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SEARCH MY WASHINGTON COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA WEBSITES
History of and Other Families (o_f) from
The City and County of Washington Pennsylvania
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Washington County Pennsylvania History and Families
Information about Washington County PA
| Type of Information |
Details or Explanation with Dates |
| Washington County Pennsylvania - Historical
Borders |
Before Washington County PA existed, many
countries and groups claimed ownership over this region. |
| Cumberland
County; PA |
From
1750 to 1770, part of Cumberland County; PA |
| Bedford County PA |
Bedford County PA was formed March 9, 1771. From
1771
to 1773 it was part of Bedford County Bedford County PA, which extended from Bedford County to the-then western Pennsylvania border. |
| Westmoreland Co PA |
Westmoreland Co PA was founded on February 26, 1773.
From from 1773 to 1781 was part of Westmoreland Co PA. |
| Historical Border Dispute with Virginia (now part of West
Virginia) |
Pennsylvania and Virginia colonies both claimed ownership
of now-Southwestern Pennsylvania. Virginia organized the region as the District of West
Augusta. But Pennsylvania considered the [now PA] region as a part of Westmoreland County.
To solve the border dispute, many proposed a new State called "Westsylvania".
Nearly around the same time, the Ohio Company of Virginia and the Indiana Land Company along the Ohio
River combined in 1769 to create the Grand Ohio Company. They
intended to created the Vandalia Colony. The Revolutionary War
ended the effort to establish Vandalia, but in 1776 area settlers petitioned the Second Continental Congress to recognize Westsylvania as the fourteenth state.
Congress ignored them. Finally, Pennsylvania and Virginia settled their boundary dispute in
1780. Some once Virginians found themselves then as
Pennsylvanians. Settlers' unhappiness and disquiet was effectively
silenced when Hugh Henry Brackenridge Esq., a Pittsburgh lawyer and strong
advocate for the national government, convinced the Pennsylvania Assembly to declare
any further protestations for a separate state was national treason,
meaning the the death penalty for anyone pushing to make Westsylvania a
state. (So much for early America "democracy" and the
"voice of citizens".)
Because Virginia reorganized the District of West Augusta into three counties: Ohio County, Monongalia County, and Yohogania
County in November 1776, searchers for Washington County PA records may
find some materials in these WVA counties. |
|
"Prior to 1781, Virginia also claimed Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Virginia created the District of West Augusta and divided what is known as Washington County in to three counties. Yohogania, Monongalia and Ohio. Researchers looking for history prior to 1781 should consider Augusta County, Virginia records. Yohogania County, Virginia, records are in Washington Co., Pennsylvania, intermingled with Pennsylvania records in the earliest dockets; Monongalia County, Virginia, records (pre-1796 were lost in fire) are in Morgantown, West Virginia; Ohio County, Virginia, are in Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia."
From
SW PA Genealogical Society.
Interactive Map of Pennsylvania County Formation History
(Pennsylvania maps made with the use AniMap Plus 3.0 & with the Permission of the Goldbug Company)
|
| Opened for Settlement |
Opened
for settlement in 1768. |
Washington County Pennsylvania
Founded |
Washington County Pennsylvania was created March 28, 1781, from part of Westmoreland County PA. |
|
|
|
County Seat |
The City of Washington |
|
Washington County Courthouse |
Washington County Courthouse
100 W. Beau St.
Washington, PA 15301
Phone: (724) 228-6700 • Fax: (724) 228-6965 |
| Latitude
and Longitude |
The City of Washington PA: 40° 10' 26" N / 80° 14' 47" W
Latitude: 40.1738889 Longitude: -80.2463889 |
Geology and Land
|
|
| Area |
861 mi² (2,230 km²) |
|
Land Area |
857 square miles (2,220 km2) is land [ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2015.] |
|
Water Area |
3.9 square miles (10 km2) (0.5%) is water.[3] [ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2015.]
Geology
and Ground Water Resources |
Geological History
|
|
|
Geological History |
Pennsylvania was once covered by water during the Pagenea Supercontinent.
Pangaea or Pangea (/pænˈdʒiːə/) was a supercontinent. It existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras.
Pagenea formed approximately 300 million years ago. It began to break apart after about 100 million years.
Thirty million (30 million) years (or roughly 240 million years ago) after the Appalachian Mountains formed and when dinosaurs first began to appear, the two continents of North America and Africa had separated enough to allow the formation of a new ocean-- today's Atlantic ocean, but much narrower.
