Editing Monessen, Pennsylvania

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Monessen, Pennsylvania
| native_name = 
| native_name_lang = 
| other_name = 
| settlement_type = [[City]]
| image_skyline = Monessen02.JPG
| imagesize = 
| image_alt = 
| image_caption = Downtown Monessen
| image_flag = Flag of Monessen, Pennsylvania.png
| image_seal = City of Monessen seal.png
| seal_size = 
| etymology = [[Monongahela River|Monongahela]] + {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Essen, Germany]]
| nickname = 
| motto = 
| anthem = 
| image_map = File:Westmoreland County Pennsylvania Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Monessen Highlighted.svg
| mapsize = 
| map_alt = 
| map_caption = Location of Monessen in [[Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania]]
| pushpin_map = Pennsylvania#USA
| pushpin_label = Monessen
| pushpin_relief = yes
| coordinates = {{coord|40|9|15|N|79|52|58|W|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint = 
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| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Pennsylvania}}
| subdivision_type2 = County
| subdivision_name2 = [[Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania|Westmoreland]]
| subdivision_type3 = 
| subdivision_name3 = 
| subdivision_type4 = 
| subdivision_name4 = 
| established_title = Settled
| established_date = 1897
| established_title1 = Borough incorporated
| established_date1 = September 3, 1898
| established_title2 = City incorporated
| established_date2 = September 16, 1921
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| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Ron Mozer<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cityofmonessen.com/city-hall/ |title=City Hall |publisher=City of Monessen |access-date=March 30, 2023}}</ref>
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| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_footnotes = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web |title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory |url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='42'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=October 12, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 7.83
| area_total_sq_mi = 3.02
| area_land_km2 = 7.48
| area_land_sq_mi = 2.89
| area_water_km2 = 0.35
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.14
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| elevation_ft = 1128
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| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
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| population_total = 6876
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| population_density_km2 = 919.58
| population_density_sq_mi = 2381.71
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| timezone1 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
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| postal_code_type = ZIP Code
| postal_code = 15062
| postal2_code_type = 
| postal2_code = 
| area_code_type = 
| area_code = [[Area code 724|724]]
| geocode = 
| iso_code = 
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 42-50344
| blank1_name = 
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| blank2_name = 
| blank2_info = 
| blank_name_sec2 = School District
| blank_info_sec2 = [[Monessen City School District]]
| blank1_name_sec2 = 
| blank1_info_sec2 = 
| blank2_name_sec2 = Wikimedia Commons
| blank2_info_sec2 = 
| website = {{URL|http://www.cityofmonessen.com}}
| footnotes = 
}}
'''Monessen''' is a city in southwestern [[Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania]], United States, located along the [[Monongahela River]]. The population was 6,876 at the 2020 census. 

Steel-making was a prominent industry in Monessen, and it became a third-class city in 1921. With restructuring of the steel industry in the later 20th century and loss of jobs, it is considered a [[Rust Belt]] borough in the "Mon Valley" of southwestern Pennsylvania.  Monessen is part of the [[Pittsburgh metropolitan area]], the [[Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area]], as well as the [[Laurel Highlands]]. It sits across the Monongahela from the city of [[North Charleroi, Pennsylvania|North Charleroi]].

