Editing Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania

{{Short description|Borough in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania
|official_name            = 
|settlement_type          = [[Borough (Pennsylvania)|Borough]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Wilkinsburg municipal building and library.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Entrance to Wilkinsburg's municipal building and library, 605 Ross Avenue
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Allegheny County Pennsylvania incorporated and unincorporated areas Wilkinsburg highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 260px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Allegheny County, Pennsylvania|Allegheny County]] and the U.S. state of [[Pennsylvania]].

<!-- 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        = [[Allegheny County, Pennsylvania|Allegheny]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|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|access-date=October 16, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_sq_mi         = 2.25
|area_land_sq_mi          = 2.25
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
|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|access-date=Oct 12, 2022}}</ref>
|population_total         = 14349
|population_density_sq_mi = 6368.84

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_ft             = 
|coordinates              = {{coord|40|26|38|N|79|52|39|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s
|postal_code              = 
|area_code                = 
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 42-85188
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 
|website                  = {{URL|www.wilkinsburgpa.gov}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_total_km2 = 5.83
|area_land_km2 = 5.83
|area_water_km2 = 0.00
|population_density_km2 = 2459.15
}}
'''Wilkinsburg''' is a [[Borough (Pennsylvania)|borough]] in [[Allegheny County, Pennsylvania]], United States. The borough has a population of 14,349 as of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web|title=Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File (QT-PL), Wilkinsburg borough, Pennsylvania|url=https://www.census.gov|access-date=September 26, 2011|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> Wilkinsburg is part of the [[Greater Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh metropolitan area]]. The borough was named for [[John Wilkins Jr.]], a United States Army officer who served as Quartermaster General of the United States Army from 1796 to 1802.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=a4NIAAAAIBAJ&pg=2867%2C2505444 | title=Town names carry a little bit of history | work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | date=May 10, 1984 | access-date=26 May 2015 | author=Porter, Thomas J. Jr. | pages=1}}</ref>

==History==
Wilkinsburg is located in an area of the [[Appalachian Plateau]] where various land and water transportation routes join, an area which historically [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]] inhabited, for thousands of years. Geologically, Wilkinsburg centers on a valley going through the hills located east of the three rivers confluence: namely, the [[Allegheny River]], the [[Monongahela River]], and the [[Ohio River]]. The Wilkinsburg valley eased passage by land through the barrier of the [[Appalachian Mountains]], for example travel to and from [[Philadelphia]] and other [[Atlantic]] coast areas, including travel through the [[Cumberland Gap]]. The nearby meeting of the three rivers facilitated passage by water and by land alongside the rivers, which eventually joining the south-flowing [[Mississippi River]], meeting the [[Gulf of Mexico]], and so linking with oceanic trade. This made Wilkinsburg a nexus for divergent routes, where travel from the east and from travel from the south intersected, together with other transportation routes to the north and west. A vital section of the major land road or pathway passage to the east is now [[Penn Avenue]], still a main street of Wilkinsburg.

In the early 1700s, European traders arrived, and by mid-century had some established colonial sites, including [[Fort Duquesne]], established by [[France]]. Subsequently, the general area became a major battleground during the [[French and Indian Wars]], during which [[George Washington]] (who passed through what is now Wilkinsburg in 1753,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wilkinsburgpa.gov/about-wilkinsburg/history/a-detailed-history/|title=A Detailed History|website=Wilkinsburg Borough, page 7}}</ref> on a diplomatic mission to French territory), [[Edward Braddock]], and [[John Forbes (British Army officer)|John Forbes]] gained a place in history, each built roads and otherwise enhanced the land transportation routes. The [[French and Indian War]] (1754–1763) was fought between France, [[England]], and various Native groups for territorial control. France lost control of the area in 1758. British forces built [[Fort Pitt (Pennsylvania)|Fort Pitt]] between 1759 and 1761, near the three river junction. France subsequently relinquished claims on the area. In 1776, the British colonies declared independence, and the [[Treaty of Paris (1783)]] confirmed the area west of the Appalachians as part of the newly formed United States. In 1780, Pennsylvania and Virginia agreed to extend the [[Mason–Dixon line]] westward, and the region became part of Pennsylvania, settling a dispute of which state Wilkinsburg would end up being a part of. The [[Treaty of Fort Stanwix (1784)]] resulted in the [[Iroquois]] Nations also relinquishing their claims to the area, but this was not necessarily the case for other Native American polities.

