Beaver County, Pennsylvania

Beaver County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 168,215. Its county seat is Beaver. The county was created on March 12, 1800, from parts of Allegheny and Washington counties. It took its name from the Beaver River.

Beaver County is part of the Pittsburgh, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The original townships at the date of the erection of Beaver County (1800) were North Beaver, east and west of the Big Beaver Creek; South Beaver, west of the Big Beaver; and Sewickley, east of the Big Beaver—all north of the Ohio River; and Hanover, First Moon, and Second Moon, south of the Ohio.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (2.1%) is water. It has a humid continental climate (''Dfa''/''Dfb'') and average monthly temperatures in the Beaver/Rochester vicinity range from 29.4 °F in January to 73.2 °F in July.

Bodies of water

* The Ohio River flows north through Beaver County from a point near Ambridge, then turns west near Beaver and on to the Ohio and West Virginia borders. It divides the southern third of the county from the northern two-thirds.
* The Beaver River flows south from Lawrence County entering Beaver County near Koppel and continuing south to its confluence with the Ohio near Beaver.

Adjacent counties

* Lawrence County (north)
* Butler County (east)
* Allegheny County (southeast)
* Washington County (south)
*Hancock County, West Virginia (west)
* Columbiana County, Ohio (west)

Protected areas

*Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge (part)
*Raccoon Creek State Park, a Pennsylvania state park
Bradys Run Park

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 181,412 people, 72,576 households, and 50,512 families residing in the county. The population density was 418 people per square mile (161/km²). There were 77,765 housing units at an average density of 179 per square mile (69/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.55% White, 5.96% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 0.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 23.0% were of German people, German, 17.4% Italian people, Italian, 9.9% Irish people, Irish, 6.5% English, 6.4% Polish people, Polish and 5.8% American ancestry.

There were 72,576 households, out of which 28.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.50% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.40% were non-families. Of all households 26.90% were made up of individuals, and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the age distribution of the population shows 22.60% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 18.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.20 males.

2020 Census

Government and politics

Voter registration

In November 2008, there were 118,269 registered voters in Beaver County.

* Democratic Party (United States), Democratic: 70,819 (59.88%)
* Republican Party (United States), Republican: 36,239 (30.64%)
* Other parties/non-partisan: 11,211 (9.48%)

By April 2016, there were 109,091 registered voters, a decrease of 7.7% since 2008.

The county is divided into 129 precincts.

* Democratic: 58,828 (53.93%)
* Republican: 38,015 (34.85%)
* Other parties/non-partisan: 12,248 (11.23%)

As of November 2, 2021, there were 112,744 registered voters in the county. Democrats held a plurality of voters. There were 51,226 registered Democratic Party (United States), Democrats, 46,418 registered Republican Party (United States), Republicans, 14,404 voters registered to other parties, 610 to the Libertarian Party (United States), Libertarian Party and 86 voters registered to the Green Party (United States), Green Party.

Political history

Beaver County used to be a Democratic stronghold, and still has a large Democratic edge in registration. In 2015, however, the GOP took majority status in the Commissioners' Office for the first time since 1955. Multiple Democratic seats in both houses of the Pennsylvania Legislature have been lost to Republicans over the past few years. In statewide and federal elections it has been moving rightward as well. In 2004 Democrat John Kerry won Beaver County over Republican George Bush 51% to 48%. In 2008 Republican John McCain defeated Democrat Barack Obama 50% to 47%, becoming the first Republican to win there since 1972 and only the third since 1928. Mitt Romney and Donald Trump (twice) carried the county in the next three elections, cementing its status as a "red county" in presidential politics. In 2010 Republican Governor Tom Corbett and Republican Senator Pat Toomey both carried Beaver in their successful statewide bids and Toomey won the county again in 2016 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania, 2016. However, Democrats have still seen recent success in Beaver County in non-presidential races, with Democrats often being competitive in the county in senatorial and gubernatorial elections. Beaver County voted for Bob Casey Jr. in his reelection bid in 2012 50% to 47% and again voted to re-elect Casey in 2018, as well as Democrat Tom Wolf.

In the most recent election cycle, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro defeated Republican Doug Mastriano in Beaver County. However, Shapiro was the only Democrat in this cycle to carry Beaver County.

County commissioners

County officials

State representatives

State senators

United States House of Representatives

United States Senate

Attractions

Beaver County offers many shops and places to eat. Beaver County is home to the Beaver Valley Mall in Center Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Center Township, which has shops and restaurants.

Near Koppel there is Buttermilk Falls, a naturally occurring waterfall.

In Brighton Township there is Brady's Run Park.

Racoon Creek State Park is one of Pennsylvania’s largest and most visited state parks. The park encompasses 7,572 acres and features the beautiful 101-acre Raccoon Lake.

There are many riverfront parks throughout the county.

