Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

For other townships in Pennsylvania with similar names, see [[:Hempfield Township, Pennsylvania]].

Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Township
Hempfield Township, with U.S. Route 30 and Westmoreland Mall in view
Map of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Highlighting Hempfield Township
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Westmoreland County
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Westmoreland
Incorporated	April 6, 1773
Area
• Total	76.8 sq mi (199 km2)
• Land	76.6 sq mi (198 km2)
• Water	0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)
Population  (2010)
• Total	43,241
• Density	531.5/sq mi (205.2/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
Zip code	15601
Area code	724
Website	http://www.hempfieldtwp.us

Hempfield Township is a township in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 43,241 at the 2010 census, making it the largest suburb in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area by population.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 76.8 square miles (199 km²), of which, 76.6 square miles (198 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km²) of it is water.

The township contains the following communities: Armbrust, Bovard, Carbon, Centerville, Darragh, Eastwood, Emmonston, Evanston, Fort Allen, Foxtown, Grapeville, Hannastown, Haydenville, High Park, Hunker, Lincoln Heights, Luxor, Maplewood Terrace, Midway, Radebaugh, St. Clair, Stonevilla, Swede Hill, White Hill, and West Point City.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 40,721 people, 15,997 households, and 11,597 families residing in the township. The population density was 531.5 people per square mile (205.2/km²). There were 16,799 housing units at an average density of 219.2/sq mi (84.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.42% White, 1.11% Black or African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.38% of the population.

There were 15,997 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the township the population was spread out with 20.4% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $42,288, and the median income for a family was $52,440. Males had a median income of $39,001 versus $25,838 for females. The per capita income for the township was $21,839. 6.0% of the population and 4.1% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 7.8% of those under the age of 18 and 7.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Education

Public school students attend the Hempfield Area School District, which comprises Hempfield Township and the boroughs of Hunker, Adamsburg, New Stanton, and Youngwood. Students can also attend Greensburg Central Catholic High School. Hempfield is also the location of the campus of the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg and the Youngwood campus of Westmoreland County Community College.

Economy

Hempfield Township is a major economic player in Westmoreland County. It is home to the popular Westmoreland Mall, the third largest shopping mall complex in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area. In addition, Greengate Centre as well as numerous shopping centers, big-box retailers and restaurants can be found in the township.

Light industry can also be found within Hempfield Township including numerous industrial parks and facilities. RIDC Westmoreland, formerly the Sony Technology Center, straddles Hempfield and East Huntingdon townships.

2011 Tornado

On March 23, 2011, a funnel cloud briefly appeared over the Greensburg and Hempfield areas just around 4:45 PM and eventually touched down as an F2 tornado, causing widespread damage to scores of homes in the Fort Allen neighborhood and in neighboring Sewickley Township. Hempfield Area High School was especially hit with major damage to the auditorium's roof and stadium as was nearby Harrold Middle School. A neighboring school district Norwin let Hempield use their auditorium for Hempfield's theater club play.

See Also

• Brush Creek Salems Church
• Site of Old Hannastown