Tarentum is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, approximately 22 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, located along the Allegheny River. Incorporated in 1842 and founded by Henry Brackenridge, the borough historically served as an industrial center for glass, paper, steel, and brick manufacturing. The borough is connected to New Kensington via the George D. Stuart Bridge and is served by the Highlands School District."
The Pennsylvania Railroad operated a station in Tarentum; its rail line ran through the town.[3] The population was 4,352 at the 2020 census.[4] Two statues of Hebe, the Greek goddess of youth, are displayed by the borough in Tarentum.
History
The area that would become Tarentum was first settled in 1796 and formally laid out in 1829 by Henry Marie Brackenridge, son of Pittsburgh pioneer Hugh Henry Brackenridge. The borough was incorporated on March 7, 1842.
During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Tarentum developed as an industrial hub along the Allegheny River. Local manufacturers produced plate glass, bottles, bricks, steel, lumber, and paper, and the surrounding hills were mined for coal and iron ore. The borough’s location on the Pennsylvania Railroad and later streetcar lines supported its growth as a working-class river community.
By the early twentieth century, Tarentum was home to several thousand residents and a mix of immigrant communities who came to work in the mills and factories. Industrial decline in the latter half of the century led to population loss and economic transition, but the borough has continued to serve as a residential and commercial center for the Alle-Kiski Valley.
Recent Developments
In the early twenty-first century, Tarentum undertook several community revitalization and infrastructure initiatives. Since 2019, the borough has removed more than 65 blighted structures as part of a long-term strategy to address abandoned properties and improve neighborhood conditions. Tarentum has also implemented a business façade improvement program and regularly partners with county and regional agencies on economic development projects.
The borough has been recognized for intergovernmental cooperation and local leadership, receiving the Allegheny League of Municipalities Banner Community designation and the Pennsylvania Governor’s Award for Intergovernmental Cooperation. Tarentum also continues to invest in infrastructure, including water and sewer upgrades, electric system improvements, and park redevelopment projects.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6km2), of which 1.2 square miles (3.1km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52km2), or 12.06%, is water.
As of the 2000 census,[9] there were 4,993 people, 2,170 households, and 1,306 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,011.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,548.7/km2). There were 2,556 housing units at an average density of 2,053.3 per square mile (792.8/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 93.79% White, 3.65% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.90% of the population.
There were 2,170 households, out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.0% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.2% 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 2.92.
The towboat Annette G pushing a dredger crane barge just upstream from the George D. Stuart Bridge (commonly called the Tarentum Bridge)
In the borough the population was spread out, with 22.0% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $26,895, and the median income for a family was $32,042. Males had a median income of $28,578 versus $21,891 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $14,671. About 12.1% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.1% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.
In 1900, 5,472 people lived here; in 1910, 7,414 people lived here; and in 1940, 9,846 people lived in Tarentum. The population was 4,993 at the 2000 census.
The Community Library of Allegheny Valley, Tarentum Branch, serves the borough and regional municipalities.[10]
Allegheny-Kiski Valley Heritage Museum is at 224 East Seventh Avenue.http://www.akvhs.org/
Pittsburgh Mills in nearby Frazer Township uses a Tarentum postal code; it is the 22nd-largest shopping mall in the United States.
Education
Tarentum is within the Highlands School District, which operates Highlands Elementary School (grades 1–4) in the borough; also Highlands Early Childhood Center (Pre-k and K), Highlands Middle School (grades 5–8), and Highlands High School (grades 9–12) in nearby communities. The Golden Rams are the Highlands School District's mascot.
Tarentum Borough operates under a council–manager form of government. In this system, policy decisions are made by an elected Borough Council, while administrative and day-to-day operations are handled by a professional Borough Manager. The current Mayor is Robert Lang, who began his first full term in January 2022. Council is led by President Scott Dadowski and includes representatives from each ward and at-large members. Dwight Boddorf serves as Borough Manager, appointed in September 2022 to oversee municipal operations and implement council directives. This structure is designed to balance democratic leadership with professional administration, promoting efficiency and accountability in local governance.
Estelle Harris (1928–2022), actress who played George Costanza's mother on Seinfeld, lived in Tarentum and graduated from the former Tarentum High School.
↑ Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, Volume 195, Part 2, p. 372, J.A. Fitzgerald, 1973. Accessed April 28, 2025. "Third District 3C (Camden, Gloucester and Salem) John L. Miller (Rep., Cherry Hill ) John L. Miller was born in Tarentum, Pennsylvania, on August 6, 1925. He graduated from Balboa High School in the Panama Canal Zone in 1943."
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