City of
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Demographics, Municipal Staff and Officials, General Information, History.
|
Population |
7,332 |
|
Minority Population |
3,745 |
|
Total Housing Units |
3,768 |
|
Percent Vacant |
15.6% |
|
Median Household Income |
$19,766 |
|
Per Capita Income |
$12,067 |
|
Individuals Below Poverty Level |
2,523 |
More detailed municipal
profiles are available from the US Census.
|
Frank Piccolino |
City Manager City of |
412-469-0544 (phone) 412-469-3795 (fax) |
|
Phyllis Senato |
City Clerk City of |
412-469-3770 (phone) 412-469-3795 (fax) |
|
Phillip Krivacek |
Mayor |
|
Eugene Capristo |
Council Member |
|
Timothy Petrisko |
Council Member |
|
George Matta, Sr. |
Council Member |
|
|
Council Member |
COMMUNITY FACILITIES
Quality of life is enhanced by the community facilities and services offered
by both public and private entities. Community facilities and services
common to Duquesne include:
PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Public buildings include: governmental buildings, municipal garages and storage
sheds, libraries, hospitals, school buildings, recreation centers, post
offices, fire stations and emergency medical services buildings.
Police
The City of Duquesne Police Department is located on the first floor of City
Hall. The Police Department consists of sixteen full-time and four
part-time officers. Police calls are dispatched by the City of McKeesport
Police Dispatch Center. Duquesne Police Department averages 10,000 calls
per year.
Unique to Duquesne is the city's patrol of the Burns Heights County Housing
Project. City police officers patrol the
Duquesne's police department sponsors several programs aimed at developing community relations and educating the public, especially children, on crime prevention. Programs include DARE, Burns Heights Community Day, Bike Rodeo, and NAACP participation.
Fire Protection
In 1995, the Duquesne City Volunteer Fire Department was formed with thirty
charter members. Prior to 1995, the city was one of the last
municipalities in western
The fire station is located at 12 South Second Street on the ground floor of City Hall in the same location as the former paid fire department. The volunteer fire department sponsors educational programs aimed at fire prevention and fire emergency procedures. Fire calls are dispatched through the City of McKeesport Police Dispatch Center.
Ambulance Service
Ambulance service is provided by the city's ambulance service located at 12 South
Second Street. This facility is staffed by certified ambulance personnel
24 hours a day. Emergency patients are typically transported to
Public Works
Currently, the City of
About four acres in size, this park is the largest park in the city. It
is located at
Polish Hill Park/Playground
Located in the northern section of the city adjacent to the Duquesne High
School Athletic Fields, this is the second largest park in the city. The
park is about three acres in size and contains new park equipment. This
park offers several recreational facilities such as a tennis court, basketball
court, two ball fields, playground equipment, picnic tables, benches and shade
trees.
Located between Second and Third Streets along
Duquesne's
About 1/2 an acre in size, this park is located at the corner of
837 Parklet
This passive recreation area is located along Route 837 near the Grant Towers
Senior Citizen Complex. The park let is maintained by a volunteer
community organization: The Christ the Light of the World Men's Club. The
park let includes benches and shade trees in a lighted area.
This is considered a neighborhood park because it serves the
Steel Industry Heritage Trail
The proposed Steel Heritage Industry Trail is planned to travel through
Duquesne near Rt. 837. At this time plans are being considered to include
the trail within the city center.
RECREATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Private and non-profit organizations are an invaluable community resource for
recreational activities. These organizations sponsor recreational
programs, participate in the development of community activities and maintain
recreational facilities in the city.
Boys and Girls Club of Duquesne and
The Boys and Girls Club of Duquesne and
Monongahela Yough Recreation (MYREC)
Formed in 1984 as a non-profit organization, MYREC is located at
Duquesne Teen Council
Located in the Duquesne-West Mifflin Boys and Girls Club, the Duquesne Teen
Club was founded in 1992 to provide community service programs to the
city. Funding to start the council came from an $87,000.00 grant from the
Heinz Foundation of Pittsburgh, The teen council has about twenty members who
perform community service projects such as park clean-ups, teen dances and
activities.
REGIONAL RECREATION FACILITIES
There is an abundance of regional recreational facilities within a fifteen-mile
radius of Duquesne. These facilities include: the Pittsburgh Zoo; Three
River's Stadium; The Civic Arena; Kennywood Park; Schenley Park; Carnegie Science Center; Carnegie Museum;
Phipps Conservatory; The National Aviary; The Pittsburgh Children's Museum;
Sandcastle Water Park; White Oak County Park; and Clairton City Pool.
