Freeport, Pennsylvania

Freeport, Pennsylvania
Borough
Downtown Freeport
Freeport
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Armstrong
Settled	1796
Incorporated	1833
Government
• Type	Borough council
• Mayor	James Swartz, Jr.
Area
• Total	1.3 sq mi (3.4 km2)
• Land	1.3 sq mi (3.3 km2)
• Water	0.04 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation	790 ft (240 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	1,813
• Density	1,428/sq mi (551.3/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Zip code	16229

Freeport is a borough in Armstrong County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania; it is situated along the Allegheny River in the southwest corner of the county. The population was 1,813 at the 2010 Census. The first settlement was made at Freeport in the 1760s. Freeport received its name from David Todd, who declared it a free and open port. The borough was incorporated in 1833. Freeport was a port on the former Pennsylvania Canal.

Geography

Freeport is located at (40.674337, -79.686320). According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), of which 1.3 square miles (3.3 km²) is land and 0.039 square miles (0.1 km²), or 2.20%, is water.

Streams

The Kiskiminetas River joins the Allegheny River near Freeport; specifically on its eastern bank between Schenley and Kiskiminetas Junction, less than one mile northeast of Freeport.

Buffalo Creek enters the Allegheny River on its western bank at Freeport.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1840	727		—
1850	1,073		47.6%
1860	1,701		58.5%
1870	1,640		−3.6%
1880	1,614		−1.6%
1890	1,637		1.4%
1900	1,754		7.1%
1910	2,248		28.2%
1920	2,696		19.9%
1930	2,772		2.8%
1940	2,710		−2.2%
1950	2,685		−0.9%
1960	2,439		−9.2%
1970	2,375		−2.6%
1980	2,381		0.3%
1990	1,983		−16.7%
2000	1,962		−1.1%
2010	1,813		−7.6%
Est. 2014	1,766		−2.6%
Sources:

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,962 people, 878 households, and 532 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,697.9 people per square mile (653.0/km²). There were 944 housing units at an average density of 816.9 per square mile (314.2/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.42% White, 0.25% African American, 0.25% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.46% of the population.

There were 878 households, out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% were non-families. 36.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 22.3% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $28,565, and the median income for a family was $40,000. Males had a median income of $31,397 versus $21,690 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $16,845. About 8.0% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.4% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Freeport Area School District serves the borough. Freeport was formerly home to Freeport Elementary School on High Street, where all borough students attended kindergarten through 6th grade. In 2005, the school district decided to convert the school into the district's Kindergarten Center, where all of the district's students attend kindergarten. Currently, the borough students attend either Buffalo Elementary in Sarver or South Buffalo Elementary in South Buffalo Township.

Freeport Junior High School is located on 4th Street and is the school for the district's 7th and 8th graders. Students attend 9th through 12th grade at Freeport Area Senior High School in Buffalo Township.

All of the district's varsity football home games are held at James Swartz Sr. Memorial Field in the borough. The field is also used for some varsity and junior varsity baseball games, and varsity boys' and girls' soccer games.

Government

Freeport's fire and rescue coverage is provided by Freeport Volunteer Fire Department, located at 400 Market Street. The department operates two engines, a rescue, a squad, and a river rescue boat with over 40 volunteers.

Medical coverage is provided by Freeport Emergency Medical Services. Freeport EMS utilizes three ALS certified ambulances with 13 Paramedics and 17 EMTs.

Notable people

See also: List of people from the Pittsburgh metropolitan area

• David Alter, scientist and inventor
• Red Bowser, outfielder in Major League Baseball
• Bud Carson, former NFL coach
• Greg Christy, former professional American football player
• Jeff Christy, former professional American football player
• Donald R. Lobaugh, U.S. Army soldier and Medal of Honor recipient in World War II
• Eric Ravotti, football player
• Don Taylor, actor and director

Television

Freeport was the setting for a scene in Episode 8 of NBC's apocalyptic television series Revolution, which aired in November 2012. The main characters are ambushed while trying to cross a bridge over the Allegheny River. They are turned back, and subsequently decide to attempt another bridge crossing in nearby Ford City, Pennsylvania.

See also

• Baker Trail, a hiking trail whose southern terminus is across the river from Freeport.
• Donald R. Lobaugh Bridge, spanning the Allegheny River between Freeport and Allegheny Township