In the 1800s, trade was increasingly augmented by major mining and manufacturing operations. The general area's population continued to proliferate from the late 1800s and the early 1900s, with numerous immigrants from various parts of Europe and African Americans of the [[Great Migration (African American)|Great Migration]] migrating from the Southern United States. For Wilkinsburg, this process sometimes proceeded slowly and sometimes more rapidly.

The Land Company of the Colony of Pennsylvania began to offer deeds in the general area to become Wilkinsburg in 1769. Andrew Levi Levy Sr., purchased 266 acres of woodland, to which he officially gave the name of Africa (for reasons which remain obscure).<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=QFVo5W0YP2IC&q=henry+herr&pg=PA9 Wilkinsburg Historical Society (2007) ''Wilkinsburg'', Arcadia Publishing, 9. The map on page 10 shows his name as Levi Andrew Levy, Sr.]</ref> In 1788, Levy sold his deed to [[William Thompson (general)|William Thompson]] (a retired brigadier general who had served in the [[Continental Army]] during the [[American Revolutionary War]]). Thompson died shortly after, and the land was sold to Col. Dunning McNair (the father of [[Dunning R. McNair]], who would become the [[Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate|sergeant at arms of the United States Senate]], 1853–1861).<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=QFVo5W0YP2IC&q=henry+herr&pg=PA9 Wilkinsburg Historical Society (2007) ''Wilkinsburg'', Arcadia Publishing, 9.]</ref>

Dunning McNair was a significant landholder. In 1790, Dunning McNair laid out a village called McNairstown on the "Great Road" later known as [[Penn Avenue]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wilkinsburgpa.gov/about-wilkinsburg/history/a-detailed-history/|title=A Detailed History|website=Wilkinsburg Borough|access-date=24 March 2020}}</ref> In a deed dated September 1812, McNair deeded land to a certain Patrick Green, by which Wilkinsburgh was officially registered. In 1825, Dunning McNair died. By 1812, the village was referred to as "Wilkinsburgh" in honor of [[John Wilkins Jr.]],<ref>{{cite book|author=Wilkinsburg Historical Society|title=Wilkinsburg|page=9|series=Images of America|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|year=2007|isbn=978-0-7385-4917-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QFVo5W0YP2IC&q=%22john+wilkins+jr%22&pg=PA7}}</ref> a wartime friend of McNair.

James Kelly began a half-century or so of heavy involvement with the area when he paid $12,000 for McNair's former land, which Kelly subsequently added to. James Kelly was involved in much of the civic, religious, educational and other activities during this period.<ref>[https://www.wilkinsburgpa.gov/about-wilkinsburg/history/a-detailed-history/ Wilkinsburg Borough official website, "A Detailed History", accessed 07 October 2022]</ref> In 1873 the City of Pittsburgh annexed a portion of [[Wilkins Township, Pennsylvania|Wilkins Township]] containing Wilkinsburg, but less than three years later, a legal action reversed the annexation.<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Davison|editor1-first=Elizabeth M.|editor2-last=McKee|editor2-first=Ellen B.|title=Annals of Old Wilkinsburg and Vicinity|year=1940|publisher=Group for Historical Research|location=Wilkinsburg, PA|pages=469–473|url=https://digital.library.pitt.edu/islandora/object/pitt%3A00awk9209m}}</ref>

On October 5, 1887, Wilkinsburg separated from the recently created Sterrett Township to become an independent borough.<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Davison|editor1-first=Elizabeth M.|editor2-last=McKee|editor2-first=Ellen B.|title=Annals of Old Wilkinsburg and Vicinity|year=1940|publisher=Group for Historical Research|location=Wilkinsburg, PA|pages=540, 545|url=https://digital.library.pitt.edu/islandora/object/pitt%3A00awk9209m}}</ref>

