Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania
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Fox Chapel is a borough located six miles (10 km) northeast of downtown Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA.
The population was 5,436 as of the 2000 census.
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[edit] History
In the 1750s, Seneca Indians (also known as the Mingos) lived in the region. Until the late 18th century, American Indian tribes hunted and fished in the general Fox Chapel area. Virginia and Pennsylvania both claimed the territory. Today, less than 1% of its population is Native American. The dispute was not resolved until after the Revolutionary War.[1]
[edit] George Washington
It is probable that in December 1753, George Washington, accompanied by Christopher Gist, pushed his way across Fox Chapel land as he came south from Fort LeBoeuf where he had delivered a letter to the French Commander, ordering him, in the name of the Governor of Virginia, to return to Canada.[2]
[edit] French and Indian Wars
For the next 10 years, all the land at the forks of the Ohio River was the subject of contention between French and English. Indian allies of both empires fought settlers for control of the region. French soldiers built Fort Duquesne on the site of a former British outpost at the forks of the Ohio in 1754 and four years later British troops replaced it with a fort of their own, Fort Pitt. The bloody battles of Braddock's defeat, Bushy Run, and Colonel Bouquet's relief of the Indian siege of Pittsburgh provided many British and Virginia scalps, which were triumphantly brought home to adorn wigwams situated in what is now Fox Chapel. The Revolutionary War, too, produced further military activity.
[edit] Guyasuta
Through this warlike panorama moved the Seneca Chief, Guyasuta, closely associated with the district, involved in every clash, sometimes aiding the English and sometimes the French. He first appeared as George Washington's guide during his journey from Logstown to Fort LeBoeuf, in 1753. Guyasuta led the Indians against General Grant in 1758. He was probably the leader of the Seneca band that destroyed Fort Venango in 1763, butchering the entire garrison. He was in a band of warriors that burned the frontier village of Hannastown, north of Greensburg. He was also at the battle of Bushy Run, where the Indians were defeated by Colonel Bouquet.
Despite Chief Guyasuta's violent history, General O'Hara furnished a cabin for him on O'Hara's estate north of the Allegheny River, (now Fox Chapel), and provided necessities during the declining years of his life. He died about 1800.
[edit] Settlement
The first white settler in the area was James Powers, who arrived around 1790.[3] The first school house was on Squaw Run, where it stood in 1806. It was a log house. A church, too, was organized in 1818 on Kittanning Road, on a branch of Pine Creek.
Among the early landowners was James O'Hara, a Revolutionary Army General and prominent Pittsburgh businessman. During the depression of 1818, he was saved from financial ruin by the counsel of James Ross, a noted lawyer and former Senator. In exchange for his help, O'Hara gave Ross 1,700 acres (7 km²) of land, which is now part of Fox Chapel, and comprises the Delafield Estates section of the Borough, as well as the development along Buckingham Road known as the "Ross Meadows Plan of Lots."
In general, there was little growth or development throughout the 19th century, and it remained for the 20th, with the advent of the automobile, for Pittburghers to become aware of the advantages of the Fox Chapel District as a suburb.[4] The Pittsburgh Field Club opened in 1915, and the Fox Chapel Golf Club opened in 1923. In 1922, Shady Side Academy opened its senior school on property that was formerly two large farms.
Fox Chapel was originally part of O'Hara and Indiana Townships. In 1928, approximately 40 landowners assembled at Shady Side Academy and voted to incorporate the Fox Chapel District Association. The matters of immediate concern that they addressed were fire and police protection. As time went on, the District Association named roads, and handled development and zoning. However, by 1933 the District Association had grown concerned that its interests were at variance with those of both Townships, and a petition was filed to allow the formation of a new borough. Despite vigorous opposition by both Townships, on August 3, 1934, a court ordered the incorporation of Fox Chapel Borough from 6.8 square miles (17.6 km²) of O'Hara Township and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) of Indiana Township. Over the years, other residents adjacent to the Borough petitioned the Council for annexation, increasing the area of the Borough to approximately 8.5 square miles (22.0 km²).
Its wooded hills and uncrowded residential developments are a regional asset. It strives to preserve openness and spaciousness in the midst of urbanization and industrialization.[5]
[edit] The Name
The name "Fox Chapel" comes from John Fox, who immigrated from Germany in 1831 and farmed the land around the present Faith United Methodist Church until his death in 1889. Shortly after his death in 1889 his daughter, Eliza Fox Teats, donated some land to the Methodist Protestant Church for a chapel to be named in honor of her father.[6]
[edit] Schools
Public education is provided by the Fox Chapel Area School District. The high school is located in O'Hara Township. The middle school is located in Dorseyville, a small community five miles to the north of the Borough in Indiana Township. Elementary school children attend schools located in either Indiana Township or O'Hara Township.
