View source for Sharon, Pennsylvania

{{short description|City in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Sharon, Pennsylvania
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| image_skyline      = File:Downtown Sharon, Pennsylvania, 2021.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = Downtown Sharon
| image_flag         = 
| flag_size          = 
| flag_alt           = 
| flag_border        = 
| image_seal         = 
| seal_size          = 
| seal_alt           = 
| seal_type          = Symbol
| image_blank_emblem = Logo of Sharon, Pennsylvania.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| nickname           = 
| image_map          = File:Mercer County Pennsylvania Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sharon Highlighted.svg
| map_caption        = Location of Sharon in Mercer County, Pennsylvania.
| pushpin_map        = Pennsylvania#USA
| pushpin_label      = Sharon
| pushpin_relief     = yes
| coordinates        = {{coord|41|13|48|N|80|29|56|W|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = State
| subdivision_name1  = [[Pennsylvania]]
| subdivision_type2  = County
| subdivision_name2  = [[Mercer County, Pennsylvania|Mercer]]
| established_title  = Established
| established_date   = 1795
| established_title1 = Incorporated (borough)
| established_date1  = October 6, 1841
| established_title2 = Incorporated (city)
| established_date2  = December 17, 1917
| government_type    = Home Rule
| leader_party       = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
<!-- Metric -->| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_42.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 28, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi   = 3.77
| area_land_sq_mi    = 3.77
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00
| area_water_percent = 0
| area_total_km2     = 9.77
| area_land_km2      = 9.77
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 
| elevation_ft       = 1000
| elevation_max_m    = 
| elevation_max_ft   = 
| elevation_min_m    = 
| elevation_min_ft   = 
| population_total   = 13147
| population_as_of   = 2020
| population_footnotes = <ref name="Census">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts Sharon city, Pennsylvania; United States |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sharoncitypennsylvania,US/PST045219 |website=Census |publisher=Census}}</ref>
| population_density_sq_mi = 3487.27
| population_density_km2 = 1345.65
| timezone1          = [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset1        = -4
| timezone1_DST      = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST    = -5
| postal_code_type   = Zip Code
| postal_code        = 16146
| area_codes          = [[Area code 724|724]], [[Area code 878|878]]
| website            = [http://www.cityofsharon.net www.cityofsharon.net]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 42-69720
}}
'''Sharon''' is a [[City (Pennsylvania)|city]] in western [[Mercer County, Pennsylvania]], United States.  The city, located along the banks of the [[Shenango River]] on the state border with [[Ohio]], is about {{convert|15|mi|km}} northeast of [[Youngstown, Ohio|Youngstown]], about {{convert|65|mi|km}} southeast of [[Cleveland]] and about {{convert|60|mi|km}} northwest of [[Pittsburgh]]. The population was 13,147 at the [[2020 U.S. Census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts Sharon city, Pennsylvania; United States |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sharoncitypennsylvania,US/PST045219 |website=Census |publisher=Census}}</ref> It is part of the [[Hermitage, Pennsylvania|Hermitage micropolitan area]].

==History==
[[File:Buhl Mansion (14684212239).jpg|thumb|left|[[Frank H. Buhl Mansion]]]]
The Sharon area was first settled in 1795. It was incorporated as a [[borough (Pennsylvania)|borough]] on October 6, 1841, and incorporated as a city on December 17, 1918. The city operated under the Pennsylvania third-class city code until 2008, at which point it adopted a home rule charter under which the elected position of mayor was replaced with a hired city manager and financial officer.

The founding families of Sharon first settled on a flat plain bordering the [[Shenango River]], between two hills on the southwestern edge of what is today Sharon's downtown business  district. According to local legend, the community received its name from a Bible-reading settler who likened the location to the [[Plain of Sharon]] in [[Israel]].

Initially a center of coal mining, Sharon's economy transitioned to iron and steelmaking and other heavy industry after the arrival of the [[Erie Extension Canal]] in the 1840s. Following extensive national [[deindustrialization]] of the 1970s and 1980s, the city's economy diversified and is now based primarily on light industry, education, health care, and social services.

