Greenville, Pennsylvania

Greenville, Pennsylvania
Borough
Main Street
Flag Seal Logo
Location in Mercer County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
Greenville Show map of Pennsylvania Greenville Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 41°24′18″N80°23′12″W / 41.40500°N 80.38667°W / 41.40500; -80.38667
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Mercer
Established	1819
Government
• Mayor	Paul R Hamill
Area [1]
• Total	1.89 sq mi (4.89 km2)
• Land	1.89 sq mi (4.89 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Highest elevation [2] (western border near PA 358)	1,190 ft (360 m)
Lowest elevation [2] (Shenango River)	918 ft (280 m)
Population  (2020) [3]
• Total	5,540
• Density	2,935.88/sq mi (1,133.58/km2)
Time zone	UTC-4 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (EDT)
Zip code	16125
Area code	724
School district	Greenville Area
Website	www.greenvilleborough.com

Greenville is a borough with home rule status in northwestern Mercer County, Pennsylvania, United States. Located along the Shenango River, it lies roughly 80 miles from both Pittsburgh and Cleveland. It is 1.89 square miles in area, and had a population of 5,541 as of the 2020 census. ^[4]

Incorporated as the Borough of West Greenville in 1836, ^[5] it changed its name to the Borough of Greenville in 1865 ^[6] and began to operate under a home rule charter on January 1, 2020, under the name of the "Town of Greenville." ^[7] The origin of the name is speculated to have come from East Greenville, Pennsylvania. ^{[8] [9]} Greenville is part of the Hermitage micropolitan area.

It was home to the Werner Company, the world's largest manufacturer of step and extension ladders. Bail USA, a national bail bond company, and Anderson Coach & Travel, a prominent regional bus company, are based in Greenville.

History

Greenville was known for its manufacturing interests, including railroad shops, bridge works, gristmills, a cement-block plant, an automobile factory, foundries and machine shops, saw and planing mills, steelworks, a railroad-car manufacturer, and flour mills. Water power was supplied by the Shenango River.

In 1900, 4,814 people lived in Greenville. That number rose to 5,909 by 1910, and stood at 10,000 in 1940. In 1950 there were 9,210 residents of Greenville. ^[10] By 2000, the census showed a decline in population to 6,380.

Greenville was designated financially distressed in May 2002 by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania under the Financially Distressed Municipalities Act. The designation was rescinded in November 2023 after improvement of the borough's fiscal situation. ^[11]

The Greenville Commercial Historic District and Alexander P. and James S. Waugh House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. ^[12]

Geography

Greenville is located in northwest Pennsylvania at 41°24′18″N80°23′12″W / 41.40500°N 80.38667°W / 41.40500; -80.38667 (41.404998, −80.386651), ^[13] along the Shenango River. Its altitude is 945 feet (288 m) above sea level.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	1,848		—
1880	3,007		62.7%
1890	3,674		22.2%
1900	4,814		31.0%
1910	5,969		24.0%
1920	8,101		35.7%
1930	8,628		6.5%
1940	8,149		−5.6%
1950	9,210		13.0%
1960	8,765		−4.8%
1970	8,704		−0.7%
1980	7,730		−11.2%
1990	6,734		−12.9%
2000	6,380		−5.3%
2010	5,919		−7.2%
2020	5,541		−6.4%
2021 (est.)	5,499	[4]	−0.8%
Sources: [14] [15] [16] [3]

As of the census ^[15] of 2000, there were 6,380 people, 2,464 households, and 1,471 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,038.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,173.0/km²). There were 2,723 housing units at an average density of 1,398.5 per square mile (540.0/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.33% White, 1.77% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.49% of the population.

The leading ancestries in Greenville are German at 28%, Irish at 12%, English at 12% and Italian at 10%.

There were 2,464 households, out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.3% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 21.7% under the age of 18, 16.8% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 89.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.6 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $31,250, and the median income for a family was $38,869. Males had a median income of $31,324 versus $19,293 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $14,969. About 10.6% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The Werner Company, the world's largest manufacturer of step and extension ladders, is the largest employer in the city. Richard D. Werner founded the R. D. Werner Company in 1922 in New York City. The early products were job tools, thread, and metal trim for carpet thresholds. Soon after World War II, Werner's curiosity led him to experiment with manufacturing aluminum ladders, and the Werner Ladder business was born. The company is growing rapidly today, headquarters at 93 Werner Road in Greenville. ^{[17] [18]}

Other major employers in Greenville include UPMC Horizon, Walmart, Thiel College, Greenville Area School District, and St. Paul's. ^[19]

Recreation and culture

The borough owns and maintains seven parks in Greenville, the biggest being Riverside Park, which houses its own recreation center, outdoor amphitheater, which was just newly renovated, and a new playground, which was built in 2012 by community volunteers. Riverside Park's South Greenville Recreation Center was completed renovated and doubled the size of the center; the construction was completed early 2016. Riverside Park was previously home to the Greenville Memorial Pool, which opened in 1952 and closed in 2009. A sports complex is housed in the adjacent West Salem Township, where community softball, soccer and football programs are held.

The Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce promotes community development. ^[20]

The Greenville Area Community Theatre is open to people ages 18 and over. The Penn-Ohio Young Actors Playhouse is located in Greenville and serves the Penn-Ohio area for ages 18 and under. ^[21] Greenville also has its own symphony. ^[22]

Greenville Post Office

The Greenville Area Public Library has served the area since 1921. ^[23]

Greenville has three museums: the Greenville Area Historical Society at the Waugh House Museum, the Greenville Railroad Park and Museum, and the Erie Extension Canal Museum. ^[24]

The Railroad Park and Museum displays, among other railroad equipment, the last extant 0-10-2 "Union" steam locomotive. Every year on the first weekend in July, "Heritage Days" is held. This includes a fireworks display, crafters and vendors, historical reenactments, children's activities, and the area's largest free car show. ^[25] The Waugh House is the oldest brick house in Greenville, built in 1826.

The post office is considered among the finest of Depression-Era design, built under the WPA program during the Roosevelt administration.

Education

The Greenville Area School District serves some of the area, and is divided into two buildings. The Reynolds Area School District serves some of the area, and is contained in two buildings.

Thiel College, a private liberal arts college, is located in Greenville.

Notable people

• Štefan Banič, inventor of one of the first parachute designs ^[26]
• Adda Burch, former teacher, missionary, temperance activist, and reporter
• Nicholas James (a.k.a. Nicholas J. Muscarella), American actor
• Gus Kefurt, Medal of Honor recipient ^[27]
• Eric Kloss, jazz saxophonist ^[28]
• Larry Lake, musician, radio personality, and record producer ^[29]
• Bill Mitchell, former vice president of design, General Motors
• Nolan Reimold, former professional baseball player, Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, and Toronto Blue Jays

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
2. "Little Shenango River Topo Map, Mercer County PA (Greenville West Area)". TopoZone. Locality, LLC. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
3. "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
4. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
5. Mercer County, Pennsylvania Recorder of Deeds, Deed Book Q1, Page 205.
6. Mercer County, Pennsylvania Clerk of Courts, No. 20, November Sessions, 1865, Quarter Sessions Docket 7, Page 188,
7. Greenville Government Study Commission. Final Report And Proposed Home Rule Charter
8. M., J. L. (May 19, 1932). "Be That As It May". The Record-Argus. p. 2. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
9. M., J. L. (August 3, 1935). "Be That As It May by". The Record-Argus. p. 2. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
10. Columbia Lippincott Gazetteer, p. 719
11. "Shapiro Administration Announces End of Greenville's Distressed Municipality Status Under Act 47 After More Than Two Decades". Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. November 9, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
12. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
13. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
14. "Census of Population and Housing". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
16. "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 11, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
17. Matt Day (June 25, 2010). "Werner Ladder Company - Business Excellence Magazine". www.bus-ex.com.
18. "Company Overview of Werner Co., Inc". www.bloomberg.com.
19. Search Results - Greenville, Pennsylvania - ReferenceUSA - Current Businesses
20. "Home". Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce.
21. "Penn-Ohio Young Actors Playhouse". poyap.weebly.com. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
22. "Welcome - Greenville Symphony Orchestra". Thegreenvillesymphony.org. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
23. "Greenville Area Public Library". Greenvillelibrary.net. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
24. "Greenville Museum Alliance, Greenville, Pa". Greenvillemuseumalliance.org. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
25. "Greenville Heritage Days, Greenville, Pa". greenvilleheritagedays.com. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
26. "Gov. Ridge to Kick Off Banic Festival..." thefreelibrary.com.
27. "World War II, Medal of Honor, Recipients G-L". Archived from the original on December 27, 2018. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
28. "AllMusic Artist Biography".
29. "Larry Lake- The Canadian Encyclopedia". Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2012.

External links

Media related to Greenville, Pennsylvania at Wikimedia Commons