Worthington, Pennsylvania Explained

Official Name:Worthington, Pennsylvania
Settlement Type:Borough
Pushpin Map:Pennsylvania
Pushpin Label:Worthington
Pushpin Label Position:right
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Pennsylvania
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Armstrong
Government Type:Borough council
Leader Title:Mayor
Established Title:Settled
Established Date:1811
Established Title1:Incorporated
Established Date1:1855
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:1.78
Area Land Km2:1.78
Area Water Km2:0.00
Area Total Sq Mi:0.69
Area Land Sq Mi:0.69
Area Water Sq Mi:0.00
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:594
Population Density Km2:330.71
Population Density Sq Mi:856.10
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Coordinates:40.8381°N -79.6328°W
Elevation Ft:1120
Postal Code Type:Zip code
Postal Code:16262
Pop Est As Of:2019
Population Est:589
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:42-86560

Worthington is a borough in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 594 at the 2020 census.[2] [3]

History

Worthington was laid out on a tract of land called Mt. Lorenzo by Judge James Barr in 1843–1844. He chose the location due to the nearby junction of two important early stage coach routes, the east–west route from Indiana, Pennsylvania, to Butler, and the north–south route from Freeport to Emlenton. It was incorporated as a borough in 1855. As the village grew into a town it variously relied upon farming and light manufacturing for its income. During the 1970s most manufacturing ceased. Agriculture is still important to the region, and a few light tool and die firms survive. The region also features coal, natural gas, and mineral extraction. In the 19th century an iron furnace and woolen mill were the main industrial operations, both owned and operated by Peter Graff I.

The town's first settlers were a mix of eastern Pennsylvanians and newly arrived immigrants of Scotch-Irish, German and English background. Other ethnic groups would arrive in the early 20th century in small numbers. Other later industries included tile block and clay drain pipe manufacturing, aluminum ladder and specialty tool and die production, limestone mining, and underground mushroom farming. The town hosts four Protestant churches, a community park, several civic organizations (including a public library), and a community center and municipal complex housed in the former Junior/Senior High School. The fire hall serves both Worthington borough and West Franklin Township.

The joint municipalities of Worthington borough and West Franklin Township (which includes the former villages of Craigsville, Yellowdog, and Laird's Crossing) have cooperated in many areas including public utilities (water and sewage), and both municipalities are often colloquially referred to as Worthington - sharing the same zip code of 16262. The former high school is actually located outside of Worthington borough and was officially called Worthington-West Franklin Jr./Sr. High School. The mascot for the school was the Bison, and the school colors were green and white. The school closed around 1984, and the students began attending Kittanning High School, which also closed in 2015 (along with Ford City and Elderton high schools) in order to form Armstrong High School.

Worthington P.O. appears in the 1876 Atlas of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.[4]

Geography

Worthington is located in western Armstrong County at 40.8381°N -79.6327°W.[5] U.S. Route 422, the four-lane Benjamin Franklin Highway, passes through the borough south of its center, leading east 7miles to Kittanning and west to Butler. The borough extends west into the valley of Buffalo Creek, a tributary of the Allegheny River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.8km2, all land.[2]

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, there were 778 people, 307 households, and 212 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1380.4sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 319 housing units at an average density of 566sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the borough was 99.10% |White, 0.26% African American, 0.13% Asian, 0.13% from other races, and 0.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.26% of the population.

There were 307 households, out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.91.

The borough median age of 40 years was the same as the county median age. The distribution by age group was 22.2% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $31,000, and the median income for a family was $37,292. Males had a median income of $27,443 versus $21,818 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $15,122. About 2.9% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. July 28, 2020.
  2. Web site: Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Worthington borough, Pennsylvania. https://archive.today/20200212203158/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US4286560. dead. February 12, 2020. U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. July 31, 2013.
  3. Web site: Explore Census Data .
  4. Web site: Atlas of Armstrong County Pennsylvania, page 86 . Pomeroy, Whitman & Co. . 1876 . November 9, 2018.
  5. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. 2011-04-23. 2011-02-12.