==History==
===19th century===
[[File:Charleroi-Monessen Bridge.jpg|thumb|The former [[Charleroi-Monessen Bridge]]]]
Named for the [[Monongahela River]] and the industrial German city of [[Essen]], Monessen was created by land speculators fairly late in the history of the Mon Valley, after neighboring towns had already been settled.  The East Side Land Company bought land from various farmers, laid out the streets, and then sold the lots to prospective residents and employers. [[James M. Schoonmaker]], who made his fortune in [[coke (fuel)|coke]], owned a controlling interest in the land company. Other investors in the land company who were also memorialized in street names include [[Philander C. Knox]], [[James H. Reed]], H. Sellers McKee, George O. Morgan, and George B. Motheral.<ref name='Vivian-p13'>{{cite book |last=Vivian |first=Cassandra |title=Monessen: A Typical Steel Country Town |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |year=2002 |location=Charleston, South Carolina |pages=13 |isbn=0-7385-2383-6}}</ref> In May 1897, National Tin Plate Company, founded by [[William Donner]], began building its mill, thus becoming Monessen's first employer. Sales of lots began on July 27, 1897, for the general public and other employers.<ref name='Vivian-p13'/> Monessen became a borough on September 3, 1898.<ref name='PHMC'>{{cite web |url=http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/Bah/dam/counties/pdfs/Westmoreland.pdf |title=Westmoreland County (Dates of incorporation of municipalities) |access-date=May 24, 2008 |publisher=Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission}}</ref>

===20th century===
Monessen experienced rapid growth in the first two decades of the 20th century; the population increasing from 2,197 in 1900 to 11,775 in 1910 and then to 18,179 in 1920.

While there were many companies operating in Monessen, the largest employer was Pittsburgh Steel Company, later renamed [[Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel]]. Pay often was determined by ethnic background. For example, a [[Wales|Welsh]] immigrant would be paid more than an [[Italy|Italian]] immigrant. A normal workweek was 84 hours with seven-day work weeks of 12 hours a day.<ref name='Vivian-p53'>{{cite book |last=Vivian |first=Cassandra |title=Monessen: A Typical Steel Country Town |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |year=2002 |location=Charleston, South Carolina |pages=53 |isbn=0-7385-2383-6}}</ref> Employers did not adopt the eight-hour workday until the 1920s.

Monessen's status changed from borough to city on September 16, 1921.<ref name='PHMC'/>

Beginning in the middle to late 1960s, the region's manufacturers, especially the steel industry, found it harder to compete, which led to employee layoffs. In 1972, the closure of Page Steel and Wire Company was a major setback to the city. A far greater blow to Monessen occurred when its largest employer, Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel, closed nearly all its Monessen operations in 1986.<ref name='Vivian-p143-145'>{{cite book |last=Vivian |first=Cassandra |title=Monessen: A Typical Steel Country Town |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |year=2002 |location=Charleston, South Carolina |pages=143–145 |isbn=0-7385-2383-6}}</ref> The company's rail mill did not close until March 1987.<ref name='Vivian-p143-145'/> The mill's closure marked the end of an era in Monessen's history.

The city has made efforts for several years to clean up abandoned properties in hopes of revitalizing the city. In January 2010 the first female mayor, Mary Jo Smith, was sworn in at the Monessen Municipal Building. Older residents know the steel mills will not be returning to the area. Younger residents barely remember the mills or are even unaware of the city's industrial past. "I remember when they tore the blast furnaces down" in the mid-1990s, said one resident. "It was a big deal. My dad took me. I was 5."<ref name="NYT70416">{{cite news |last1=Apelbaum |first1=Binyamin |title=Struggles in a Steel Town Highlighted by Donald Trump |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/05/us/politics/a-towns-past-and-its-future-rest-in-the-husk-of-an-industry-long-gone.html |access-date=October 13, 2016 |work=New York Times |date=July 4, 2016}}</ref>

===21st century===
The [[Charleroi-Monessen Bridge]] was built in 1906 and demolished in 2011. It was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1988 and has yet to be removed from the register.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref> Monessen has many military veterans who fought in WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf wars. There are many military war memorials and veterans plaques in the city. Some of the well known ones are the WWI Lady Victory Memorial in the Eastgate section of town, the Honor Roll at the City Park that includes all the names of those from Monessen who served in the military, the WWII Sherman Tank Memorial in the City Park as well as the Capt John Onderko Memorial Walking Track, The Lt Col Edward D'Alfonso  Memorial Amphitheater, SP4 Robert Lhota Memorial Picnic Shelter, George Milika Memorial Picnic Shelter and the Anthony Madison Memorial Picnic Shelter. Monessen boasts a War Veterans Memorial Trust to maintain all these memorials in perpetuity. Monessen was home to the following veterans organizations; the Monessen Veterans Council, Disabled American Veterans post 131, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1190 and American Legion Post 28.

