In 1798, John Carlysle Stewart, acivil engineer, traveled to western Pennsylvania to resurvey the "donation lands", which had been reserved for veterans of theRevolutionary War. He discovered that the original survey had neglected to stake out approximately 50 acres (20 ha) at the confluence of theShenango River andNeshannock Creek, at that time a part ofAllegheny County. The Indian town ofKuskusky was listed on early maps in this location.[6] Claiming the land for himself, he laid out in April 1798 what was to become the town of New Castle. It comprised approximately that same 50 acres (20 ha), in what was then part of Allegheny County.
In 1825, New Castle became aborough, having a population of about 300. The borough originally was a part ofMercer County. On April 5, 1849, the governor of Pennsylvania signed an act creating Lawrence County (named in honor of U.S. Navy CaptainJames Lawrence) with New Castle as its seat. New Castle became a city in 1869 and was headed by its first mayor, Thomas B. Morgan. At that time, the population had increased to about 6,000.[citation needed]
Business in New Castle began to flourish in the early 19th century with the construction of theBeaver and Erie Canal system, which made its way through the city. Numerous manufacturing plants became located in New Castle because of the availability of transportation facilities and ready access to raw material markets. The canal system was later supplemented and then replaced by railroads which offered greater speed and capacity for freight, as well as year-round service.[citation needed]
In the 1870s, the city became a major hub of thePittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad. New Castle's population swelled from 11,600 in 1890 to 28,339 in 1900, and to 38,280 in 1910, as immigrants, particularly fromItaly, flocked to the city to work in the mills and nearbylimestone quarries.[7] Italian laborers of the era were frequent victims of theBlack Hand society, which employed blackmail and extortion to rob the workers of their pay. In 1907 the headquarters of the Black Hand for the entire region was discovered in the village ofHillsville a few miles west of New Castle.[7] By this time New Castle was one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, and with the construction of the largesttin plate mill in America, the city became the tin plate capital of the world. The tin plate industry marked a new increase in the city's prosperity.[citation needed]
In the 1920s, New Castle enjoyed its greatest prosperity. The landscape of the city was transformed with the building of many beautiful structures, some of which still stand, such as the Scottish Rite Cathedral, St. Mary's Church, and the Castleton Hotel. The city also established its identity. New Castle is known both as the "hot dog capital of the world" and the "fireworks capital of America". Itschili dogs are the product ofGreek immigrants who came to New Castle in the early 20th century and established restaurants along with their homes. The renown forfireworks is credited to two local fireworks companies of international stature, S.Vitale Pyrotechnic Industries, Inc. (Pyrotecnico) and Zambelli Internationale.[citation needed] The first fireworks manufacturer in New Castle was Leopold Fazzoni, who owned and operated the Fazzoni Brothers Fireworks Company. Fazzoni came to New Castle from Italy in 1886 and worked in the tin mills to earn enough money to start his own business. He was issued the first certificate for fireworks manufacturing in the state. Of the people who worked with the Fazzoni family, many founded their own businesses, such as Paul Rozzi, Jacob Conti, Constantino Vitale, and Joseph Zambelli.[citation needed]
Despite recent economic challenges, the city continues to serve as the headquarters ofPyrotecnico Fireworks, the winner of the 2008 Gold Jupiter, awarded at the world's most prestigious fireworks venue: LaRonde inMontreal, Canada. The company was started by Constantino Vitale in Italy in 1889, who immigrated to New Castle in the 1920s, continuing his business there. Five generations of the Vitale family have transformed the company. In the 1990s the company's name was changed to Pyrotecnico and has grown to be a world leader in the industry. Also located in New Castle isZambelli Fireworks, which was founded in New Castle.Zambelli Fireworks is one of the world's leadingfireworks andpyrotechnics companies. These fireworks companies have been featured in venues such as presidential celebrations andSuper Bowls. Pyrotecnico and Zambelli Fireworks have changed the face of the fireworks industry. This has gained the city the nickname of "Fireworks Capital of America". New Castle has recently opened Zambelli Plaza near theCascade Center in 2007 in honor of the Zambelli family's accomplishments.[8]
In the 1930s, the city, along with most cities of America, suffered during theGreat Depression. During this time, the federal government established theWorks Progress Administration (WPA) and theCivilian Conservation Corps (CCC). These programs offered jobs to many displaced workers. Many of the stone walls built by the WPA and the CCC still stand as a reminder of the historic demise of the economy.[citation needed] In the 1940s, industry temporarily surged during wartime.[citation needed]
In 1950, the population peaked at 48,834, but became part of theRust Belt, with population dwindling to 28,334 by 1990. New Castle is the county seat of Lawrence County which has a population of approximately 91,000.
In 1998, New Castle was a host city for the History Channel Great Race. Over 15,000 spectators gathered downtown for the festivities. The city celebrated its 200th birthday in 1998 with a downtown fireworks festival that attracted over 30,000 people.[citation needed]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.5 square miles (22.1 km2), of which 8.3 square miles (21.5 km2) are land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km2), or 2.78%, are water.[11] Via the Shenango River, the city is part of theBeaver River watershed, flowing south to theOhio River.