Although the borough has been economically depressed in recent years, many efforts are being made to change this. In 2004, the [[Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation]] launched initiatives in partnership with its for-profit development affiliate, Landmark Development Corporation, to begin restoration work on historic structures in Wilkinsburg's Hamnett Place neighborhood. Within a decade, more than 70 structures were improved, a new neighborhood center was opened, and the community's supply of [[Affordable housing in the United States|affordable housing]] was increased. The collaborators were subsequently honored with the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation National Preservation Award to recognize their accomplishments.<ref>Sisson, Patrick. "[https://www.curbed.com/2017/11/20/16680750/historic-preservation-pittsburgh-hamnett-place How historic preservation rebuilt a Pittsburgh neighborhood: Brick house by brick house, the award-winning effort to restore Hamnett Place offers a roadmap for creating affordable housing.]" Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: ''Curbed'', November 20, 2017.</ref><ref>Martines, Jamie. "[https://archive.triblive.com/local/allegheny/13960517-74/wilkinsburg-continues-efforts-to-overcome-blight-renew-itself Wilkinsburg continues efforts to overcome blight, renew itself]." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: TribLive, August 10, 2018.</ref> During this time, the [[Hamnett Historic District]] was also established; that historic district was then approved on June 28, 2010, for listing on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref>"[https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2010/06/08/2010-13618/national-register-of-historic-places-notification-of-pending-nominations-and-related-actions National Register of Historic Places; Notification of Pending Nominations and Related Actions]," in ''Federal Register'', June 8, 2010, pp. 32502-32503. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, retrieved online September 30, 2019.</ref>

In 2015, the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation and its for-profit affiliate, Landmark Development Corporation, entered into a collaboration with Falconhurst Development to begin an $11.5 million multi-site restoration within and near the Hamnett Historic District. In addition to restoring four vacant buildings which had been built sometime around the beginning of the 20th century, the developer had plans to open a series of new townhouses in the same area by 2016, with the collaborators again indicating that the housing would be affordable, based on [[United States Housing and Urban Development Department]] (HUD) guidelines. The ground was broken on the project in late September 2015.<ref>Beras, Erika. "[https://www.wesa.fm/post/restoration-begins-historic-wilkinsburg-housing Restoration Begins on Historic Wilkinsburg Housing]." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: WESA Radio (PBS), September 28, 2015.</ref>

===Home of modern broadcasting===
[[File:Frank Conrad radio station 8XK 1920.jpg|thumb|Frank Conrad radio station 8XK 1920]]

Modern [[broadcasting]] as known in its current form began when Wilkinsburg resident [[Frank Conrad]] spearheaded a radio laboratory at his home, coordinated with [[Westinghouse Electric Corporation]] and the [[Signal Corps (United States Army)|United States Signal Corps]], under a special [[World War I|war time]] permit (using call signs 2-WM and 2-WE).<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/radioindustrysto00harvrich#page/191/mode/1up "The Early History of Broadcasting in the United States"] by H. P. Davis, included in ''The Radio Industry: The Story of Its Development'', 1928, pages 191-192.</ref> After moving from [[Swissvale, Pennsylvania|Swissvale]] to Wilkinsburg, Conrad installed a radio station on the top floor of his backyard two-story garage, with a microphone, where he worked into the wee hours of the morning, eventually resulting in the development of modern broadcasting, as [[do it yourself]] listeners who had made their own [[crystal radio]] sets began to respond, some quite enthused by the music broadcast when Frank Conrad coupled a phonograph to radio. Wilkinsburg thus became the original location for modern broadcasting, combining the concepts of "the station, the audience, the programs, and a means to pay for the programs" after Conrad accepted a donation from a Wilkinsburg music store to promote its musical offerings.<ref>[http://www.nmbpgh.org/conrad_project/historical_background/conrad.htm "Frank Conrad: Sleepless Genius"], National Museum of Broadcasting (nmbpgh.org)</ref> This was all before and leading up to [[KDKA (AM)|KDKA]] and the development of commercial radio.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nmbpgh.org/conrad_project/historical_background/commercial.htm|title = Commercial Broadcasting}}</ref> In 1916, KDKA began broadcasting, as experimental station 8XK, from the Westinghouse plant in East Pittsburgh and in a small garage owned by [[Frank Conrad]], before it was launched with its current call letters on November 2, 1920. In 1923, Wilkinsburg-based [[Russia]]n immigrant [[Vladimir Zworykin]] designed and patented the [[iconoscope]], the photocell "eye" of early television cameras. Today, ABC affiliate [[WTAE-TV]] is located in the borough on Ardmore Boulevard.