The Early Pennsylvanian (Period) (318 - 299 Ma ) Note: Ma (mega-annum) is a million years. |
|
Geological Land/Rock/Mineral Periods |
Permian and Pennsylvanian |
|
Geological Region |
Pittsburgh Plateau |
| Land Topography |
Rolling old-mountains hills, Rocky, Hilly |
Geology Consists
of 2 Groups
and 5 Formations consisting of |
Dunkard Group (Permian/Pennsylvanian)
Monongahela Group (Pennsylvanian)
Washington Formation (Permian)
Waynesburg Formation (Permian and Pennsylvanian)
Greene Formation (Permian)
Glenshaw Formation (Pennsylvanian)
Casselman Formation (Pennsylvanian) |
Collectively the Lithology (rock
types) includes |
sandstone; siltstone; shale; limestone; clastic (older, broken, deteriorating rock); coal |
|
Natural Resources |
Coal, Oil, Natural Gas, natural gas reserves (through
frackking) |
Natural Resources Contributing to
Man's Activities
before 1905 |
Use of water, sandstone in making: glass
Use of coal in making: coke, reddog
Use of
limestone, sandstone in making: rock quarries, making of 'natural cement', glassmaking
Use of
shale, limestone in making: fertilizer
Use of clay in making: pottery
Use of limestone in making: flux (a process used to melt metal)
See also: Clapp, Frederick G. Limestone of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Government Printing Office: Washington, 1905. |
|
|
| Major Cities |
Washington (County Seat) |
Monongahela |
Original
13 Townships |
13 townships were formed July 1, 1781:
Amwell
Bethelhem
Cecil
Cumberland (to Greene County 1796)
Donegal
Fallowfield
Hopewell |
Morgan (to Greene County 1796)
Nottingham
Peters
Robinson
Smith
Strabane (at first spelled Straban, no e) |
Source: p. 228 Crumrine; p. 459 Forrest, vol. 1. |
History of
Township
Formations |
Township Formation from the Original 13 Townships of Washington County
Pennsylvania
| Township |
Formed from these Townships |
| Allen |
August 1852 from Fallowfield and E. Pike Run |
| Blaine |
November 4, 1894, from Buffalo |
| Buffalo |
May 8, 1799, from Donegal |
| Canton |
June 10, 1791, from Chartiers, Hopewell, Morris, Strabane |
| Carroll |
September 30, 1834, from Fallowfield, Nottingham |
| Chartiers |
March 23, 1790, from Cecil |
| Cross Creek |
December 10, 17889 from Hopewell |
| East Bethlehem |
January 8, 1790, from Bethlehem |
| East Finley |
December 24, 1828, from Finley |
| East Pike Run |
March 9, 1839-1843(?) from Pike Run |
| Finley |
May 6, 1788, from Donegal |
| Franklin |
August 13, 1855, from Canton, Morris |
| Hanover |
March 11, 1786 from Smith |
| Independence |
February 1856 from Hopewell |
| Jefferson |
June 16, 1853 from Cross Creek |
| Morris |
March 13, 1788, from Amwell |
| Mount Pleasant |
May 12, 1806 from Smith, Cecil, Hopewell, Canton |
| North Bethlehem |
1921 from West Bethlehem |
| North Franklin |
February 8, 1892, from Franklin |
| North Strabane |
May 2, 1831, from Strabane |
| Pike Run |
April 1792 |
| Somerset |
1782 from Fallowfield |
| South Franklin |
February 8, 1892, from Franklin |
| South Strabane |
May 2, 1831, from Strabane |
| Union |
March 31, 1835, from Peters, Nottingham |
| West Bethlehem |
January 8, 1790, from Bethlehem |
| West Finley |
December 24, 1828 from Finley |
| West Pike Run |
March 9, 1839, from Pike Run |
Source: Compiled from write-ups in Crumrine 1882 and McFarland 1910.
NOTE: Obviously townships were not formed in alphabetical
order but from redistricting based on population and voting needs.
They are given here in alphabetical order for convenience only.