==Geography==
Monessen is located at {{coord|40|9|15|N|79|52|58|W|type:city}} (40.154271, -79.882779).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=April 23, 2011 |date=February 12, 2011 |title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|3.1|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|2.9|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.2|sqmi|km2}} (4.90%) is water.

Monessen is part of the [[Greater Pittsburgh]] [[metropolitan statistical area]].

===Climate===
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Monessen has a [[humid continental climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Monessen, Pennsylvania Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase) |url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=91266&cityname=Monessen,+Pennsylvania,+United+States+of+America&units= |access-date=March 14, 2021 |website=Weatherbase}}</ref>
{{Weather box
| location     = Monessen, Pennsylvania
| single line  = Yes
| Jan high F = 39
| Feb high F = 43
| Mar high F = 55
| Apr high F = 66
| May high F = 75
| Jun high F = 82
| Jul high F = 86
| Aug high F = 84
| Sep high F = 79
| Oct high F = 68
| Nov high F = 55
| Dec high F = 44
| year high F = 65
| Jan mean F = 29
| Feb mean F = 32
| Mar mean F = 43
| Apr mean F = 52
| May mean F = 62
| Jun mean F = 70
| Jul mean F = 74
| Aug mean F = 73
| Sep mean F = 67
| Oct mean F = 55
| Nov mean F = 45
| Dec mean F = 34
| year mean F = 53
| Jan low F = 20
| Feb low F = 22
| Mar low F = 31
| Apr low F = 39
| May low F = 49
| Jun low F = 57
| Jul low F = 62
| Aug low F = 61
| Sep low F = 55
| Oct low F = 43
| Nov low F = 35
| Dec low F = 25
| year low F = 41
| Jan precipitation inch = 2.9
| Feb precipitation inch = 2.4
| Mar precipitation inch = 3.5
| Apr precipitation inch = 3.4
| May precipitation inch = 3.8
| Jun precipitation inch = 3.8
| Jul precipitation inch = 3.7
| Aug precipitation inch = 3.6
| Sep precipitation inch = 3
| Oct precipitation inch = 2.5
| Nov precipitation inch = 2.9
| Dec precipitation inch = 2.7
| year precipitation inch = 38
| Jan snow inch = 7.3
| Feb snow inch = 4.7
| Mar snow inch = 3.7
| Apr snow inch = 0.4
| May snow inch = 0.0
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.0
| Oct snow inch = 0.0
| Nov snow inch = 1.3
| Dec snow inch = 4.1
| year snow inch = 21.5
| source 1 = Weatherbase<ref name=Weatherbase>{{cite web |url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=91266&cityname=Monessen-Pennsylvania |publisher=Weatherbase |title=Weatherbase.com |year=2013}}
Retrieved on January 30, 2018.
</ref> 
| date     = October 2013
}}

===Surrounding and adjacent neighborhoods===
Monessen's only land border is with [[Rostraver Township, Pennsylvania|Rostraver Township]].  Across the Monongahela River in Washington County, Monessen runs adjacent to [[Carroll Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania|Carroll]] and [[Fallowfield Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania|Fallowfield Townships]] and [[North Charleroi, Pennsylvania|North Charleroi]] (with a direct connector via Charleroi-Monessen Bridge).

