Bellevue, Pennsylvania Explained

Bellevue, Pennsylvania should not be confused with Bellevue Park, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Bellevue, Pennsylvania
Settlement Type:Borough
Seal Size:250
Etymology:belle vue, French for beautiful view
Mapsize:250px
Coordinates:40.4939°N -80.0536°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Pennsylvania
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Allegheny
Established Title:Settled
Established Date:1796–1804
Established Title1:Incorporated
Established Date1:September 7, 1867 (years ago)
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Val Pennington
Leader Title1:Council President
Leader Name1:Jodi Cerminara
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:2.91
Area Total Sq Mi:1.12
Area Land Km2:2.62
Area Land Sq Mi:1.01
Area Water Km2:0.29
Area Water Sq Mi:0.11
Elevation Ft:997
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:8311
Population Density Km2:3178.18
Population Density Sq Mi:8228.71
Timezone1:EST
Utc Offset1:-5
Timezone1 Dst:EDT
Utc Offset1 Dst:-4
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:15202
Area Code:412
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:42-05312
Blank Name Sec2:School District
Blank Info Sec2:Northgate
Blank2 Name Sec2:Wikimedia Commons
Website:bellevuepa.org

Bellevue is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 8,311 at the 2020 census.[2] A suburb of Pittsburgh, it is part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area.

The borough was incorporated in 1867. There is a public park and library, the Andrew Bayne Memorial Library.

History

The land on which the borough currently sits was once part of the Depreciation Lands reserved for Revolutionary War veterans.[3] The first landowners in the area were James Robinson and Hugh Henry Brackenridge, purchasing parcels in 1799 and 1792 respectively.[3] At the time of its organization as a borough, Bellevue had exactly the minimum population for such a designation: 300 residents.[4]

Residents of the area tried unsuccessfully to obtain improvements from Ross Township, but officials were opposed to development along Venango Trail (today Route 19).[3] In response, Bellevue was incorporated as a borough independent of Ross on September 7, 1867.[5] The name of the borough was chosen by J. J. East, a linguist and early resident of the borough, and means "beautiful view."[3]

Bellevue was always a "dry" town, even before Prohibition, meaning that the sale of alcohol in stores or restaurants was restricted. Sale of alcohol is currently regulated by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB).[6] The borough's 2011 primary election included a referendum to permit limited alcohol sales at certain establishments; the proposal was defeated.[7] A similar proposal in 2015 passed.[8]

Architecture

Bellevue contains over 1,000 buildings over 100 years old. In 2016, to recognize 150 years since the borough's founding, Bellevue's Community Development Corporation (CDC), Bona Fide Bellevue, launched a historic building plaque program, consisting of inventorying all the buildings in Bellevue. Of over 2,600 buildings, just over 730 had been approved locally "historic." Over 150 property owners voluntarily elected to purchase a plaque signifying the historic nature of their buildings.

Three buildings have been further recognized as historic:

Geography

Bellevue is located at 40.4939°N -80.0536°W.[9]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.1sqmi, of which 1sqmi is land and 0.1sqmi, or 9.09%, is water. Its average elevation is 997feet above sea level.[10]

Surrounding and adjacent communities

Bellevue has three land borders with Avalon to the northwest, Ross Township to the north and east, and the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Brighton Heights to the southeast. Across the Ohio River to the southwest, Bellevue adjoins Stowe Township.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,770 people, 4,389 households, and 1,953 families residing in the borough. The population density was 8768.1sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 4,770 housing units at an average density of 4769sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the borough was 88.4% White, 8.40% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.4% of the population.

There were 4,389 households, out of which 19.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.6% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 55.5% were non-families. 48.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 19.5% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 35.0% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 80.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.9 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $31,481, and the median income for a family was $42,382. Males had a median income of $30,683 versus $26,596 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $19,246. About 7.8% of families and 18.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.2% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Val Pennington,[11] Mayor

Presidential Elections Results[12] [13]
YearRepublicanDemocraticThird Parties
201634% 1,33160% 2,3636% 225
201238% 1,39760% 2,2372% 64

Education

Bellevue is served by the Northgate School District.

Notable people

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ArcGIS REST Services Directory. United States Census Bureau. October 12, 2022.
  2. Web site: Explore Census Data .
  3. News: Borough of Bellevue . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . July 17, 2011.
  4. News: Salute to Bellevue . Pittsburgh Press . September 13, 1942 . 8–9.
  5. Web site: Allegheny County – 2nd Class . Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission . July 7, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110609103442/http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/counties/pdfs/Allegheny.pdf. 9 June 2011 . live.
  6. News: Bellevue barber wants to end dry-town status . https://archive.today/20130131073438/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_612317.html . dead . January 31, 2013 . Kurutz . Daveen Rae . Pittsburgh Tribune-Review . February 19, 2009 . July 7, 2011 .
  7. News: Connie . Rankin . Bellevue voters defeat referendum . May 20, 2011 . The Citizen . Bellevue, Penna. . July 7, 2011.
  8. http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2015/12/11/alcohol-sales-to-begin-tonight-in-bellevue/ "Bellevue No Longer A Dry Town"
  9. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. 2011-04-23. 2011-02-12.
  10. Web site: US Board on Geographic Names. 2008-01-31. United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25.
  11. Web site: Bellevue Mayor Council Elected Officials .
  12. Web site: EL. 2012 Allegheny County election. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. 15 October 2017.
  13. Web site: EL. 2016 Pennsylvania general election.... Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 15 October 2017.
  14. Howes, Durward, ed. (1937). American Women : The Official Who's Who Among the Women of the Nation, Vol. II (1937–38). Los Angeles, CA: American Publications, Inc. p. 26. 435906904.