According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, New Castle has ahumid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in New Castle was 105 °F (40.6 °C) on July 23, 2011, while the coldest temperature recorded was −27 °F (−32.8 °C) on January 19, 1994.[12]
Climate data for New Castle, Pennsylvania, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1894–2020
As of the 2010 census,[16] there were 23,273 people, 9,765 households, and 5,793 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 2,725.2 people per square mile. There were 11,304 housing units at an average density of 1,323.7 per square mile. 1,539 housing units were vacant. The racial makeup of the city was 83.2%White, 12.2%African American, 0.1%Native American, 0.4%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 0.4% fromother races, and 3.7% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.6% of the population.
There were 9,765 households, out of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.8% weremarried couples living together, 18.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.7% were non-families. 28.4% of all households contained individuals under 18, and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.3 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.1% under the age of 20, 5.9% from 20 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.8 years old. For every 100 females, there were 85.3 males.
As of 2017American Community Survey estimates, the median income for a household in the city was $31,044, and the median income for a family was $42,807. Theper capita income for the city was $13,730. About 23.3% of families and 27.2% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 40.8% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.
The Pier I Complex Building in downtown New Castle
Downtown New Castle underwent a redevelopment centered around theCascade Center. The downtown streets and sidewalks were rebuilt in the early 21st century in earlier styles. The revitalization of downtown also saw two major routes into the city,Pennsylvania Route 65 andU.S. Route 224, which had both had their termini extended into downtown in 2007.
InfoCision, atelemarketing services company, restored the former New Castle Dry Goods Co. building, into which it relocated its offices from their former location inside Cascade Galleria. The building had been vacant since the late 1980s when the Troutman'sdepartment store closed. The building is now known as the Pier I Complex Building.
The downtown area has also become the home of severalbank offices, hosting the regional headquarters ofHuntington andFirst Commonwealth (all descended from banks formerly based in the city but later acquired) as well as branches forPNC Bank andFirst National Bank.FirstMerit also had its regional headquarters in New Castle prior to their acquisition by Huntington, and that building is expected to be torn down in 2020.Mellon Bank also had offices across the street from the current Zambelli Plaza before selling off its New Castle-area branches to First National Bank, which closed the office building since it already had the aforementioned branch in downtown.
As of 2018, New Castle employed 8,677 people. Industries employing the most werehealthcare,social assistance, utilities, transportation and warehouses. Healthcare and social assistance employed 1,724 people, followed by retail trade with 1,172 employees and then manufacturing employing 1,012 employees. The highest paying occupations in this area are utility positions, having a median income of $72,917; professional scientific and technical services, with a median income of $45,125; and educational services, with a median income of $40,469. The current poverty rate in this city is 27.4%, with a median household income of $31,557.[18] The 2017 unemployment rate was 8.1%, greater than the U.S. average of 5.2%.[19] Over the past 40 years, New Castle has been transformed from an industrial economy to a more balanced economy based on manufacturing, retail, and service-related businesses. Many buildings and old homes were being renovated by incoming residents.[20]
The current U.S. average sales tax rate was 6.0%, the same as New Castle's sales tax rate at 6.0%. The U.S. average income tax rate was 4.6%, slightly less than New Castle's 5.2%.[19]
Per year, the average income of a New Castle resident was $18,463 and the U.S. average income per resident was $28,555 per year. The median household income for a New Castle resident was $29,762. This came up short of the U.S. average at $53,482 a year.[19] The current poverty rate in New Castle was 27.4%, much higher than the average for Pennsylvania at 13.3%.[21]
White workers made 1.66 times the amount of salary that African American workers made. African Americans make the second highest salary of any race or ethnicity in New Castle.[18]
Waterfall at Cascade Park. Aroller coaster once crossed the waterway just downstream from the falls.
The city was the site of an important development in the history of theWarner Bros. empire, given that the first Warner Brothers' theater, theCascade, opened here in 1907. The building was nearly condemned in 1996 after a wall fell on the sidewalk. Warner Bros. donated $150,000, which the Pennsylvania government matched, to restore the facade. Municipal officials have plannedrecent revitalization efforts around the historic site. The Cascade Center currently features two restaurants and a local stage theater, and plans are in progress to turn the complex into New Castle's version ofStation Square in Pittsburgh.
The Cascade Center is named after Cascade Park, located on the outskirts of the city's East Side inShenango Township alongPennsylvania Route 65. A formertrolley park, it was restored and converted into a regular outdoor park in the 1980s with a few historical buildings as well as the park's entrance sign restored, avoiding the fate of nearbyIdora Park in Youngstown. The park hosts the annual "Back to the 50s Weekend" classic car show, and previously hosted the similarly themed "Thunder in the Cascades" motorcycle show.
