Pennsylvania's 25th congressional district explained

State:Pennsylvania
District Number:25
Obsolete:yes
Created:1830
1850
1875
Eliminated:1840
1860
1980
Years:1833-1843
1853-1863
1875-1983
Population Year:1830
1850
1970

Pennsylvania's 25th congressional district was one of Pennsylvania's districts of the United States House of Representatives.

Geography

In 1903, the district was drawn to cover Crawford and Erie counties, which had been its original area 60 years earlier.

The district was again moved in 1922, when it was redrawn to cover Washington and Greene counties.[1]

In 1942, the boundaries of the district were redrawn without actually moving it for the first time. Greene County was transferred to the 24th District while parts of Allegheny County south and west of down-town Pittsburgh were moved to the 25th District. In 1944, the district boundaries were totally redrawn. It now consisted of Beaver, Butler and Lawrence counties. These boundaries were then redrawn in 1972, with a small strip of northern Allegheny County being put in the 25th district.[2]

The district was eliminated in 1983.

Demographics

In 1902, the district was drawn to cover an area with a population of 162,116. Only 4 of Pennsylvania's 30 districts had fewer people at this point. Some Pennsylvania districts had over 250,000 people at this point. 0.4% of the population of what would be the 25th district in 1902 was black in 1900.[3]

History

This district was created in 1833. In 1853, it consisted of Crawford County, Pennsylvania and Erie County, Pennsylvania at this point. The district had a population of 76,591.[4]

It was eliminated in 1863. This district was recreated in 1873. The district was held at-large until 1875. In 1875, it was made a geographical district covering Forest County, Pennsylvania, Clarion County, Pennsylvania, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania and Indiana County, Pennsylvania. It had a population of 131,663.[5] In 1888, Pennsylvania congressional districts were redrawn because there was a decision to make Pennsylvania's 28th congressional district a geographical district and end its election at large. The 25th district was shifted to cover Butler County, Pennsylvania, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and Mercer County, Pennsylvania.[6] These would remain the boundaries until 1912.

The district was eliminated as a result of the redistricting cycle after the 1980 census.

List of members representing the district

MemberPartyYearsCong
ress
Electoral history
District established March 4, 1833
align=left
John Gailbraith
Jacksoniannowrap March 4, 1833 –
March 3, 1837
Elected in 1832.
Re-elected in 1834.
align=left
Arnold Plumer
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1837 –
March 3, 1839
Elected in 1836.
align=left
John Gailbraith
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1839 –
March 3, 1841
Elected in 1838.
align=left
Arnold Plumer
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1841 –
March 3, 1843
Elected in 1840.
District dissolved March 3, 1843
District re-established March 4, 1853
nowrap rowspan=3 align=left
John Dick
Whignowrap March 4, 1853 –
March 3, 1855
Elected in 1852.
Re-elected in 1854.
Re-elected in 1856.
Oppositionnowrap March 4, 1855 –
March 3, 1857
Republicannowrap March 4, 1857 –
March 3, 1859
align=left
Elijah Babbitt
Republicannowrap March 4, 1859 –
March 3, 1863
Elected in 1858.
Re-elected in 1860.
District dissolved March 3, 1863
District re-established March 4, 1875
align=left
George A. Jenks
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1877
Elected in 1874.
align=left
Harry White
Republicannowrap March 4, 1877 –
March 3, 1881
Elected in 1876.
Re-elected in 1878.
Retired.
align=left
James Mosgrove
Greenbacknowrap March 4, 1881 –
March 3, 1883
Elected in 1880.
Retired.
align=left John D. Patton
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1885
Elected in 1882.
Retired.
align=left
Alexander C. White
Republicannowrap March 4, 1885 –
March 3, 1887
Elected in 1884.
Retired.
align=left
James T. Maffett
Republicannowrap March 4, 1887 –
March 3, 1889
Elected in 1886.
Retired.
align=left
Charles C. Townsend
Republicannowrap March 4, 1889 –
March 3, 1891
Elected in 1888.
Retired.
align=left
Eugene P. Gillespie
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1891 –
March 3, 1893
Elected in 1890.
Lost re-election.
align=left
Thomas W. Phillips
Republicannowrap March 4, 1893 –
March 3, 1897
Elected in 1892.
Re-elected in 1894.
Retired.
Vacantnowrap March 4, 1897 –
April 20, 1897
James J. Davidson was elected in 1896 but died on January 2, 1897.
align=left
Joseph B. Showalter
Republicannowrap April 20, 1897 –
March 3, 1903
Elected to finish Davidson's term.
Re-elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Retired.
align=left
Arthur L. Bates
Republicannowrap March 4, 1903 –
March 3, 1913
Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Re-elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Retired.
align=left
Milton W. Shreve
Republicannowrap March 4, 1913 –
March 3, 1915
Elected in 1912.
Lost re-election.
align=left
Michael Liebel Jr.
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1915 –
March 3, 1917
Elected in 1914.
Retired.
align=left
Henry A. Clark
Republicannowrap March 4, 1917 –
March 3, 1919
Elected in 1916.
Retired.

Milton W. Shreve
Republicannowrap March 4, 1919 –
March 3, 1921
Elected in 1918
Re-elected in 1920.
Redistricted to the .
Independent Republicannowrap March 4, 1921 –
March 3, 1923
align=left
Henry W. Temple
Republicannowrap March 4, 1923 –
March 3, 1933
Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Lost re-election.
align=left
Charles I. Faddis
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1933 –
December 4, 1942
Elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Lost renomination.
Resigned to join the United States Army.
Vacantnowrap December 4, 1942 –
January 3, 1943
align=left
Grant Furlong
Democraticnowrap January 3, 1943 –
January 3, 1945
Elected in 1942.
Lost renomination.
align=left
Louis E. Graham
Republicannowrap January 3, 1945 –
January 3, 1955
Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Re-elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Lost re-election.
align=left
Frank M. Clark
Democraticnowrap January 3, 1955 –
December 31, 1974
Elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Lost re-election.
Vacantnowrap December 31, 1974 –
January 3, 1975
align=left
Gary A. Myers
Republicannowrap January 3, 1975 –
January 3, 1979
Elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Retired.
nowrap rowspan=2 align=left
Eugene Atkinson
Democraticnowrap January 3, 1979 –
October 14, 1981
Elected in 1978.
Re-elected in 1980.
Republicannowrap October 14, 1981 –
January 3, 1983
District dissolved January 3, 1983

References

40.6667°N -95°W

Notes and References

  1. Martis, Kenneth C. Historical Atlas of Political Parties in Congress. (New York: Macmillan, 1989) p. 177
  2. Martis. Historical Atlas. p. 227
  3. Parsons. Congressional Districts p. 407
  4. Parsons, Stanley B., William W. Beach and Michael J. Dubin United States Congressional Districts and Data, 1843-1883 (Westport: Greenwood Press, 1986) p. 82
  5. Parsons. Congressional Districts and Data. p. 210
  6. Parsons, Stanley B., Michale J. Dubin and Karen Toombs Parsons. United States Congressional Districts, 1883-1913. (Westwood: Greenwood Press, 1990) p. 136