Farrell, Pennsylvania

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Farrell is a city in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,050 at the 2000 census.

Once dubbed "The Magic City," Farrell sprung up practically overnight when a steel mill was constructed in 1901 on a plain bordering the Shenango River in what was then part of Hickory Township (now Hermitage). The community was incorporated as the Borough of South Sharon in 1916; its population peaked at over 15,000 in 1920 and its status was elevated to a third-class city in 1932. At that time the residents of the new city elected to take the name of Farrell, after industrialist James A. Farrell.

The mill, which eventually became known as the Roemer Works of Sharon Steel Corporation, would serve as the community's lifeblood until 1992, when it was liquidated after filing bankruptcy. Many of the assets were sold at auction to Britain-based Caparo Corp. and later to Swiss steelmaker Duferco, which operates the plant today.

Despite years of population and industrial decline, Farrell has made progress in rebuilding itself thanks to new industrial investments on tax abated land and several new housing starts. In 2004, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Farrell's population had increased to 6,058 from 5,882 in 2002--the first positive population change seen in the city in decades.

Contents 1 Community and Economy 2 City officials 3 Geography 4 Demographics 5 External links

[edit] Community and Economy

Though its steelmaking heyday is now a distant memory, Farrell has managed to hold on to several gems that are uncommon in a city of its size: a full-service hospital, a public library, and a variety of multidenominational and multiethnic worship facilities. Several small "mom-and-pop" type businesses still exist as well, especially on Roemer Boulevard (the city's main corridor). In the late 1980s the city began aggressive code enforcement to preserve neighborhoods and pursued opportunities for new housing and industrial development. Today, Farrell is a city where brick-paved streets and century-old homes exist in a juxtaposition with much newer neighborhoods such as Centennial Place, a 100+-unit mix of apartments and single-family homes that was constructed on the former site of a dilapidated housing project with the help of a multimillion-dollar grant from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The city also provides numerous incentives to entice new businesses to locate within its borders. Today, some of the major contributors to Farrell's business base include:

• Duferco Farrell Corp. (steel processing) [1]
• Premier Hydraulics Inc. (hydraulic parts manufacturing)
• UPMC Horizon Hospital, Farrell Campus [2]
• Sharon Custom Metal Forming (roll forming and welding) [3]
• Precision Steel Services (roll forming) [4]
• Sharon Packing Co. (food processing)
• Kalco Metals Inc. (specialty alloys) [5]

[edit] City officials

MAYOR

• William A. Morocco, Sr.

DEPUTY MAYOR

• Louis A. Falconi, Sr.

CITY MANAGER

• LaVon Saternow

CITY COUNCIL

• Olive M. Brown
• Robert T. Burich
• Rev. Jeannette Wright Hooks
• Stephanie Williams-Sheffield
• Rudolph Hammond

[edit] Geography

Farrell is located at 41°12′42″N, 80°29′39″W (41.211606, -80.494044)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.1 km² (2.3 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 6,050 people, 2,504 households, and 1,620 families residing in the city. The population density was 998.3/km² (2,589.1/mi²). There were 2,752 housing units at an average density of 454.1/km² (1,177.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 50.28% White, 46.71% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 2.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.66% of the population.

There were 2,504 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.0% were married couples living together, 24.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 22.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 80.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,659, and the median income for a family was $28,935. Males had a median income of $32,800 versus $20,729 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,532. About 24.0% of families and 26.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 47.5% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] External links

• Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 41.211606° -80.494044°
  • Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
  • Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
  • Topographic map from TopoZone
  • Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
• Official Website of the City of Farrell