The New Castle Playhouse, a community theater, is located along Long Avenue and puts on several shows a year. It is one of only a few such theaters between Youngstown and Pittsburgh. The Old Princeton School, located nearby, has been the venue for rock concerts.
In the 2011 movieSuper 8, New Castle is referenced as the "fireworks capital of the world".[citation needed]
New Castle is the subject of the true crime blog "Small Town Noir", which usesmug shots taken in New Castle between 1930 and 1960, and which were rescued when the town's police department threw them out. The information on the images comes from theNew Castle News.
New Castle has a large Arab-American population whose culture is visible throughout the community. Large numbers ofLebanese andSyrian immigrants were attracted by the city's prosperity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Their culture is especially visible in the local cuisine, which makes popular use of items such asstuffed grape leaves,lamb on the rod,kibbe, andgarlic sauce. Although many other Rust Belt cities contain large Arab-American populations, New Castle is unique for its large population ofAlawite Muslims from Syria. The Muslim community of the city has amosque on the East Side of town.[22]
In 2000, nearly 450 acres (180 ha) of northern New Castle were listed on theNational Register of Historic Places as ahistoric district. The district consists of 91 blocks between Falls Street near downtown New Castle to Fairmont Avenue nearNeshannock Township.[23] Its buildings include late 19th century, early 20th century, late Victorian, and late 19th and 20th century revival styles. Some of these buildings have been torn down since its addition to the register, with the most notable examples being torn down for the construction of theNew Castle High School and the construction of aSpeedway gas station.[24]
The city is served by theNew Castle Area School District, which also serves nearbyTaylor Township, includingWest Pittsburg . The Lawrence County Career and Technical Center is located in the city. As of 2017 the school district consisted of Croton Pre-Kindergarten Center, Harry W. Lockley Early Learning Center (K-2), George Washington Intermediate School (3-5), andNew Castle Junior/Senior High School (6-12).[28]
New Castle Christian Academy on Albert Street between Sumner Avenue and Clen-Moore Boulevard serves students from Pre-K to 9th grade. St. Vitus Catholic School on South Jefferson Street and Home Street serves students from Pre-K to 8th grade.
The New Castle area is served by both thePittsburgh and Youngstown television markets, with regular news coverage in the area from both. Despite being considerably closer to Youngstown, New Castle is part of the Pittsburghdesignated market area byNielsen Media Research. New Castle was home to the firstABC television affiliate inWestern Pennsylvania when FCC channel 45WKST-TV signed on in 1953, asWTAE-TV in Pittsburgh did not sign on until 1958 andWJET-TV did not sign on inErie until 1966. The station moved its license to Youngstown in 1964, moved to channel 33, and changed its call sign toWYTV.
NCTV45 is the only YouTube channel that currently operates as an internet-based television station in New Castle.
The WNWW radio and cable television channel atWestminster College inNew Wilmington operates channel 183 onComcast cable, currently the only television broadcast outlet in Lawrence County.[29]
In the 1990s, WBGN-TV low-power TV stations were established between Youngstown and Pittsburgh. Later,Michael Dell bought the station and moved it toCranberry Township, Pennsylvania. WEPA-CD, a low-power television station (channel 16, virtual 59) licensed to serve, which held the call sign WBGN-LP, WBGN-LD, or WBGN-CD from 1998 to 2014.
Radio stations, however, are part of the Youngstown radio market according toArbitron ratings, even though some Pittsburgh-area radio stations can easily be heard within the area. New Castle is home to two commercialAM radio stations:talk radio stationWKST 1200 andsports talk stationWUZZ AM 1280, the latter being aFox Sports Radio affiliate. ForFM radio,WKPL FM 92.1 The Pickle, first a full-time country music station called WFEM or C92 then rebranded as Classic Gold anoldies station, was licensed in New Castle before its license was moved back toEllwood City in 2004, though it still includes New Castle as one of its local communities as part of itsFCC-mandatedstation identification. The AM stations are owned byAltoona-based Forever Broadcasting, LLC while classic rock station WKPL 92.1 FM is owned byFroggy parent Keymarket Communications of Pittsburgh.
WLDJ, a not-for-profit community radio station, also broadcasts out of New Castle. NCRadio450 operates as an internet radio station from NCTV45.com, focused on playing music highlighting the original songs of local/regional bands.
New Castle's only hospital isUPMC Jameson, located at the intersection of Wilmington Avenue and Garfield Avenue.
Medicare reimbursements per enrollee were $11,153 in 2014, but $11,196 in 2013. Medicare reimbursements per enrollee in Lawrence County are $1,565 more than national average.[18]
Francis Jackson, born free, he was kidnapped in 1850 and sold into slavery and was finally freed in 1855 with the resolution ofFrancis Jackson v. John W. Deshazer.
David Marks, Musician, Founding member of the Beach Boys. Played on their first four Albums before leaving the band. Rejoined and toured with the band from 1997-1999.