Bellevue, Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|
 Catholic Church of the Assumption | |
.png) Seal | |
| Etymology:belle vue,French forbeautiful view | |
 Location inAllegheny County and the U.S. state ofPennsylvania. | |
| Coordinates:40°29′38″N80°3′13″W / 40.49389°N 80.05361°W /40.49389; -80.05361 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Allegheny |
| Settled | 1796–1804 |
| Incorporated | September 7, 1867 (158 years ago) |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Val Pennington |
| • Council President | Jodi Cerminara |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.12 sq mi (2.91 km2) |
| • Land | 1.01 sq mi (2.62 km2) |
| • Water | 0.11 sq mi (0.29 km2) |
| Elevation | 997 ft (304 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 8,311 |
| • Density | 8,231.4/sq mi (3,178.18/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 15202 |
| Area code | 412 |
| FIPS code | 42-05312 |
| School District | Northgate |
| Website | bellevuepa.org |
Bellevue is aborough inAllegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, along theOhio River. The population was 8,311 at the2020 census.[3] A suburb ofPittsburgh, it is part of thePittsburgh metropolitan area.
The borough was incorporated in 1867. There is a public park andlibrary, theAndrew Bayne Memorial Library.
The land on which the borough now sits was once part of theDepreciation Lands reserved forRevolutionary War veterans.[4] The first landowners in the area were James Robinson andHugh Henry Brackenridge, who purchased parcels in 1799 and 1792, respectively.[4]
Early settlers in what would become Bellevue included Samuel Dilworth, Andrew Jack, Zachariah Blackburn, and Erasmus Cooper. Jack operated a ferry, hotel, and mill, and was prominent in the community’s early development.[5] By the late 19th century, the borough was described as combining "healthfulness, accessibility, and beautiful natural scenery,"[5] and as offering suburban advantages for those working in nearby Pittsburgh.Methodist andPresbyterian congregations were established in the mid-19th century, with church buildings completed in the 1860s and 1870s.[5]
Residents of the area sought road and infrastructure improvements fromRoss Township, but township officials opposed development along the Venango Trail (todayRoute 19).[4] In response, Bellevue incorporated as a borough independent of Ross on September 7, 1867.[6] The name “Bellevue” was chosen by J. J. East, a linguist and early resident, and means “beautiful view.”[4] At the time of its incorporation, Bellevue had exactly the minimum population then required for borough status: 300 residents.[7]
The community's post office, originally established under the name Robella, was renamed "Bellevue" on April 16, 1887.[5]
Bellevue was historically adry town, prohibiting the sale of alcohol in stores and restaurants even beforeProhibition. Alcohol sales remain regulated by thePennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB).[8] A 2011 referendum to allow limited alcohol sales at certain establishments was defeated,[9] but a similar measure passed in 2015.[10]
Bellevue contains over 1,000 buildings over 100 years old. In 2016, to recognize 150 years since the borough's founding, Bellevue's Community Development Corporation (CDC),Bona Fide Bellevue, launched a historic building plaque program, consisting of inventorying all the buildings in Bellevue. Of over 2,600 buildings, just over 730 had been approved locally "historic." Over 150 property owners voluntarily elected to purchase a plaque signifying the historic nature of their buildings.
Three buildings have been further recognized as historic:
Bellevue is located at40°29′38″N80°3′13″W / 40.49389°N 80.05361°W /40.49389; -80.05361.[11]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2), of which 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2), or 9.09%, is water. Its average elevation is 997 feet (304 m) above sea level.[12]
Bellevue has three land borders withAvalon to the northwest,Ross Township to the north and east, and the Pittsburgh neighborhood ofBrighton Heights to the southeast. Across the Ohio River to the southwest, Bellevue adjoinsStowe Township.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 384 | — | |
| 1880 | 915 | 138.3% | |
| 1890 | 1,418 | 55.0% | |
| 1900 | 3,416 | 140.9% | |
| 1910 | 6,323 | 85.1% | |
| 1920 | 8,198 | 29.7% | |
| 1930 | 10,252 | 25.1% | |
| 1940 | 10,488 | 2.3% | |
| 1950 | 11,604 | 10.6% | |
| 1960 | 11,412 | −1.7% | |
| 1970 | 11,586 | 1.5% | |
| 1980 | 10,128 | −12.6% | |
| 1990 | 9,126 | −9.9% | |
| 2000 | 8,770 | −3.9% | |
| 2010 | 8,370 | −4.6% | |
| 2020 | 8,311 | −0.7% | |
| Sources:[13][14][15][16][2] | |||
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 8,770 people, 4,389 households, and 1,953 families residing in the borough.[15] The population density was 8,768.1 inhabitants per square mile (3,385.4/km2). There were 4,770 housing units at an average density of 4,769.0 per square mile (1,841.3/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 88.4%White, 8.40%African American, 0.1%Native American, 0.65%Asian, 0.3% fromother races, and 1.8% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 31.4% of the population.
There were 4,389 households, out of which 19.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.6% weremarried couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 55.5% were non-families. 48.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 19.5% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 35.0% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 80.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.9 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $31,481, and the median income for a family was $42,382. Males had a median income of $30,683 versus $26,596 for females. Theper capita income for the borough was $19,246. About 7.8% of families and 18.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 11.2% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.
Val Pennington,[17] Mayor
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 34%1,331 | 60%2,363 | 6%225 |
| 2012 | 38%1,397 | 60%2,237 | 2%64 |
Bellevue is served by theNorthgate School District.
| Preceded by | Bordering communities ofPittsburgh | Succeeded by |