==Geography==
[[File:Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, from Homewood Cemetery, 01.jpg|thumb|The central business district of Wilkinsburg]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the borough has a total area of {{convert|2.3|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

===Surrounding neighborhoods===
Wilkinsburg has ten borders, including [[Penn Hills Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania|Penn Hills Township]] to the northeast, [[Churchill, Pennsylvania|Churchill]] to the east, [[Forest Hills, Pennsylvania|Forest Hills]] to the southeast, [[Edgewood, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania|Edgewood]] to the south, [[Swissvale, Pennsylvania|Swissvale]] to the southwest, and the Pittsburgh neighborhoods of [[Regent Square (Pittsburgh)|Regent Square]], [[Point Breeze (Pittsburgh)|Point Breeze]], and [[North Point Breeze]] to the west, [[Homewood South (Pittsburgh)|Homewood South]] to the northwest, and [[East Hills (Pittsburgh)|East Hills]] to the north.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 1529
|1890= 4662
|1900= 11886
|1910= 18924
|1920= 24403
|1930= 29639
|1940= 29853
|1950= 31418
|1960= 30066
|1970= 26780
|1980= 23669
|1990= 21080
|2000= 19196
|2010= 15930
|2020= 14349
|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|access-date=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Wilkinsburg borough, Pennsylvania – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Wilkinsburg borough, Pennsylvania |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=060XX00US4200385188&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wilkinsburg borough, Pennsylvania |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=060XX00US4200385188&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wilkinsburg borough, Pennsylvania |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=060XX00US4200385188&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|5,558
|4,427
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,517
|28.95%
|27.79%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |31.48%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|12,684
|10,514
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8,357
|66.08%
|66.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |58.24%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|67
|59
|style='background: #ffffe6; |23
|0.35%
|0.37%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.16%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|155
|161
|style='background: #ffffe6; |243
|0.81%
|1.01%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.69%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|12
|3
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2
|0.06%
|0.02%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.01%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other Race]] alone (NH)
|67
|30
|style='background: #ffffe6; |105
|0.35%
|0.19%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.73%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|437
|447
|style='background: #ffffe6; |686
|2.28%
|2.81%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.78%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|216
|289
|style='background: #ffffe6; |416
|1.13%
|1.81%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.90%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''19,196'''
|'''15,930'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''14,349'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2000 census===
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 19,196 people, 9,138 households, and 4,477 families residing in the borough. The population density was {{convert|8,335.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 10,696 housing units at an average density of {{convert|4,644.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the borough was 29.25% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 66.51% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.38% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.81% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.06% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.55% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.44% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.13% of the population.

There were 9,138 households, out of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 24.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 20.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.0% were non-families. 44.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06, and the average family size was 2.91.

In the borough, the population was spread out, with 23.4% under 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 78.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.0 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $26,621, and the median income for a family was $33,412. Males had a median income of $26,813 versus $26,196 for females. The [[per capita income]] was $16,890. About 15.9% of families and 18.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 30.8% of those under age 18 and 14.2% of those age 65 or over.

===Religion===
[[File:Temperance song hand book.jpg|thumb|[[Temperance movement in the United States|Temperance]] movement song handbook, from the East End [[Woman's Christian Temperance Union]], Wilkinsburg, 1920]]
Wilkinsburg was founded and developed by highly religious European immigrants. The borough has a remarkably high concentration of [[church (building)|church]]es, mostly [[Protestantism|Protestant]], which is unusual in a predominantly [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] region of the country. According to borough leader James Kelly, the reversal of Wilkinsburg's annexation to Pittsburgh in the 1870s was to maintain the community's religious integrity. Wilkinsburg was known during this time by many as "The Holy City".

==Arts and culture==
Wilkinsburg Borough has a Community Art and Civic Design Commission charged with review and legislation for "new and renovated structures, infrastructure, landscapes, works of art, memorials, and monuments on all public property and on all private property designated for commercial use."<ref>[https://www.wilkinsburgpa.gov/departments/boards-committees-and-authorities/ Wilkinsburg Borough official site, "Boards, Committees, and Authorities", accessed 23 January 2020]</ref> Due to its location in [[Allegheny County, Pennsylvania|Allegheny County]], and especially its proximity to Pittsburgh, Wilkinsburg is in the neighborhood for numerous opportunities for experiences in art and culture.

