Millvale, Pennsylvania
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Millvale is a borough in
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Allegheny County ( ) is a County (United States), county in Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,250,578, making it the List of counties in Pennsylvania, state's second-most populous county, after Philadelp ...
, United States, along the
Allegheny River The Allegheny River ( ; ; ) is a tributary of the Ohio River that is located in western Pennsylvania and New York (state), New York in the United States. It runs from its headwaters just below the middle of Pennsylvania's northern border, nor ...
, opposite
Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, second-most populous city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia) and the List of Un ...
. The borough is located off
Pennsylvania Route 28 Pennsylvania Route 28 (PA 28) is a major state highway, which runs for from Anderson Street in Pittsburgh to U.S. Route 219 (US 219) in Brockway in Pennsylvania in the United States. From Pittsburgh to Kittanning, it is a limited acc ...
. The population was 3,376 at the 2020 census. Current estimates place the 2024 population at around 3,247 residents.


Geography

Millvale is located at (40.482968, −79.973725). According to the
U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, 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 U.S. Census Bureau is part of the U ...
, the borough has a total area of , of which is land and , or 9.72%, is water. Millvale is located at the confluence of Girty's Run and the
Allegheny River The Allegheny River ( ; ; ) is a tributary of the Ohio River that is located in western Pennsylvania and New York (state), New York in the United States. It runs from its headwaters just below the middle of Pennsylvania's northern border, nor ...
. Much of the borough is on a
floodplain A floodplain or flood plain or bottomlands is an area of land adjacent to a river. Floodplains stretch from the banks of a river channel to the base of the enclosing valley, and experience flooding during periods of high Discharge (hydrolog ...
and has been subjected to extensive flooding at many times during its history. In particular, the borough's business district frequently sustains substantial damage.


History

Prior to the European colonization, the Millvale area was the starting point of the Venango Path, a Native American trail which led to
Lake Erie Lake Erie ( ) is the fourth-largest lake by surface area of the five Great Lakes in North America and the eleventh-largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and also has the shortest avera ...
. The
Seneca people The Seneca ( ; ) are a group of Indigenous Iroquoian-speaking people who historically lived south of Lake Ontario, one of the five Great Lakes in North America. Their nation was the farthest to the west within the Six Nations or Iroquois Leag ...
hunted and fished the lands. The European
Simon Girty Simon Girty (14 November 1741 – 18 February 1818) was an interpreter with the British Indian Department during the American Revolutionary War and Northwest Indian War. As a child he and his brothers James and George were captured and adopted b ...
and his father settled in the area. During a major raid by Chief Tewea of the
Lenape The Lenape (, , ; ), also called the Lenni Lenape and Delaware people, are an Indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands, Indigenous people of the Northeastern Woodlands, who live in the United States and Canada. The Lenape's historica ...
and Captain François Coulon de Villiers of the French, Girty's stepfather was taken captive, tortured, and killed. Chief Guyasuta adopted Simon and assimilated him into Seneca culture. Due to his difficulty living with Europeans, Simon settled on the Venango Path near a creek which now bears his name.


18th century

After fighting against the
British Army The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...
in the
American Revolution The American Revolution (1765–1783) was a colonial rebellion and war of independence in which the Thirteen Colonies broke from British America, British rule to form the United States of America. The revolution culminated in the American ...
, Girty moved to
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
. The creek on which he settled is now called Girty's Run Creek. Following the victory of the
Continental Army The Continental Army was the army of the United Colonies representing the Thirteen Colonies and later the United States during the American Revolutionary War. It was formed on June 14, 1775, by a resolution passed by the Second Continental Co ...
in the
American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...
, many Continental Army soldiers were awarded land. John Sample was awarded the Millvale area. Allegheny City later purchased 164 acres of the Sample estate to place a poor farm on the site, which ran for twenty-three years. The poor farm brought industry into Millvale, including an 1847 forge that became the rolling mill owned by Henry Phipps.
Andrew Carnegie Andrew Carnegie ( , ; November 25, 1835August 11, 1919) was a Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist. Carnegie led the expansion of the History of the iron and steel industry in the United States, American steel industry in the late ...
and Phipps later founded Carnegie Steel.


