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New Kensington, PA

Frequently asked questions

New Kensington, PA

New Kensington (known locally as New Ken) is a city that is located in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is situated along the Allegheny River, 18 miles (29 km) northeast of Pittsburgh. The population was 12,170 at the time of the 2020 census.

Like much of Westmoreland County and surrounding areas, the region was a hunting ground for Native Americans of the Six Nations. European-American settlement began in the mid-1700s. Continental army troops built Fort Crawford, near the mouth of Pucketa Creek, in 1777. The fort was abandoned in 1793. Originally part of Burrell (and later Lower Burrell) Township, the city of New Kensington was founded in 1891. In 1890, the Burrell Improvement Company considered the advantages of the level land south of its home in Lower Burrell, and deemed it a prime location for a city and named the area "Kensington"; this was later changed to "New Kensington" for postal reasons, to avoid confusion with the Philadelphia neighborhood of the same name.

In an attempt to make New Kensington comparable to Pittsburgh, the streets were named with numbers. Avenues ran parallel to the river, while streets were perpendicular. The main commercial streets were the 4th and 5th avenues.

Once the land was surveyed, a public sale was held on June 10, 1891. Thousands of people flooded the area and investors began bringing industry with them. The first large company was the Pittsburgh Reduction Company, which later became Alcoa. It acquired a 3.5-acre (14,000 m2) property that allowed the company to utilize the riverfront. The Alcoa facility remained operational until 1971.

Eventually, other companies such as Adams Drilling, Goldsmith, and Lowerburg, New 

Kensington Milling, New Kensington Brewing, Logan Lumber, Keystone Dairy, and many more were built late in the 19th century and continued into the early 20th century. Early achievements included a railroad station, the 9th Street bridge, a passenger boat that navigated the Allegheny River, a street car line that ran to Natrona via the West Penn Railways, the Kensington Dispatch newspaper, a fire department, a hotel, an opera house, and a local chapter of the YMCA. New Kensington annexed the independent borough of Parnassus in 1939.

Health and wellness are integral aspects of life in New Kensington. The Allegheny Valley Hospital provides comprehensive medical care, including primary care, specialty services, and emergency care. Club Fitness and Planet Fitness provide comprehensive fitness experience with state-of-the-art equipment and personal training. Check out Lexdo Yoga or AngelWing Yoga & Wellness for yoga sessions designed to improve flexibility and reduce stress. YMCA of New Kensington offers comprehensive health and wellness services, including swimming, gym facilities, and wellness coaching. For those interested in martial arts, the Academy of Martial Arts offers classes for all ages.

The top sites in New Kensington, PA are Keystone State Park, Burrell Lake Park, and Twin Lakes Park.

Population: 11,979 (2022). ZIP Codes: 15068,15069. Area codes: 724, 878. Elevation: 1,110 ft (338.3 m). Area: 4.26 sq mi (11.03 km2).
 

FAQs

What is New Kensington, PA known for?

Incorporated as a borough in 1892, it absorbed neighboring Parnassus in 1931 and became a city in 1934. New Kensington's manufactures include steel, glass, textiles, and metal and petroleum products. Although aluminum is no longer produced in the city, the Aluminum Company of America has an aluminum research and development center there.

What is the crime rate in New Kensington, PA?

With a crime rate of 34 per one thousand residents, New Kensington has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 30. Within Pennsylvania, more than 96% of the communities have a lower crime rate than New Kensington.

What are the demographics of New Kensington, PA?

New Kensington is a city located in Allegheny County and Westmoreland County Pennsylvania. New Kensington has a 2024 population of 11,831. New Kensington is currently declining at a rate of -0.67% annually and its population has decreased by -2.63% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 12,150 in 2020. According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of New Kensington was White: 82.48%, Black or African American: 12.69%, Two or more races: 2.1%, Asian: 1.9%, Other race: 0.81%, Native American: 0.01%, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0%.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of New Kensington

Neighborhood Scout

Britannica

World Population Review

Keystone State Park

Burrell Lake Park

Twin Lakes Park

Allegheny Valley Hospital

Club Fitness

Planet Fitness

Lexdo Yoga

AngelWing Yoga & Wellness

YMCA of New Kensington

Academy of Martial Arts

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