The most notable agent of revitalization and development in Wilkinsburg is the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation (WCDC), a non-profit incorporated in 2007 with a mission "to promote the revitalization of Wilkinsburg through business & residential development; organizational & individual civic leadership; and ethnic & cultural diversity".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wilkinsburgcdc.org/about-wcdc/|title=ABOUT WCDC - Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation|website=Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation|language=en-US|access-date=2016-06-07}}</ref> Their notable community programs include classes for local entrepreneurs, classes on home buying, community events, and the Vacant Home Tour. The WCDC focuses primarily on the Wilkinsburg Business District, the area around the intersection of Penn Avenue and Wood Street.
The WCDC's Business District Revitalization Plan promotes a "flourishing commercial and retail environment in Wilkinsburg" and consists of planning and policy recommendations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wilkinsburgcdc.org/business-district-revitalization/|title=BUSINESS DISTRICT REVITALIZATION - Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation|website=Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation|language=en-US|access-date=2016-06-07}}</ref> In May 2015, the WCDC's advocacy resulted in an approved liquor license referendum, legalizing the sale of up to five restaurant liquor licenses in the borough, which had been a dry community since 1935.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/8407499-74/liquor-restaurant-wilkinsburg|title='Dry' no more: Wilkinsburg, Bellevue restaurant owners expect to benefit|last=Schaeffer|first=Katherine|website=TribLIVE.com|language=en-US|access-date=2016-06-07}}</ref>

===Library===
In 1899 the Wilkinsburg library was founded as a branch of the [[Carnegie Free Library of Braddock|Braddock library]] (which was the first of the [[Carnegie library|Carnegie libraries]] in the nation).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wilkinsburglibrary.org/aboutus.php|title=Wilkinsburg Public Library : About Us|website=www.wilkinsburglibrary.org|access-date=2016-06-07}}</ref>

==Parks and recreation==
Wilkinsburg has several parks of various sizes. The largest is Hunter Park, which at almost nine acres includes sports courts, fields, playground equipment, and woodland. There are also six smaller parks.

==Government and politics==
{{More citations needed section|date=February 2023}}
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Presidential Elections Results<ref>{{cite web|last1=EL|title=2012 Allegheny County election|url=http://triblive.com/politics/2907065-74/pittsburgh-ward-hills-west-borough-braddock-east-elizabeth-north-park|website=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review|access-date=15 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=EL|title=2016 Pennsylvania general election...|url=http://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/electionresultsgen2016/|website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|access-date=15 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/PA/Allegheny/106267/web.264614/#/detail/0004 | title=Election Night Reporting }}</ref>
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
! Year
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Third Party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2020 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania|2020]]'''
|  style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|''12%'' ''1,102''
|  style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|''86%'' ''7,392''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|''0.6%'' ''55''
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Pennsylvania, 2016|2016]]'''
|  style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|''8%'' ''628''
|  style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|''91%'' ''7,341''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|''1%'' ''121''
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Pennsylvania, 2012|2012]]'''
|  style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|''9%'' ''747''
|  style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|''90%'' ''7,876''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|''1%'' ''86''
|}

Wilkinsburg is a [[Borough (Pennsylvania)|borough]], located in the [[Commonwealth (U.S. state)|U.S. Commonwealth]] of [[Pennsylvania]]; which means that Wilkinsburg is a self-governing [[Municipality|municipal]] entity, of the sort often thought of as a [[town]]. Wilkinsburg Borough is organized into three wards: First, Second, and Third.

Overall oversight of Wilkinsburg Borough is by the borough council. The borough council generally consists of nine elected representatives, three from each ward. Wilkinsburg has or has associated various boards, committees, and authorities. Wilkinsburg also has a mayor and a borough manager. Wilkinsburg Borough authorities, boards, and commissions include the Civil Service Commission, the Community Art and Civic Design Commission, the Citizens Advisory Commission on Shade Trees, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, the Planning Commission, the Zoning Hearing Board, the Board of Library Directors, the Industrial and Commercial Development Authority, and the Municipal Authority.

