Latrobe is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States approximately 40 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

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 U.S. 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.

The city population was 7,968 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.

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 at Unity Cemetery after his death in 2003. 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 of 2006, Anheuser-Busch purchased the Rolling Rock brands, but not the brewery. In June of 2006, City Brewing Company from LaCrosse, Wisconsin entered into negotiations to buy the brewery.^[1] In September of 2006, City Brewing Company agreed to purchase the brewery,^[2] and they licensed it to the Boston Beer Company in April 2007 as a satellite brewery to produce Samuel Adams beers.^[3] The brewery employs approximately two hundred workers locally.

Geography

Latrobe is located at (40.314940, -79.381171). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 kmē), all land.

Demographics

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/kmē). There were 4,258 housing units at an average density of 1,852.8 per square mile (714.8/kmē). 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.

Transportation

• Latrobe (Amtrak station)

Notable past residents

• Greg Forbes, meteorologist and Severe Weather Expert for The Weather Channel
• Arnold Palmer, golf player
• Fred Rogers, host of the PBS series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

Media references

• Latrobe is featured in "Scan," an episode of the television show 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.

• In George Romero's Night of the Living Dead the town is featured as a sanctuary from the uprising of the dead.

References

1. ↑
2. ↑ City Brewery buys Latrobe Brewery - Pittsburgh Business Times:
3. ↑ Samuel Adams comes calling on Latrobe brewer

See also

• Arnold Palmer Regional Airport
• Fred Rogers
• Kennametal
• Latrobe Country Club
• Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area
• Saint Vincent Archabbey
• Saint Vincent Seminary
• WCNS-AM

External links

• City of Latrobe Website
• The Latrobe Area Historical Society

fr:Latrobe (Pennsylvanie) ia:Latrobe, Pennsylvania nl:Latrobe pt:Latrobe vo:Latrobe