See below |
Township formation
by YEARS |
Townships by YEAR
| Amwell |
1781 |
15 July |
Original. |
| Bethelhem |
1781 |
15 July |
Original |
| Cecil |
1781 |
15 July |
Original |
| Cumberland (to Greene County 1796) |
1781 |
15 July |
Original |
| Donegal |
1781 |
15 July |
Original |
| Fallowfield |
1781 |
15 July |
Original |
| Hopewell |
1781 |
15 July |
Original |
| Morgan (to Greene County 1796) |
1781 |
15 July |
Original |
| Nottingham |
1781 |
15 July |
Original |
| Peters |
1781 |
15 July |
Original |
| Robinson |
1781 |
15 July |
Original |
| Smith |
1781 |
15 July |
Original |
Straban
Strabane |
1781 |
15 July |
Original - At first was spelled Straban, no e, but
later Strabane. |
| Somerset |
1782 |
03 April |
Fallowfield, Nottingham, Strabane, Bethlehem Twps. |
| Greene |
1782 |
03 April |
... |
| Dickinson |
1785 |
15 September |
|
| Hanover |
1786 |
11 March |
Smith Twp. |
| Franklin? |
1787 |
16 July |
|
| Morris |
1788 |
13 March |
Amwell Twp |
| Finley |
1788 |
06 May |
|
East Bethlehem
E. Bethlehem
(E. Beth) |
1790 |
18 January |
Bethlehem Twp. |
West Bethlehem
(W. Bethlehem)
(W. Beth) |
1790 |
18 January |
Bethlehem Twp. |
| Chartiers |
1790 |
12 March |
Cecil Twp. |
| Cross Creek |
1790 |
23 January |
Hopewell Twp. |
| Canton |
1791 |
10 June |
Morris, Hopewell, Chartiers, Strabane Twps. |
| Pike Run |
1792 |
08 January |
|
| Rich Hill |
1793 |
13 March |
|
| Buffalo |
1799 |
08 May |
Donegal Twp. |
Mount Pleasant
Mt. Pleasant |
1806 |
12 May |
Cecil, Canton, Hopewell, Smith Twps. |
East Finley
E. Finley |
1828 |
24 December |
Finley Twp. |
West Finley
W. Finley |
1828 |
24 December |
Finley Twp. |
| Carroll |
1830 |
|
30 September |
North Strabane
N. Strabane |
1831 |
02 May |
From the Original Strabane Twp. |
South Strabane
S. Strabane 2 May |
1831 |
02 May |
From the Original Strabane Twp. |
| Union |
1836 |
31 March |
Peters, Nottingham Twps. |
East Pike Run
E. Pike Run |
1839 |
09 March |
Pike Run Twp. |
West Pike Run
W. Pike Run |
1839 |
09 March |
Pike Run Twp. |
| Allen |
1853 |
14 June |
|
| Jefferson |
1853 |
16 June |
|
| Franklin |
1855 |
13 August |
Canton, Morris Twps. |
| Independence |
1856 |
19 May |
Hopewell Twp. |
South Franklin
S. Franklin |
1892 |
-- |
Franklin Twp. |
Blaine
|
1894 |
|
Buffalo Twp. |
North Bethlehem
N. Bethlehem |
1921 |
|
East Bethlehem |
By year arranged by Judith Florian using dates stated in
other compiled lists. |
Current Townships
and towns |
Current Townships
Amwell
|
Amwell includes: Amity, Braddock, Glyde, Harts Mill, Judge Chambers, Lone Pine, Mt
Hermon, Ten Mile, Vankirk |
Morris
|
Morris includes Conger, Dunns Station, Old Concord, Plumbsock, Prosperity, Ringlands
|
|
Blaine |
Blaine includes Taylorstown |
Mount Pleasant
|
Mt Pleasant includes Hickory, Primrose, Southview, Westland |
|
Buffalo |
Buffalo includes Finney, Rural Valley, South Bridge, Taylorstown Station |
North Bethlehem
|
North Bethlehem includes Cokeburg, Little Summit, Odell, Ontario, Pleasant View Heights, Scenery Hill |
|
Canton |
Canton includes Elwood Plaza, Lincoln Hill, Log Pile, Sugar Hill, Wolfdale |
North Franklin
|
North Franklin includes Braddock, Gabby
Heights, Lincoln Hill |
|
Carroll |
Carroll includes Baidland, Black Diamond, Cracker Jack, Crestview, Donora, Eldora, Grandview, Hazel Kirk, Monongahela, New Eagle, Riverview, Sampson, Victory Hills, Wickerham Manor |
North Strabane
|
North Strabane includes Canonsburg, Borland Manner, Gambels, Gilkeson, Hill Church, Linden, Morganza, Weavertown, Wylandville |
|
Cecil |