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 2197
|1910= 11775
|1920= 18179
|1930= 20268
|1940= 20257
|1950= 17896
|1960= 18424
|1970= 15216
|1980= 11928
|1990= 9901
|2000= 8669
|2010= 7720
|2020= 6876
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="USDecennialCensus">{{cite web |title=Census of Population and Housing |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=December 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website}}</ref><ref name=CensusPopEst>{{cite web |title=Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012 |url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html |work=Population Estimates |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=December 11, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611010502/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html |archive-date=June 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web |url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:42&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108 |title=Census Population API |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=October 12, 2022}}</ref>
}}
As of the 2010 census,<ref name="GR2" /> there were 8,669 people, 3,916 households, and 2,451 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,986.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 4,468 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,539.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 83.71% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 13.99% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.09% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.23% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.33% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.63% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] people of any race were 0.82% of the population. 27.9% were of [[italians|Italian]], 8.4% [[slovaks|Slovak]], 7.5% [[germans|German]] and 7.0% [[Polish people|Polish]] ancestry according to [[Census 2000]].

There were 3,916 households, out of which 21.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 19.6% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 29.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,686, and the median income for a family was $37,269. Males had a median income of $34,773 versus $21,508 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,627. About 11.5% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 27.7% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
*[[Douglas Education Center]] is a private, for profit higher education career school, located in Monessen.
*[[Monessen City School District]] is a public school district in [[Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania]].

==Notable people== 
* [[Christian B. Anfinsen]] (1916-1995), biochemist; recipient of Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1972 for his pioneering study into the structure of [[ribonuclease]]; author of ''[[Anfinsen's Dogma]]''
* [[Steve Belichick]] (1919-2005), [[NFL]] player and college coach, including 33-year tenure as assistant and scout at Navy
* [[Tony Benjamin]] (1955-), [[American football|football]] player
* [[Eric Crabtree]] (1944-), NFL Football Player for the [[Denver Broncos]], [[Cincinnati Bengals]], and [[New England Patriots]]
* [[Doug Crusan]] (1946-), NFL Football Player for the [[Miami Dolphins]]
* [[Artis Leon Ivey Jr.]] (1963-2022), Grammy Award winning rapper, actor, producer known as Coolio.
* [[Nicholas P. Kafkalas]] (1920–2013), US Army major general<ref>{{cite news |date=2 January 2014 |title=Obituary, Major General Nicholas P. Kafkalas |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-patriot-news-obituary/169133453/ |work=[[The Patriot-News]] |location=Harrisburg, Pennsylvania |page=A13 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
* [[Philander C. Knox]] (1852-1921), United States Senator, [[Brownsville, Pennsylvania]] native, one of several founders of the City of Monessen
* [[Albert Lexie]], [[shoeshiner]] known for donating one third of his lifetime salary to charity<ref>[http://www.wtae.com/news/local/allegheny/Shoe-shiner-donates-200K-in-tips-to-children-in-need/-/10927008/19007542/-/mb6kli/-/index.html Shoe shiner donates $200K in tips to children in need], [[WTAE-TV]], February 21, 2013</ref> 
* [[Bill Malinchak]] (1944-), former football [[wide receiver]] and special teams ace in the [[National Football League]] in the 1960s and 1970s
* [[Frances McDormand]], Oscar-winning American actress
* [[Herman Mihalich]] (1930-1997), former [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] member of the [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives]]
* [[Michael Moorer]], former heavyweight boxer; boxing champion
* [[Armand Niccolai]] (1911-1988), former NFL player for the Pittsburgh Pirates/Steelers
* [[Lawrence T. Persico]], Bishop of the Roman Catholic [[Diocese of Erie]]
* [[James H. Reed]] (1853-1927), [[Allegheny, Pennsylvania]] native, [[United States federal judge]], lawyer, founder of [[Reed Smith]] law firm, one of several founders of the City of Monessen
* [[Tom Savini]], makeup artist
* [[James M. Schoonmaker]] (1842-1927) [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]] native, [[American Civil War]] [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]], vice-president of the [[Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad]], one of several founders of the City of Monessen
* [[Blanche Thebom]], mezzo-soprano singer

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Monessen, Pennsylvania}}
* {{Official website|http://www.cityofmonessen.com}}

{{Pittsburgh Metro Area}}
{{Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Cities in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania populated places on the Monongahela River]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1897]]