Evans City, Pennsylvania

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Coordinates: 40°46′10″N 80°3′41″W / 40.76944, -80.06139
Evans City
Borough
none Along Route 68 in downtown Evans City
Along Route 68 in downtown Evans City
Official name: Borough of Evans City
Country Flag of the United States United States
State Flag of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania
County Butler County
Township Forward, Jackson
Coordinates 40°46′10″N 80°3′41″W / 40.76944, -80.06139
Population 2,009 (2000)
Density 2,476.1 /sq mi (956 /km²)
Settled 1830
 - Incorporated 1882
Timezone EST (UTC-5)
 - summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 16033
Area code 724
School District Seneca Valley school district
Location of Evans City in Butler County
Location of Evans City in Butler County
Location of Evans City in Pennsylvania
Location of Evans City in Pennsylvania
Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
Location of Pennsylvania in the United States

Evans City is a borough in Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,009 at the 2000 census.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Evans City is located at 40°46′10″N, 80°3′41″W (40.769310, -80.061409)[1].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 2,009 people, 819 households, and 548 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,476.1 people per square mile (957.6/km²). There were 850 housing units at an average density of 1,047.6/sq mi (405.2/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.10% White, 0.15% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, and 0.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.05% of the population.

There were 819 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 28.9% 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 2.44 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the borough the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $41,128, and the median income for a family was $50,469. Males had a median income of $37,734 versus $24,306 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $18,931. About 4.0% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.0% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

Evans City is the name given in 1882 at the city’s incorporation of a borough of an old settlement. It is situated on Breakneck Creek, on the township line, and is therefore partly in Jackson and partly in Forward townships. Its site was for a long time a favorite camping ground for the Indians, who named the creek Big Beaver run; while the French knew it as Casse-cou-anse or Breakneck creek,--a name adopted by travelers between Fort Duquesne and Fort Machault, and by the English speaking pioneers of the original township of Connoquenessing, Pennsylvania. From 1804 to 1836, the location was often called Boggs' Mill, and in later years Evansburg, after Thomas B. Evans, who purchased and rebuilt the original Bogg’s mill. In 1880 it was a little hamlet, credited with a population of 68 people. in 1890, there were 637 persons enumerated in the census, and at the beginning of 1894, it was generally credited with a population of 1,000.

In October, 1878, the railroad was completed to Evans City; a new boiler to replace that which exploded in the Sutton flouring mill, being the first freight received. The bank of J. Dambauch & Son was in existence. The residence for the pastor of the German Lutheran church, the Henry Young store and other houses were completed, and the new railroad town showed increased signs of business activity. A council appears to have had control of the place at that time, as mention is made of street improvements and of the appointment of Z. T. Weise as chief of police.

The burning question at the time was the location of the railroad depot. Once the location for the depot was chosen, it became a rather famous decision, creating the nations only railway depot that was built over water. Spanning the Breakneck Creek on iron beams for support, the picturesque railway station was an iconic landmark of breathtaking architecture. Due to its age and growing structural instability, and against much popular protest, the station was finally demolished in the early 1980’s rather than restored.

Later the school question occupied the attention of the people. Ultimately the schools were placed under the control of the Jackson Township board after a resolution by the Evans City school building committee was withdrawn.

In 1882 Evans City was incorporated as a borough. At the charter election held September 22, of that year, Edward DAMBACH was chosen burgess.

The first churches of record in the area were as follows:

Amana Baptist Church was organized March 22, 1820. Late in 1881 some 33 members withdrew to form an independent Baptist church.

The United Presbyterian Church was founded about the year 1837. Services were held in the frame school-building in the old United Presbyterian cemetery, until about the year 1842, when a brick house of worship was erected. Owing to the age of the old building and its unsafe condition, a new house of worship was considered necessary and the present building was erected. This is a frame house forty-five by sixty feet, well furnished, with pastor's study, standing on the old church lot on Main street. It was dedicated in April, 1888.

St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran is a contemporary of the "German Lutheran and Reformed Congregation." In 1849 it was known as the "Reformed Church," then united with the German Lutheran, and so continued until August 2, 1853, when fifteen of the thirty families forming the united congregation held distinct Reformed services in the church built in 1849-50.

The Presbyterian Church was founded in 1882 out of the Old Plains Church congregation.

St. John's United Christian Church was organized in August, 1888.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was dedicated on October 27, 1889. The old class at Caleb Richmond's, in Forward Township, later consolidated with the Brownsdale class, claimed some members from the Breakneck region, as well as did the Duthill class in Cranberry township to form the original members.

The Evans City Cemetery and the borough became popularly known as the place where the classic 1968 horror film Night of the Living Dead was filmed.

[edit] Government

Evans City Borough is represented by a municipal government of one Mayor and seven Councilmen and women Currently Gary Foster serves as the Mayor of Evans City Borough. Cheri Deener currently serves as Council President. Charleen Lipincott as Council Vice President. Homer Mercer member of Human Resources, streets and Water/Sewer committees. Harry Shaffer member of the streets and Finance committees. Roy Long member of the Police and Finance committees. Karl Kennedy and Bill Painter is a member of the Police and Finance committees and at age 21 one of the youngest elected officials in the country, having been elected November 8, 2005 at age 19.

[edit] References

  1. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links