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Upper St. Clair Township, Pennsylvania

Coordinates: 40°20′08″N 80°4′47″W / 40.33556°N 80.07972°W / 40.33556; -80.07972
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Not to be confused with East St. Clair Township, Pennsylvania; St. Clair Township, Pennsylvania; or West St. Clair Township, Pennsylvania.

Upper St. Clair Township,
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
First Class Township with home rule
Fulton Log House in Upper St. Clair Township
Fulton Log House in Upper St. Clair Township
Location of Upper St. Clair in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (right) and of Allegheny County in Pennsylvania (left)
Location of Upper St. Clair in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (right) and of Allegheny County in Pennsylvania (left)
Coordinates: 40°20′08″N 80°4′47″W / 40.33556°N 80.07972°W / 40.33556; -80.07972
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountyAllegheny
Settled1762
Incorporated1788
Government
 • TypeBoard of Commissioners
 • PresidentMark D. Christie
 • Twp. ManagerMatthew Serakowski
Area
[1]
 • Total9.83 sq mi (25.45 km2)
 • Land9.82 sq mi (25.43 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total21,160
 • Density2,152.59/sq mi (831.12/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code412
FIPS code42-003-79274
Websitehttp://www.twpusc.org

Upper St. Clair is a township with home rule status in southern Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, located approximately 8 miles (13 km) south of Downtown Pittsburgh. It is known for being an affluent suburb with a nationally recognized school district. As of the 2020 census, the township population was 21,160.

Around 9% of the township's area is dedicated to 14 parks and multiple fields, totaling approximately 733 acres.[2] The township has six borders with neighboring communities, including South Fayette Township to the west, Bridgeville to the northwest, Scott Township and Mt. Lebanon to the north, Bethel Park to the east, and Peters Township in Washington County to the south.

Etymology

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St. Clair Township was named after General Arthur St. Clair of Revolutionary War fame, the ninth President of the United States in Congress Assembled. Under his administration as president from February 2, 1787, to October 29, 1787, the Northwest Ordinance and United States Constitution of 1787 were passed.[3]

History

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The first European settler in present-day Upper St. Clair was John Fife, who settled near what is now the intersection of Washington and McLaughlin Run roads in 1762.[4]

St. Clair was one of the original townships of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania at the county's creation in 1788. In 1836, the St. Clair Township was divided into two separate townships, Upper St. Clair and Lower St. Clair. The residents of Upper St. Clair formed their township to ensure better government service that could be obtained by separating from the more densely populated northern part of the township. Upper St. Clair Township was further subdivided throughout the 19th and 20th centuries as several parts of the original township separated to form new townships and boroughs. In 1973, Upper St. Clair Township adopted a home rule charter that took effect on January 5, 1976, and is no longer governed by the Pennsylvania Township Code.[5]

The Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 had its roots in Upper St. Clair.

Formed as a volunteer militia company in 1844 by residents of the township, the "St. Clair Guards" later became Company H of the 62nd Pennsylvania Infantry.

The community was home to several mines beginning in the late 19th century. Freehold Real Estate Co. built the first major residential development in March 1913 along Washington Road, which at the time was conveniently close to streetcar service. During the 1930s, Upper St. Clair was recorded as a community within the city which had a school district providing regular nursing services.[6]

Today, the community has many fashionable homes and is considered one of the wealthiest suburbs of Pittsburgh.[7] The township has also gained fame as being a filming location for the movie The Perks of Being a Wallflower.[8][9][10]

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 9.8 square miles (25 km2), of which 0.10% is water.[11]

Education

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Upper St. Clair is served by a K-12 namesake public school district, consisting of three elementary schools (Baker, Eisenhower, and Streams), two middle schools (Boyce and Fort Couch), and a single Upper St. Clair High School. In addition, a church named for St. Louise de Marillac hosts a private Catholic-affiliated school serving from Pre-K to 8th grade. A K-8 school for students with special needs known as the Wesley School also operates within the township.[12][13][14]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18501,626—
18601,84713.6%
1870810−56.1%
18808292.3%
18901,54886.7%
19002,69374.0%
19101,311−51.3%
19201,45811.2%
19301,94733.5%
19402,48627.7%
19503,62946.0%
19608,287128.4%
197015,47186.7%
198019,02323.0%
199019,6923.5%
200020,0531.8%
201019,229−4.1%
202021,16010.0%
Sources:[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]

