Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Westmoreland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It was founded on February 26, 1773, and was the first county in the colony of Pennsylvania west of the Allegheny Mountains. Westmoreland County originally included the present-day counties of Fayette, Washington, Greene, and parts of Beaver, Allegheny, Indiana, and Armstrong counties. At the 2000 census, the population was 369,993. The county seat is Greensburg. It is wholly part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area, while north-eastern Westmoreland County borders the Johnstown Metro Area. A major coal strike occurred in the county in the winter of 1910–1911.
Politics and government
As of November 2008, there are 249,147 registered voters in Westmoreland County .Democratic: 136,882 (54.94%)
Republican: 87,813 (35.25%)
Other Parties: 24,452 (9.81%)
The Democratic Party has been historically dominant in county-level and national politics and continues to hold the commissioner majority and all county row offices, however Westmoreland has trended Republican at the national and statewide levels. In 2000, Republican George W. Bush won 51% and Democrat Al Gore won 45%. In 2004, Republican George W. Bush won 56% and Democrat John Kerry won 43%. In 2008, Republican John McCain won 57% to Democrat Barack Obama's 41%. Governor Ed Rendell lost Westmoreland in both 2002 and 2006. In 2008 Republican Tim Krieger picked up the 57th House district left open by the retirement of Democrat Tom Tangretti.
Presidential election results since 1960
2008 John McCain 102,294 (57.6%) Barack Obama 72,721 (41.0%)2004 George W. Bush 100,087 (56.0%) John Kerry 77,774 (43.5%)2000 George W. Bush 80,858 (52.0%) Al Gore 71,792 (46.2%)1996 Bill Clinton 63,686 (44.2%) Bob Dole 62,058 (43.1%)1992 Bill Clinton 69,817 (45.0%) George H. W. Bush 47,315 (30.5%)1988 Michael Dukakis 76,710 (55.1%) George H. W. Bush 61,472 (44.1%)1984 Walter Mondale 79,906 (52.4%) Ronald Reagan 71,377 (46.8%)1980 Jimmy Carter 68,627 (49.2%) Ronald Reagan 63,140 (45.6%)1976 Jimmy Carter 74,217 (54.5%) Gerald Ford 59,172 (43.5%)1972 Richard Nixon 75,085 (54.6%) George McGovern 59,322 (43.1%)1968 Hubert Humphrey 81,833 (55.0%) Richard Nixon 52,206 (35.1%)1964 Lyndon B. Johnson 107,131 (71.7%) Barry Goldwater 41,493 (27.8%)1960 John F. Kennedy 85,641 (55.3%) Richard Nixon 68,825 (44.4%)
County commissioners
Tom Balya (elected), Democrat
Ted Kopas (appionted), Democrat
Charles Anderson (appointed), Republican
Other county officials
Clerk of Courts, Bryan Kline, Republican
Controller, Carmen Pedicone, Democrat
Coroner, Kenneth Bacha, Democrat
District Attorney, John Peck, Democrat
Prothonotary, Christina O'Brien, Democrat
Recorder of Deeds, Tom Murphy, Democrat
Register of Wills, Earl S. Keim II, Democrat
Sheriff, Chris Scherer, Democrat (Resigned to become Judge, appointment for successor is still pending)
Treasurer, Kathalyn O'Brien, Democrat
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,036 square miles (2,684 km²), of which 1,025 square miles (2,656 km²) is land and 11 square miles (28 km²) (1.05%) is water.
Adjacent counties
Armstrong County(north)
Indiana County(northeast)
Cambria County(east)
Somerset County(southeast)
Fayette County(south)
Washington County(southwest)
Allegheny County(west)
Butler County(northwest)
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 369,993 people, 149,813 households, and 104,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 361 people per square mile (139/km²). There were 161,058 housing units at an average density of 157 per square mile (61/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.58% White, 2.01% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.15% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. 0.51% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 23.7% were of German, 18.5% Italian, 9.7% Irish, 8.9% Polish, 6.7% English, 5.2% Slovak and 5.0% American ancestry according to Census 2000.There were 149,813 households out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.93.In the county, the population was spread out with 22.00% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 18.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 93.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.70 males.
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 Westmoreland County:
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
Belle Vernon Area School District(Also in Fayette County)
Blairsville-Saltsburg School District(Also in Indiana County)
Burrell School District
Derry Area School District
Franklin Regional School District
Greater Latrobe School District
Greensburg-Salem School District
Hempfield Area School District
Jeannette City School District
Kiski Area School District
Leechburg Area School District
Ligonier Valley School District
Monessen City School District
Mount Pleasant Area School District
New Kensington-Arnold School District
Norwin School District
Penn-Trafford School District(Also in Allegheny County)
Southmoreland School District(Also in Fayette County)
Yough School District
Private high school
Greensburg Central Catholic High School
Colleges and universities
Penn State New Kensington
Seton Hill University
Saint Vincent College
Westmoreland County Community College
University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg
Notable residents
See also: Category:People from Westmoreland County, PennsylvaniaDavid Alter, born in Westmoreland County, noted inventor
Pete Babando, former NHL Hockey player, played for 1950Stanley CupchampionsDetroit Red Wings, born in Braeburn neighborhood of the City ofLower Burrell.
George Blanda,Hall of Famefootball player, born inYoungwood.
Johnny Costa, jazz pianist, was born and raised in Arnold.
Hutton Gibson, writer and father of actorMel Gibson
Shirley Jones, Academy Award–winning actress and singer, grew up inSmithton.
Sheila Kelley, American actor, born and raised in Greensburg, Pa. Founder of Sheila Kelley S Factor movement.
Bill Mazeroski,Hall of Famebaseball player
Michael Moorer, boxer
Arnold Palmer, golfer, was born and raised in Latrobe.
Fred Rogers, television personality, was born and raised in Latrobe.
Arthur St. Clair. American Revolution Major General, buried in Greensburg, Pa.
Willie Thrower, football player, was born and raised in New Kensington.
Jim White, KMOX radio talk show host, born and raised in Greensburg, Pa.
Recreation
There are four Pennsylvania state parks in Westmoreland County.Keystone State Park
Laurel Ridge State Park
Laurel Summit State Park
Linn Run State Park