Allegheny+County

 Allegheny County

By Jessica Marchetti Allegheny County was founded on September 24, 1788 from parts of Washington and Westmoreland counties. It is one of Pennsylvania ’s sixty-seven counties. Allegheny County is located in the southwestern part of the commonwealth. To see how,when, and where the county was formed, check out http://www.familyhistory101.com/maps/pa_cf.html Pittsburgh  is the largest city and county seat and has been since 1791. The county is covered with forests despite its industrial growth. It is known for the three major rivers that flow through it which are the Allegheny River, the Monongahela River, and the Youghiogheny River. The total area of the county is 745 square miles according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Of its total area, 730 square miles of it is land and the other 15 square miles is water. Butler County is to the north of the county, Armstrong County is to the northeast, Westmoreland County is to the east, Washington County is to the southwest, and Beaver County is to the northwest.

The county was named after the Allegheny River and was the first county in Pennsylvania  to be given a Native American name. "Allegheny" is of the Lenape orgin and is usually said to mean "fine river", but it has no certain meaning. Both Pennsylvania and Virginia claimed the region that is now Allegheny County. Most of the region was administered by Pennsylvania's Westmoreland County. Howefer, Virginia considered everything south of the Ohio River and east of the Allegheny River as part of its Yohogania County. Also, parts of the county were located in the proposed Brithish colony of Vandalia and the proposed U.S. state Westsylvania. Then, in 1780 both Pennsylvania and Virginia had agreed to extend the Mason-Dixon line westward and the region became part of the commonwealh.

Allegheny County was formed due to pressure from settlers living in the area around Pittsburgh. The county originally extended all the way north to the shores of Lake Erie and became the "mother county" for most of what is now northwestern Pennsylvania. Finally in 1800, the county's current borders were set. Throughout the !9th century, the area developed rapidly. It became the steel center of the nation. Pittsburgh later became known as the "Steel Capital of the World". In the late 1700s, farming played a major role in the growth of the county. The farmers were helped finacially due to the surplus of grain that was distilled into whiskey. The county became one of the key manufacturing areas of the young country rather quickly. Pittsburgh became the largest inland port in the nation and it remains the largest today. Pittsburgh also quickly became one of the most important steel producing area in the world. However, the steel industry in the United States started to decline and the county moved to other industries. Allegheny County today is known for its hospitals,universities, and industrial centers.

As of the 2000 census, there were 1,281,666 people living in Allegheny County. There were 1,755 people per square mile. There were 537,150 housholds and a total of 332,495 families living in the county. The median age was 40 and for every 100 females, there was 90 males. The 2006 census reported 1,223,411 people living in the county which is a 4.5% decrease since 2000. There were 590,940 households in the county according to the 2006 census.

Allegheny County has 4 cities, 85 boroughs, 41 townships,and 5 villages.To see the different cities, boroughs, townships and villages check out http://www.mypennsylvaniagenealogy.com/pa_county/al.htm#map        Pittsburgh, one of the county's only four cities, was named in honor of the British statesman,William Pitt by General John Forbes in November 1758. It was first registered as a borough on April 22, 1794. Then, on March 18, 1816, it was registered as a city. The metroploitan area is the Pittsburgh, PA Metro Area.

Some historical national landmarks in Allegheny County include the Allegheny County Courthouse and Jail, which is considered an architectural masterpiece. Also the Bost Building, located in Homestead; the Carrie Blast Furnaces Number 6 and 7, and the Chatham Villiage located in Pittsburgh. The Emmanuel Episocpal Church, the Forks of the Ohio, and the Smithfield Street Bridge are all located in Pittsburgh. The Kennywood Park in West Mifflin, the Oakmont Country Club, Woodville, and the Allegheny Portage Railroad are also national landmarks in the county.

Some famous people being both past and present from Allegheny County include Mary Cassat ( one of America's great female artists), Henry J. Heinz ( founder and president of the H.J. Heinz Company), and Stephen Collins Foster ( the first professional songwriter in the U.S. He wrote Old Susannah and Camptown Racers.) Some others are George Ferris ( he invented the world's first Ferris Wheel for the World's Fair in Chicago 1893.), Dan Marino (recently retired from a 17-year career.), Amber Brikich ( winner of Survivor All-Stars.), and Rachel Carson (writer of “Silent Spring”.) If you want to see and learn more about the many famous people from Allegheny, go to http://pittsburgh.about.com/od/famous_locals/Famous_People_from_Pittsburgh_Western_Pennsylvania.htm. <span

A Timeline of Allegheny County
 * 1758 -Pittsburgh is named in honor of William Pitt.
 * 1781- Virginia and Pennsylvania agree to extend the Mason-Dixon line and the county becomes part of Pennsylvania.
 * September 24, 1788 - Allegheny County is formed from Washington and Westmoreland Counties.
 * l            ater 1700s - farming plays a huge role in the growth of Allegheny County.
 * 1790 - the Whiskey Rebellion is started.
 * 1791 - Pittsburgh is named the county seat.
 * April 22, 1794 - Pittsburgh is registered as a borough
 * 1800 - Allegheny County's borders are set.
 * March  18, 1816 - Pittsburgh is now registered as a city.