Public education is handled by the Wilkinsburg School District's board of directors, in combination with the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the [[Pennsylvania Department of Education]], and the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The domain of public education is separate from that of the borough.

Wilkinsburg water and sewage services are provided through a [[Municipal authority (Pennsylvania)|municipal authority]], the Wilkinsburg-Penn Joint Water Authority, a coalition serving several communities. The Wilkinsburg Borough Council appoints three members to the board.

Wilkinsburg voters voted predominantly for the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] in the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections.

==Crime==
Wilkinsburg was home to the infamous Larimer Avenue-Wilkinsburg (LAW) Gang, which the federal government indicted under the [[Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act]] (RICO). The indictment started in 1995 when the federal government investigated and arrested many people with criminal ties or activities. Overall, crime in Wilkinsburg is higher than in outlying neighborhoods on average. However, crime has slightly declined in recent years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-Wilkinsburg-Pennsylvania.html|title=Crime in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania (PA): murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, auto thefts, arson, law enforcement employees, police officers, crime map|website=www.city-data.com|access-date=2016-06-07}}</ref><ref>[http://pittsburgh.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/1998/07/13/story1.html "RICO Comes to Town", ''Pittsburgh Business Times'' (1998)]</ref>

===2000 shooting spree===
{{main|2000 Wilkinsburg shooting}}
On March 1, 2000, Wilkinsburg received national attention when Ronald Taylor killed three people and wounded two others in a racially motivated shooting spree that occurred in part at the local [[Burger King]] and [[McDonald's]] restaurants.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wpxi.com/archive/this-day-march-1-2000-racially-motivated-shooting-spree-leaves-3-dead-wilkinsburg/AC2KVVXIAFC5RMCEXJDLDUT6NA/|title=ON THIS DAY: March 1, 2000, Racially-motivated shooting spree leaves 3 dead in Wilkinsburg|website=WPXI News|access-date=2020-12-05}}</ref>

===2016 mass shooting===
{{main|2016 Wilkinsburg shooting}}
On March 9, 2016, five people, including a pregnant woman, were killed in a shooting at a cook-out in Wilkinsburg. The city council has many plans to beautify the neighborhood and repair many of the vacant homes such as the apartment building on 855 Rebecca Avenue.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2014/07/17/Advocates-help-push-Wilkinsburg-revitalization/stories/201407100043|title=Neighbors Unite helps revitalize Wilkinsburg|website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|access-date=2016-06-07}}</ref> Furthermore, Vice President of the City Council recently started Wilkinsburg Community Conversations, whereby community members have the opportunity to discuss current issues the borough is facing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.maritagarrett.com/community-conversations.html|title=COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS|website=Marita Garrett|access-date=2016-06-07}}</ref><ref name="StroudRosenberg">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/11/us/mass-shooting-wilkinsburg-pittsburgh.html?_r=0|title=Gunmen Open Fire on Backyard Party Near Pittsburgh, Killing 5|last1=Stroud|first1=Matt|last2=Rosenberg|first2=Eli|date=March 10, 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 10, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Botelho">{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/10/us/pennsylvania-shooting/|title=6 dead, including pregnant woman, in Pennsylvania backyard shooting|last=Botelho|first=Greg|date=March 10, 2016|work=CNN|access-date=March 10, 2016}}</ref><ref name="GoldsteinMajors">{{cite web|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2016/03/10/Multiple-people-shot-in-Wilkinsburg/stories/201603100136|title=DA says Wilkinsburg ambush that killed six was planned, calculated, brutal|last1=Goldstein|first1=Andrew|last2=Kane|first2=Karen|date=March 10, 2016|last3=Templeton|first3=Dave|last4=Czebiniak|first4=Madasyn|last5=Majors|first5=Dan|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|access-date=March 10, 2016}}</ref>

