Freedom, Pennsylvania

Infobox Settlement
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settlement_type =Borough
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Pennsylvania
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Beaver
government_footnotes =
government_type = Borough Council
leader_title = Mayor
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established_title = Settled
established_date = 1832
established_title1 = Incorporated
established_date1 = 1838
area_magnitude =
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unit_pref = Imperial
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area_total_sq_mi = 0.7
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population_as_of = 2000
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population_total = 1763
population_density_km2 =
population_density_sq_mi = 2984.4
timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 40
latm = 41
lats = 04
latNS = N
longd = 80
longm = 15
longs = 06
longEW = W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m =
elevation_ft = 827
postal_code_type = Zip code
postal_code = 15042
area_code = 724
website =
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Freedom is a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, along the Ohio River, 25 miles (40 km) northwest of Pittsburgh. In the early years of the twentieth century, the chief industries were the production of oil, caskets, and monuments. In 1900, 1,783 people lived in Freedom; in 1910, 3,060 people lived there. The population was 1,763 at the 2000 census.

History

In 1824, the Harmony Society returned to Pennsylvania, from Indiana. The society settled in what is now Ambridge, Pennsylvania, five miles up the Ohio River. One of the reasons the society left Indiana was because of harassment for their abolitionist activities. Their settlement was in Beaver County along the Ohio River. There they founded "Ökonomie," now better known as Old Economy Village. Here the Society gained worldwide recognition for its religious devotion and economic prosperity.

The Harmonites were abolitionists, and began placing signs along the Ohio River with one word, "FREEDOM". The Harmonites selected this location because the river curves at this point. The river is actually flowing North, so runaway slaves from the South would be traveling up the river. The FREEDOM sign on the river bank was to let runaway slaves know that they had reached freedom (and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania). If the runaway slaves were still in Illinois, Indiana, or Ohio, then slave hunters from Kentucky or Virginia could legally cross the river and capture them. Once in Pennsylvania, the slaves were free.

The area of present day Freedom, Pennsylvania, began to be called "Freedom" on maps of the Ohio River used by the steam boat navigators.

The town of Freedom

The Town of Freedom was founded in 1832 by Jonathan Betz and Stephen Phillips, co-owners of a steamboat building business. They purchased about one hundred acres of land for $2,000.00 from General Abner Lacock. The original village was surveyed and plotted by Simon Meredith. All of the lots, streets and alleys were located with special preference to the steam-boat building business, the only business at the time. Later, an additional 39 acres were purchased from Captain William Vicary for $2,500.00.

About 150 people first located in Freedom and it grew rapidly. The town was laid out on a Tuesday and by the following Saturday, fourteen houses had been built.

In 1833, Freedom contained 40 dwellings, 47 families, and about 320 people. Boat building and distilling were its two main businesses.

By 1837, Freedom had grown to a population of about 600, and 100 dwellings. New businesses included a foundry, and steam engines manufactured by J. Baker and Company, a large steam sawmill, and an extensive distillery and gristmill owned by J. Stahl and Company. The merchants at that time were: Phillips and McConnell, Stile and Fisher, Phillip Bentel, John Donnan, J. W. Mead, three innkeepers: Samuel Furnier, J. W. Snead, and Thomas G. Kerr and two physicians: Drs. William Smith and T. F. Robinson.

In 1896, Saint Clair Borough joined with Freedom Borough as Greater Freedom. (Saint Clair Borough was located in what is currently Freedom's second ward - Dutchman's Run to 12th street.) It was laid out by Captain William Vicary and was often called Vicary or Vicary Extension. In 1964,the Freedom Grill became the headquarters for the "Insanities Hero's" Motorcycle Club.

Geography

Freedom is located at coor dms|40|41|4|N|80|15|6|W|city (40.684316, -80.251667)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.9 km²), of which, 0.6 square miles (1.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (18.06%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,763 people, 687 households, and 469 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,984.4 people per square mile (1,153.7/km²). There were 731 housing units at an average density of 1,237.4/sq mi (478.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 92.80% White, 5.16% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.23% from other races, and 1.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.74% of the population.

There were 687 households out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 18.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the borough the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $30,741, and the median income for a family was $38,000. Males had a median income of $30,303 versus $23,438 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $16,261. About 12.2% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.8% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.

Notable Residents

*Josh Sharpless- pitcher
*Dominic DeNucci- professional wrestler

ee also

*List of cities and towns along the Ohio River

References

External links