19th century

In 1849, Herrs Island and the adjacent riverfront land of Reserve Township spanning from its northeastern boundary near Girty's Run downriver to Butcher's Run were incorporated as the Borough of Duquesne, distinct from the modern city of the same name. In 1857, the
Pennsylvania Railroad The Pennsylvania Railroad ( reporting mark PRR), legal name as the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, also known as the "Pennsy," was an American Class I railroad that was established in 1846 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At its ...
purchased the
right of way A right of way (also right-of-way) is a specific route that people, animals, vehicles, watercraft, or utility lines travel, or the legal status that gives them the right to do so. Rights-of-way in the physical sense include controlled-access h ...
from the Pennsylvania Canal System. A massive influx of immigrants searching for work at the nearby railroad occurred at what is now the 40th Street Bridge resulting in the construction of a passenger rail station. In 1868, Duquesne was partitioned with the downriver portion annexed by Allegheny City, and the land upriver of the northern end of Herrs Island joined with adjacent lands to the north and east taken from Shaler Township to form Millvale. On February 13, 1868, Millvale Borough was incorporated from parts of Shaler Township and Duquesne Borough with an initial population of 668. It was named after its industry, milling, and location, a valley. The borough expanded after the
American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
and was connected to Lawrenceville via the Ewalt Covered Bridge and a narrow gauge railroad that would become part of Pittsburgh’s trolley system. At the turn of the century, Millvale annexed the Third Ward from the Shaler Township.


20th century

At the start of the
Great Depression The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...
, Millvale was a target of the
Works Progress Administration The Works Progress Administration (WPA; from 1935 to 1939, then known as the Work Projects Administration from 1939 to 1943) was an American New Deal agency that employed millions of jobseekers (mostly men who were not formally educated) to car ...
which attempted to reign in Girty’s Run Creek. The borough was also an important industrial center for America's effort in
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. Following the conclusion of World War II, Millvale experienced an economic boom and, until 1952, the borough was served by the "3 Millvale" trolley operated by
Pittsburgh Railways Pittsburgh Railways was one of the predecessors of Pittsburgh Regional Transit. It had 666 PCC streetcar, PCC cars, the third largest fleet in North America (after Toronto Transit Commission, Toronto (745) and Chicago Surface Lines, Chicago (683) ...
. America’s energy crisis and the downfall of the steel industries later led to a steady decline in population which continues through the present day.


Surrounding communities

Millvale has three land borders with Shaler Township from the northwest to east, the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Troy Hill to the southwest, and Reserve Township to the west. Across the Allegheny River, Millvale runs adjacent with Lower Lawrenceville and Central Lawrenceville. Millvale regularly collaborates with its northern riverside neighbors of Etna and Sharpsburg.


Demographics

As of the 2020 census, there were 3,376 people and 1,759 occupied housing units, 1,640 households in the borough. The population density was . There were 2,038 unique housing units, including those currently vacant. The racial makeup of the borough was 88.2% White, 3.6% Black, 0.2% American Indian, 0.6% Asian, 1.3% from other races, and 6.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.4% of the population. There were 1,640 households, of which 376 were married couples living together, 250 had a female householder with no marital partner present, 108 had a male householder with no marital partner present, and 906 were non-families. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.93. In the borough, the population was spread out, with 15.1% under the age of 18, 69.9% who were between 18-64, and 15% who were 65 years of age or older. The borough population breakup by sex is 50.8% males and 49.2% females. The median age was 42.9 years. For males the median age was 42 years and for females the median age was 49.9 years. 39.08% of Millvale residents had a high school diploma as their highest academic attainment, 11.35% had an associates degree, 14.12% had a bachelors degree, and 7.38% had a graduate degree of any kind. The median income for a household in the borough was $48,512, and the median income for a family was $66,938. Males had a median income of $39,846 versus $33,024 for females. About 10.13% 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 ...
, including 9.6% of males and 10.71% of females. 9.05% of white residents were below the poverty line compared to 23.25% of black residents and 41.67% of hispanic residents living below the poverty line. The total unemployment rate was 4.3% Millvale was also home to 134 veterans, 114 of which were male and 20 of which were female. Of those veterans, 47 served in the
Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...
, 15 served in the Second Gulf War, and 7 served in the
Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...
. Millvale had a 23.13% veteran poverty rate and a 19.4% veteran disability rate. 83.07% of residents were born in Millvale, 99.62% were born as American citizens, and 0.38% were naturalized immigrants. There were no reported non-naturalized residents. Of the naturalized immigrants, 100% were Asian in origin.


Culture

St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church, built in 1901, was the first Croatian parish in the United States. Painted on the walls of the church are the murals of
Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...
n artist Maksimilijan Vanka. Painted in the 1930s and 1940s, the murals were Vanka's gift to the United States. In the 21st century, Millvale is home to a thriving bar and music scene. One of Pittsburgh's most popular live music venues, Mr. Smalls Theatre, hosts international musical acts of various genres and is a center for cultural activities for residents of both Millvale and nearby Pittsburgh. There are also a number of craft breweries and locally owned bars in the area including numerous themed and boutique breweries and bars. The borough is host to numerous cultural and artistic festivals including the Millvale
Music Festival A music festival is a festival, community event with music, performances of singing and instrument playing that is often presented with a theme such as musical genre (e.g., rock music, rock, blues, folk music, folk, jazz, classical music), nation ...
, Millvale Pride Festival, and the Millvale Days Festival. The borough is also host to numerous well known restaurants and food service businesses.


