104-603: Swissvale is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania , United States, 9 miles (14 km) east of downtown Pittsburgh . Named for a farmstead owned by James Swisshelm, during the industrial age it was the site of the Union Switch and Signal Company of George Westinghouse . The population was 8,624 at the 2020 census . Swissvale is named after the Swisshelm family. John Swisshelm (1752–1838), who owned
208-418: A whiskey excise tax. Farmers who had depended on whiskey income refused to pay and started the so-called Whiskey Rebellion after driving off tax collector John Neville . After a series of demonstrations by farmers, President George Washington sent troops to suppress the frontier rebellion. The area developed rapidly through the 1800s with industrialization. It became the nation's prime steel producer by
312-543: A UN declaration that resulted from the World Summit on Social Development in Copenhagen in 1995, absolute poverty is "a condition characterized by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education, and information. It depends not only on income, but also on access to services." David Gordon's paper, "Indicators of Poverty and Hunger", for
416-418: A certain minimum level, the rub of the poverty problem – from the point of view of both the poor individual and of the societies in which they live – is not so much the effects of poverty in any absolute form but the effects of the contrast, daily perceived, between the lives of the poor and the lives of those around them. For practical purposes, the problem of poverty in the industrialized nations today
520-517: A county council with 15 members (13 elected by district, two elected county-wide), and an appointed county manager. The changes were intended to maintain a separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches while providing greater citizen control. The county has 130 self-governing municipalities, the most in the state. ( Luzerne is second with 76). The county has one Second Class City (Pittsburgh) and three Third Class Cities ( Clairton , Duquesne , and McKeesport ). A 2004 study found
624-514: A day at 2005 purchasing power parity (PPP). The new figure of $ 1.90 is based on ICP PPP calculations and represents the international equivalent of what $ 1.90 could buy in the US in 2011. Most scholars agree that it better reflects today's reality, particularly new price levels in developing countries. The common IPL has in the past been roughly $ 1 a day. These figures are artificially low according to Peter Edward of Newcastle University . He believes
728-399: A different sense to mean "moderate poverty" – for example, a standard of living or level of income that is high enough to satisfy basic needs (like water , food , clothing , housing, and basic health care ), but still significantly lower than that of the majority of the population under consideration. An example of this could be a person living in poor conditions or squalid housing in
832-622: A farm where the town is located. John Swisshelm served under General George Washington in the Revolutionary War , and camped at Valley Forge . Swisshelm married Mary Elizabeth Miller, and they had many children. Their son, James Swisshelm, married Jane Grey Cannon, noted abolitionist and political activist, Jane Swisshelm named the town Swissvale as the town overlooked the Monongahela River Valley. The Pittsburgh neighborhood of Swisshelm Park , adjacent to Swissvale,
936-421: A high crime area of a developed country and struggling to pay their bills every month due to low wages, debt or unemployment. While this person still benefits from the infrastructure of the developed country, they still endure a less than ideal lifestyle compared to their more affluent countrymen or even the more affluent individuals in less developed countries who have lower living costs. Living Income refers to
1040-494: A household in the borough was $ 31,523, and the median income for a family was $ 35,929. Males had a median income of $ 29,333 versus $ 25,184 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $ 19,216. About 14.1% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line , including 26.2% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over. Swissvale has voted for the Democratic party nominee overwhelmingly in
1144-477: A particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for the average adult. The cost of housing, such as the rent for an apartment, usually makes up the largest proportion of this estimate, so economists track the real estate market and other housing cost indicators as a major influence on the poverty line. Individual factors are often used to account for various circumstances, such as whether one
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#17327932623201248-440: A referendum to explore a merger with Pittsburgh. In 2021, a joint task force was formed to study the feasibility and impact of such a merger. The task force is expected to issue a report by June 2022. If both Wilkinsburg and Pittsburgh councils approve the merger, it would then need approval from the state legislature and governor before taking effect. Another recent proposal is from Allegheny County Economic Development (ACED), which
1352-509: A result, depending on the indicator of economic status used, an estimate of who is disadvantaged, which groups have the highest poverty rates, and the nation's progress against poverty varies significantly. Hence, this can mean that defining poverty is not just a matter of measuring things accurately, but it also necessitates fundamental social judgments, many of which have moral implications. National estimates are based on population-weighted subgroup estimates from household surveys. Definitions of