As of the census of 2020, there were 21,160 people, 7,506 households, and 5,823 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,152.59 inhabitants per square mile (831.12/km2). There were 7,887 housing units. The racial makeup of the township was 88.6% White, 1.0% African American, 0.10% American Indian, 9.4% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 5.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.7% of the population.[24]

There were 7,506 households, out of which 38.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.2% were married couples living together, and 17.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[24]

In the township the population was spread out, with 25.9% under the age of 18, 7.2% were 20 to 29, 19.6% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.9 years. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males. For every 100 males, there were 96.29 females.[24]

Government and politics

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The structure of Upper St. Clair is a managerial government along with an elected Board of Commissioners consisting of seven members. In a Commission/Manager form of government, the main responsibility of the Board of Commissioner is to function as a policy-making body of government, while the managerial body is responsible for the administrative functions of the Township.

Matthew R. Serakowski is the current Township Manager and Mark S. Mansfield is the current Assistant Township Manager. The elected Board of Commissioners are Mark D. Christie (President), Nicholas J. Seitanakis (Vice President), Russell Del Re, C. Elise Logan, Robert W. Orchowski, Daniel R. Paoly, and Ronald J. Pardini.[25]

Jonathan Wharton is the current Chief of Police, who was appointed in August 2018.[26]

Presidential Elections Results[27][28]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 46% 6,380 53% 7,353 1% 173
2016 52% 6,064 48% 5.618 1% 76
2012 62% 7,388 37% 4,468 1% 87

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
  2. ^ "Recreation & Leisure - Parks & Fields". www.twpusc.org. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  3. ^ * Klos, Stanley L. (2004). ""Arthur St. Clair"". President Who? Forgotten Founders. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Evisum, Inc. ISBN 0-9752627-5-0.
  4. ^ "History of Upper St. Clair". Township of Upper St. Clair. Archived from the original on July 14, 2010. Retrieved July 23, 2009.
  5. ^ Pennsylvania Code Title 302, Section 25.1–101 et seq.
  6. ^ Klein, Philip (1938). A Social Study of Pittsburgh. Columbia University Press. p. 106. ISBN 9780231901406.
  7. ^ "Top 20 and Bottom 20 Wealthiest Suburbs". ERSI. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  8. ^ "2361 Giant Oaks Dr, Upper Saint Clair, PA 15241 | Trulia". Trulia Real Estate Search. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  9. ^ "Filming Locations for The Perks Of Being A Wallflower (2012), around Pittsburgh". The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  10. ^ "The perks of being Stephen Chbosky: Upper St. Clair native talks about his novel and new film". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on December 17, 2002. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
  12. ^ "Upper St. Clair School District / Overview". www.uscsd.k12.pa.us. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  13. ^ "St. Louise de Marillac Catholic School". Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  14. ^ "Wesley K-8 and Wesley High School". Wesley Family Services. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  15. ^ "Population of Civil Divisions Less than Counties" (PDF). 1870 United States Census. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  16. ^ "Population of Civil Divisions Less than Counties" (PDF). 1880 United States Census. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  17. ^ "Population-Pennsylvania" (PDF). U.S. Census 1910. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  18. ^ "Number and Distribution of Inhabitants:Pennsylvania-Tennessee" (PDF). Fifteenth Census. U.S. Census Bureau.
  19. ^ "Number of Inhabitants: Pennsylvania" (PDF). 18th Census of the United States. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  20. ^ "Pennsylvania: Population and Housing Unit Counts" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  21. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  22. ^ "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 11, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  23. ^ Bureau, U. S. Census. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 1, 2019. {{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  24. ^ a b c "2020: DEC Demographic Profile". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  25. ^ "Government - Board of Commissioners". www.twpusc.org. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  26. ^ Kish, Terry. "Upper St. Clair welcomes new police chief". The Almanac. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  27. ^ EL. "2012 Allegheny County election". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  28. ^ EL. "2016 Pennsylvania general election..." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  29. ^ "Ryan Malone". NHL.com -Players. Retrieved July 23, 2009.
  30. ^ Owen, Rob (August 25, 2000). "TV Preview: 'Robot' survivor?". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  31. ^ "Pens sign Upper St. Clair native Reese". Retrieved July 2, 2012.
[edit]
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Upper St. Clair Township.
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