Braddock Hills, Pennsylvania

Geobox|Settlement
name = Braddock Hills
native_name =
other_name =
other_name1 =
category = Borough
etymology_type = Named for
etymology = Edward Braddock
official_name = Borough of Braddock Hills
nickname =
motto =


image_size =
image_caption =


flag_size =
symbol =
symbol_type =
symbol_size =
country = United States
country_

state = Pennsylvania
state_

region = Allegheny
region_type = County
district =
district_type =
landmark =
river =
location =
lat_d = 40
lat_m = 25
lat_s = 12
lat_NS = N
long_d = 79
long_m = 51
long_s = 57
long_EW = W
elevation_imperial = 1102
elevation_round = 0
area_imperial = 1.0
area_land_imperial = 1.0
area_water_imperial = 0.0
area_water_percentage = auto
area_percentage_round = 2
area_round = 1
area_land_round = 1
area_water_round = 1
population_as_of = 2000
population = 1998
population_density_imperial = 2060.4
population_density_round = 1
established_type = Settled
established = 1753
established_note =
established1_type = Incorporated
established1 = May 2, 1946
established1_note =
mayor = Mark Vogel
mayor_note = cite web| url =http://www.svcog.org/bradh.html | title = "Braddock Hills Borough" | accessdate = 2007-09-03| language = English]
timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
postal_code = 15221
postal_code_type = ZIP code
area_code = 412
area_code_type =
code2_type =
code2 =
free_type = School District
free = Woodland Hills

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map_caption = Location of Braddock Hills in Allegheny County
map1 = Pennsylvania Locator Map.png map1_caption = Location of Braddock Hills in Pennsylvania
map1_locator = Pennsylvania
map2 = Map of USA PA.svg
map2_caption = Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
website = http://www.svcog.org/bradh.html

Braddock Hills is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. Braddock Hills is located approximately 8 miles east of downtown Pittsburgh. The population of Braddock Hills was 1,998 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Braddock Hills is located at coor dms|40|25|12|N|79|51|57|W|cityGR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.0 square miles (2.5 km²), all of it land. Its average elevation is Unit length|ft|1102 above sea level GR|3.

History

Braddock Hills is located northwest of Braddock's Field, the site of General Edward Braddock's 1755 defeat during the French and Indian War. The main road which winds through the borough, Brinton Road, was originally an Indian trail, used by the area's indigenous people to keep watch for their enemies. The other main road in the borough, Braddock Road, was the main link between Braddock Hills and Braddock used by farmers and coal miners. The first area of the borough to be settled was along Brinton Road, first settled as Hannatown.

First settled in 1753cite web| url =http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/counties/pdfs/Allegheny.pdf | title = "Allegheny County - 2nd Class" | accessdate = 2007-09-03| language = English] , the area was part of Wilkins Township until 1885, when Braddock Township was incorporated. On May 2, 1946, after Braddock Township had already been broken up into the boroughs of Swissvale, North Braddock, and Rankin, the remaining area incorporated itself as Braddock Hills.

Braddock Hills experienced a housing boom following WWII. Many GI's used their VA loans to acquire newly built homes. Most of the new homes were built on Illinois Ave, Park Ave, Columbia Ave, Circle, McKelvey Ave, and Kings Ave. These homes were generally small brick Cape Cods, colonials, or brick ranches. While much of the borough has new housing, there are many older structures. Miners built shot gun style homes. Many of these homes were located on Indiana Avenue. Some are still in use.

Many older residents can recall when the Braddock Hills Shopping Center was the location of a drive in movie theater. The drive-in was torn down in the late 70's and was replaced with a shopping center that included a Dollar Bank, Gold Circle Department Store, Giant Eagle, Rite Aid, and several small shops and restaurants. Gold Circle would later close and was replaced with a Builder's Square that was also closed. This part of the shopping center is currently closed although there have been plans for the space. During the 1980's the shopping center's parking lot hosted a Sunday Flea market and the Braddock Hills Days Festival. Other long gone businesses include Azinger's (corner store with lunch meat, milk, bread, and candy), Gigante's (Italian grocery store), Stop and Go's, the gas station on the corner of Brinton and Wilkins Ave. and the infamous Hank's ConCan (bar located on Wilkins Ave)

Like many Western Pennsylvania communities, Braddock Hills was a coal town. There are many abandoned coals mines located throughout the town. This has resulted in sink holes in an area that has been called the "coal fields". The coal fields are located in the center of the community. It is a wooded area that is home to deer, raccoons, opossums, squirrels, and many types of wild birds. At one time, there were several "paths" or foot trails that criss-crossed the borough. During the 1970's, the center of the coal fields had a sports field that was accessible by a dirt road. Local softball and baseball teams would play among the trees.

Another prominent historical feature of the borough is the Braddock Catholic Cemetery. It served as the burying ground for many mill workers in the surrounding communities.

Braddock Hills was also the home of Leonard A. Funk, a medal of honor receipient. A monument dedicated to his exemplary service is located on Brinton road in front of the senior citizen's building.

Education

The area along Brinton Road, Hannatown, had its own one-room schoolhouse, which eventually became a small brick elementary school known as Braddock Hills Elementary, on land donated by the Hanna family, that grew until 1966, when a court mandate combined the educational system of Braddock Hills with that of the neighboring borough of Swissvale. Braddock Hills Elementary closed its doors in 1978. It would soon be converted into a community center that would house the police department and a daycare center. In 1981, the Swissvale Area School District combined, after court ordered desegregation, even further to form the Woodland Hills School District that serves Braddock Hills today.

The public high school for the borough is Woodland Hills High School. The Community College of Allegheny County's Braddock Hills Center is also located in the borough.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,998 people, 1,020 households, and 513 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,060.4 people per square mile (795.3/km²). There were 1,077 housing units at an average density of 1,110.6/sq mi (428.7/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 79.38% White, 17.97% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.15% from other races, and 1.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.55% of the population.

There were 1,020 households out of which 19.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.2% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.7% were non-families. 46.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 27.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.94 and the average family size was 2.76.

In the borough the population was spread out with 18.6% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 28.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 80.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.8 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $30,382, and the median income for a family was $40,517. Males had a median income of $32,434 versus $24,009 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $18,545. About 10.2% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.3% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.

References

External links

* [http://www.svcog.org/bradh.html Official Site]
* [http://www.svcog.org Steel Valley Council of Governments]