Latrobe, Pennsylvania

Latrobe, Pennsylvania
—  City  —
Looking down Main Street
Latrobe, Pennsylvania
Coordinates: 40°18′54″N 79°22′52″W
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Westmoreland
Settled	1852
Incorporated (borough)	May 24, 1854
Incorporated (city)	1999
Government
- Type	City Council
- Mayor	Barbara Griffin
Area
- Total	2.3 sq mi (6 km2)
Elevation	997 ft (304 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	7,634
- Density	4,414.3/sq mi (1,704.4/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Zip code	15650
Area code(s)	724
Website	http://www.cityoflatrobe.com

Latrobe ( /leɪˈtroʊb/) is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in the United States, approximately 40 miles (64 km) southeast of Pittsburgh.

The city population was 7,634 as of the 2000 census (9,265 in 1990). It is located near the Pennsylvania's scenic Chestnut Ridge. Latrobe was incorporated as a borough in 1854, and as a city in 1999. The current Mayor is Barbara Griffin.

Among its claims to fame, Latrobe is the home of the Latrobe Brewery (the original brewer of Rolling Rock beer), Saint Vincent College, and golfer Arnold Palmer. It was the childhood home of Fred Rogers, children's television personality. He was also buried there in Unity Cemetery after his death in 2003. In addition, it is the birthplace of trumpeter Dennis Ferry. While it was believed for years that the first professional football game was played in Latrobe, the city refused induction into the Hall of Fame records. Latrobe is also home of the first banana split, invented in Latrobe by David Strickler in 1904. Latrobe is home to the training camp of the Pittsburgh Steelers American football team. Also, comedian Jackie Mason spent three years as a rabbi in Latrobe after his ordination.

In May 2006, Anheuser-Busch purchased the Rolling Rock brands, but not the brewery. In June 2006, City Brewing Company from LaCrosse, Wisconsin entered into negotiations to buy the brewery. In September 2006, City Brewing Company agreed to purchase the brewery, and they licensed it to the Boston Beer Company in April 2007 as a satellite brewery to produce Samuel Adams beers. Sam Adams production did not last long. The plant is currently gearing up to brew Iron City Beer under contract. In addition, Duquesne Bottling Company has brewed the revived Duquesne Beer, "The Prince of Pilseners", at the Latrobe plant.

History

In 1852, Oliver Barnes (a civil engineer for the Pennsylvania Railroad) laid out the plans for the community that was incorporated in 1854 as the Borough of Latrobe. Barnes named the town for his best friend and college classmate, Benjamin Latrobe, who was a civil engineer for the B&O Railroad. (His father, Benjamin Henry Latrobe, was the architect who rebuilt the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. after the War of 1812.)

Its location along the route of the Pennsylvania Railroad helped Latrobe develop into a significant industrial hub. Latrobe was also served by the Ligonier Valley Railroad from 1877 to 1952.

In 1904, the banana split was invented in Latrobe by David Evans Strickler.

Two interurban (long-distance trolley) lines served Latrobe: The Westmoreland County Railway Company connected Latrobe to Derry, operating 1904 to 1932. Also, Latrobe Street Railway Company began operations in 1900, connecting Latrobe to Kingston. That line was purchased by West Penn Railways, which eventually linked it with its network running through Youngstown, Pleasant Unity, and eventually to Greensburg and Uniontown. Service ceased in 1952.

Latrobe has three sites on the National Register of Historic Places within its city boundaries:

• Pennsylvania Railroad Station at Latrobe (325 McKinley Avenue): This station was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1903.

• Citizens National Bank (816 Ligonier Street): At six stories, this is the city’s tallest building, previously known as the Mellon Bank Building. This 1926 structure was designed by the Greensburg firm of Batholomew & Smith.

• Latrobe Armory (1017 Ridge Avenue) This two-story brick structure was built in 1927 in an art deco style. Joseph F. Kuntz was the architect.

Early professional football team

Latrobe's Pro Football Team in 1897

From 1895 until 1909, Latrobe was the home of the Latrobe Athletic Association, one of the earliest professional football teams. The team's quarterback, John Brallier, became the first football player to admit playing for money. In 1895 he accepted $10 and expenses to play for Latrobe in a 12-0 victory over the Jeannette Athletic Club. Brallier was thought to be the very first professional football player, until the 1960s. It was then, that documents surfaced showing that William "Pudge" Heffelfinger, a former three-time All-American from Yale, was employed to play guard for the Allegheny Athletic Association three years earlier. In 1897, Latrobe was the first football team to play a full season with a team composed entirely of professional players. In 1898 Latrobe and two players from their rivials, the Greensburg Athletic Association, formed the very first professional football all-star team for a game against the Duquesne Country and Athletic Club, to be played at Pittsburgh's Exposition Park. Duquesne went on to win the game 16-0. On November 18, 1905, Latrobe defeated the Canton Bulldogs, which later became a founding member, and two-time champion, of the National Football League, 6-0.

Aside from Brallier, the Latrobe Athletic Association included several of the era's top players, such as: Ed Abbaticchio, Charles Barney, Alf Bull, Jack Gass, Walter Okeson, Harry Ryan, Doggie Trenchard, Eddie Wood and manager Dave Berry.

Geography

Latrobe is located at 40°18′54″N 79°22′52″W (40.314940, -79.381171). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 km²), all land.

Demographics

Mozart Hall (1890)

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,994 people, 3,966 households, and 2,458 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,913.6 people per square mile (1,509.8/km²). There were 4,258 housing units at an average density of 1,852.8 per square mile (714.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.78% White, 0.32% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.07% from other races, and 0.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.37% of the population.

There were 3,966 households out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.2% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 21.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 88.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,268, and the median income for a family was $42,168. Males had a median income of $31,802 versus $22,227 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,208. About 6.5% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

Federally, Latrobe is part of Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district.

Latrobe Railroad Station (1903)
National Register of Historic Places

Transportation

• Arnold Palmer Regional Airport (formerly known as Westmoreland County Airport)
• Latrobe (Amtrak station)
• Westmoreland Transit Daily runs locally and commuter runs to Pittsburgh & Johnstown.

Notable people

• Arnold Palmer, professional golfer
• Jackie Mason, stand-up comedian
• Fred Rogers, host of the PBS series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
• Daniel Lentz, classical composer
• Gregory S. Forbes, meteorologist and Severe Weather Expert for The Weather Channel
• Chris Lightcap, jazz bassist
• Boniface Wimmer, Benedictine monk, founded Saint Vincent Archabbey in 1845 and the American-Cassinese Congregation of the Benedictine Confederation in 1855.

In popular culture

• Latrobe is featured in "Scan", an episode of the television series Prison Break. Fugitive Fernando Sucre is stopped by a Pennsylvania State Trooper, but runs through a field and presumably jumps aboard a cargo train headed towards New York.

• Latrobe is featured prominently in the 2008 feature length Kurt Kuenne documentary entitled Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father.

See also

Citizens National Bank (1926)
National Register of Historic Places

• Arnold Palmer Regional Airport
• Fred Rogers
• Greater Latrobe School District
• Kennametal
• Latrobe Athletic Association
• Latrobe Country Club
• Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area
• Saint Vincent Archabbey
• Saint Vincent College
• Saint Vincent Seminary
• WCNS

External links

• City of Latrobe website
• Greater Latrobe Community Network
• The Latrobe Area Historical Society
• Photographs of the Latrobe steel mill