1456-582: A variety of peoples from more eastern tribes. European fur traders such as Peter Chartier established trading posts in the region in the early eighteenth century. In 1749, Captain Pierre Joseph Céloron de Blainville claimed the Ohio Valley and all of western Pennsylvania for King Louis XV of France . The captain traveled along the Ohio and Allegheny rivers. He installed lead plates in
1560-489: Is Pittsburgh Regional Transit . The Allegheny County Department of Public Works oversees infrastructure, maintenance, and engineering services in the county. The Three Rivers Heritage Trail provides uninterrupted bicycle and pedestrian connections along the three rivers in the city, and the Great Allegheny Passage trail runs from downtown Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C. The Allegheny County Airport
1664-609: Is a county in Pennsylvania , United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,250,578, making it the state's second-most populous county , after Philadelphia County . Its county seat and most populous city is Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania's second most populous city. The county is part of the Greater Pittsburgh region of the commonwealth, and is the center of the Pittsburgh media market . Allegheny
1768-804: Is a parent, elderly, a child, married, etc. The poverty threshold may be adjusted annually. In practice, like the definition of poverty , the official or common understanding of the poverty line is significantly higher in developed countries than in developing countries . In September 2022, the World Bank updated the International Poverty Line ( IPL ), a global absolute minimum, to $ 2.15 per day (in PPP ). In addition, as of 2022, $ 3.65 per day in PPP for lower-middle income countries, and $ 6.85 per day in PPP for upper-middle income countries. Per
1872-434: Is a problem of relative poverty (page 9)." However, some have argued that as relative poverty is merely a measure of inequality, using the term 'poverty' for it is misleading. For example, if everyone in a country's income doubled, it would not reduce the amount of 'relative poverty' at all. In 1776, Adam Smith argued that poverty is the inability to afford "not only the commodities which are indispensably necessary for
1976-951: Is at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers in Downtown Pittsburgh , and Allegheny Islands State Park is in the Allegheny River in Harmar Township and is undeveloped as of August 2010. Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 203 is also located in Allegheny County providing hunting and other activities. Allegheny Land Trust, a regional land conservation group headquartered in Sewickley , has purchased land in Allegheny County for use as public green spaces for scenic and recreational purposes. In 2012 it pursued land formerly owned by
2080-596: Is based on a low pay rate of 60 percent of full-time median earnings, equivalent to a little over £12,000 a year for a 35-hour working week. In April 2006, a 35-hour week would have earned someone £9,191 a year – before tax or National Insurance". In 2019, the Low Pay Commission estimated that about 7% of people employed in the UK were earning at or below the National Minimum Wage . In 2021,
2184-401: Is hard to have exact number for poverty, as much data is collected through interviews, meaning income that is reported to the interviewer must be taken at face value. As a result, data could not rightly represent the situations true nature, nor fully represent the income earned illegally. In addition, if the data were correct and accurate, it would still not mean serving as an adequate measure of
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#17327932623202288-471: Is less than one-half the median family income." This was the first introduction of the relative poverty rate as typically computed today In 1979, British sociologist, Peter Townsend published his famous definition: "individuals... can be said to be in poverty when they lack the resources to obtain the types of diet, participate in the activities and have the living conditions and amenities which are customary, or are at least widely encouraged or approved, in
2392-690: Is named after John Swisshelm. Since 1874, the Allegheny Car & Transportation Shops had provided well-paying jobs to local citizens and were later purchased by George Westinghouse , the President of Westinghouse Air Brake Company , who formed the Union Switch & Signal company and maintained that facility in Swissvale. Swissvale is located at 40°25′20″N 79°53′10″W / 40.42222°N 79.88611°W / 40.42222; -79.88611 (40.422304, −79.886185). According to
2496-508: Is not considering establishing an official poverty line, with Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing claiming it would fail to represent the magnitude and scope of problems faced by the poor. As a result, social benefits and aids aimed at the poor would be a missed opportunity for those living right above such a line. In the United States, the poverty thresholds are updated every year by Census Bureau. The threshold in
2600-455: Is ranked in the top ten among US cities hosting headquarters of Fortune 500 corporations, including U.S. Steel Corporation, PNC Financial Services Group, PPG Industries , and H. J. Heinz Company . The county leads the state in number of defense contractors supplying the U.S. military. School districts include: These private schools provide special education for disabled students: Allegheny County's public transportation provider
2704-530: Is seeking to enter into an agreement with a consultant to carry out historic preservation compliance activities for projects funded by various federal programs. The consultant would help ACED develop a Programmatic Memorandum of Agreement (PMOA) with the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and other stakeholders to streamline the review process for projects that may affect historic properties within
