White Oak, Pennsylvania

White Oak, Pennsylvania
Borough
WEDO studio in White Oak
Motto:  "Come Grow With Us"
Location in Allegheny County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
Coordinates: 40°20′42″N79°48′48″W / 40.34500°N 79.81333°W / 40.34500; -79.81333
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Allegheny
Government
• Mayor	Ina Jean Marton
• Council President	Ron Massung
• Council Vice President	Joe Nagy
• Council Members	Ed Babyak Charles Davis Kenneth Robb C. Richard Bryce
Area [1]
• Total	6.67 sq mi (17.27 km2)
• Land	6.62 sq mi (17.15 km2)
• Water	0.05 sq mi (0.12 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	7,630
• Estimate  (2019) [2]	7,441
• Density	1,123.85/sq mi (433.89/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	15131
Area code	412
FIPS code	42-84704
GNIS feature ID	1196442
Website	www.woboro.com

White Oak is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 7,630 at the 2020 census. ^[3] It is a suburb of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. White Oak was named for a stand of white oak trees near the original town site. ^[4]

Historical marker, White Oak PA USA, commemorating site of fort built to protect settlers

Houses on Oliver Drive

History

White Oak was originally part of Versailles Township (one of the original townships of Allegheny County). In that era it was the site of Fort Reburn, a place of refuge for early settlers.

On March 21, 1948 a petition requesting the formation of White Oak Borough was submitted to the County Court. On June 24, 1948, Judge Russell H. Adams signed the decree of incorporation of the new borough. The first borough building was located at 860 Maple Street inside the old Bowery School.

Geography

White Oak is located at 40°20′42″N79°48′48″W / 40.34500°N 79.81333°W / 40.34500; -79.81333 (40.344869, −79.813202). ^[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 6.7 square miles (17 km²), of which 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²) (0.45%) is water.

Surrounding neighborhoods

White Oak has five borders, including North Versailles Township to the north, North Huntingdon Township in Westmoreland County to the east, South Versailles Township to the southwest, Elizabeth Township to the south (in which a short part of the border runs across the Youghiogheny River), and McKeesport to the west.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1940	5,227		—
1950	6,159		17.8%
1960	9,047		46.9%
1970	9,304		2.8%
1980	9,480		1.9%
1990	8,761		−7.6%
2000	8,437		−3.7%
2010	7,862		−6.8%
2020	7,630		−3.0%
2019 (est.)	7,441	[2]	−5.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [6]

As of the 2000 census ^[7] there were 8,437 people, 3,678 households, and 2,390 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,265.4 inhabitants per square mile (488.6/km²). There were 3,821 housing units at an average density of 573.1 per square mile (221.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.20% White, 1.86% African American, 0.01% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.12% from other races, and 0.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.40% of the population.

There were 3,678 households, out of which 22.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 17.8% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 23.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $38,046, and the median income for a family was $47,019. Males had a median income of $37,761 versus $27,378 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $20,775. About 4.0% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Presidential election results ^{[8] [9] [10]}

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third parties
2020	55%2,651	43%2,101	1%52
2016	57%2,313	42%1,705	1%47
2012	55%2,255	44%1,779	1%52

Education

• Francis McClure Middle School ^[11]
• Twin Rivers Intermediate School ^[11]
• Founders' Hall Middle School ^[12]
• McKeesport Area High School (in McKeesport) ^[11]
• Mary of Nazareth Catholic School

Emergency services

The borough maintains its own police department consisting of twelve full-time officers and eight patrol cars. Two volunteer fire departments serve the borough: White Oak VFC No. 1 and Rainbow VFC. Emergency Medical Services are provided by White Oak EMS www.whiteoakems.com

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
3. "Explore Census Data".
4. Porter Jr., Thomas J. (May 10, 1984). "Town names carry a little bit of history". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 1. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
6. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
7. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
8. EL. "2012 Allegheny County election". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
9. EL. "2016 Pennsylvania general election..." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
10. "Election Night Reporting".
11. "White Oak Borough Schools and Education".
12. "Founders Hall Middle School / Homepage". www.mckasd.net. Retrieved February 28, 2017.

External links

• Media related to White Oak, Pennsylvania at Wikimedia Commons
• Borough website