Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Name	Greensburg
Official name	City of Greensburg
Native name
Settlement type	City
Image seal	Greensburg-pennsylvania-city-logo.jpg
Pushpin map	Pennsylvania
Pushpin label position	right
Pushpin map caption	Location within the state of Pennsylvania
Main lenguages	English
Coordinates display	inline,title
Coordinates type	region:US_type:city
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	United States
Subdivision type1	State
Subdivision name1	Pennsylvania
Subdivision type2	County
Subdivision name2	Westmoreland
Government type	Mayor-Council
Governing body	Greensburg City Council
Leader title	Mayor
Leader name	Karl Eisaman (D)
Established title	Incorporated
Established date	February 9, 1799
Area magnitude	1 E9
Unit pref	Imperial
Area total km2	10.8
Area land km2	10.8
Area water km2	0.0
Population as of	2000
Population total	15889
Population density metro km2	auto
Population density metro sq mi	auto
Population density urban km2	auto
Population density urban sq mi	auto
Population blank1 title	Demonym
Population blank1	Greensburger
Timezone	EST
Utc offset	-5
Timezone dst	EDT
Utc offset dst	-4
Elevation footnotes
Elevation ft	1017
Postal code type	ZIP codes
Postal code	15601, 15605, 15606
Area code	724
Blank name	FIPS code
Blank info	42-31200
Blank1 name	GNIS feature ID
Blank1 info	1215700
Website	www.city.greensburg.pa.us

Greensburg is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States, and a part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The city is named after Nathanael Greene, a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War. Greensburg is the county seat of Westmoreland County, with a population of 15,889 people residing in the city, and a combined total of around 70,000 people in the Greensburg-Hempfield area.

Located southeast of Pittsburgh, Greensburg is a major business, tourism and cultural center in Western Pennsylvania. It is evident as the city's population doubles during work hours. The city ranks seventh in Pennsylvania in terms of daytime growth, behind Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, King of Prussia, Lancaster, and State College. It also ranks 16th in the United States for daytime growth among towns with a resident population between 15,000 to 24,999. In 2007, Greensburg was designated as one of the "Best Places to Retire" in Pennsylvania by U.S. News & World Report.

Geography

Greensburg is located at (40.304461, -79.544511). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.2 square miles (11.0 km²), all of it land.

The city sits on the Allegheny Plateau in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.

History

After the end of the Revolutionary War, an inn was built along a wagon trail that stretched from Philadelphia west over the Appalachian Mountains to Fort Pitt, now the city of Pittsburgh. A tiny settlement known as Newtown grew around the inn, today the center of Greensburg's Business District at the intersection of Pittsburgh and Main Streets. At Pittsburgh, the wagon trail became Penn Avenue.

In 1782, a raid by Guyasuta-led Seneca Indians accompanied by Canadian rangers burned Hannastown, the original Westmoreland County seat, north of Greensburg, and the first county seat west of the Appalachian Mountains. Newtown became the new county seat in 1785. In 1786, the county built a log courthouse on land purchased from two residents, Christopher Truby and William Jack. The Westmoreland County Courthouse, in its various incarnations, has stood on this site. The area surrounding the courthouse became the original borough of Greensburg, named for American Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene, and formally incorporated as a borough in 1799.

In the early 19th century, Greensburg had very little growth. After 1850, Greensburg became a growing county seat with inns, small businesses and hardworking residents. It was a railroad stop and the discovery of large areas of soft coal nearby made it the center of a vigorous mining industry in the late 19th century and early 20th century.

Seton Hill College, formerly St. Joseph's Academy, became a four-year women's institution in 1918. Greensburg became a Third-Class City on January 2, 1928. After World War II, more residential areas were developed in various sections of town. Greensburg's cultural status grew as the Westmoreland County Museum of Art opened in 1959 and the University of Pittsburgh founded the branch campus, University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, in 1963, now located in Hempfield Township.

The opening of Greengate Mall and Westmoreland Mall in 1965 and 1977, respectively, marked a new era for retail shopping in the area, but negatively impacted retail businesses in Downtown Greensburg's shopping district. Changes in local shopping habits had already taken its toll by the late 1970s when Troutman's Department Store closed. By the mid-1990s, city officials shifted its revitalization plans on the cultural aspects of Downtown Greensburg, such as the restorations of the Palace Theater and the historic Train Station, as well as a new, recently opened performing arts center for Seton Hill University. As part of this ongoing transition, an expansion of the Westmoreland Museum of American Art is planned.

