Editing Smithton, Pennsylvania

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Smithton, Pennsylvania
|other_name = 
|native_name = 
|nickname = 
|settlement_type = Borough
|motto = 
|image_skyline = Welcome to Smithton sign 2007.jpg
|imagesize = 
|image_caption = Smithton welcome sign
|image_flag = 
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|pushpin_map = Pennsylvania
|pushpin_label = Smithton
|pushpin_label_position = right<!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
|pushpin_map_caption = 
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<!-- Location ------------------>
|subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Pennsylvania]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Pennsylvania|County]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania|Westmoreland]]
|government_footnotes = 
|government_type = Borough Council
|leader_title = Mayor
|leader_name =  [[Christine Tutena]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleyindependent/s_661123.html | title = Best wishes to new office holders | publisher = Valley Independent | date = 2010-01-06 | access-date = 2010-01-21}}</ref>
|leader_title1 = 
|leader_name1 = 
|leader_title2 = 
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|leader_title3 = 
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|leader_title4 = 
|leader_name4 = 
|established_title = Settled
|established_date = 
|established_title1 = Incorporated
|established_date1 = February 2, 1901
|area_magnitude = 
|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 16, 2022}}</ref>
|area_total_km2 = 0.30
|area_land_km2 = 0.26
|area_water_km2 = 0.04
|area_total_sq_mi = 0.12
|area_land_sq_mi = 0.10
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.01
|area_water_percent = 
|population_as_of = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_footnotes = <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=Oct 12, 2022}}</ref>
|population_note = 
|population_total = 351
|population_density_km2 = 1326.19
|population_density_sq_mi = 3441.18
|timezone = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset = -5
|timezone_DST = EDT
|utc_offset_DST = -4
|coordinates   = {{coord|40|09|14|N|79|44|26|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes = 
|elevation_m = 
|elevation_ft = 810
|postal_code_type = [[Zip code]]
|postal_code = 15479
|area_code = 
|website = 
|footnotes = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 42-71424
|image_map = File:Westmoreland County Pennsylvania Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Smithton Highlighted.svg
|map_caption = Location of Smithton in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
}}
'''Smithton''' is a [[borough (Pennsylvania)|borough]] in [[Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania|Westmoreland County]], [[Pennsylvania]], United States. The population was 399 at the 2010 census. As of 2018, the population was listed at 378.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://population.us/pa/smithton/|title=Smithton, PA population}}</ref> Smithton has its own post office, with zip code 15479,<ref>{{cite web |title=US Post Offices by Zip Code |url=https://webpmt.usps.gov/pmt008.cfm |website=Postmaster Finder |publisher=US Postal Service |access-date=27 August 2021}}</ref> and is serviced by [[Yough School District]].

==History==
In approximately 1801, a mill, known as Smith's Mill, was built at the location which became Smithton Borough.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Boucher |first1=John N. |title=History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Volume 1 |date=1906 |publisher=The Lewis Publishing Company |location=New York |page=224 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=quEKAAAAYAAJ&q=smithton |access-date=27 August 2021}}</ref> The town was incorporated as a [[Borough (Pennsylvania)|borough]] in 1901. Smithton's early industry was in coal mining, coke ovens, and the transportation of goods produced in the valley of [[Jacobs Creek (Pennsylvania)|Jacobs Creek]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Our Towns: Smithton |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2010/05/13/Our-towns-Smithton/stories/201005130355 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=May 13, 2010}}</ref>

By 1906, four schools were located at Smithton, with 4 teachers serving 144 students.<ref>{{cite book |title=Boucher op cit p. 425}}</ref>  William B. Jones (grandfather of [[Shirley Jones|actress Shirley Jones]]) founded The Jones Brewing Company at Smithton in 1907.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette op cit}}</ref> The company brewed Stoney's Beer in Smithton until 2002, when the brewing operation was moved to [[Latrobe, Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{cite web|title=History of Stoney's Beer|url=http://www.stoneysbeer.com/stoneys-history.php|access-date=9 August 2011}}</ref>

==Geography==
Smithton is located at {{coord|40|9|14|N|79|44|26|W|type:city}} (40.153985, -79.740531).<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=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> The [[Youghiogheny River]] runs along Smithton's western limits. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the borough has a total area of {{convert|0.1|sqmi|km2}}, all  land.

