverGorge are protected as part ofOhiopyle State Park. Laurel Ridge State Parkcontains an extensive hiking trail that traverses much of Pennsylvania's Appalachian foothills. The county contains the largest cave in Pennsylvania,Laurel Caverns, which is popular as both a tour and spelunking destination. A historic trading post that eventually was turned into a spectacular mansion is featured inNemacolin Castle. Mountainous western Fayette County is home to theSeven Springs Mountain Resort, which is the premier skiing destination for Greater Pittsburgh. Notable Fayette Countians John Dickson Carr, 1950, 1963, 1970 Edgar Allan Poe Award Winner, mystery writer Vinnie Colaiuta, Rock Drummer Ernie Davis, 1961Heisman TrophyWinner 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, 1953Nobel Peace PrizeWinner Terry Mulholland, formerMajor League Baseballpitchermost notably with thePhiladelphia Phillies Chuck Muncie, formerNFLrunning backwith theNew Orleans Saintsand theSan Diego Chargers Tamora Pierce, Fantasy Novelist Edwin S. Porter, Director ofThe Great Train Robbery Henry Miller Shreve, pioneering steamboat captain and inventor Saul Swimmer, Co-Producer ofLet It Beand director ofThe 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 CommanderGeorge C. Marshallof theMarshall Planwas 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 rollerFabianbuilt and maintains a home in the county.