Meridian, Pennsylvania

Meridian, Pennsylvania
Census-designated place
Location within Butler County
Meridian Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Meridian Meridian (the United States) Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 40°51′16″N79°57′23″W / 40.85444°N 79.95639°W / 40.85444; -79.95639
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Butler
Township	Butler
Area [1]
• Total	2.82 sq mi (7.31 km2)
• Land	2.82 sq mi (7.29 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation	1,312 ft (400 m)
Population  (2020) [2]
• Total	3,760
• Density	1,334.75/sq mi (515.42/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
FIPS code	42-48728

Along Pennsylvania Route 68 in western Meridian

Meridian is a census-designated place (CDP) in Butler Township, ^[3] Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,881 at the 2010 census. ^[4] Meridian was the site of an attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in 2024.

History

Meridian was linked to Butler, Evans City and Pittsburgh in 1908 by the Pittsburgh, Harmony, Butler and New Castle Railway, an interurban trolley line. The line closed on June 15, 1931, and the trolleys were replaced by buses.

Attempted assassination of Donald Trump

Main article: Attempted assassination of Donald Trump

Former President Donald Trump was shot at during a campaign rally being held at the Butler Farm Show fairground, partly in Meridian, on July 13, 2024. Trump and at least two other attendees were injured in the attack and one attendee was killed. The attacker, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was then fatally shot by a Secret Service sniper. ^[5]

Geography

Meridian is located in the western part of Butler Township at 40°51′16″N79°57′23″W / 40.85444°N 79.95639°W / 40.85444; -79.95639 (40.854415, −79.956359). ^[6] It is bordered to the east and partly to the north by the Homeacre-Lyndora CDP. Pennsylvania Route 68 forms the northern edge of the Meridian CDP, leading east 4 miles (6 km) to downtown Butler and southwest 8 miles (13 km) to Evans City.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²), of which 0.004 square miles (0.01 km²), or 0.16%, is water. ^[4]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2020	3,760		—
U.S. Decennial Census [7]

As of the 2000 census, ^[8] there were 3,794 people, 1,489 households, and 1,137 families living in the CDP. The population density was 1,337.7 inhabitants per square mile (516.5/km²). There were 1,524 housing units at an average density of 537.3 per square mile (207.5/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 99.24% White, 0.18% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, and 0.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.37% of the population.

There were 1,489 households, out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.7% were married couples living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the CDP the population was spread out, with 21.3% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 29.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $48,939, and the median income for a family was $57,893. Males had a median income of $44,458 versus $27,933 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $22,962. About 3.9% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The Butler Township Police Department is the local law enforcement agency. ^[9]

Education

It is in the Butler Area School District. ^[10] Butler Area Intermediate High School and Butler Area Senior High School are the district's comprehensive secondary schools.

The district formerly operated Meridian Elementary School, ^[11] which closed in 2015. ^[12]

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
2. "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
3. "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Meridian CDP, PA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved July 16, 2024. Butler twp
4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Meridian CDP, Pennsylvania". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
5. Tanyos, Faris (July 13, 2024). "Trump rally shooter killed by Secret Service sniper, officials say". CBS News . Retrieved July 13, 2024.
6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Archived from the original on August 24, 2019. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
7. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
8. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
9. "Police Department". Butler Township. Retrieved July 15, 2024. Hours & Location 290 S. Duffy Road Butler, PA 16001
10. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Butler County, PA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024. - Text list Archived July 14, 2024, at the Wayback Machine
11. "Butler Area Schools". Butler Area School District. Archived from the original on April 13, 1997. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
12. "Residents Upset With Butler District's Decision To Close Schools". CBS News. KDKA-TV. May 7, 2015. Retrieved July 15, 2024.