Editing Charleroi, Pennsylvania (section)

== History ==
Charleroi got its name from the Belgian city of [[Charleroi]]. Many [[Belgian Americans|Belgian immigrants]] lived in the Monongahela area at the end of the 19th century, some of whom were glass makers.<ref>Pennsylvania Heritage, Volumes 34-36 - Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 2008.  Pg. 5</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CoRNpoT7XSMC&q=Belgian+|title = Pennsylvania Heritage|year = 2008}}</ref>

The Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, now [[PPG Industries]], had one of its major factories located at the current chamber plaza, at one point employing up to a thousand employees, making it one of the largest glass factories in the world at the time. For years it was the home to one of [[Corning Glass]] Companies leading employers. It is home to [[Corelle Brands]], which makes [[Pyrex]]. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Pyrex products, Charleroi renamed itself "Pyrex, PA" for 100 days in 2015.<ref name="pyrex100">[http://triblive.com/lifestyles/history/8223960-74/pyrex-glass-says "Pyrex, Pa.: Charleroi celebrating the centennial of its famed product"], TribLive.com, May 11, 2015.</ref>

Charleroi was home to one of the first movie theatres in the nation, the Electric Theatre at 520 McKean Avenue, which opened in October 1905 and has since{{when|date=September 2024}} been demolished. The [[Charleroi Historic District]], [[First National Bank of Charleroi]] and [[United States Post Office (Charleroi, Pennsylvania)|United States Post Office]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2010a}}</ref><ref>For more about the designation as a historic district and about the Charleroi history: David Templeton, [http://www.post-gazette.com/local/washington/2004/02/08/Charleroi-s-story-is-history/stories/200402080195 "Charleroi's story is history. Town built for glass factory could be large historic district"], ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'', February 8, 2004.</ref>

In 2020, [[Paul Magnette]], mayor of [[Charleroi]] ([[Belgium]]) visited the town that was founded by migrants from his city.<ref>[https://www.demorgen.be/politiek/greetings-from-charleroi-usa-paul-magnette-ontdekt-charleroi-pennsylvania~b9656e11/ Greetings from Charleroi, USA] De Morgen, October 17, 2020.</ref>