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Beaver County, Pennsylvania facts for kids

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Beaver County
Beaver County Courthouse
Beaver County Courthouse
Official seal of Beaver County
Seal
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Beaver County
Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Map of the United States highlighting Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Pennsylvania
Founded March 12, 1800
Named for Beaver River
Seat Beaver
Largest city Aliquippa
Area
 • Total 444 sq mi (1,150 km2)
 • Land 435 sq mi (1,130 km2)
 • Water 9.3 sq mi (24 km2)  2.1%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 168,215
 • Density 387/sq mi (149/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 17th
Pennsylvania Historical Marker
Designated: July 5, 1982

Beaver County is a county in the U.S. state 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.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 444 square miles (1,150 km2), of which 435 square miles (1,130 km2) is land and 9.3 square miles (24 km2) (2.1%) is water.

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

Protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1800 5,776
1810 12,168 110.7%
1820 15,340 26.1%
1830 24,183 57.6%
1840 29,368 21.4%
1850 26,689 −9.1%
1860 29,140 9.2%
1870 36,148 24.0%
1880 39,605 9.6%
1890 50,077 26.4%
1900 56,432 12.7%
1910 78,253 38.7%
1920 111,621 42.6%
1930 149,062 33.5%
1940 156,754 5.2%
1950 175,192 11.8%
1960 206,948 18.1%
1970 208,418 0.7%
1980 204,441 −1.9%
1990 186,093 −9.0%
2000 181,412 −2.5%
2010 170,539 −6.0%
2020 168,215 −1.4%

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, 17.4% Italian, 9.9% Irish, 6.5% English, 6.4% 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.

Attractions

Beaver County offers many shops and places to eat. Beaver County is home to the Beaver Valley Mall located in Center Township which is home to hundreds of shops and restaurants.

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

Transportation

Major roads and highways

  • I-76 / Penna Turnpike
  • I-376
  • US 30 / Invalid type: road
  • PA 18
  • PA 51
  • PA 65
  • PA 68
  • PA 151
  • PA 168
  • PA 251
  • PA 288
  • PA 351
  • PA 551
  • PA 588
  • PA 989

Airports

  • Beaver County Airport
  • Zelienople Municipal Airport

Public transit

Public transit is provided by the Beaver County Transit Authority.

Communities

Map of Beaver County Pennsylvania With Municipal and Township Labels
Map of Beaver County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Cities and Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).

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 Beaver County:

Cities

Boroughs

Townships

  • Brighton
  • Center
  • Chippewa
  • Darlington
  • Daugherty
  • Franklin
  • Greene
  • Hanover
  • Harmony
  • Hopewell
  • Independence
  • Marion
  • New Sewickley
  • North Sewickley
  • Patterson
  • Potter
  • Pulaski
  • Raccoon
  • Rochester
  • South Beaver
  • Vanport
  • White

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Former community

  • 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 census of Beaver County.

county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Population (2010 Census) Municipal type Incorporated
1 Aliquippa 9,438 City 1928 (borough) 1987 (city)
2 Beaver Falls 8,987 City 1868 (borough) 1928 (city)
3 Economy 8,970 Borough 1957
4 Ellwood City (partially in Lawrence County) 7,921 Borough
5 Ambridge 7,050 Borough 1905
6 New Brighton 6,025 Borough 1838
7 Monaca 5,737 Borough 1840
8 Beaver 4,531 Borough 1802
9 Baden 4,135 Borough 1868
10 Rochester 3,657 Borough 1849
11 Ohioville 3,533 Borough 1860
12 Harmony Township 3,197 CDP and Township 1851
13 Patterson Township 3,029 CDP and Township 1845
14 Midland 2,635 Borough 1906
15 Conway 2,176 Borough 1902
16 Big Beaver 1,970 Borough 1858
17 Industry 1,835 Borough 1960
18 Freedom 1,569 Borough 1838
19 West Mayfield 1,239 Borough 1923
20 Koppel 762 Borough 1910
21 Bridgewater 704 Borough 1835
22 Patterson Heights 636 Borough 1899
23 East Rochester 567 Borough 1908
24 South Heights 475 Borough 1910
25 New Galilee 379 Borough 1854
26 Fallston 266 Borough 1829
27 Darlington 254 Borough 1820
28 Eastvale 225 Borough 1892
29 Shippingport 214 Borough 1910
30 Georgetown 174 Borough 1850
31 Hookstown 147 Borough 1843
32 Frankfort Springs 130 Borough 1844
33 Homewood 109 Borough 1910
34 Glasgow 60 Borough 1854

Education

Colleges and universities

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

Community, junior, and technical colleges

  • Community College of Beaver County
Map of Beaver County Pennsylvania School Districts
Map of Beaver County, Pennsylvania public school districts. Note that two districts on this map, Monaca School District and Center Area School District, merged in 2009 to form the Central Valley School District.

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
  • 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 High School
  • Beaver Area High School
  • Beaver County Christian High School
  • Beaver Falls High School
  • Big Beaver Area High School
  • Blackhawk High School
  • Central Valley High School
  • Freedom Area High School
  • Hopewell High School
  • Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School
  • New Brighton High School
  • Quigley Catholic High School
  • Riverside High School
  • Rochester Area High School
  • South Side Beaver High School
  • 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.

Notable people

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Beaver (Pensilvania) para niños

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