==Education==
In its early history, education in Wilkinsburg was completely private. Many schools were started by different teachers and held in their homes. The Wilkinsburg Academy, founded in 1852, was the beginning of large-scale schooling. The borough adopted the Free Common School Act of 1834 in 1840; James Kelly loaned money for the first common school, which served until 1850. From this time, the number of students rose exponentially. By 1910, there were 4,253 students in six public schools.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Wilkinsburg: Images of America|last=Wilkinsburg Historical Society|publisher=Arcadia Pub.|year=2007|isbn=978-0-7385-4917-0|location=Charleston, SC|pages=35–50}}</ref> 
Today, Wilkinsburg School District consists of two elementary schools, Kelly Primary and Turner Intermediate schools. Due to lack of funding, Wilkinsburg's Junior and Senior High schools closed in 2016. The district now outsources Junior and Senior High School education to [[Westinghouse High School (Pittsburgh)|Westinghouse High School]] in the [[Pittsburgh Public Schools|Pittsburgh Public School district]].

Wilkinsburg is also home to the Sister [[Thea Bowman]] Catholic Academy. This is a [[Catholic]] elementary school which was formed as a merger of St. James School in Wilkinsburg and Holy Rosary in [[Homewood (Pittsburgh)]]. The new school is housed in the former St. James School building and educates children from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.

== Transportation ==
Wilkinsburg is located at the nexus of various transportation systems, including road, rail, and river.

===Road===
{{further|Lincoln Highway|Route of the Lincoln Highway}}
Wilkinsburg is located along historic roadways. For example, since 1913 Wilkinsburg is one of the locations transversed by the Lincoln Highway.<ref>[https://wilkinsburghistory.wordpress.com/2023/04/12/wilkinsburg-historical-society-february-2023-newsletter/ ''Wilkinsburg Historical Society Newsletter'' February 2023. Accessed 16 May 2023.]</ref> The historic Lincoln Highway runs from [[Times Square]] in New York City to [[Lincoln Park (San Francisco)|Lincoln Park]] in San Francisco. The Lincoln Highway legacy includes Penn Avenue and Ardmore Boulevard in Wilkinsburg: these are State Route 8 and Federal Route 30.<ref>[https://lincolnhighwayassoc.org/map/ Map provided by the Lincoln Highway Association. Accessed 16 May 2023. Zooming in may be required to see the details.]</ref> Penn Avenue was even earlier along the main trajectory of the [[Forbes Road]], which was used by British officer [[John Forbes (British Army officer)|John Forbes]] to lead a military expedition to attack the French position at [[Fort Duquesne]] (later [[Fort Pitt (Pennsylvania)|Fort Pitt]]), in 1758, as part of the [[Seven Years' War]] (1756–1763). Previously British officer [[Edward Braddock]] had built a road with the same general trajectory, known as [[Braddock Road (Braddock expedition)|Braddock's Road]] (beneath which he was later buried), which lead to the French fortifications at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers.

===Rail===
[[File:Pennsylvania Railroad Station in Wilkinsburg.jpg|thumb|[[Wilkinsburg station]]]]
{{see also|Pennsylvania Railroad Station-Wilkinsburg}}
Until September 14, 1975, Wilkinsburg had inter-city passenger rail service. On that day [[Amtrak]] discontinued service, citing a total of 128 passengers boarding or alighting in the first six months of 1975, the lowest system-wide. The last train serving Wilkinsburg was the ''[[National Limited (Amtrak train)|National Limited]]'', which operated daily between [[New York City]] and [[Kansas City, Missouri]].<ref>{{cite news | title=Wilkinsburg Rail Stop To End, Amtrak Says | newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Press]] | date=September 9, 1975 | access-date=2010-09-08 | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YsobAAAAIBAJ&pg=1262,3748545&dq=amtrak+wilkinsburg&hl=en}}</ref> The [[PennDOT]]-operated ''[[Parkway Limited]]'' provided commuter service to Pittsburgh for nine months in 1981 but was also canceled because of low ridership.<ref>{{cite news | title=Commuters gear up for Parkway work | newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] | date=March 3, 1981 | access-date=2010-09-08 | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PugNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4227,157637&dq=amtrak+wilkinsburg&hl=en | first=Ken | last=Fisher}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Riders Bid Farewell To 'Parkway Limited' | date=November 14, 1981 | access-date=2010-09-08 | first=Lee | last=Bowman | newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Press]] | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CBovAAAAIBAJ&pg=6847,7417835&dq=parkway-limited&hl=en}}</ref>

Wilkinsburg has multiple stations operated by the [[Port Authority of Allegheny County]], on the [[Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway]]:
* [[Wilkinsburg (PAT station)|Wilkinsburg bus station]]
* [[Hamnett (PAT station)|Hamnett bus station]]

===Rivers===
{{further|Ohio River|Allegheny River|Monongahela River}}
Historically the confluence of the Allegheny River and the Monongahela River created an important transportation nexus. Before the modern road and rail systems transportation along waterways was even more significant than it is today. Wilkinsburg is located between the Allegheny and the Monongahela rivers, near to where they meet to form the Ohio River, although Wilkinsburg does not actually border either river.