2808-459: Is split according to rural versus urban thresholds. For urban dwellers, the poverty line is defined as living on less than 538.60 rupees (approximately US$ 12) per month, whereas for rural dwellers, it is defined as living on less than 356.35 rupees per month (approximately US$ 7.50) In 2019, the Indian government stated that 6.7% of its population is below its official poverty limit. As India is one of
2912-461: Is the absence of enough resources to secure basic life necessities. To assist in measuring this, the World Bank has a daily per capita international poverty line (IPL), a global absolute minimum, of $ 2.15 a day as of September 2022. The new IPL replaces the $ 1.25 per day figure, which used 2005 data. In 2008, the World Bank came out with a figure (revised largely due to inflation) of $ 1.25
3016-741: Is the original airport for Pittsburgh and houses a number of flight schools, charter flight operations, and medevac operations. It is owned and operated by The Allegheny County Airport Authority. Pittsburgh International Airport is the major passenger airport for the county with service to many destinations on several airlines. Like the Allegheny County Airport, it is also owned and operated by The Allegheny County Airport Authority. For information about major state roads, see list of State Routes in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania and Allegheny County Belt System . There are two Pennsylvania state parks in Allegheny County. Point State Park
3120-678: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America , with 24,718 Lutherans in 77 congregations; the American Baptist Churches USA , with 17,148 Baptists in 42 congregations; the Assemblies of God , with 12,398 Pentecostals in 30 congregations; Reform Judaism , with 8,483 Jews in 6 congregations; the 7,780 Episcopal Church (United States) , with 7,780 Episcopalians in 19 congregations; and Hinduism in
3224-575: The London School Board . Booth set the line at 10 (50p) to 20 shillings (£1) per week, which he considered to be the minimum amount necessary for a family of four or five people to subsist on. Seebohm Rowntree (1871–1954), a British sociological researcher, social reformer and industrialist, surveyed rich families in York , and drew a poverty line in terms of a minimum weekly sum of money "necessary to enable families … to secure
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3328-522: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology 's Living Wage Calculator, which compares the local minimum wage to the amount of money needed to cover expenses beyond what is needed to merely survive across the United States. The cost of living varies greatly if there are children or other dependents in the household. An outdated or flawed poverty measure is an obstacle for policymakers, researchers and academics trying to find solutions to
3432-681: The Office for National Statistics found that 3.8% of jobs were paid below the National Minimum Wage, a decrease from 7.4% in 2020 but an increase from 1.4% in 2019. They note that this increase from 2019 to 2021 is connected to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom . The Guardian reported in 2021 that "almost 5m jobs, or one in six nationally, pay below the real living wage". India's official poverty level as of 2005
3536-644: The U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 745 square miles (1,930 km ), of which 730 square miles (1,900 km ) is land and 14 square miles (36 km ) (1.9%) is water. Four major rivers traverse Allegheny County: the Allegheny River and the Monongahela River converge at Downtown Pittsburgh to form the Ohio River . The Youghiogheny River flows into the Monongahela River at McKeesport , 10 miles (16 km) to
3640-708: The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Canadian poverty researchers. In the European Union, the "relative poverty measure is the most prominent and most–quoted of the EU social inclusion indicators." "Relative poverty reflects better the cost of social inclusion and equality of opportunity in a specific time and space." "Once economic development has progressed beyond
3744-518: The United States Census Bureau , the borough has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km), of which 1.2 square miles (3.1 km) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km), or 4.76%, is water. Swissvale has six land borders, including Edgewood to the north, Braddock Hills to the east, North Braddock to the southeast, Rankin to the south, and the Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Regent Square and Swisshelm Park to
3848-473: The $ 1.90/day standard, the percentage of the global population living in absolute poverty fell from over 80% in 1800 to 10% by 2015, according to United Nations estimates, which found roughly 734 million people remained in absolute poverty. Charles Booth , a pioneering investigator of poverty in London at the turn of the 20th century, popularised the idea of a poverty line , a concept originally conceived by
3952-606: The 19th and early 20th centuries; prior to the Great Depression , Pittsburgh and Allegheny County had been majority Republican. Since the Great Depression on the state and national levels, the Democratic Party has been dominant in county-level politics. It is by far the most Democratic county in western Pennsylvania. For much of the time between the Great Depression and the turn of the millennium, it
4056-544: The County Council, which is composed of 15 members elected for four-year terms from 13 single-member districts and 2 At-Large representatives, currently occupied by Bethany Hallam and Sam DeMarco. The council functions as the primary legislative and policy-making body of the county. The current County Council President is Patrick Catena, a Democrat who represents District 4 and was elected by his fellow council members in 2018 and 2020. The judicial branch consists of