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
Duquesne is chartered as a Class #3 city according to the Pennsylvania Third
Class Cities Code. Many small municipalities have chartered themselves as
cities to obtain larger amount of federal entitlement grants that are based on
a municipality's city designation and population. The City of
City Government
Currently, Duquesne's city government is the city council-manager form.
The city council-manager form of government was chosen to provide centralized
authority of day to day operations of city departments. Duquesne City
Council is comprised of four council members and a mayor who are elected at
large for four year terms. Each city council person is responsible for
chairing a committee associated with the carious city service departments. They work in coordination with the mayor and
city manager.
The Mayor is elected for a four-year term and cotes as a counsel member. The mayor is responsible for overseeing city meetings and committees among other duties. This involves meetings with the mayor, department heads, councilpersons, and various other personnel.
CITY BOARDS AND AUTHORITIES
Sanitary Authority
Duquesne has recently formed a Sanitary Sewer Authority. One of the goals
of the authority is to undertake such projects as treatment plant
rehabilitation and expansion, separation of combined sanitary and storm sewers,
replacement of old sewers, and general line renovation. The sanitary
authority is permitted to borrow low interest loans for capital projects and
improvements.
Water Department
Duquesne operates its own water system. The city began contracting for
water service in 1996 from the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland
County. Billing is still handled locally at the Water Department Office
on the first floor of
Duquesne Redevelopment Authority
In 1995, the City of
Planning Commission
The Duquesne City Planning Commission is a nine-member board appointed by city
council. Members are appointed to four-year terms, on a staggered basis,
no more than two new commission members can be appointed in a given year.
The planning commission is responsible for updating the Comprehensive Plan,
reviewing site plans and subdivisions, annual reports and other planning
activities.
Zoning Hearing Board
The Duquesne Zoning Hearing Board is comprised of three members appointed by
city council for three-year terms. The terms are staggered so that one
member's term expires each year. The Zoning Hearing Board listens to
variance requests and has the authority to grant or deny such a deviation from
the city's zoning ordinance. The board also hears the appeals of
aggrieved parties where it is alleged that an officer of the city misapplied an
ordinance provision.
Zoning Officer
The Zoning Officer is appointed by city council, he or she reviews and issues
zoning permits. The officer also has enforcement responsibilities under
the city zoning ordinance and may institute civil enforcement proceedings as a
means of compliance.
OTHER NON MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
Duquesne Business Advisory Corporation
The Duquesne Business Advisory Corporation (DBAC) was established in 1977 by a
small group of business leaders who wished to examine the possibility of
improving conditions along
Enterprise Zone
The Enterprise Zone Program is a Grant Program designed to assist financially
disadvantage communities to prepare and implement business development
strategies and loan funds to enterprise zone businesses to assist in financing
business growth and job creation. It is a private sector-driven program,
compatible with public sector purposes and designated to increase the job
opportunities within an Enterprise Zone. The City of
**Assistance in revising plans and
ensuring that commercial loan applications
are given appropriate consideration.
**Low interest gap loans to reduce bank risk exposure and secure bank approval
of commercial loan applications.
**Export market development.
**Federal procurement bid assistance
**New product incubators
**Customized job training
**New product market assessment
**Technology transfer applications
**New product technological assessments
**Small business-sitting services
**Labor-management conflict resolutions assistance
The area that is now the City of
With the advent of the mills came an influx of people into what was still
largely a rural area. The population rapidly increased in 1891 and the
decision was made to incorporate Duquesne as a city. This was
accomplished in September of that year and the first election was held in
February 1892. By 1916 the population had expanded to 19,000 people,
making Duquesne the fourth largest in
The premier amenity of the city at this time was the Carnegie Library, the third built in the Monongahela valley, and one of hundreds to be built around the country from money provided by Andrew Carnegie. The $300,000 library was a huge structure that also housed a gymnasium with an Olympic-size swimming pool and a music hall. It was torn down in 1968 because it had become too expensive to operate.
As the steel business boomed during and after World War I, so did Duquesne's population. It eventually reached its peak of 21,396 in 1930. During the Depression, the population dropped slightly, but by 1950, it was still over 17,000. About 16 percent of the population were foreign-born residents, reflecting the large number of immigrants who flocked to the mill town. Success of the city was generated by the success of its steel mills. In 1948, the Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corporation employed over 8,000 people at its Duquesne Works.
Unfortunately, the fortunes of the city remained closely tied to those of the Duquesne Works through the latter half of the twentieth century. The mill began a slow descent in work force and production in the 1960s that became a rapid slide in the 1970s. After nearly a century of service, the mill closed its doors for good in 1980, throwing the city's economy into a tailspin from which it has yet to fully recover. The people of the city would have to learn to live without the mill that had forged its very existence.
In recent years, the City of
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