Smithton lies within the [[Laurel Highlands]]<ref name="Laurel Highlands">{{cite web |title=Laurel Ridge State Park |url=https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/LaurelRidgeStatePark/Pages/default.aspx |website=Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources |publisher=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |access-date=10 January 2023 |language=English |date=2023}}</ref> of the [[Allegheny Mountains]]<ref name="Allegheny Mountain Range">{{cite web |title=Allegheny Mountains |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Allegheny-Mountains |website=Britannica |publisher=Encyclopedia Britannica |date=19 May 2008 |access-date=10 January 2023 |language=English}}</ref> ("the Alleghenies," colloquially). The Highlands are recognized today for their popularity among tourists, who travel from across Pennsylvania and beyond to visit the mountains, waterfalls, and recreational sites. The [[Great Allegheny Passage]]<ref name="The Great Allegheny Passage">{{cite web |title=GAP History |url=https://gaptrail.org/about/gap-history/ |website=Great Allegheny Passage |publisher=Great Allegheny Passage Conservancy |access-date=10 January 2023}}</ref> (the GAP), a 150-mile bike trail that connects [[Cumberland, Maryland]] and [[Pittsburgh]] via the Alleghenies, was built in the late 1900s and runs through the town of Smithton. The GAP is considered a "Rails to Trails" bike path, as it follows the area's historically prominent railroad passages. Smithton continues to be heralded as a Western Pennsylvania "trail town" because of its geographic proximity to commercial transit (Amtrak), industrial (CSX),<ref name="commercial transit [[(Amtrak)]]), industrial [[(CSX)]]">{{cite web |title=Pennsylvania Railroad Map |url=https://gis.penndot.gov/BPR_PDF_FILES/MAPS/Statewide/parail.pdf |website=Pennsylvania Department of Transportation |publisher=The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |access-date=10 January 2023 |format=PDF |date=August 2022}}</ref> and now, recreational, use of these railroad passages. A bridge along [[Pennsylvania Route 981]], referred to as the [[Smithton Low-Level Bridge]], offers passage from the railway and bike path, on the western side of the [[Youghiogheny River]] over to Smithton, on the east side of the river.

==Surrounding neighborhoods==
Smithton is completely surrounded by [[South Huntingdon Township, Pennsylvania|South Huntingdon Township]]. Tenaska Westmoreland Generating Station, a 946-megawatt power plant fueled by natural gas, is located near Smithton in South Huntington Township. Staffed by 24 employees, it became operational in 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Proctor |first1=Daniel |title=Power: News & Technology for the Global Energy Industry |url=https://www.powermag.com/tenaska-gas-fired-plant-comes-online-in-pennsylvania/ |access-date=27 August 2021 |date=December 27, 2018}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1910= 784
|1920= 790
|1930= 709
|1940= 737
|1950= 690
|1960= 649
|1970= 552
|1980= 559
|1990= 388
|2000= 444
|2010= 399
|2020= 351
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 444 people, 188 households, and 124 families residing in the borough. The population density was {{convert|3,858.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 208 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,807.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the borough was 99.10% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.23% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], and 0.68% from two or more races.

There were 188 households, out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 24.3% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $28,854, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $26,667 versus $23,056 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the borough was $16,715. About 7.1% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 22.0% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

[[File:Smithton Pa 2011.jpg|thumb|left|Business district (Peer Street)]]

==Government==
Smithton has a small local government that consists of seven (currently six active) council members and a mayor.
Borough meetings are held on the second Monday of each month.

The Smithton Borough Police Department has eight sworn police officers, one full-time officer and seven part-time officers, which patrol the town less than 40 hours per month in total.

==Notable people==
* [[Shirley Jones]], actress
* [[Hannah J. Patterson]] (1879–1937), suffragist

==References==
<references />

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

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Boroughs in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1901]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1901 establishments in Pennsylvania]]