Monongahela, Pennsylvania
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Monongahela, referred to locally as Mon City, is a third class city in
Washington County, Pennsylvania Washington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 209,349. Its county seat is Washington. Washington County is part of the Pittsburgh, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county i ...
, United States. It is part of the
Pittsburgh, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area Greater Pittsburgh is a populous region centered around its largest city and economic hub, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The region encompasses Pittsburgh's urban core county, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny, and six adjacent Pennsylvania ...
, and is about south of Pittsburgh proper. The population was 4,149 at the 2020 census. The city of Monongahela sits at a location where several locally important Pennsylvania state routes meet: a concurrency between Pennsylvania routes 88, 136, and
837 __NOTOC__ Year 837 ( DCCCXXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * Byzantine–Arab War: Emperor Theophilos leads a massive Byzantine ...
makes up most of the length of the city's Main Street, and the city's Park Avenue carries
Pennsylvania route 481 Pennsylvania Route 481 (PA 481) is a state highway located in Washington County, Pennsylvania. The southern terminus is at US 40 in Centerville. The northern terminus is at PA 88/ PA 136/ PA 837 in Monongahela. Route description PA 481 be ...
to its northern terminus at Main Street. Monongahela is one of just two cities in Washington County, and is the second smallest city in Pennsylvania (after
Parker Parker may refer to: Persons * Parker (given name) * Parker (surname) Places Place names in the United States *Parker, Arizona *Parker, Colorado * Parker, Florida * Parker, Idaho * Parker, Kansas * Parker, Missouri * Parker, North Carolina *Park ...
). The town is served by the
Ringgold School District Ringgold School District is a midsized, suburban, public school district located in the northeastern corner of Washington County, Pennsylvania, south of Pittsburgh. The district encompasses 58 square miles, including the city of Monongahela, th ...
.


Geography and climate

Monongahela is located at (40.200462, -79.928394). According to the
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it (9.86%) is water. The city receives of rainfall annually and has a mean annual temperature of .


Surrounding and adjacent neighborhoods

Monongahela has two land borders, with Carroll Township to the east and south, and New Eagle to the west. Across the Monongahela River, the Allegheny County municipality of Forward Township runs adjacent to the city.


Demographics

As of the
census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...
of 2000, there were 4,761 people, 2,139 households, and 1,264 families residing in the town. The
population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...
was 2,472.4 people per square mile (952.5/km2). There were 2,382 housing units at an average density of 1,237.0 per square mile (476.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.94%
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...
, 3.26%
African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.08% Native American, 0.19%
Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.42% from
other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 1.11% from two or more races.
Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...
or
Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...
of any race were 0.71% of the population. There were 2,139 households, out of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.9% were non-families. 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.87. In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.1% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 23.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.6 males. The median income for a household in the city was $29,060, and the median income for a family was $36,528. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $23,911 for females. The
per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...
for the city was $16,903. About 11.1% of families and 13.6% of the population were below the
poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 25.9% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.


History

What is now the City of Monongahela was founded in 1769 on a tract of land near the
confluence In geography, a confluence (also: ''conflux'') occurs where two or more flowing bodies of water join to form a single channel. A confluence can occur in several configurations: at the point where a tributary joins a larger river (main stem); o ...
of Pigeon Creek and the Monongahela River. It is the oldest settlement in the Monongahela River Valley and most likely the oldest in Washington County. The original tract of land was actually owned by three different men, who named their land areas Eden, Paradise, and Gloucester. Joseph Parkison, who operated a ferry on the west bank of the Monongahela River, is recognized as the founder of Monongahela. Parkison built the town's first post office, and in 1782 the town was officially recognized as Parkison's Ferry. Adam Wickerham took claim to on the Parkison Ferry tract, July 1, 1788. On this tract he laid out Georgetown in 1807. Georgetown was made part of Williamsport by him on February 23, 1816. In 1833 the first borough officers were elected for Williamsport. On April 1, 1837, Williamsport was given the name Monongahela City and in 1893 shortened to Monongahela. The word Monongahela is Native American in origin, meaning "falling banks". The
Monongahela tribe The Monongahela culture were an Iroquoian Native American cultural manifestation of Late Woodland peoples from AD 1050 to 1635 in present-day western Pennsylvania, western Maryland, eastern Ohio, and West Virginia. The culture was named by Mary ...
was also indigenous to the area prior to the settlement of the city. The Edward G. Acheson House,
Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church of Monongahela City Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church of Monongahela City is a historic church at the junction of 7th and Main Streets in Monongahela City, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1871 and added to the National Register in 2002. It is a brick Gothic ...
, David Longwell House, and
Monongahela Cemetery The Monongahela Cemetery is an historic rural cemetery in Monongahela, Pennsylvania that was established in 1863. Landscape architects Hare & Hare designed a portion of the property. History and notable features The cemetery was listed on the U.S ...
are listed on the
National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
.


