Sharpsburg is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, northeast of downtown Pittsburgh, along the Allegheny River. In 1900, nearly 7,000 people lived here; in 1920, the population peaked at just over 8,900 people. The population was 3,187 at the 2020 census.
In the past, it had a rolling mill, foundries, machine shops, and manufacturers of varnish, brick, glass, lumber products, wire, hair, felt, and lubricating oil. In January 1869, the H. J. Heinz Company was founded in Sharpsburg as Heinz Noble & Company to manufacture and sell bricks.
Geography Sharpsburg is located at (40.495368, -79.928991).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of , of which is land and , or 26.15%, is water.
Surrounding and adjacent neighborhoods Sharpsburg has five land borders, including Etna to the west, Shaler Township to the northwest, two of the five non-contiguous areas of O'Hara Township to the north and southeast, and Aspinwall to the east. To the south, across the Allegheny River via 62nd Street Bridge, are the Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Upper Lawrenceville and Morningside.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Sharpsburg had a population of 3,187. The median age was 40.9 years. 16.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.1 males age 18 and over.
100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 1,614 households in Sharpsburg, of which 19.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 21.5% were married-couple households, 29.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 39.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 45.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 1,851 housing units, of which 12.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.2%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 2,503 78.5% Black or African American 373 11.7% American Indian and Alaska Native 5 0.2% Asian 60 1.9% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.0% Some other race 48 1.5% Two or more races 198 6.2% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 115 3.6%
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 3,594 people, 1,748 households, and 893 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 1,911 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 93.74% White, 3.81% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.11% of the population.
There were 1,748 households, out of which 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.5% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.9% were non-families. Of all households, 42.9% were made up of individuals, and 20.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.03 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 20.1% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 22.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.6 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $22,828, and the median income for a family was $30,500. Males had a median income of $27,396 versus $22,238 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $15,698. About 14.0% of families and 16.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.8% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over. Education Sharpsburg is served by the Fox Chapel Area School District. High-school aged students attend the Fox Chapel Area High School, middle-school aged students attend Dorseyville Middle School, and elementary-aged students attend Kerr Elementary School.
In 2017, the Fox Chapel Area School District was ranked the number two school district in the Pittsburgh region and number six in the Commonwealth.
History
Guyasuta and the Seneca People The Borough of Sharpsburg is located along the Allegheny River just over outside of downtown Pittsburgh. Sharpsburg has a rich history dating back to the 18th century when the Seneca people settled into the area. One Seneca in particular, Guyasuta, has a special connection to the community.
Guyasuta was a strong warrior and skilled hunter. He accompanied George Washington as a hunter guide with his party in 1753. When the two met again in Ohio 17 years later, General Washington greeted him with warmth and affection. In 1758, Guyasuta was involved in a bitter battle at Grant's Hill, where the Allegheny County Courthouse stands today. In the early 1760s, Guyasuta sought peace with the British Army. Guyasuta's peace efforts culminated in a peace treaty, in which the government received a tract of land in what is now western Pennsylvania. General James O'Hara, who had purchased a portion of the river land, donated a small portion of it, where Sharpsburg is today, to Guyasuta.C. Hale Sipe, The Indian chiefs of Pennsylvania, or, A story of the part played by the American Indian in the history of Pennsylvania: based primarily on the Pennsylvania archives and colonial records, and built around the outstanding chiefs. Ziegler Printing Co., Inc. Butler, PA, 1927; pp 371-408
James Sharp and the initial settlement In 1826, a man named James Sharp rode into this area and purchased over of land for $1,337.37 in what was then Indiana Township, building a log cabin for his wife, Isabella L. Sharp. The original deed, recorded on October 10, 1826, can be found in the Allegheny County Department of Real Estate at deed book volume 35(K2), page 156. Opening the land to settlers, Sharp built a school and church while continuing to donate his land for the growing needs of the community. On December 14, 1841, the borough applied for incorporation, and received its charter March 14, 1842. The charter was recorded on March 26, 1842.
James Sharp was born near Chambersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania on February 10, 1784, of Scottish descent. His colonial ancestor and grandfather was Captain James Sharp (Third Battalion, Pennsylvania Regiment), a veteran of the Forbes Campaign. Captain Sharp was present in 1758 at the capture of Fort Duquesne and served under Gen. Hugh Mercer and Col. William Clapham. His father, Matthew Sharp, was a veteran of the Revolutionary War, having served as a private in the Eighth Battalion, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Militia. In 1780 he married Elizabeth (Lindsay) Culbertson and together they had three children: Rosana, James, and Mary.Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania, John W. Jordan (1911).