Government and politics


Government

Since its incorporation in 1868, the government of Millvale is primarily regulated by the Millvale Borough Council. The council, which has seven members, acts as the legislative body in the borough. Members can be elected to a four year term or appointed to a two year term. The borough also elects a mayor who has authority over policing, veto powers, and tiebreaking powers. Additionally, the borough council appoints a chief administrative officer tasked with carrying out and enforcing council ordnances. Government offices are primarily located in The Borough Building, which is located on the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Sedgwick Street. The borough is represented in the
U.S. Congress The United States Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. It is a bicameral legislature, including a lower body, the U.S. House of Representatives, and an upper body, the U.S. Senate. They both ...
by US House District PA-17, in the PA State Senate by Pennsylvania Senate District 42, and in the PA State House by Pennsylvania House District 21.


Politics

''See also: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Political history''


Crime & law enforcement

Millvale is primarily served by the Millvale Borough Police Department. The department is headed by the borough mayor and police chief and consists of four full-time officers and six part-time officers. The borough is also under the jurisdiction of numerous county, state, and even City of Pittsburgh departments including the Allegheny Port Authority Transit Police, Allegheny County Police Department, and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.


Crime statistics per 100,000 residents

''Pittsburgh statistic as of 2012, US & Millvale as of 2022.''


Education

The Borough of Millvale is served by Shaler Area School District. The district boasts four K-3 primary education buildings, one 4-6 elementary school, one 7-8 middle school, and one 9-12 high school and has 4,162 students as of 2019. The district has a student-teacher ratio of 12-1. It has a graduation rate of 95% (national: 87%), an average SAT score of 1180 (national: 1050), and an average ACT score of 26 (national: 19.8). The district spends an average of $23,023 per student (national: $12,239) and pays its teachers an average of $87,092. The school district's athletic department contracts Athletic Trainers and medical services through UPMC sports medicine and provides accessible care and comprehensive injury prevention & recognition teaching. As of December 2023, the school district is ranked #152 out of 496 total public school districts in Pennsylvania. It is ranked #80 in teacher quality and #135 in quality for athletes. In Allegheny County, it is ranked #21 of 41 districts.


Recreation


Millvale Riverfront Park
provides a 1.7 mile bike and walking trail that provides access from Millvale to Pittsburgh's North Shore,
PNC Park PNC Park is a baseball stadium on the North Shore (Pittsburgh), North Shore of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is the fifth location to serve as the ballpark of Major League Baseball's Pittsburgh Pirates. Opened during the 2001 Major League Baseb ...
, and
Acrisure Stadium Acrisure Stadium, formerly (and still colloquially) known as Heinz Field, is a football stadium located in the North Shore neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It primarily serves as the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Foot ...
along the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. The trail meanders along the Allegheny River, past Herrs Island, the TRRA Millvale Boathouse, and into the Millvale Riverfront Park. Plans for a bike/pedestrian bridge from the Millvale riverfront to Herrs Island has received partial funding from the DCNR and plans to connect the Millvale Trail to points north are being discussed. Access to the Millvale business district is less than half a mile away and restrooms are available. Other park amenities include a beautiful pavilion with riverfront access and a full kitchen, Mr. Smalls Skate Park, bike and boat rental, Millvale Marina,
kayak ] A kayak is a small, narrow human-powered watercraft typically propelled by means of a long, double-bladed paddle. The word ''kayak'' originates from the Inuktitut word '' qajaq'' (). In British English, the kayak is also considered to be ...
and
rowing Rowing is the act of propelling a human-powered watercraft using the sweeping motions of oars to displace water and generate reactional propulsion. Rowing is functionally similar to paddling, but rowing requires oars to be mechanically a ...
boat launch access, fishing, a tackle and bait shop, and more. The Riverfront Park is also home to the annual BrewFest in August and the newly launched Harvest Moon Wine Festival in the Fall. Most recently, the Millvale Community Library has been launched as an all-volunteer effort of community members to take several vacant buildings and lots and turn them into a multi-use space centered on creating Millvale's first public library and associated garden space. This project was launched by community volunteers and Pittsburgh-based non-profit organization, New Sun Rising, in 2007 and has enlisted hundreds of volunteers to help turn this community dream into a reality.


References


External links


Borough of Millvale official website

Millvale Community Library
{{S-end Populated places established in 1789 Pittsburgh metropolitan area Boroughs in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania 1789 establishments in Pennsylvania