Places of interest

Monongahela is home to several parks, playgrounds and a museum. Chess Park, located near the center of the city, hosts community events throughout the year. The Mounds Park, built on the site of an ancient Indian Burial Ground, is a local playground and sports complex. On the banks of the Monongahela River is the Aquatorium, a waterfront venue that hosts the annual Fourth of July celebration and an annual summer concert series. The Monongahela Area Historical Society Museum located on Main Street serves as a community archive and has local historical artifacts on display. Whiskey Point, a bluff overlooking the Monongahela River located within the city, was an important meeting place during the
Whiskey Rebellion The Whiskey Rebellion (also known as the Whiskey Insurrection) was a violent tax protest in the United States beginning in 1791 and ending in 1794 during the presidency of George Washington. The so-called "whiskey tax" was the first tax impo ...
. The Pennsylvania State Historical Marker located here reads: "The bluff at Main St. and Park Ave. was the site on Aug. 14, 1794, of a meeting of 226 whiskey rebels.
Albert Gallatin Abraham Alfonse Albert Gallatin (January 29, 1761 – August 12, 1849) was a Genevan– American politician, diplomat, ethnologist and linguist. Often described as "America's Swiss Founding Father", he was a leading figure in the early years ...
's eloquence turned the tide, resulting in peaceful ending of the Whiskey Rebellion and the possibility of civil strife." Many buildings in Monongahela, such as the Longwell House and the Bethel A.M.E Church, were used by freed slaves as stops on the
Underground Railroad The Underground Railroad was a network of clandestine routes and safe houses established in the United States during the early- to mid-19th century. It was used by enslaved African Americans primarily to escape into free states and Canada. T ...
. There are twenty churches representing fifteen denominations located in Monongahela.


Park Avenue

A remarkable number of notable persons have lived on Park Avenue, a stretch of road in Monongahela. Probably the most well-known person who grew up on Park Avenue is NFL
Hall of Fame A hall, wall, or walk of fame is a list of individuals, achievements, or other entities, usually chosen by a group of electors, to mark their excellence or Wiktionary:fame, fame in their field. In some cases, these halls of fame consist of actu ...
quarterback
Joe Montana Joseph Clifford Montana Jr. (born June 11, 1956) is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons, primarily with the San Francisco 49ers. Nicknamed "Joe Cool" and "the Comeback Kid", ...
. Other notable residents have included Carl E. Vuono, four-star general and Chief of Staff of the
U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...
; Jim Jimirro, founder of the
Disney Channel Disney Channel, sometimes known as simply Disney, is an American pay television channel that serves as the flagship property of Disney Branded Television, a unit of the Disney General Entertainment Content division of The Walt Disney Compan ...
;
Fred Cox Frederick William Cox (December 11, 1938 – November 20, 2019) was an American professional football player who was a kicker for 15 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Minnesota Vikings. After playing college football for ...
, all-time leading scorer for the
Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. Founded in 1960 as an expansion ...
and inventor of the
Nerf Nerf is a toy brand formed by Parker Brothers and currently owned by Hasbro. Most of the toys are a variety of foam-based weaponry, with other Nerf products including balls for sports such as American football, basketball, and baseball. The ...
ball; Dr. Ronald V. Pellegrini, a world-renowned cardiothoracic surgeon based in Pittsburgh;
National Book Award The National Book Awards are a set of annual U.S. literary awards. At the final National Book Awards Ceremony every November, the National Book Foundation presents the National Book Awards and two lifetime achievement awards to authors. The Nat ...
winner, Dierdre Bair; and former Pittsburgh Pirate pitcher, Ron Necciai, who is the only professional baseball player to strike out 27 batters in one game. Fuoco, Linda Wilson
Monongahela native screens her documentary about the famous folks of Park Avenue.
''The Post-Gazette'', November 23, 2008.
Duquesne University
'One Extraordinary Street' Documentary Premiere Slated for Nov. 15.
November 7, 2008.
Jordan, Pat

''Sports Illustrated'', June 1, 1987.
A 90-minute documentary about Park Avenue's notable residents, titled "One Extraordinary Street" was produced by Laura M. Magone and released in 2008. Magone, a graduate of
Duquesne University Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit ( or ; Duquesne University or Duquesne) is a private Catholic research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened as the Pittsbu ...
and a Monongahela native, spent several years interviewing persons who lived on Park Avenue in an attempt to determine if there was a common thread that may have contributed to their many successes. The film also includes cameo appearances by Stan Musial and retired four-star general
Colin Powell Colin Luther Powell ( ; April 5, 1937 – October 18, 2021) was an American politician, statesman, diplomat, and United States Army officer who served as the 65th United States Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African ...
.