Cecil includes Bishop, Cowden, Gladden Hts, Hendersonville, Lawrence, Laurel Hill, Murry Hill, Muse |
Nottingham
|
Nottingham includes Anderson Station, Crouches Station, Dunningsville, Gilkeson, Kammerer, Munntown |
|
Chartiers |
Chartiers includes Arden, Arden Mines, Canonsburg, Export, Midland, Houston, McConnells Mills, McGovern, Meadow Lands, Rich Hill |
Peters
|
Peters includes Thompsonville, Donaldson Crossroads, McMurray, Bower Hill, Venetia, Library Junction |
|
Cross Creek |
Cross Creek includes Avella, Pattersons Mill, Studa |
Robinson
|
Robinson includes Candor, McAdams, McDonald, Midway |
|
Donegal |
Donegal includes Budaville, Claysville, West Alexander |
Smith
|
Smith includes Atlasburg, Bonnymeade, Bulger, Burgettstown, Cherry Valley, Hickton, Joffre, Langeloth, Midway, Slovan
|
|
East Bethlehem |
East Bethlehem includes Besco, Clarksville Hill, Fredericktown, Millsboro, Sandy Plains, Vestaburg, Vesta
Hts, Williamstown |
Somerset
|
Somerset includes Bentleyville, Cokesburg Junction, Dunningsville, Eighty Four, Ellsworth, Vanceville |
|
East Finley |
East Finley includes Pleasant Grove, Simpson Store |
South Franklin
|
South Franklin includes Chambers Mill, Lagonda, Point Lookout, Van Buren, Vankirk, Washington County Airport |
|
Fallowfield |
Fallowfield includes Charleroi, Ghennes Hts, Gibson, Lover (see West Pike Run), North View, North Charleroi, Redds Mill, Twin Bridges, Van Vorhis, Warner |
South Strabane
|
South Strabane includes East Washington, Laboratory, Manifold, Vance, Zediker |
|
Hanover |
Hanover includes Florence, Hillman State Park, Paris |
Union
|
Union includes Coal Bluff, Courtney, Crookham, Elrama, Finleyville, Froman, Gastonville, Hackett, Houston Run, River View, Shire Oaks, |
|
Hopewell |
Hopewell includes Buffalo, West Middletown |
West Bethlehem |
West Bethlehem includes East Marianna, Marianna, Old Zollersville, Ten Mile, West Zollersville |
|
Independence |
Independence includes Avella, Browntown, P & W Patch, Belleview Campground, Dunsfort |
West Finley |
West Finley includes Good Intent |
| Jefferson |
Jefferson includes Bertha, Eldersville, Hanlin Statiion, Penowa |
West Pike Run |
West Pike Run includes Bentleyville, Ellsworth, Clover Hill, Crescent Hts, Walkertown, Sharrertown |
Source: Place names from The US Geological Survey Topographical Map of Washington County dated 1982.
Note: This does not include any older town names, now defunct or with
changed names.
|
|
Cities |
1. Washington (County Seat) | 2. Monongahela
Washington City includes North Franklin.
|
|
Boroughs |
Boroughs
Allenport
Beallsville
Bentleyville
Burgettstown
California - Includes California, Allenport, Coal Center, Daisytown,
Dunlevy, Granville, Long Branch, Malden Place, Roscoe, Speers, Stockdale, Twilight, West Brownsville
Canonsburg - includes Canonsburg, North Strabane
Centerville - includes Centerville, Beallsville, Binnstown, Deemston, Denbeau, Denbeau Hts, Richeyville, Vesta, Maple Glen
Charleroi
Claysville
Coal Center
|
Cokeburg
Deemston
Donora
Dunlevy
East Washington
Elco
Ellsworth
Finleyville
Green Hills
Houston
Long Branch
Marianna
McDonald (partly in Allegheny County)
Midway
New Eagle
North Charleroi
Roscoe
Speers
Stockdale
Twilight
West Brownsville
West Middletown |
Source: Place names from The US Geological Survey Topographical Map of Washington County dated 1982.
Note: This does not include any older town names, now defunct or with
changed names.
|
|
|
|
| Census-designated places |
Census-designated places are geographical areas set by the U.S. Census Bureau for the
purpose of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law.