==Notable people==
*[[Jonathan Adams (American actor)|Jonathan Adams]], actor, Chuck Larabee on the sitcom ''[[Last Man Standing (American TV series)|Last Man Standing]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://triblive.com/aande/movies-tv/tv-talk-wilkinsburg-native-says-goodbye-to-last-man-standing/|last=Owen|first=Rob |title= TV Talk: Wilkinsburg native says goodbye to 'Last Man Standing'|date=May 17, 2021|work=[[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]]|access-date=February 6, 2022}}</ref>
*[[Paul V. Applegarth]], former chief executive officer, [[Millennium Challenge Corporation]] 
*[[Les Biederman]] (1907–1981), former sports writer, columnist, and editor, ''[[The Pittsburgh Press]]''
*[[Daniel Carter (musician)|Daniel Carter]], jazz musician
*[[Frank Conrad]], radio broadcast pioneer
*[[Charlie Deal]], former professional baseball player, [[Chicago Cubs]] and [[Detroit Tigers]]
*[[Richard Frankenburg]], former member of Pennsylvania House of Representatives
*[[Vic Fusia]], former football player and coach
*[[Dick Groat]], former professional baseball player, [[Philadelphia Phillies]], [[Pittsburgh Pirates]], [[San Francisco Giants]], and [[St. Louis Cardinals]] and pro basketball player for [[Detroit Pistons|Fort Wayne Pistons]]
*[[Amzi D. Harmon]], Medal of Honor recipient in the [[American Civil War]]<ref name="Projects">{{Cite web |url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/143|title=Amzi D. Harmon|access-date=August 10, 2014}}</ref>
*[[Treyvon Hester]], former professional football player, [[Oakland Raiders]], [[Philadelphia Eagles]], and [[Washington Commanders|Washington Redskins]]
*[[Bob Hoffman (sports promoter)|Bob Hoffman]], former weightlifter and bodybuilder
*[[Jon Robert Holden]], professional and Olympic basketball player
*[[Kimmarie Johnson]], actress, model, businesswoman, and beauty pageant titleholder
*[[Mike Jones (wrestler)|Mike Jones]], wrestler, best known by his ring name "Virgil"
*[[Bill McKechnie]], baseball player and manager
*[[M. Graham Netting]], [[Herpetology|herpetologist]] and [[Conservation movement|conservationist]]
*[[Dunning R. McNair]], Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate from March 17, 1853, to July 6, 1861
*[[Edward Ormondroyd]], author
*[[Bunny Yeager]], photographer and model
*[[Ralph "Brigham" Young]], former politician

==See also==
* [[AM broadcasting]], much of which first developed in Wilkinsburg
* [[Blackridge, Pennsylvania]], a community located in the municipalities of Wilkinsburg, [[Penn Hills, Pennsylvania|Penn Hills]] and [[Churchill, Pennsylvania|Churchill]]
* [[Hamnett Historic District]], Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania
* [[John F. Singer House]], a historical building
* [[List of Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmarks]], which includes the Wilkinsburg "1939 House" designed by [[Dwight James Baum]] 
* [[Radio broadcasting]]
* [[Scholastic Corporation]], now headquartered in New York City, but started up in Wilkinsburg
* [[Wilkinsburg School District]]
* [[Wilkinsburg station]]
* [[Wilkinsburg station (PAAC)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|www.wilkinsburgpa.gov}}
* [http://wilkinsburgcdc.org/ Wilkinsburg Community Development Center]
* {{cite EB1911|wstitle=Wilkinsburg |volume= 28|short= x}}

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

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places established in 1790]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Boroughs in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:1790 establishments in Pennsylvania]]