Historical facts

Greensburg's first log school house was located at the site of St. Clair Park.

St. Clair Park was originally a cemetery. When the borough banned cemeteries, St. Clair cemetery was moved to its current location, just east of town.

Mt. Odin Park was originally the estate of Dr. Frank Cowan, attorney, physician, author and former Secretary to President Andrew Johnson. Dr. Cowan willed his land to Greensburg to be used for recreational purposes.

Neighborhoods and wards

The city of Greensburg is currently composed of eight wards, most of which were formerly boroughs and are divided into several neighborhoods. Bunker Hill, now Fifth Ward, was merged into Greensburg in 1894. The name originated because of fights at the rowdy Bushfield Tavern in the early 1840s to mid-19th century that were compared to the Battle of Bunker Hill.

In 1905, Greensburg absorbed three adjacent boroughs, including Ludwick, now Sixth Ward, which was named for Ludwick Otterman, an early settler for whom the street is also named, as well as East Greensburg, now Seventh Ward, and Southeast Greensburg, unofficially known as Paradise (Eighth Ward). South Maple Avenue was originally named Kinderhook (Third Ward). Second Ward, located north of Downtown Greensburg, is the largest ward and includes the neighborhoods of Saybrook Village, Evergreen Hill, New Salem Acres, Country Club Meadows, Northmont, Devonshire Heights, Rose Fountain Farms and Academy Hill. Hilltop, a neighborhood in Eighth Ward, was originally settled by Italian immigrants and borders South Greensburg and Underwood on either side. First Ward features Chestnut Hill and Shuey Plan, and is also home to Seton Hill University. Other Greensburg neighborhoods include Eastern Estates, Underwood, Shogan and Hillcrest.

Eighth Ward was originally home to many Italian immigrants from Cercemaggiore, Italy. Today, the original Our Lady of Grace church, built by the masons from Italy, still stands although used as a residence. The Hilltop Social Club, founded by a few families who lived in the areas of Bierer, Margaret, White and Catherine Streets is also located here. Every year it has become a tradition for the firehall in the Eighth Ward to throw a carnival which includes bingo, amusement rides, and of course the famous Shuey Burgers.

Two neighborhoods have been designated as U.S. historic districts, the Greensburg Downtown Historic District and the Academy Hill Historic District.

Population and demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 15,889 people, 7,144 households, and 3,922 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,746.1 people per square mile (1,446.9/km²). There were 7,734 housing units at an average density of 1,823.4 per square mile (704.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.43% White, 3.91% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.08% of the population.

There were 7,144 households out of which 24.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.3% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.1% were non-families. 39.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the city the population was spread out with 20.2% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 81.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,324, and the median income for a family was $41,112. Males had a median income of $33,306 versus $24,246 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,312. About 10.8% of families and 13.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Greensburg is an incorporated city governed by Democratic mayor Karl Eisaman and a four-member City Council. The mayor and the City Council members serve four-year terms. The seat of government is the Greensburg City Hall.

The small size of Greensburg has not deterred it from being a player on the political scene. Greensburg has hosted its share of prominent politicians over the years, including a July 1994 visit from then-President Bill Clinton, former Democratic candidate John Kerry and his running mate John Edwards in July 2004 and Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in March 2008. It was also, according to local historians, the site of the 1854 National Republican Party convention – the first convention of the Grand Old Republican Party, despite Pittsburgh's claims.

Economy

Originally a railroad stop on the Pennsylvania Railroad, Greensburg quickly became the center of the coal mining industry in the region by the late 19th century when large areas of soft coal were discovered nearby. This contributed to the growth and development of the growing county seat. Many businesses and inns flourished within Downtown Greensburg for many years, and once boasted four major department stores – JCPenney, Royers, Sears and its largest department store, Troutman's.

In August 1965, Greengate Mall opened west of the city in Hempfield Township. Greengate was part of the first wave of indoor shopping malls in the country. The mall's opening marked a new era for retail shopping in the area, but it negatively impacted stand-alone businesses in Greensburg's downtown corridor. By the late 1970s, several local stores, including Troutman's, the city's major department store, closed. The downtown area eventually rebounded as the city became a center for service industries, professional offices and banking. Today, small downtown shops and a growing number of restaurants are reviving downtown as a mercantile center.