Aaronsburg
Atlasburg
Avella
Baidland
Bulger
Cecil-Bishop
Cross Creek
Eighty Four
Elrama
Fredericktown
Gastonville
Hendersonville
Hickory
Joffre
Langeloth
Lawrence |
McGovern
McMurray
Meadowlands
Millsboro
Muse
Paris
Slovan
Southview
Taylorstown
Thompsonville
Van Voorhis
West Alexander
Westland
Wickerham Manor-Fisher
Wolfdale
Wylandville
|
|
| Unincorporated communities |
Unincorporated
Amity
Blainsburg
Condit Crossing
Cool Valley
Courtney
Cracker Jack
Fallowfield
Gambles
Glyde
Good Intent
Hazel Kirk
Laboratory
Log Pile |
Manifold
McAdams
North Fredericktown
Old Concord
P and W Patch
Prosperity
Raccoon
Richeyville
Scenery Hill
Studa
Venetia |
|
| Former communities |
Allen Township
South Canonsburg (annexed to Canonsburg in 1911) |
| Population |
See historical below
As of the 2010 census: 207,820.
As of 2013 estimates: : 208,206 |
| Current Unemployment |
5.9% (Feb 2015) |
| Historical Politics |
Primarily a Democratic Voting Area at county and national levels |
| Voting Trends |
Recent shift toward Republican for national issues |
Historical Colleges
|
Jefferson College, Canonsburg, PA
Washington College, Washington PA.
California Teachers' College, California PA |
Historical
Prep Schools |
Washington Female Seminary - Grades 8 to 12, boarding school. Girls attended from New England States and other States. Ended 1940s after significant enrollment declines. |
Historical to Current:
The Washington Hospital and The Washington Hospital School of Nursing |
The Washington Hospital School of Nursing,
founded 1897, graduated first class in 1900.
The Washington Hospital, founded 1897 on Acheson Avenue. Now is:
Washington Health System
Washington Hospital
155 Wilson Avenue
Washington, PA 15301
(724) 225-7000 |
| Current Colleges |
California University of Pennsylvania in California Borough.
Community College of Allegheny County Washington branch in North Franklin Township.
Washington & Jefferson College in the City of Washington and East Washington Borough. [merger of two historical colleges. W&J is the oldest college in the City of Washington PA.]
Waynesburg University- Southpointe Center Campus in Canonsburg. |
| Current Public School Districts |
Current Public School Districts
Washington County, Pennsylvania School Districts
Avella Area School District
Bentworth School District
Bethlehem-Center School District
Brownsville Area School District (also in Fayette County)
Burgettstown Area School District
California Area School District
Canon-McMillan School District
Charleroi School District
Chartiers-Houston School District
Fort Cherry School District (also in Allegheny County)
McGuffey School District
Peters Township School District
Ringgold School District
Trinity Area School District - oldest
Washington School District - oldest |
| Catholic Schools |
Immaculate Conception - John F. Kennedy Grade
School
St. Hilary Grade School |
| Historical
population |
| Census |
Population |
|
%± |
| 1790 |
23,892 |
|
— |
| 1800 |
28,298 |
|
18.4% |
| 1810 |
36,289 |
|
28.2% |
| 1820 |
40,038 |
|
10.3% |
| 1830 |
42,784 |
|
6.9% |
| 1840 |
41,279 |
|
−3.5% |
| 1850 |
44,939 |
|
8.9% |
| 1860 |
46,805 |
|
4.2% |
| 1870 |
48,483 |
|
3.6% |
| 1880 |
55,418 |
|
14.3% |
| 1890 |
71,155 |
|
28.4% |
| 1900 |
92,181 |
|
29.5% |
| 1910 |
143,680 |
|
55.9% |
| 1920 |
188,992 |
|
31.5% |
| 1930 |
204,802 |
|
8.4% |
| 1940 |
210,852 |
|
3.0% |
| 1950 |
209,628 |
|
−0.6% |
| 1960 |
217,271 |
|
3.6% |
| 1970 |
210,876 |
|
−2.9% |
| 1980 |
217,074 |
|
2.9% |
| 1990 |
204,584 |
|
−5.8% |
| 2000 |
202,897 |
|
−0.8% |
| 2010 |
207,820 |
|
2.4% |
| Est. 2013 |
208,206 |
|
0.2% |
U.S.
Decennial Census[4]
1790–1960[5] 1900–1990[6]
1990–2000[7] 2010–2013[1]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_County,_Pennsylvania |
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