4160-620: The County Executive, who is elected for a four-year term and serves as the chief executive officer of the county; and the County Manager, who is appointed by the County Executive and oversees the daily operations of the county departments. The current County Executive is Sara Innamorato , a Democrat who took office in 2024. The current County Manager is William D. McKain, who was appointed by Fitzgerald in 2012 and reappointed in 2016 and 2020. The legislative branch consists of
4264-582: The Court of Common Pleas, which is the general trial court of the county; and the Magisterial District Courts, which are lower courts that handle minor criminal and civil cases. The judges of these courts are elected for ten-year terms. The current President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas is Kimberly Berkeley Clark, who was elected by her fellow judges in 2018 for a five-year term. Allegheny County has 130 self-governing municipalities,
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4368-486: The European Union is based on "economic distance", a level of income set at 60% of the median household income. A measure of relative poverty defines "poverty" as being below some relative poverty threshold. For example, the statement that "those individuals who are employed and whose household equivalised disposable income is below 60% of national median equivalised income are poor" uses a relative measure to define poverty. The term relative poverty can also be used in
4472-507: The French from their posts, with no success. He also nearly drowned in the ice-filled Allegheny River while returning to camp. The English tried again in 1754 to establish a post in the area. They sent 41 Virginians to build Fort Prince George . The French learned of the plan and sent an army to capture the fort. They resumed building it and added increased defensive fortification, renaming it as Fort Duquesne . Given its strategic location at
4576-480: The Iranian economy suffered the highest inflation in 75 years; official statistics put the poverty line at 10 million tomans ($ 500), while the minimum wage given in the same year has been 5 million toman. Singapore has experienced strong economic growth over the last ten years and has consistently ranked among the world's top countries in terms of GDP per capita. Inequality has however increased dramatically over
4680-719: The Ohio, Fort Duquesne became an important focal point of the French and Indian War . The first British attempt to retake the fort, the Braddock Expedition , failed miserably. In 1758 British forces under General John Forbes recaptured the fort; he had it destroyed to prevent any use by the French. The British built a new, larger fort on the site, including a moat, and named it Fort Pitt . The historic site has been preserved as Pittsburgh's Point State Park . Under their colonial charters, both Pennsylvania and Virginia claimed
4784-612: The Pittsburgh Cut Flower Company in Richland Township . In 2020, it received a grant to convert a former country club into a public green space. In December 2020, it donated 20 undeveloped acres across three parcels in Hampton to expand North Park . Poverty line The poverty threshold , poverty limit , poverty line , or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in
4888-475: The US Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh is the second (after Laredo, Texas ) busiest inland port in the nation. US steel production declined late in the 20th century, and Allegheny County's economy began a shift to other industries. It is presently known for its hospitals, universities, and industrial centers. Despite the decline of heavy industry , Pittsburgh is home to a number of major companies and
4992-470: The United Nations, further defines absolute poverty as the absence of any two of the following eight basic needs: In 1978, Ghai investigated the literature that criticized the basic needs approach. Critics argued that the basic needs approach lacked scientific rigour; it was consumption-oriented and antigrowth. Some considered it to be "a recipe for perpetuating economic backwardness" and for giving
5096-428: The United States , with 6,700 Hindus in four temples . Altogether, 60.6% of the population was claimed as members by religious congregations, although members of historically African-American denominations were underrepresented due to incomplete information. In 2014, Allegheny County had 794 religious organizations, the 11th most out of all US counties. As of the 2010 census , there were 1,223,348 people living in
5200-488: The United States is updated and used for statistical purposes. In 2020, in the United States, the poverty threshold for a single person under 65 was an annual income of US$ 12,760, or about $ 35 per day. The threshold for a family group of four, including two children, was US$ 26,200, about $ 72 per day. According to the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2018 One-year Estimates, 13.1% of Americans lived below
5304-426: The age of 18 living with them, 46.10% were married couples living together, 12.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.10% were non-families. Some 32.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.96. The age distribution of the population shows 21.90% under
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#17327932623205408-426: The age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 17.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40. For every 100 females, there were 90.00 males; for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.20 males. In the late 18th century, farming played a critical role in the growth of the area. There was a surplus of grain due to transportation difficulties in linking with
