Freedom, Pennsylvania

History

Freedom's establishment dates to 1832 when shipbuilders Jonathan Betz and Stephen Phillips, formerly based across the Ohio River in Phillipsburg, purchased a 101-acre tract from Abner Lacock. The company established a boatyard, and within a year, 14 homes were located in the settlement. South of Freedom was another village named Vicary, on the tract owned by William Vicary. The Captain William Vicary House remains a local landmark, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In the 1870s, St. Clair borough was established between Vicary and Freedom, and the three communities consolidated into Freedom in 1896. Important businesses in the borough through the first half of the 20th century included Freedom Casket Company and Freedom Oil Company.

Geography

Freedom is located at (40.684316, −80.251667). Freedom has three borders, including the borough of East Rochester to the northwest, New Sewickley Township to the east and northeast and the borough of Conway to the south. Freedom also runs adjacent with the borough of Monaca across the Ohio River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.7 sqmi, of which 0.6 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi (18.06%) is water.

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, there were 1,763 people, 687 households, and 469 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,984.4 PD/sqmi. There were 731 housing units at an average density of 1,237.4 /sqmi. 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.

Education

Children in Freedom are served by the Freedom Area School District, which includes one elementary school, one middle school and Freedom Area Senior High School.

Notable people

• Dominic DeNucci, professional wrestler
• Josh Sharpless, former Major League Baseball relief pitcher
• John Warhola, artist, brother of Andy Warhol who established The Andy Warhol Museum and the Andy Warhol Museum of Modern Art

References

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau.
2. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021". US Census Bureau.
3. Snedden, Jeffrey. (June 6, 2020). "Histories & Mysteries: Freedom is little town packed with big stories".
4. {{NRISref. 2009a
5. (February 12, 2011). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
6. "Census of Population and Housing". U.S. Census Bureau.
7. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
8. "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". U.S. Census Bureau.
9. "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau.
10. "Freedom Area SHS". National Center for Education Statistics.