Fox Chapel Area School District (which includes the communities of Aspinwall, Fox Chapel, Indiana Township, O'hara Township, Sharpsburg, and Blawnox) is widely respected for its excellent teachers, rigorous grading scale, as well as the wide selection of course offerings.
Fox Chapel has two private schools: Shady Side Academy, a co-educational school, operates a middle school and a high school; and The Country Day School offers private education for kindergarten and grades one through five.
The Fox Chapel Community Hebrew School has classes on Sunday and Wednesday, and offers a supplemental Jewish education. [7]
[edit] Library
Located in O'Hara Township , the Lauri Ann West Memorial Library is funded through private contributions from its members and public grants, Fox Chapel being one of the larger municipal contributors. In 2007, plans were announced to build a new library.
[edit] Arts in the Community
The Hillman Center for Performing Arts on the campus of Shady Side Academy presents three to seven public performances each year featuring both local and touring artists in the Richard E. Rauh Theater. These performances feature world music and culture as well as Pittsburgh artists.
The Boyd Community Center provides classroom and performance space for a variety of arts groups and artists.
[edit] Private clubs
The Fox Chapel Golf Club and the Pittsburgh Field Club offer golf, tennis, swimming, and fine dining. The Fox Chapel Racquet Club offers tennis and swimming. Fox Chapel is also home to the Chapelgate Swim Club and the Community Swim Club.
[edit] Churches and Synagogue
Four churches are located within the Borough: Faith Methodist Church, Fox Chapel Episcopal Church, Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.
In 1953 a group of families living in the Fox Chapel area began to worship together at Shady Side Academy; the congregation became Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, located at the intersection of Fox Chapel Road and Field Club Road. The Rev. Bickford Lang served as the first pastor. The congregation was officially organized in October 1953 with 339 charter members. The Chapel was erected in December 1953 and worship services began to be held on the site of the present church. The church facility has grown to include a Christian Education building, Atrium, Fellowship Hall and a Georgian Sanctuary. The Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church has been led by five senior pastors since its founding.[1]
The Chabad of Fox Chapel Center for Jewish Life opened in 2002 and serves the entire Fox Chapel Area with a Jewish Community Center, Jewish Day camp, Hebrew School and full adult education program with NO membership fees.[2]
Adat Shalom, located on Guys Run Road in Indiana Township, serves approximately 250 Jewish families from the Fox Chapel area. [8]
[edit] Parks
The Borough owns over 300 acres (1.2 km²) of parkland. All but five acres of this property (McCahill Park) is used as open space for passive recreation, e.g., walking trails, bird watching.
The Borough has five acres of parkland known as McCahill Park set aside for active recreational use. It includes two baseball fields, a basketball court, and a large open field used for rugby, touch football, and soccer games.
[edit] Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve
Headquarters of the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania (ASWP) since 1976, Beechwood Farms is one of the largest nature reserves in Western Pennsylvania. Its 134 acres (0.5 km²), most of which have been leased to ASWP by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, contain more than 5 miles (8 km) of walking trails which are open from dawn to dusk every day year-round. The area is comprised of woodlands, fields, streams, and a pond. Some paths are accessible for individuals with special needs.
[edit] Geography
Fox Chapel is located at (40.512668, -79.892975)[3].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 7.8 square miles (20.3 km²), of which, 7.8 square miles (20.3 km²) of it is land and 0.13% is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 5,436 people, 1,875 households, and 1,599 families residing in the borough. The population density was 693.9 people per square mile (268.1/km²). There were 1,942 housing units at an average density of 247.9/sq mi (95.8/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 93.29% White, 0.55% African American, 0.02% Native American, 5.22% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.68% of the population.
There were 1,875 households out of which 41.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 79.9% were married couples living together, 3.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.7% were non-families. 13.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the borough the population was spread out with 30.1% under the age of 18, 3.3% from 18 to 24, 18.1% from 25 to 44, 33.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $147,298, and the median income for a family was $191,378. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $60,179 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $80,610. About 3.8% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Notable residents
Fox Chapel is the birthplace of, or home to, several notable Americans, including:
- Rocky Blier, former professional football player, Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Eddie Ifft, comedian.
- Edgar J. Kaufman, department store magnate.
- Teresa Heinz Kerry, wife of U.S. Senator John Kerry.
- David Newell, actor, Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.
- Beth Ostrosky, fiance of Howard Stern and host of G4's Filter
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania, headquartered at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve in Fox Chapel.
- Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania is at coordinates Coordinates:
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