Butler, Pennsylvania
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Butler is a city in Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 15,121 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Butler County[Geographic references#6GR6].
History
The city was named for Maj. Gen. Richard Butler, who fell at the Battle of the Wabash, also known as St. Clair's Defeat, in western Ohio in 1791. The first settlers were of Irish or Scottish descent and were driving westward from Connecticut. In 1802 the German immigrants began arriving, with Detmar Basse settling in Jackson Township in 1802 and founding Zelienople the following year. After Johann George Rapp arrived in 1805 and founded Harmony, the trickle of settlers grew tremendous numbers. John A. Roebling settled Saxonburg 1832, by which time all counties were filled with German settlers.Geography
Butler is located at (40.860679, -79.894796)[Geographic references#1GR1].According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.0 km² (2.7 mi²), all land.
Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there were 15,121 people, 6,740 households, and 3,626 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,170.4/km² (5,611.3/mi²). There were 7,402 housing units at an average density of 1,062.4/km² (2,746.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.52% White, 2.22% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.42% of the population.There were 6,740 households out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.0% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.2% were non-families. 40.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,154, and the median income for a family was $35,893. Males had a median income of $30,607 versus $20,950 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,457. About 14.7% of families and 19.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.8% of those under age 18 and 14.5% of those age 65 or over.
Claim to Fame
Butler was home to a large factory for the Pullman Palace Car company. In addition, the modern Jeep was invented in the town, whose site of invention is now occupied by a strip mall.Now, the AK Steel plant employs many people from the city and surrounding areas.
An abandoned limestone mine near the town serves as highly secure storage for both Corbis, the stock photography company founded by Bill Gates and the US Federal Government.
A book of poetry has been written about this city: [The Butler Pennsylvania Poems] by Charles L. Cingolani.
For those interested in the paranormal, Butler is also home to a famous Haunted Cemetery known as Snyder's Cemetery.
Wrestler Big John Studd was born and raised in Butler.
Bret Michaels, the lead singer of Poison, was born in Butler but raised in Mechanicsburg.
External links
- [Butler Area Public Library]
- [Butler Area School District]
- [1883 History of Butler County]
- [The Butler Pennsylvania Blog ~]
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