5512-555: The borough was 74.45% White, 22.14% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races, and 1.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.06% of the population. There were 4,456 households, out of which 21.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.0% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.9% were non-families. 42.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who
5616-440: The cheapest local grain (such as corn, rice, or oats). The basic needs approach is one of the major approaches to the measurement of absolute poverty in developing countries. It attempts to define the absolute minimum resources necessary for long-term physical well-being , usually in terms of consumption goods . The poverty line is then defined as the amount of income required to satisfy those needs. The 'basic needs' approach
5720-591: The concept of relative poverty: "No objective definition of poverty exists. ... The definition varies from place to place and time to time. In America as our standard of living rises, so does our idea of what is substandard." In 1965, Rose Friedman argued for the use of relative poverty claiming that the definition of poverty changes with general living standards. Those labelled as poor in 1995, would have had "a higher standard of living than many labelled not poor" in 1965. In 1967, American economist Victor Fuchs proposed that "we define as poor any family whose income
5824-437: The county would be better served by consolidating the southeastern portion of the county (which includes many small communities with modest economies) into a large municipality ("Rivers City") with a combined population of approximately 250,000. Allegheny County has a Home Rule Charter form of government since 2000. The county has three branches: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial. The executive branch consists of
5928-576: The county. ACED issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for this service in January 2022 and expects to select a consultant by March 2022. As of 4 March 2024, there were 902,957 registered voters in the county; a majority were Democrats. There were 508,935 registered Democrats , 257,857 registered Republicans , 97,708 registered as independents and 38,457 registered with other parties . Chart of voter registration The Republican Party had been historically dominant in county-level politics in
6032-441: The county. The population density was 1,676 people per square mile (647 people/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 82.87% White, 14.39% Black or African American, 2.94% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. About 1.31% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. At the 2000 census , there were 1,281,666 people, 537,150 households, and 332,495 families living in
6136-679: The county. The population density was 1,755 people per square mile (678 people/km ). There were 583,646 housing units at an average density of 799 per square mile (308/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 84.33% White, 12.41% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 1.69% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. About 0.87% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.0% were of German , 15.0% Italian , 12.7% Irish , 7.5% Polish and 5.1% English ancestry. 93.5% spoke English and 1.3% Spanish as their first language. There were 537,150 households, out of which 26.40% had children under
6240-422: The eastern portion of the state. As a result, the farmers distilled the grain into whiskey , which significantly helped the farmers financially. The area quickly became a key manufacturing area in the young nation. Coupled with deposits of iron and coal, and the easy access to waterways for barge traffic, the city quickly became one of the most important steel producing areas in the world. Based on 2007 data from
6344-410: The efficacy of their programs and guiding their development strategy. In addition, by measuring poverty one receives knowledge of which poverty reduction strategies work and which do not, helping to evaluate different projects, policies and institutions. To a large extent, measuring the poor and having strategies to do so keep the poor on the agenda, making the problem of political and moral concern. It
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#17327932623206448-592: The end of the American Revolutionary War, in 1780 Pennsylvania and Virginia agreed to extend the Mason–Dixon line westward. This region was assigned to Pennsylvania. From 1781 until 1788, much of what Virginia had claimed as part of Yohogania County was administered as a part of the newly created Washington County, Pennsylvania . Allegheny County was officially created on September 24, 1788, from parts of Washington and Westmoreland counties. It
6552-489: The fastest-growing economies in 2018, poverty is on the decline in the country, with close to 44 Indians escaping extreme poverty every minute, as per the World Poverty Clock . India lifted 271 million people out of poverty in a 10-year time period from 2005/06 to 2015/16. In 2008 Iran government report by central statistics had recommended 9.5 around million people living below poverty line. As of August 2022
6656-403: The flag ship; City of Parkersburg , Charles Brown , Alice Brown , Exporter , Sam Brown , Boaz , Raymond Horner , Swan , Sunshine , I. C. Woodward , Cruiser , Volunteer , A. R. Budd , J. C. Risher , Clyde , Rival , Voyager , Jim Brown , Rover , Charlie Clarke , Robt. J. Jenkins , Slipper , Bertha , Midland Sam Barnum , Cadet , Twilight , and Troubadour . According to
6760-730: The following January. Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis represents Swissvale as a member of the Allegheny County Council from the 8th district. Source : Swissvale is served by the Woodland Hills School District . Swissvale is served by the Roslyn and Swissvale stations on the Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway . Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Allegheny County ( / ˌ æ l ɪ ˈ ɡ eɪ n i / AL -ig- AY -nee )