Westmoreland Mall is currently the largest shopping complex in the Greensburg area and all of Westmoreland County. Greengate Mall suffered losses in the 1990s when anchor store JCPenney relocated to Westmoreland Mall. As the mall continued on its irreversible decline, the nationally-based Montgomery Ward and the regional chain Horne's also closed. The building was eventually razed in 2003, and a new shopping center called Greengate Centre, anchored by a Walmart, was subsequently built. Numerous shopping plazas and dining establishments also line the Route 30 corridor east and west of the city. With over of retail space and growing, Greensburg is one of the largest retail markets in Western Pennsylvania.

Light to moderate industry and service industries thrive in the Greater Greensburg area. Several industrial parks are primarily located outside the city limits. In addition, the area is home to two large prisons, the Westmoreland County Prison and the State Correctional Institution at Greensburg, both in Hempfield Township. Housing growth continues on the northern end of the city, with the Saybrook Village and Evergreen Hill plans. The opening of the seven-story State Office Building on North Main Street, the completion of the four-story addition to the Courthouse Square Extension, and the Performing Arts Center of Seton Hill University are expected to add new jobs to the city and attract more visitors.

Major employers

These major corporations are headquartered in the Greensburg area:

Allegheny Energy

Excela Health

Tribune-Review

Education

Public schools

The Greater Greensburg area contains two public school districts. The larger of the two is the Hempfield Area School District. The school district has a resident population of over 50,000 and spans approximately ninety-five square miles and lies thirty miles southeast of Pittsburgh. Comprising Hempfield Township, and the boroughs of Adamsburg, Hunker, Manor, New Stanton, and Youngwood, the school district completely surrounds the city of Greensburg. Hempfield is also the largest school district in Westmoreland County with approximately 7,000 enrolled students and is one of the largest in Western Pennsylvania.

The second school district servicing Greensburg itself is the Greensburg Salem School District. The school district covers an area of fifty-one square miles. With an enrollment of 3,600 students, Greensburg Salem serves the City of Greensburg, South Greensburg, Southwest Greensburg and Salem Township. Detailed information including enrollment figures and test scores about Greensburg Salem can be found on this website.

Private schools

Greensburg is home to Greensburg Central Catholic High School, and Aquinas Academy, both private Catholic schools.

Colleges and universities

The immediate vicinity of Greensburg contains two major universities – Seton Hill University and the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. Seton Hill University was founded in 1885 by the Sisters of Charity on a bluff overlooking the City of Greensburg. Formerly a women's college, Seton Hill became a coeducational university in 2002. The Greensburg campus of the University of Pittsburgh was founded in 1963 in Downtown Greensburg, and would later grow into a large campus in nearby Hempfield Township. It was voted "Best University in the Region" for eight straight years (1999–2007) by the Tribune-Review. In addition, the branches of Carlow University, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and Triangle Tech are located within the Greater Greensburg area.

The campuses of Saint Vincent College and Westmoreland County Community College are also located in the nearby communities of Latrobe and Youngwood, respectively.

Libraries

The Greensburg Hempfield Area Library serves the City of Greensburg and Hempfield Township.

Arts and culture

Greensburg is a major cultural center in Western Pennsylvania. It is the home of the Westmoreland Museum of American Art, which specializes in American Art circa 1750-1950. The Palace Theatre, in the heart of the city's emerging cultural district, is the site for various performances throughout the year. Additionally, it is the home of the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, and the Summer Sounds Concert Series at the Robertshaw Amphitheater in St. Clair Park.

The Westmoreland Cultural Trust has played a major role in the revitalization of Downtown Greensburg in recent years. Its accomplishments include the ongoing renovation of the Palace Theatre and the restoration (Before/After Pictures) of the circa 1910 Train Station. They are also responsible for renovating several commercial buildings in the downtown area.

The Performance Arts Center of Seton Hill University opened its doors to the public in September 2009. This multi-million dollar complex, located in the city's Cultural District, is expected to serve as an additional catalyst for the future growth of the downtown core.

A hands-on science center, to feature a wide range of interactive exhibits, was proposed for the former Mellon Bank building downtown, but it has since been put on hold indefinitely. Titled the Discovery & Interactive Science Center (DISC), it was to be a regional attraction for Westmoreland, Fayette, Indiana, Somerset and Bedford counties. It would've also been the only interactive science center between the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh and the Harsco Science Center in Harrisburg.

