Westmoreland County

History

Formed from, successively, Lancaster, Cumberland, and Bedford counties, Westmoreland County was founded on February 26, 1773, and was the first county in the colony of Pennsylvania whose entire territorial boundary was located west of the Allegheny Mountains. The county originally included the present-day counties of Fayette, Washington, Greene, and parts of Beaver, Allegheny, Indiana, and Armstrong counties.

On December 20, 1785, Joseph Ross of Westmoreland County was sentenced to death for the crime of sodomy. This is the only known execution for sodomy to take place in Pennsylvania's history.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,036 square miles (2,680 km2), of which 1,028 square miles (2,660 km2) is land and 8.5 square miles (22 km2) (0.8%) is water. Westmoreland County is one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission, and it is identified as part of "Greater Appalachia" by Colin Woodard in his book American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America.

Climate

Westmoreland has a humid continental climate (Dfa/Dfb). Average monthly temperatures in Greensburg range from 28.7 °F in January to 71.8 °F in July, while in Murrysville they range from 29.4 °F in January to 73.1 °F in July, in Latrobe they range from 28.9 °F in January to 72.0 °F in July, and in Ligonier they range from 28.1 °F in January to 71.1 °F in July.

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

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 354,663. The median age was 47.6 years. 18.3% of residents were under the age of 18, and 23.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.0 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 91.5% White, 2.6% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.5% from some other race, and 4.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.5% of the population.

73.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 26.5% lived in rural areas.

There were 152,833 households in the county, of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.3% were married-couple households, 18.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 167,776 housing units, of which 8.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.6% were owner-occupied, and 23.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6%, and the rental vacancy rate was 9.3%.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 365,169 people, 153,650 households, and 101,928 families residing in the county. The population density was 355.4 people per square mile (137.2 people/km2). There were 168,199 housing units at an average density of 163.7 units per square mile (63.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.3% White, 2.3% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.2% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. 0.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 153,650 households, of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32, and the average family size was 2.86.

22.3% of the population were under 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 31.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.

Politics and government

Voter registration

As of November 4, 2024, there are 255,693 registered voters in Westmoreland County.

Republican: 131,903 (51.59%)

Democratic: 91,183 (35.66%)

Independent: 22,697 (8.88%)

Minor parties: 9,910 (3.88%)

Political history

The Democratic Party historically dominated county-level politics between the New Deal realignment and the turn of the century; however, Westmoreland has trended Republican at the national and statewide levels in the 21st century (in direct lockstep with most other Appalachian counties).

In 2000, Republican George W. Bush became the first Republican to carry the county since 1972. Republicans have won the county in every election since, increasing the margin of victory in every successive election until 2020. Democratic Governor Ed Rendell lost Westmoreland in 2002 and 2006.

In 2004, Republican Bob Regola flipped the 39th Senate district by beating out incumbent Allen Kukovich. Then in 2008, Republican Tim Krieger picked up the 57th House district left open by the retirement of Democratic state representative Tom Tangretti. Kim Ward also held 39th Senate district for the GOP the seat Bob Regola flipped four years earlier.

In 2010, both Pat Toomey and Tom Corbett won Westmoreland in their statewide bids. Also, the GOP gained control of two more State House districts, the 54th with Eli Evankovich and the 56th with George Dunbar. In 2011, the Republican Party swept all county row offices. A Democratic resurgence in 2015 gave that party a majority of the county commissioners. However, in the 2019 elections, Democratic elected officials lost that majority and carried only one row office. In 2020, the County Sheriff, who was the lone Democrat who won a row office in 2019, switched party affiliations from Democratic to Republican. In 2021 Republicans carried all of the row offices including defeating the incumbent District Attorney and County Coroner, following the 2021 election the minority County Commissioner was the only Democrat to hold Countywide office. In 2023, Republicans retained their majority on the Board of Commissioners and held every row office.

As of 2020, the only majority-Democratic cities within the county were Arnold and Monessen. That being said, local Democrats running statewide sometimes win additional cities and boroughs. For example, in the 2022 Gubernatorial race, the cities of Greensburg, New Kensington, Latrobe, and Jeannette all voted for Democrat Josh Shapiro over Republican Doug Mastriano despite voting Republican in the 2020 Presidential election.

County commissioners

Westmoreland County is administered by a three-member publicly elected commission. Each commissioner serves in four-year terms. Elections occur in the odd-numbered years that precede U.S. presidential elections. All three Commissioners are chosen in the same election, and voters may vote for no more than two candidates. By state law, the commission must include a minority party to ensure a political split on the commission. The Commissioners are responsible for the management of the county's fiscal and administrative functions.

Education

Public school districts

School districts:

Public charter schools

Dr. Robert Ketterer Charter School grades 7th through 12th Latrobe (since 2008)

According to EdNA

Private high school

Greensburg Central Catholic High School

Kiskiminetas Springs School

Colleges and universities

Penn State New Kensington

Seton Hill University

Saint Vincent College

Westmoreland County Community College

University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg

Carlow University at Youngwood

Triangle Tech

Additional

Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center

Northern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center

Eastern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center

Valley School of Ligonier

Economy

Coal mining became a major industry in the county after the Civil War, followed by the expansion of iron, steel, and glass manufacturing. The 600-acre coke works for the Isabella Furnace were built in Cokeville (then Coketown) in the Spring of 1872. At one point, company "coal patches" (towns built for miners) represented about one-third of the county's settlements. A major strike by coal miners represented by the United Mine Workers of America took place in 1910–1911. Sixteen people were killed in the strike.

In 2020, the top industries in the county were health care and social services (16.3% of jobs), manufacturing (13.8%), and retail trade (13.7%). Mining comprised less than 1% of the jobs in the county. Westmoreland County is now believed to contain over 100 abandoned mines.

Volkswagen's Westmoreland plant near New Stanton in Westmoreland County was the first foreign-owned factory mass-producing automobiles in the U.S. It operated from 1978 to 1988.

Recreation

Westmoreland County has four Pennsylvania state parks.

Keystone State Park

Laurel Ridge State Park

Laurel Summit State Park

Linn Run State Park

Communities

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:

Cities

Arnold

Greensburg (county seat)

Jeannette

Latrobe

Lower Burrell

Monessen

New Kensington

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 also be listed here.

Former community

Cokeville / Coketown

Livermore, Pennsylvania

Franklin Township - now known as Murrysville, Pennsylvania

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Westmoreland County.

† county seat

Notable people

David Alter, born in Westmoreland County, noted inventor

Pete Babando, former NHL Hockey player, played for 1950 Stanley Cup champions Detroit Red Wings, born in Braeburn neighborhood of the City of Lower Burrell.

George Blanda, Hall of Fame football player, born in Youngwood.

D.J. Coffman, comic book artist and writer, creator of Hero By Night. Born in Mt. Pleasant. Resides in Scottdale.

Johnny Costa, jazz pianist, was born and raised in Arnold.

Jesse Root Grant, (father of Ulysses S. Grant, General & President) born in Greensburg.

Shirley Jones, Academy Award-winning actress and singer, grew up in Smithton.

Sheila Kelley, American actor, born and raised in Greensburg, Pa. Founder of Sheila Kelley S Factor exercise and lifestyle program.

Stephanie Kwolek, chemist and inventor of Kevlar, born in New Kensington.

Bill Mazeroski, Hall of Fame baseball player

Michael Moorer, boxer

A. Milton Musser, Latter-day Saint pioneer, missionary, traveling bishop, and historian, born in Donegal

Arnold Palmer, golfer, was born and raised in Latrobe.

Terrelle Pryor NFL quarterback, attended Jeannette High School.