The North County Trail is 11-mile point-to-point trail near Darlington, Pennsylvania to the Ohio State Line.

Transportation

Major roads and highways

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Airports

*Beaver County Airport
*Zelienople Municipal Airport

Public transit

Public transit is provided by the Beaver County Transit Authority.

Education

Colleges and universities

*Geneva College
*Penn State Beaver, Penn State Beaver Campus
*Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry
*Community College of Beaver County

Community, junior, and technical colleges

*Community College of Beaver County

Public school districts

*Aliquippa School District
*Ambridge Area School District
*Beaver Area School District
*Big Beaver Falls Area School District
*Blackhawk School District (part)
*Central Valley School District, Pennsylvania, Central Valley School District
*Freedom Area School District
*Hopewell Area School District
*Midland Borough School District
*New Brighton Area School District
*Riverside Beaver County School District
*Rochester Area School District
*South Side Area School District
*Western Beaver County School District

High schools

*Aliquippa High School
*Ambridge Area School District, Ambridge Area High School
*Beaver Area High School
*Beaver County Christian High School
*Beaver Falls High School
*Big Beaver Falls Area School District, Big Beaver Area High School
*Blackhawk School District, Blackhawk High School
*Central Valley School District (Pennsylvania), Central Valley High School
*Freedom Area School District, Freedom Area High School
*Hopewell High School (Pennsylvania), Hopewell High School
*Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School
*New Brighton Area School District, New Brighton High School
*Quigley Catholic High School
*Riverside Beaver County School District#High school, Riverside High School
*Rochester Area High School (Pennsylvania), Rochester Area High School
*South Side Area School District, South Side Beaver High School
*Western Beaver County School District, Western Beaver High School

Charter schools

As reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Education – EdNA, as of April 2010.

*Baden Academy Charter School (grades K–6)
*Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School (grades 7–12)

Private schools

As reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Education – EdNA, as of April 2010.
*Agapeland Children Garden – Beaver
*Beaver County Christian School -Upper – Beaver Falls
*Beaver Co Christian -West Park Elementary – Beaver Falls
*Bethel Christian School – Aliquippa
*Deliverance Temple Ministries ROOTS Inc Christian Academy – Aliquippa
*Divine Mercy Academy – Beaver Falls
*Hope Christian Academy – Aliquippa
*North Hills Christian School – Baden
*Our Lady of Fatima School – Aliquippa
*Pleasant Hill Wesleyan Academy – Hookstown
*Quigley Catholic High School – Baden
*St John the Baptist School – Monaca
*Sts Peter & Paul School – Beaver
*Sylvania Hills Christian – Rochester

Former school districts

In 2009, Center Area School District and Monaca School District merged to form Central Valley School District, Pennsylvania, Central Valley School District.

Communities

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: List of cities in Pennsylvania, cities, List of towns and boroughs in Pennsylvania, boroughs, List of townships in Pennsylvania, townships, and, in at most two cases, List of towns and boroughs in Pennsylvania#Towns, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are in Beaver County:

Cities

*Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, Aliquippa
*Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, Beaver Falls

Boroughs

* Ambridge
*Baden, Pennsylvania, Baden
* Beaver (county seat)
*Big Beaver, Pennsylvania, Big Beaver
*Bridgewater, Pennsylvania, Bridgewater
*Conway, Pennsylvania, Conway
*Darlington, Pennsylvania, Darlington
*East Rochester, Pennsylvania, East Rochester
*Eastvale, Pennsylvania, Eastvale
*Economy, Pennsylvania, Economy
*Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, Ellwood City (mostly in Lawrence County)
*Fallston, Pennsylvania, Fallston
*Frankfort Springs, Pennsylvania, Frankfort Springs
*Freedom, Pennsylvania, Freedom
*Georgetown, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Georgetown
*Glasgow, Pennsylvania, Glasgow
*Homewood, Pennsylvania, Homewood
*Hookstown, Pennsylvania, Hookstown
*Industry, Pennsylvania, Industry
* Koppel
*Midland, Pennsylvania, Midland
*Monaca, Pennsylvania, Monaca
*New Brighton, Pennsylvania, New Brighton
*New Galilee, Pennsylvania, New Galilee
*Ohioville, Pennsylvania, Ohioville
*Patterson Heights, Pennsylvania, Patterson Heights
*Rochester, Pennsylvania, Rochester
*Shippingport, Pennsylvania, Shippingport
*South Heights, Pennsylvania, South Heights
*West Mayfield, Pennsylvania, West Mayfield