6864-585: The ground to mark the land for France. Most of the towns during that era were developed along waterways , which were the primary transportation routes, as well as providing water for domestic uses. Through the eighteenth century, both the French and the British competed for control over the local rivers in this frontier territory of North America. Native American bands and tribes allied with the colonists to differing degrees, often based on their trading relationships. The British sent Major George Washington to expel
6968-518: The highest vote percentage for a Democrat since Michael Dukakis in 1988 and the most votes for a Democrat since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. In the 21st century, populist turns to the GOP from nearly all of Appalachia in general and western Pennsylvania in particular have left the county as one of the few in the region that still supports the Democrats at a high level. Source In 2010 statistics,
7072-484: The impression "that poverty elimination is all too easy". Amartya Sen focused on 'capabilities' rather than consumption. In the development discourse, the basic needs model focuses on the measurement of what is believed to be an eradicable level of poverty . Relative poverty means low income relative to others in a country: for example, below 60% of the median income of people in that country. Relative poverty measurements, unlike absolute poverty measurements, take
7176-491: The income needed to afford a decent standard of living in the place one lives. The distinguishing feature between a living income and the poverty line is the concept of decency, wherein people thrive, not only survive. Based on years of stakeholder dialogue and expert consultations, the Living Income Community of Practice, an open learning community, established the formal definition of living income drawing on
7280-638: The largest religious group in Allegheny County was the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh , with 460,672 Catholics worshipping at 179 parishes; followed by the United Methodist Church , with 44,204 Methodists in 100 congregations; the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America , with 42,838 Presbyterians in 145 congregations; non-denominational Protestants, with 33,103 adherents in 85 congregations;
7384-674: The late 19th century and Pittsburgh was nicknamed "Steel Capital of the World". In 1913, the county's 125th anniversary was celebrated with a week-long series of events. The final day, September 27, was marked by a steamboat parade of 30 paddle wheelers . They traveled from Monongahela Wharf down the Ohio to the Davis Island Dam . The boats in line were the Steel City (formerly the Pittsburgh and Cincinnati packet Virginia ),
7488-430: The living standards, the well-being or economic position of a given family or household. Research done by Haughton and Khandker finds that there is no ideal measure of well-being, arguing that all measures of poverty are imperfect. That is not to say that measuring poverty should be avoided; rather, all indicators of poverty should be approached with caution, and questions about how they are formulated should be raised. As
7592-517: The most in the state. These include one city (Pittsburgh), 96 boroughs, 30 townships, and two home rule municipalities (Bethel Park and McCandless). Each municipality has its own elected officials, such as mayor, council, commissioners, supervisors, etc., and its own local services, such as police, fire, public works, etc. Some municipalities also have their own municipal authorities that provide services such as water, sewer, transit, etc. There have been several proposals to consolidate or merge some of
7696-492: The municipalities in Allegheny County, either with each other or with the City of Pittsburgh, to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and enhance regional cooperation. However, none of these proposals have been implemented so far. One of the most recent proposals is from Wilkinsburg , a borough that borders Pittsburgh and faces financial challenges due to declining population and tax base. In 2020, Wilkinsburg residents voted to approve
7800-400: The necessaries of a healthy life", which included fuel and light, rent, food, clothing, and household and personal items. Based on data from leading nutritionists of the period, he calculated the cheapest price for the minimum calorific intake and nutritional balance necessary, before people get ill or lose weight. He considered this amount to set his poverty line and concluded that 27.84% of
7904-490: The person might be able to meet her/his basic needs, but not be able to enjoy the same standards of living that other people in the same economy are enjoying. Relative poverty is thus a form of social exclusion that can for example affect peoples access to decent housing, education or job opportunities. The relative poverty measure is used by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP),
8008-400: The poor, most of whose expenditure is on basic foodstuffs rather than the relatively luxurious items (washing machines, air travel, healthcare) often included in PPP baskets. The economist Robert C. Allen has attempted to solve this by using standardized baskets of goods typical of those bought by the poor across countries and historical time, for example including a fixed calorific quantity of
8112-606: The poverty line calculation, using a single global monetary calculation for Living Income is problematic when applied worldwide. Additionally, the Living Income should be adjusted quarterly due to inflation and other significant changes such as currency adjustments. The actual income or proxy income can be used when measuring the gap between initial income and the living income benchmarks. The World Bank notes that poverty and standard of living can be measured by social perception as well, and found that in 2015, roughly one-third of