With his family, young Sharp moved to Pittsburgh in 1797 and remained in Pittsburgh until 1826 when he purchased land at Sheriff's Sale, formerly owned by Gen. John Wilkins, "being number Thirteen in Cunninghams district containing two hundred and fifty seven acres and eighty seven perches on which are a square log dwelling, a good orchard and about fifty acres of cleared land, with fine meadows, a coal bank, and one of the best springs in the County." Sharp moved permanently to the land, part of which would later become the Borough of Sharpsburg. Sharp's first marriage to Sarah Thompson ended with the death of Thompson a few years after their nuptials. He later married Isabella Stockman, with whom he had six children. During his lifetime, Sharp was described as a gentleman: courteous in manners, affable in disposition, and generous in hospitality. Sharp was an abolitionist, a zealous advocate for universal education, a member of the temperance movement, and a member of the Presbyterian Church. Sharp died on March 12, 1861.History of Allegheny County Pennsylvania, L.H. Everts & Co. (1876).
Industry Since its incorporation, Sharpsburg became an industrial town, manufacturing iron, brick and glass while goods were transported through the canal that bisected the borough, along with the Allegheny River. When railroads became the preferred mode of transportation for that time, Sharpsburg continued to thrive as thousands came for the plethora of job opportunities available.
H. J. Heinz Company One of the most well-known industries that had its beginnings in Sharpsburg was the H. J. Heinz Company. The Heinz glass works in Sharpsburg once manufactured all of the glassware for Heinz products. In 1869, Heinz began creating and bottling his first horseradish in the kitchen of his Sharpsburg residence. This house is the place where it all began. Shortly thereafter, the house became Heinz’s first factory. Although he moved his company down the Allegheny along the North Shore of Pittsburgh, he was very gracious to the people of Sharpsburg until his death, donating gifts to the community that was his family home for many years. One of these included the life-sized statue of Guyasuta that was installed at the intersection of Main and North Canal streets. The statue has twice been hit by automobiles—the first occurrence in 1930 and the second occurrence in 1988. Each incident resulted in the destruction and subsequent replacement of the statue.
A town divided Less than a century ago, Sharpsburg was divided into two sections because of a railroad track that went through the location where Kennedy Park currently sits. There were two fire departments, one on each side of the tracks. There were two schools on each side of the track as well, one "up street" and one "down street". Once the railroad tracks weren’t used anymore, the railcars sat vacant on the tracks. The Junior Chamber of Commerce in Sharpsburg went to the railroad company as well as the Heinz family to try to change something about this. The Heinz family said they would help build a park if it was used for recreation purposes only. The park was built around the time when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, and that is why the area was named Kennedy Park.
Government and politics
Office of the mayor The executive of Sharpsburg is the mayor. The mayor is elected to four-year terms and controls all aspects of public safety in the borough. In the event of a tie on council, the mayor reserves a voting privilege.
Council The legislative arm of Sharpsburg Borough is the Borough Council, which is composed of seven elected officials, each to a four-year term. Elections to Council are divided into classes, with four councilors elected in one class, and three elected two years subsequent.
Magisterial District Judge 05-2-04 Sharpsburg is also home to the area Magisterial District Judge (MDJ 05-2-04). The Magisterial District Judge is office is vacant. The district judge has jurisdiction over Aspinwall, Blawnox, Fox Chapel, Indiana, O'Hara, and Sharpsburg. The Magisterial District Judge is an elected position, for a term of six years.
Commonwealth Sharpsburg is represented in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives by State Rep. Mandy Steele, 33rd district. The borough is represented in the Pennsylvania State Senate by State Senator Lindsey M. Williams, 38th district.
Federal Sharpsburg is represented in the United States House of Representatives by Congressman Christopher R. Deluzio, Pennsylvania's 17th District. Sharpsburg is represented in the United States Senate by Senators David McCormick and John Fetterman.
Presidential elections + Presidential election results Year Republican Democratic Third parties 202037% 61361% 1,0101% 24 201638% 52259% 8023% 25 201236% 47363% 8271% 20