Townships

*Brighton Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Brighton
*Center Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Center
*Chippewa Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Chippewa
*Darlington Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Darlington
*Daugherty Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Daugherty
*First Moon Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, First Moon (extinct)
*Franklin Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Franklin
*Greene Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Greene
*Hanover Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Hanover
*Harmony Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Harmony
*Hopewell Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Hopewell
*Independence Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Independence
*Marion Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Marion
*Moon Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Moon (extinct)
*New Sewickley Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, New Sewickley
*North Sewickley Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, North Sewickley
*Patterson Township, Pennsylvania, Patterson
*Potter Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Potter
*Pulaski Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Pulaski
*Raccoon Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Raccoon
*Rochester Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Rochester
*Second Moon Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Second Moon (extinct)
*Sewickley Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Sewickley (extinct)
*South Beaver Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, South Beaver
*Vanport Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Vanport
*White Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, White

Census-designated places

*Harmony Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Harmony Township
*Patterson Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Patterson Township

Unincorporated communities

*Byersdale, Pennsylvania, Byersdale
*Cannelton, Pennsylvania, Cannelton
*Fombell, Pennsylvania, Fombell
*Frisco, Pennsylvania, Frisco
*Gringo, Pennsylvania, Gringo
*Harshaville, Pennsylvania, Harshaville
*Kobuta, Pennsylvania, Kobuta

Former community

*Borough Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania USA, Borough Township – established in 1804 from the small southeast corner of South Beaver Township. In 1970, it was renamed Vanport Township.

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 United States census, 2010 census of Beaver County.

† ''county seat''

Notable people

*Sam Adams (explorer), Sam Adams – early explorer of the American west
*Gust Avrakotos – Central Intelligence Agency, CIA operative active in Operation Cyclone
*Julian Michael Carver – science fiction novelist known for his usage of dinosaurs in fiction
*Jim Covert – former NFL offensive tackle for the Chicago Bears, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003
*Ed DeChellis – head men's basketball coach for Navy Midshipmen men's basketball, The Naval Academy
*Mike Ditka – former NFL tight end for the Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys, and head coach for the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988 (as a tight end)
*Tony Dorsett – former NFL running back for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos, inducted into both the Pro and College Football Hall of Fame in 1994
*Shane Douglas – born Troy Martin, Professional wrestling, professional wrestler, best known with Extreme Championship Wrestling, having also wrestled for World Championship Wrestling, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, and (briefly) with the WWE, World Wrestling Federation. He is also a former teacher for Beaver Area High School
*Terry Francona – former Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder for the Montreal Expos, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers, and former manager for the Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox
*Sean Gilbert – former NFL defensive lineman for the Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, Washington Redskins, Carolina Panthers and Oakland Raiders
*Donnie Iris – musician, former member of The Jaggerz and Wild Cherry (band), Wild Cherry, also notable for his solo performances
*Ty Law – former NFL cornerback for the New England Patriots, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos
*Joe Letteri – three-time Academy Award-winning visual imaging artist, and visual effects supervisor of the movie Avatar (2009 film), Avatar
*Henry Mancini – music composer, including "Moon River" and "The Pink Panther Theme", among many others
*Pete Maravich, "Pistol" Pete Maravich – former National Basketball Association, NBA Guard (basketball)#Backcourt (guards), guard for the Atlanta Hawks, Utah Jazz, New Orleans/Utah Jazz and Boston Celtics, inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987
*Press Maravich – former NCAA Basketball coach
*Nate Martin - Entrepreneur and "Founding Father of Escape room, Escape Rooms"
*Doc Medich – former Major League Baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, Texas Rangers (baseball), Texas Rangers and Milwaukee Brewers
*Archie Miller (basketball), Ryan "Archie" Miller - former NCAA Basketball coach for the Dayton Flyers men's basketball, Dayton Flyers and Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball, Indiana Hoosiers
*Sean Miller - former NCAA Basketball coach for the Arizona Wildcats men's basketball, Arizona Wildcats
*Joe Namath – former NFL and American Football League, AFL quarterback for the New York Jets and Los Angeles Rams, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985
*Babe Parilli – former NFL and AFL quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, Boston Patriots and New York Jets, former Canadian Football League, CFL quarterback for the Ottawa Rough Riders, and All-American quarterback for the University of Kentucky
*Paul Posluszny – NFL linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars
*Dan Radakovich – Athletics Director for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
*Darrelle Revis – NFL cornerback for the New York Jets
*Jesse Leonard Steinfeld, Jesse Steinfeld – former Surgeon General of the United States
*Pete Suder – former Major League Baseball infielder for the Philadelphia Athletics/Kansas City Athletics
*Mark Vlasic – former NFL quarterback for the San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
*William Ziegler (industrialist), William Ziegler – industrialist and co-founder of the Royal Baking Powder Company

See also

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Beaver County, Pennsylvania
* Ohio River Trail

References

External links

Beaver County websiteBeaver County history

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Beaver County, Pennsylvania,
1800 establishments in Pennsylvania
Counties of Appalachia
Pennsylvania counties on the Ohio River
Pittsburgh metropolitan area
Populated places established in 1800
Ukrainian communities in the United States