Greensburg is also home to a burgeoning music scene, including Essential Machine, Zao, R.Y.D., The BranDannas, Farr & Away, the grade skool felons, and The Juliana Theory as well as electronica artist RJ Eclectica. Other notable artists from the Greensburg music scene include An Offhand Way, and celtic band Coming Through the Rye (www.myspace.com/comingthroughtherye), Justin DeCarlucci (www.myspace.com/justindecarlucci), Shattered (www.myspace.com/shattered), LoveBettie (www.myspace.com/lovebettie), Chris Goodman and others. One such venue that has hosted many of these local bands can be found along the shopping district on South Pennsylvania Avenue. DV8 Espresso Bar & Gallery, as it's called, is a distinctive coffee shop/espresso bar that is also a lively venue for a wide variety of artists, musicians and performers.

Cultural facts

Just north of Greensburg is Old Hanna's Town, the first county seat west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Greensburg is home to a great deal of interesting architecture including many historic and large homes as well as many old churches and cathedrals. The inner city has many small 1950-style shops and restaurants.

The World Conference Center for The Church of Jesus Christ is located west of Greensburg on PA Route 136. It is the third largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement.

The national headquarters of the Kappa Delta Rho Fraternity is based in Greensburg.

Media

Since Greensburg is overshadowed by nearby Pittsburgh, radio and television stations are mostly based out of the larger city. On a much lesser scale, some Johnstown-area media outlets are also available in parts of Greensburg. The following information is about media based exclusively in Greensburg.

Greensburg's major newspaper is the Tribune-Review, which is owned by the Tribune Review Publishing Company. In 1992, this company founded the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, a competitor to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. This occurred immediately following the demise of the Pittsburgh Press. The Tribune Review Publishing Company is owned by noted philathropist and conservative figure Richard Mellon Scaife. Since starting the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, the original Tribune Review that circulates in and around Greensburg has upgraded its national and international news coverage but continues to maintain a robust local news section.

The Greensburg-based WHJB-FM, branded as Classic Hits 107.1, is a classic hits radio station that was reintroduced to the Greensburg market in January 2006. It was originally WHJB-FM, WOKU-FM, WSSZ-FM, WJJJ-FM and WGSM-FM.

LCS Hockey, a newsletter turned internationally-renowned website, was founded in Greensburg.

In 2004, Greensburg attorney P. Louis DeRose, published the book, Greensburg through the Arcadia Publishing Images of America Series.

In 2006, Greensburg resident Rachel E. Smith, published the book, Greensburg through the Arcadia Publishing Postcard History Series.

Greensburg in fiction

Mystery novel writer K.C. Constantine has used various elements of Greensburg as a basis for the fictional town of Rocksburg in his novels.

Professional sports

From 1890 until 1900, Greensburg was the home of the Greensburg Athletic Association, one of the earliest professional football teams. The team began as an amateur football club in 1890 and was composed primarily of locals before several paid players were added for 1895. In 1894 it was discovered that the team had secretly paid formerly Indiana Normal (now Indiana University of Pennsylvania) player, Lawson Fiscus, to play football and retained his services on salary. The team was the chief rival of another early professional football team, the Latrobe Athletic Association.

Aside from Fiscus, the Greensburg Athletic Association included several of the era's top players, such as: Charlie Atherton, George Barclay, Ross Fiscus, Jack Gass, Arthur McFarland, Charles Rinehart, Isaac Seneca and Adam Martin Wyant. Several of these players revolutionized the game during their playing careers. Charlie Atherton is credited with inventing the place kick, and George Barclay invented the first-ever football helmet. Meanwhile Isaac Seneca became the first Native-American to earn All-American honors and Adam Wyant was the first professional football player to become a United States Congressman.

Transportation

Highways

The east-west U.S. Route 30 expressway bypasses Greensburg to the south, as does the north-south Pennsylvania Turnpike 66 to the west. A proposed highway called the Laurel Valley Expressway was initially planned to be built to the east of Greensburg but that project has never materialized. The Pennsylvania Turnpike's New Stanton exit is about five miles (8 km) south of Greensburg on U.S. Route 119 where Interstate 70 splits from Interstate 76. PA Routes 66 and 136 begin in Greensburg. PA Routes 130, 819 and U.S. Route 119 pass through the city.

