23-547: North Huntingdon Township is a township in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania , United States. The population was 31,847 at the 2020 census . Named after England's Earl of Huntingdon , Huntingdon Township was founded on April 6, 1772, in Pennsylvania . Huntingdon's boundaries started at the mouth of Brush Run where it emptied into Brush Creek. The area is approximately 26 square miles (67 km)with
46-600: A Dutch trader from Albany, New York was the first white man to enter this territory. Viele had wanted to establish Indian trading posts that were closer to other communities. In doing this, he persuaded the Shawnee tribe to move near the Potomac and Susquehanna Rivers. After Viele, James Le Tort , Andrew Montour , Conrad Weiser and George Croghan were some of the other settlers to move to North Huntingdon. Many different European groups settled in this area. Two of them were
69-650: A chimney, to let cooking smoke out of the house. About a century after the German and Scottish-Irish settlers, the Township's population was recorded as 3,000 in 1860. According to a census taken in 1980, North Huntingdon Township was the second largest municipality in Westmoreland County with 31,517 residents. Another census in 2000 recorded that the population was down to 29,123 people. The Fullerton Inn and Andrew and Jennie McFarlane House are listed on
92-688: A progression of municipal structures based on population growth, it is not uncommon to have a township and borough of the same or similar name, generally adjacent within the same county. The 'town-like' borough might be partially or wholly surrounded by the remaining township from which it had split off. The government of Cold Spring Township ceased to function in 1961, when there were no candidates for office. Pennsylvania townships typically vary in size from 6 to 40 square miles (16–104 km ). There are two classifications of townships, first class and second class. The commonwealth initially incorporates all townships as second class townships. To become
115-1201: A tax collector and, in many townships, a panel of three auditors who annually audit all township accounts. The supervisors or commissioners of the township appoint a secretary and a treasurer, and may also appoint a township manager to coordinate township employees and operations. County governments may provide some or all municipal services to residents of townships, regardless of class and size, including trash collection or sewage processing. Some counties, though, leave individual municipalities to provide their own services; in some instances small groups of boroughs or townships may pool their resources to provide water, police, or other functions. The main areas of local services include police and fire protection, maintenance of local roads and streets, water supply, sewage collection and treatment, parking and traffic control, local planning and zoning, parks and recreation, garbage collection, health services, libraries, licensing of businesses and code enforcement. All municipalities in Pennsylvania, however, rely on county and state organized courts for probate, criminal, and civil court services. Under
138-508: A township of the first class and operate under the powers of the First Class Township Code, a township must have a population density of 300 inhabitants per square mile (120/km ) and voters therein must approve the change of classification in a referendum. The classes of townships differ primarily in the form of their administration. Townships of the second class are governed by a board of supervisors, elected at large by
161-626: Is located, became the townships of Fairfield , Donegal , Mount Pleasant, Hempfield , Pitt , Tyrone, Springhill , Menallen , Rostraver and Armstrong . Many Native American tribes inhabited this area before the European settlers. The Alligewe Indians are believed to be the first people to live in this area. After this tribe, there were also the Shawnee , Seneca , Cornplanter and Delaware, also known as Lenni Lenape , tribes. The first white man did not come along until 1662. Arnold Viele ,
184-558: The National Register of Historic Places . According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the township has a total area of 27.4 square miles (70.9 km), of which 27.3 square miles (70.8 km) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1 km) (0.15%) is water. It is traversed by the Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 76) and by Lincoln Highway ( US 30 ). The southwestern corner of the township borders
207-400: The 11,216 households 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.3% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.1% were non-families. 20.8% of households were one person and 10.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.96. The age distribution was 21.8% under
230-540: The German and Scottish-Irish immigrants. In the late 1670s, North Huntingdon Township was settled from both the eastern and western ends. This section is divided but what is now known as Irwin. The Germans settled in the east and to the west was the Scottish-Irish settlement. In the German settlement, the Lutheran church ran the schools, and they exclusively taught the German language. The Scottish-Irish settlement
253-570: The Pennsylvania constitution, each governmental entity has the right to choose its own form of self-government, and a limited ability to delegate powers and oversight to such entities as authorities, commissions and school boards. Any township, regardless of its class, may adopt a home rule charter, at which point it is no longer governed by the Pennsylvania Township Codes. While a home rule charter can incorporate unusual features, standard municipal functions are generally part of