Government

As of February 2020, the current mayor of Monongahela is Greg Garry.


Notable people

*
Edward Goodrich Acheson Edward Goodrich Acheson (March 9, 1856 – July 6, 1931) was an American chemist. Born in Washington, Pennsylvania, he was the inventor of the Acheson process, which is still used to make Silicon carbide (carborundum) and later a manufacturer of ...
, chemist, inventor of
Carborundum Silicon carbide (SiC), also known as carborundum (), is a hard chemical compound containing silicon and carbon. A semiconductor, it occurs in nature as the extremely rare mineral moissanite, but has been mass-produced as a powder and crystal sin ...
*
Jay Chattaway Jay Chattaway (born July 8, 1946) is an American composer of film and television scores. He is mainly known for his work as composer for several ''Star Trek'' television series: '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'', ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ...
, composer for ''Star Trek'' *
Fred Cox Frederick William Cox (December 11, 1938 – November 20, 2019) was an American professional football player who was a kicker for 15 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Minnesota Vikings. After playing college football for ...
, former NFL kicker *
Mitch Daniels Mitchell Elias Daniels Jr. (born April 7, 1949) is an American academic administrator, businessman, author, and retired politician. A Republican, Daniels served as the 49th governor of Indiana from 2005 to 2013. Since 2013, Daniels has been pr ...
, former
Governor of Indiana The governor of Indiana is the head of government of the State of Indiana. The governor is elected to a four-year term and is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the functions of many agencies of the Indiana state governmen ...
(2005-2013), and former Director of the U.S.
Office of Management and Budget The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is the largest office within the Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP). OMB's most prominent function is to produce the president's budget, but it also examines agency programs, pol ...
(2001–2003) *
Ame Deal Ame Lynn Deal (July 24, 2000 – July 12, 2011) was an American 10-year-old girl who was murdered in Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, in July 2011. Deal had been the victim of long-term child abuse, abuse by her family members before being lock ...
, 10-year-old girl who was tortured and murdered by her family *
John Taylor Gatto John Taylor Gatto (December 15, 1935 – October 25, 2018) was an American author and school teacher. After teaching for nearly 30 years he authored several books on modern education, criticizing its ideology, history, and consequences. He is b ...
, educator and writer *
Roland Kibbee Roland Kibbee (15 February 1914 in Monongahela, Pennsylvania – 5 August 1984 in Encino, California) was an award-winning American screenwriter and producer. He was a frequent collaborator and friend of actor-producer Burt Lancaster. Career ...
, screenwriter and producer *
Joe Montana Joseph Clifford Montana Jr. (born June 11, 1956) is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons, primarily with the San Francisco 49ers. Nicknamed "Joe Cool" and "the Comeback Kid", ...
, former NFL quarterback *
Eugenie Maria Morenus Eugenie Maria Morenus (February 21, 1881 – October 15, 1966) was an American mathematician and college professor. She taught Latin and mathematics at Sweet Briar College from 1909 to 1946. Early life and education Morenus was born in Cleve ...
, mathematician, graduated from Monongahela High School in 1898 *
Jackie Ormes Jackie Ormes (August 1, 1911 – December 26, 1985) was an American cartoonist. She is known as the first African-American woman cartoonist and creator of the ''Torchy Brown'' comic strip and the ''Patty-Jo 'n' Ginger'' panel. Early life and ...
, American cartoonist *
Anthony Peterson Anthony Peterson (born March 16, 1985) is a professional boxer. He is the younger brother of Lamont Peterson. Amateur career Peterson had an outstanding amateur career, and was the 2003 National Golden Gloves Lightweight Champion. In 2004 he ...
, former NFL linebacker *
Jim Renacci James B. Renacci ( ; born December 3, 1958) is an American accountant, businessman, and politician who served as the U.S. representative for from 2011 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he is a former city council president and two-ter ...
, Former US Congressman * Carl E. Vuono, U.S. Army general *
Scott Zolak Scott David Zolak (born December 13, 1967) is an American broadcaster and former professional American football, football player. He played quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons, primarily with the New England Patrio ...
, former NFL quarterback


References


External links


City website
{{authority control Cities in Pennsylvania Cities in Washington County, Pennsylvania Populated places established in 1769 Pittsburgh metropolitan area Pennsylvania populated places on the Monongahela River Populated places on the Underground Railroad 1769 establishments in Pennsylvania