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, and its largest city is Aliquippa. The county is part of the Greater Pittsburgh region of the state.

History
Beaver County was created on March 12, 1800, from parts of Allegheny and Washington counties. It took its name from the Beaver River.

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 444 sqmi, of which 435 sqmi is land and 9.3 sqmi (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. Beaver County is one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission, and it is identified as part of the "Midlands" by Colin Woodard in his book American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America.

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
 * Brush Creek Park
 * Old Economy 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 PD/sqmi. There were 77,765 housing units at an average density of 179 /mi2. 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.

Government and politics



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


 * Democratic: 70,819 (59.88%)
 * 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 January 8, 2024, there were 111,767 registered voters in Beaver county. Republicans hold a plurality of voters by a margin of just 190 voters (less than 1% of the total registered), after overtaking Dems at the end of December 2023. There were 48,229 registered Republicans, 48,039 registered Democrats, 10,390 registered non-affiliated voters and 5,109 voters registered to other parties.

Political history
Beaver County used to be a Democratic stronghold, and still has a slight Democratic edge in registration. In 2015, however, the GOP took majority status in the Commissioners' Office for the first time since 1955. 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. 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. However, Democrats have still seen recent success in Beaver County in non-presidential races, with Democrats often being competitive in the county in Senate 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 (2022), 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.

Recreation
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 7572 acre and features the 101 acre Raccoon Lake. Additionally, there are many riverfront parks throughout the county. The North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT) passes through the county's northern end. The NCT has an 11-mile point-to-point off-road section near Darlington to the Ohio state line and a 2.5 mile off-road section near New Galilee and Enon Valley, Pennsylvania.

Public transit
Beaver County Transit Authority

Airports

 * Beaver County Airport
 * Zelienople Municipal Airport

Colleges and universities

 * Geneva College
 * Penn State Beaver Campus
 * Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry

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
 * 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
 * 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)
 * Midland Innovation + Technology Charter School (grades 9-12)

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
 * 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
 * St Monica Catholic Academy – Beaver Falls
 * 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.

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 in Beaver County:

Cities

 * Aliquippa
 * Beaver Falls

Boroughs

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

Townships

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

Census-designated places

 * Frisco
 * Hazen

Unincorporated communities

 * Byersdale
 * Cannelton
 * Fombell
 * Gringo
 * Harshaville
 * Kobuta
 * West Aliquippa

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

Notable people

 * Sam Adams – early explorer of the American west
 * Gust Avrakotos – 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 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 wrestler, best known with Extreme Championship Wrestling, having also wrestled for World Championship Wrestling, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, and (briefly) with the 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/St. Louis Rams, Washington Redskins, Carolina Panthers and Oakland Raiders
 * Donnie Iris – musician, former member of The Jaggerz and 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
 * Henry Mancini – music composer, including "Moon River" and "The Pink Panther Theme", among many others
 * "Pistol" Pete Maravich – former NBA guard for the Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans/Utah Jazz and Boston Celtics, inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987
 * Press Maravich – former NCAA Basketball coach
 * Nate Martin – Entrepreneur and "Founding Father of 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 and Milwaukee Brewers
 * Ryan "Archie" Miller – current NCAA Basketball coach for the Rhode Island Rams, and former NCAA Basketball coach for the Dayton Flyers and Indiana Hoosiers.
 * Sean Miller – former NCAA Basketball coach for the Arizona Wildcats
 * Joe Namath – former NFL and 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 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 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 and co-founder of the Royal Baking Powder Company