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#1732779663806276-503: The Township maintaining about 125 miles (200 km)of roads. If these roads were placed end-to-end, they would stretch from North Huntingdon to Cleveland, Ohio . The boundaries, following along Byerly's Path to Braddock Road, continued to the lines that mark Mount Pleasant , Tyrone and Pitt Townships. Huntingdon Township was later divided into the townships North Huntingdon, East Huntingdon, South Huntingdon and Sewickley. Around this same time, Westmoreland County , where North Huntingdon
299-633: The Youghiogheny River for about 1½ Km. At the 2000 census , there were 29,123 people, 11,216 households, and 8,625 families living in the township. The population density was 1,065.7 inhabitants per square mile (411.5/km). There were 11,578 housing units at an average density of 423.7 per square mile (163.6/km). The racial makeup of the township was 98.82% White, 0.32% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 0.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.41%. Of
322-413: The age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males. The median household income was $ 45,376 and the median family income was $ 51,933. Males had a median income of $ 39,693 versus $ 26,285 for females. The per capita income for
345-661: The commonwealth. As with other incorporated municipalities in Pennsylvania, townships exist within counties and are subordinate to or dependent upon the county level of government. Townships in Pennsylvania were created in the 17th century during the colonial-era Province of Pennsylvania prior to the American Revolution . Much of the province was then occupied by Native Americans , but the colonial administration in Philadelphia brought new counties and new settlements regularly. The first communities defined by
368-432: The electorate of the whole township for overlapping six-year terms. The number of supervisors can be increased to five by referendum. Townships of the first class, by contrast, have a board of commissioners. Between five and fifteen commissioners sit on this panel; they can be elected either at large or by wards within the township; and they serve for overlapping terms of four years in office. Other elected officials include
391-446: The lowest level of municipal incorporation of government. All of Pennsylvania's communities outside of incorporated cities , boroughs , and one town have been incorporated into individual townships that serve as the legal entities providing local self-government functions. In general, townships in Pennsylvania encompass larger land areas than other municipalities , and tend to be located in suburban , exurban , or rural parts of
414-439: The provincial state government tended to be rural, geographically large, and sparsely populated townships. Townships or portions of them tended to become boroughs after population growth or an increase in population density and, eventually, might to reincorporate at the level of city. Initially, each municipal organization begins as a second-class township. When a sufficient population density, currently 300 people per square mile,
437-459: The township was $ 20,786. About 4.4% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line , including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over. 40°23′00″N 79°44′29″W / 40.38333°N 79.74139°W / 40.38333; -79.74139 Township (Pennsylvania) A township , under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania , is
460-424: The township. It was also called Master Jack's school after its first teacher. Teachers did not have to meet many requirements to get the job. They had to pass an exam and have a basic knowledge of reading, writing and math. They also had to know how to mend quill pens and wield birch rods. Another school named Fairview was built in 1816. This school was used in the eastern end of the township, while Master Jack's school
483-415: Was Presbyterian . This group settled mostly in the areas of Circleville, Cavitt's Mills and Robbin's Station. The settlers wanted to provide their children with some education in their new homes. Farmers donated land so they could have schools for their children that weren't far from home. The schools were made with logs and a clapboard roof. Established in 1782, Birch Spring School was the first school in
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#1732779663806506-514: Was attained, the township had the option of holding a referendum and, if it passed, became a first-class township. The municipality could proceed to the level of borough or city in a similar fashion. Historically, this progression has often included border adjustments or mergers with other boroughs or townships. Many communities remain townships in spite of growth that brings the characteristics of more-urbanized areas that might be associated with "towns." Because Pennsylvania's constitution provides for
529-476: Was used in the western end. Today, Norwin Middle School is located in the area. Schools were not the only thing that these settlers built. They also made their homes. The homes were about 10 feet (3m) high with only one room and one window. They had to use mud for insulation against the cold winters. Chairs were made of logs and beds were stuffed with hay or straw. There was a hole in the roof, instead of
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