Public transportation

Westmoreland Transit is the mass transit system of Greensburg and Westmoreland County and operates a network of bus routes seven days a week throughout the city and the rest of the county, as well as Pittsburgh. Greyhound Lines runs regular scheduled bus service to and from Greensburg from many hubs, including Pittsburgh, Chicago, and New York City.

Airports

Air service is available at the Pittsburgh International Airport and at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport east of Greensburg in nearby Latrobe.

Rail

The city has Amtrak rail service at the restored Train Station, as well as freight rail operator Norfolk Southern and an independent shortline railroad connecting coal mines and businesses located south of the city to the Norfolk Southern line just west of Greensburg.

Bicycling

Greensburg is bike-friendly as it offers the Five Star Trail, which begins at Lynch Field and ends south of the city in Armbrust. It will eventually connect to the north section of the Youghiogheny River Trail, which is a part of the Great Allegheny Passage.

Infrastructure

Utilities

Electricity for Greensburg and a large portion of Westmoreland County is supplied by Allegheny Energy, which is also headquartered in Greensburg and formerly called West Penn Power. In addition, natural gas is widely used in the area due to large reserves existing throughout the region. Service is provided by Peoples Natural Gas Company.

Water utility service is provided by the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County (MAWC). Waste collection and sewage utilities are provided by Waste Management and the Greater Greensburg Sewage Authority, respectively.

Medical facilities

The Greater Greensburg area is home to several medical facilities, ranging from independent clinics and urgent care centers to full-service hospitals. The following listing is not exhaustive.

Aestique Medical Center

Bio-Medical Applications of Greensburg

Excela Westmoreland Hospital

Greensburg Care Center

Innovative Health Services

Laurel Surgical Center

MedExpress Urgent Care Center

West Place

Telecommunications

Greensburg is located within the 724 area code, which completely surrounds the 412 area code assigned to the city of Pittsburgh and most of Allegheny County, along with small portions of Washington and Westmoreland counties.

Notable natives and residents

Karen Angle – ex-wife of professional wrestler Kurt Angle and current Total Nonstop Action Wrestling performer

Michael Arnzen – horror fiction author

Paul Bartholomew – architect of various Greensburg landmarks and designer of Norvelt, Pennsylvania

Randy Bish – editorial cartoonist

Adam Bostick – left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball

James Clarke – third Governor of Iowa Territory

Donald A. Collins – columnist of Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

K.C. Constantine – mystery fiction author

Brett Detar – songwriter, musician, and record producer

Rebecca Franklin – food writer

Todd Gallagher – social scientist, author, filmmaker, and comedian

Paul Gilbert – guitarist for the bands Racer X and Mr. Big

Zach Jackson – Major League Baseball pitcher

Greg Jones – highly accomplished collegiate wrestler at West Virginia University

Sheila Kelley – actress

Peggy King – 1950s and 1960s pop singer and television personality

Rocco Mediate – professional golfer

Roland "Bud" Mertz – politician

Vic Mignogna – voice actor

Irene C. Neal – modern abstract artist

Dan Pastor – professional freestyle motocross rider

Bruce Weber – fashion photographer

James C. White – radio personality

Cyrus E. Woods – lawyer and politician

JIll Lantzy - professional chihuahua trainer

Lori Lantzy - inventor of voicemail

Points of interest

Note that some of these locations are outside the city even though they are generally considered a part of Greensburg.

Greensburg Garden and Civic Center

Greensburg Hempfield Area Library

Kirk S. Nevin Ice Arena

Lynch Field

Old Hanna's Town

Palace Theatre

Performing Arts Center of Seton Hill University

Robertshaw Amphitheater

St. Clair Park

Seton Hill University

The Train Station

Twin Lakes Park

University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg

Westmoreland County Courthouse

Westmoreland Fairgrounds

Westmoreland Mall

Westmoreland Museum of American Art

Sister cities

- (Belize) - Cercemaggiore (Italy)

See also

Academy Hill Historic District

Arnold Palmer Regional Airport

Greensburg Downtown Historic District

Kecksburg UFO Incident

Seton Hill University

University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg

References

External links

City of Greensburg website

Greensburg's Main Street Memories

Song of Greensburg, an article in the Pittsburgh Quarterly magazine

www.area-fun.com Greensburg area guide

Category:Cities in Pennsylvania Category:Populated places in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Category:County seats in Pennsylvania Category:Populated places established in 1782 Category:Pittsburgh metropolitan area Category:Academic enclaves