Hermitage, Pennsylvania
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Hermitage is a city located in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 16,157.
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Geography
Hermitage is located at 41°13'57" North, 80°27'38" West (41.232456, -80.460464)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 76.6 km² (29.6 mi²). 76.3 km² (29.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.37% water.
History
The City of Hermitage, located in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, was first settled in 1796, and the Township of Hickory was incorporated in 1833 from portions of the Shenango and Pymatuning townships. Following the incorporation of the cities of Sharon and Farrell and the Boroughs of Sharpsville and Wheatland, the remainder of the Township was incorporated into a First Class Township.
The Home Rule Charter and Optional Plans Law, Act 62 of 1972, provided all local governments in Pennsylvania a unique opportunity of true "home rule." On August 9th, 1972, Ordinance 13-72 was enacted by the Board of Commissioners, providing for a referendum on electing a Governmental Study Commission of nine members. On November 17th, 1972, the electors voted in favor of a commission and selected nine members with the task of studying present Township government and the alternative of an Optional Plan of Government or a Home Rule Charter.
On March 13th, 1974, the final report of the Government Study Commission recommended a Home Rule Charter, which was approved on May 21st, 1974 by a vote of 1,375 to 546. The Charter was to become effective on January 1st, 1976.
A resolution of April 9th, 1975 stated the Board of Commissioners' intent to start an informal campaign to consider the possibility of a name change for the Township. A survey was conducted to determine possible names. In July, 1975, the Commissioners petitioned to the Court of Common Pleas of Mercer County pursuant to the Act of June 14th, 1957, P.L. 330. The petition contained almost double the signature requirement of ten percent of the registered electors of the Township. The questions to be placed on the ballot were whether the name of the Township should be changed, and if so, which name: "Hermitage," "Mount Hickory," "Hickory Hills."
On November 4th, 1975, the voters approved, by 2,986 to 695, a change in name, and selected "Hermitage." The Honorable Judge John Q. Stranahan, President Judge of Mercer County Court of Common Pleas, issued an order on December 11th, 1975, decreeing that the name of the Township of Hickory shall be and was hereby changed to Hermitage, Pennsylvania, effective January 2nd, 1976.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 16,157 people, 6,809 households, and 4,616 families residing in the city. The population density is 211.7/km² (548.3/mi²). There are 7,104 housing units at an average density of 93.1/km² (241.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 94.97% White, 3.09% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 0.66% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 6,809 households out of which 26.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.9% are married couples living together, 10.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% are non-families. 29.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 15.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.32 and the average family size is 2.87.
In the city the population is spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 23.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 44 years. For every 100 females there are 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 83.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $39,454, and the median income for a family is $46,994. Males have a median income of $41,506 versus $25,217 for females. The per capita income for the city is $23,227. 8.2% of the population and 6.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 12.1% of those under the age of 18 and 6.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.