Charleroi

Reduced industrial activities in the region led to a decreasing population. The steel-making industry was supported by cheap transportation on the Monongahela River from upstream of Charleroi into northern West Virginia and north as well as downstream past McKeesport to the mouth of the Monongahela in Pittsburgh. Colloquially, the stretch from Charleroi north to McKeesport (historically because of press coverage of High School sports leagues), is known as the "Mon Valley," and has been extended by some to mean from the river mouth to northern West Virginia. Once dubbed "Magic City," Charleroi has in recent years seen a gradual revitalization of its business district.

• Name — Charleroi, Pennsylvania • Settlement Type — Borough • Blank Emblem Type — Logo • Etymology — Charleroi, Belgium; Charles the King • Nickname — Magic City • Motto — Business Friendly • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Name — United States • Subdivision Type1 — State • Subdivision Name1 — Pennsylvania • Subdivision Type2 — County • Subdivision Name2 — Washington • Established Title — Established • Established Date — 1890 • Established Date1 — 1891 • Named For — Charleroi, Belgium • Leader Party — Democrat • Leader Title — Council President • Leader Name — Paul Pervonick • Unit Pref — Imperial • Area Total Sq Mi — 0.86 • Area Land Sq Mi — 0.76 • Area Water Sq Mi — 0.10 • Population Total — 4234 • Population As Of — 2020 • Population Density Sq Mi — 5556.43 • Timezone1 — EST • Utc Offset1 — -5 • Timezone1 Dst — EDT • Utc Offset1 Dst — -4 • Postal Code Type — ZIP code • Postal Code — 15022 • Area Codes — 724, 878 • Blank Name — FIPS code • Blank Info — 42-12704 • Area Total Km2 — 2.23 • Area Land Km2 — 1.97 • Area Water Km2 — 0.26 • Population Density Km2 — 2144.98 • Website — http: www.charleroiboro.org

Charleroi got its name from the Belgian city of Charleroi. Many Belgian immigrants lived in the Monongahela area at the end of the 19th century, some of whom were glass makers. The Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, now PPG Industries, had one of its major factories located at the current chamber plaza, at one point employing up to a thousand employees, making it one of the largest glass factories in the world at the time. For years it was the home to one of Corning Glass Companies leading employers. It is home to Corelle Brands, which makes Pyrex. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Pyrex products, Charleroi renamed itself "Pyrex, PA" for 100 days in 2015. Charleroi was home to one of the first movie theatres in the nation, the Electric Theatre at 520 McKean Avenue, which opened in October 1905 and has since been demolished. The Charleroi Historic District, First National Bank of Charleroi and United States Post Office are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2020, Paul Magnette, mayor of Charleroi (Belgium) visited the town that was founded by migrants from his city.

Charleroi is located at (40.138088, -79.901333). According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.9 sqmi, of which 0.8 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi is water. The total area is 10.47% water.

Charleroi has four land borders, including North Charleroi to the north, Speers to the southwest, Twilight to the south, and Fallowfield Township to the west. Across the Monongahela River to the east, Charleroi runs adjacent with Rostraver Township in Westmoreland County.

• Illustration — McKean Avenue in Charleroi • Illustration — First National Bank (1922)

As of the 2020 census, there were 4,234 people residing in Charleroi. The median age was 39.6 years. 20.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.4% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.3 males. 100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas. There were 1,892 households, of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 26.4% were married-couple households, 27.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 36.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 42.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 2,460 housing units, of which 23.1% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 19.6%. Racial composition as of the 2020 census • Race — Number — Percent • White — 3,306 — 78.1% • Black or African American — 450 — 10.6% • American Indian and Alaska Native — 6 — 0.1% • Asian — 52 — 1.2% • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander — 1 — 0.0% • Some other race — 64 — 1.5% • Two or more races — 355 — 8.4% • Hispanic or Latino (of any race) — 139 — 3.3%

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,871 people, 2,258 households, and 1,208 families residing in the borough. The population density was 6,308.6 PD/sqmi. There were 2,656 housing units at an average density of 3,439.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the borough was 95.3% White, 3.2% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.7% of the population. There were 2,258 households, out of which 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.5% were married couples living together, 13.37% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.5% were non-families. 41.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.88. In the borough the population was spread out, with 20.5% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 25.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.1 males. The median income for a household in the borough was $23,593, and the median income for a family was $31,699. Males had a median income of $30,093 versus $23,873 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $13,752. About 16.1% of families and 21.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.2% of those under age 18 and 13.7% of those age 65 or over.

By 2024, the borough received immigrants from various countries including Haiti, Jamaica, and Liberia. The Haitians opened businesses, and with their influx meant an increase in the borough's population.

The school district is the Charleroi School District.

• A large part of the plot of the alternate history novel The Two Georges, by Harry Turtledove and Richard Dreyfuss, takes place in Charleroi, Pennsylvania. In the alternate history of this book, North America remains part of the British Empire. Charleroi is described as a large coal-mining town filled with embittered coal miners of mainly Irish descent living under conditions of poverty, exploitation and pollution, who end up supporting radical underground political movements.

• Keith Ackerman (1946-), a bishop and former rector of St. Mary's Church • Barbara Bosson (1939-2023), actress • Anne Feeney (1951-2021), a political activist, folk musician and singer-songwriter. • Shirley Jones (1934-), singer, actress on Broadway, movies, and television • Robert Karvelas (1921-1991), American actor born in New York City, but raised in Charleroi • Lisa Kirk (1925-1990), singer and actress • Craig McCracken (1971-), animator, director, producer • Demi Moore (1962-), actress; lived in Charleroi for less than a year • Mitchell Paige (Serbian: Mihajlo Pejić) (1918-2003), WW2 Medal of Honor recipient • Myron Pottios (1939-), professional football player, All American at Notre Dame 1959 • Olive Thomas (1894-1920), Ziegfeld girl, actress; wife of Jack Pickford