8216-481: The poverty line do vary considerably among nations. For example, rich nations generally employ more generous standards of poverty than poor nations. Even among rich nations, the standards differ greatly. Thus, the numbers are not comparable among countries. Even when nations do use the same method, some issues may remain. In the UK in 2006, "more than five million people – over a fifth (23 percent) of all employees – were paid less than £6.67 an hour". This value
8320-403: The poverty line. Women and children find themselves impacted by poverty more often when a part of single mother families. The poverty rate of women has increasingly exceeded that of men's. While the overall poverty rate is 12.3%, women poverty rate is 13.8% which is above the average and men are below the overall rate at 11.1%. Women and children (as single mother families) find themselves as
8424-548: The previous three general elections. The borough has a mayoral local government. Deneen Swartzwelder ( D ) of the Democratic Party is the current mayor and has been since 2005; she is currently serving her fifth term. Borough of Swissvale Council is made up of seven elected members, with each member serving a four-year term. Council elections are held in November every other year with newly elected officials sworn in
8528-467: The problem of poverty. This has implications for people. The federal poverty line is used by dozens of federal, state, and local agencies, as well as several private organizations and charities, to decide who needs assistance. The assistance can take many forms, but it is often difficult to put in place any type of aid without measurements which provide data. In a rapidly evolving economic climate, poverty assessment often aids developed countries in determining
8632-407: The real number as of 2015 was $ 7.40 per day. Using a single monetary poverty threshold is problematic when applied worldwide, due to the difficulty of comparing prices between countries. Prices of the same goods vary dramatically from country to country; while this is typically corrected for by using PPP exchange rates, the basket of goods used to determine such rates is usually unrepresentative of
8736-531: The region that is now Allegheny County. Pennsylvania administered most of the region as part of its Westmoreland County . Virginia considered everything south of the Ohio River and east of the Allegheny River to be part of its Yohogania County , and governed it from Fort Dunmore . In addition, parts of the county were located in the proposed British colony of Vandalia and the proposed U.S. state of Westsylvania . The overlapping boundaries, multiple governments, and confused deed claims soon proved unworkable. Near
8840-419: The same time span, yet there is no official poverty line in the country. Given Singapore's high level of growth and prosperity, many believe that poverty does not exist in the country, or that domestic poverty is not comparable to global absolute poverty. Such a view persists for a selection of reasons, and since there is no official poverty line, there is no strong acknowledgement that it exists. Yet, Singapore
8944-582: The social economic environment of the people observed into consideration. It is based on the assumption that whether a person is considered poor depends on her/his income share relative to the income shares of other people who are living in the same economy. The threshold for relative poverty is considered to be at 50% of a country's median equivalised disposable income after social transfers . Thus, it can vary greatly from country to country even after adjusting for purchasing power standards (PPS). A person can be poor in relative terms but not in absolute terms as
9048-685: The societies to which they belong (page 31)." Brian Nolan and Christopher T. Whelan of the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) in Ireland explained that "poverty has to be seen in terms of the standard of living of the society in question." Relative poverty measures are used as official poverty rates by the European Union , UNICEF and the OECD . The main poverty line used in the OECD and
9152-575: The southeast. There are several islands in these courses. The rivers drain via the Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico . Although the county's industrial growth resulted in clearcutting of the area's forests, a significant amount of woodland has regrown. Allegheny has a humid continental climate which is hot-summer, ( Dfa ) except in higher elevations, where it is warm-summer ( Dfb ). Until January 1, 2000, Allegheny County's government
9256-422: The support of life, but whatever the custom of the country renders it indecent for creditable people, even of the lowest order, to be without." In 1958, John Kenneth Galbraith argued, "People are poverty stricken when their income, even if adequate for survival, falls markedly behind that of their community." In 1964, in a joint committee economic President's report in the United States, Republicans endorsed
9360-483: The total population of York lived below this poverty line. This result corresponded with that from Booth's study of poverty in London and so challenged the view, commonly held at the time, that abject poverty was a problem particular to London and was not widespread in the rest of Britain. Rowntree distinguished between primary poverty , those lacking in income and secondary poverty , those who had enough income, but spent it elsewhere (1901:295–96). The poverty threshold
9464-409: The vote, Republican John McCain received 41%, and each of the three state row office winners ( Rob McCord for Treasurer, Jack Wagner for Auditor General, and Tom Corbett for Attorney General) also carried Allegheny. In 2016, despite Donald Trump being the first Republican to carry Pennsylvania since 1988, Hillary Clinton did slightly better than Barack Obama's 2012 vote total while Donald Trump
9568-518: The west. (The area known as Regent Square also encompasses portions of Pittsburgh, Wilkinsburg , Edgewood, and Swissvale.) Directly across the Monongahela River to the southwest is the borough of Munhall . As of the 2020 census , there were 8,624 people, 4,456 households, and 2,390 families residing in the borough. The population density was 8,052.0 inhabitants per square mile (3,108.9/km). There were 5,097 housing units at an average density of 4,251.6 per square mile (1,641.6/km). The racial makeup of
9672-538: The work of Richard and Martha Anker, who co-authored "Living Wages Around the World: Manual for Measurement". They define a living income as: The net annual income required for a household in a particular place to afford a decent standard of living for all members of that household. Elements of a decent standard of living include food, water, housing, education, healthcare, transport, clothing, and other essential needs including provision for unexpected events. Like
9776-451: The world's population was considered poor in relation to their particular society. The Living Income Community of Practice (LICOP) was founded by The Sustainable Food Lab, GIZ and ISEAL Alliance to measure the gap between what people around the world earn versus what they need to have a decent standard of living, and find ways to bridge this gap. A variation on the LICOP's Living Income is
9880-485: The world. It influenced the programs and policies of major multilateral and bilateral development agencies, and was the precursor to the human development approach." A traditional list of immediate "basic needs" is food (including water), shelter, and clothing. Many modern lists emphasize the minimum level of consumption of 'basic needs' of not just food, water, and shelter, but also sanitation, education, and health care. Different agencies use different lists. According to
9984-451: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.85. In the borough the population was spread out, with 20.0% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.0 males. The median income for
10088-587: Was defined under Pennsylvania's Second Class County Code. The county government was charged with all local activities, including elections, prisons, airports, public health, and city planning. All public offices were headed by elected citizens. There were three elected county commissioners. On January 1, 2000, the Home-Rule Charter went into effect. It replaced the three elected commissioners with an elected chief officer (the County Executive),
10192-444: Was first developed by Mollie Orshansky between 1963 and 1964. She attributed the poverty threshold as a measure of income inadequacy by taking the cost of food plan per family of three or four and multiplying it by a factor of three. In 1969 the inter agency poverty level review committee adjusted the threshold for only price changes. The term "absolute poverty" is also sometimes used as a synonym for extreme poverty. Absolute poverty
10296-463: Was formed to respond to pressure from the increase in settlers living in the area around Pittsburgh; this was designated as the county seat in 1791. The county originally extended north to the shores of Lake Erie ; it was reduced to its current borders by 1800. As population increased in the territory, other counties were organized. In the 1790s, the United States federal government imposed
10400-650: Was introduced by the International Labour Organization's World Employment Conference in 1976. "Perhaps the high point of the WEP was the World Employment Conference of 1976, which proposed the satisfaction of basic human needs as the overriding objective of national and international development policy. The basic needs approach to development was endorsed by governments and workers' and employers' organizations from all over
10504-728: Was settled for thousands of years by succeeding cultures of indigenous peoples. During the colonial era , historic native groups known by the colonists to settle in the area included members of western nations of the Iroquois , such as the Seneca; the Lenape , who had been pushed from the East by European-American settlers; the Shawnee , who also had territory in Ohio; and the Mingo , a group made up of
10608-556: Was the first county in Pennsylvania to be given a Native American name. It was named after the Lenape word for the Allegheny River . The meaning of "Allegheny" is uncertain. It is usually said to mean "fine river". Some historians state that the name may come from a Lenape account of an ancient mythical tribe called "Allegewi" , who lived along the river before being taken over by the Lenape. Prior to European contact, this area
10712-448: Was the second-strongest Democratic bastion in Pennsylvania, behind only Philadelphia. In 2000, Democrat Al Gore won 56% of the vote and Republican George W. Bush won 41%. In 2004, Democrat John Kerry received 57% of the vote and Republican Bush received 41%. In 2006, Democrats Governor Ed Rendell and Senator Bob Casey Jr. won 59% and 65% of the vote in Allegheny County, respectively. In 2008, Democrat Barack Obama received 57% of
10816-419: Was the worst performing Republican in 20 years. In the 2018 Midterms , Democrats received an even higher percentage of the vote with Tom Wolf and Casey receiving approximately two thirds of the county's vote. This is an improvement over the approximately 55% each person received in the county in their last election in 2014 and 2012 respectively. In 2020, Joe Biden improved upon Clinton's performance, receiving
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