Prior to Prohibition in 1919, Sharon was home to a large commercial beer brewery, Union Brewing Co., which was forced to close its doors like many U.S. breweries of the era. During World War II the Westinghouse Electric Corporation at Sharon produced 10,000 torpedoes for the US Navy.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1945-10-07 |title=10,000 of the Torpedoes Made |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1945/10/07/archives/10000-of-the-torpedoes-made.html |access-date=2023-08-03 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In 2004, local politicians proposed the creation of the city of Shenango Valley, a new municipality consisting of Sharon as well as [[Hermitage, Pennsylvania|Hermitage]], [[Sharpsville, Pennsylvania|Sharpsville]], [[Farrell, Pennsylvania|Farrell]], and [[Wheatland, Pennsylvania|Wheatland]] with the issue being put on the ballot in the form of a referendum.<ref name="2004 merger">{{cite web |last1=Gwin |first1=Harold |title=Here are some answers to questions on consolidation in Shenango Valley |url=https://www.vindy.com/news/2004/oct/30/here-are-some-answers-to-questions-on/ |website=[[The Vindicator (Ohio newspaper)|The Vindicator]] |access-date=2 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702142509/https://www.vindy.com/news/2004/oct/30/here-are-some-answers-to-questions-on/ |archive-date=2019-07-02}}</ref> Then [[Governor of Pennsylvania]], [[Ed Rendell]] voiced support for the measure and would be joined by [[Kathleen McGinty]], Secretary of the [[Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection|Department of Environmental Protection]], and [[Dennis Yablonsky]], Secretary of the [[Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development|Department of Community and Economic Development]] with the trio touring the region to urge for voters to pass the motion.<ref name="2004 merger" /> The city would largely be an expansion of Hermitage, whose city government would be retained including the office of mayor and its nine-member city council.<ref name="2004 merger" /> The merger would have kept the various independent school districts intact.<ref name="2004 merger" /> The effort would ultimately be defeated, and via the ordinance, the issue of merger could not be brought up again until 2009.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shenango Valley City Proposed 2004 Creation |url=https://www.localgeohistory.pro/en/pa/event/shenango-valley-city-proposed-2004-creation/ |website=localgeohistory.pro |access-date=2 May 2024}}</ref>

==Geography==
Sharon is located at {{coord|41|13|48|N|80|29|56|W|type:city}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> in southwestern [[Mercer County, Pennsylvania|Mercer County]]. The city borders the city of [[Hermitage, Pennsylvania|Hermitage]] to the north and east, the city of [[Farrell, Pennsylvania|Farrell]] to the south, and on the west the [[census-designated place]]s of [[Masury, Ohio|Masury]] and [[West Hill, Ohio]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|3.8|sqmi|km2}}, all land. The [[Shenango River]] flows through the city and provides drinking water to Sharon and several surrounding communities.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 541
|1860= 900
|1870= 4221
|1880= 5684
|1890= 7459
|1900= 8916
|1910= 15270
|1920= 21747
|1930= 25908
|1940= 25622
|1950= 26454
|1960= 25267
|1970= 22653
|1980= 19057
|1990= 17493
|2000= 16328
|2010= 14038
|2020= 13147
|footnote=Sources:<ref>{{cite web|title=Number of Inhabitants: Pennsylvania|url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/17216604v1p40ch02.pdf|work=18th Census of the United States|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=November 22, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Pennsylvania: Population and Housing Unit Counts|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-40.pdf|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=November 22, 2013}}</ref><ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=November 25, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611010502/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|archive-date=June 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Census">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts Sharon city, Pennsylvania; United States |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sharoncitypennsylvania,US/PST045219 |website=Census |publisher=Census}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Census |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sharoncitypennsylvania,US/PST045219 |website=Census.gov}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2"/> of 2000, there were 16,328 people, 6,791 households, and 4,189 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|4,342.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 7,388 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,964.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 86.44% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 10.85% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.21% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.18% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.23% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.08% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.88% of the population.

From the Census Ancestry Question, Sharon has the following ethnic make-up: German 21%, Irish 14%, Italian 11%, Black or African American 11%, English 8%, Polish 5%, Slovak 5%, Welsh 3%, Scots-Irish 2%, Hungarian 2%, Dutch 2%, French (except Basque) 2%, Croatian 1%, Scottish 1%, Russian 1%, Swedish 1%, Arab 1%, Slavic 1%, American Indian tribes, specified 1%. Sharon's Jewish community is served by the [[Reform Judaism|Reform Jewish]] [[Temple Beth Israel (Sharon, Pennsylvania)|Temple Beth Israel]].

There were 6,791 households, out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city, the population was distributed with 24.4% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,945, and the median income for a family was $34,581. Males had a median income of $30,072 versus $20,988 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $15,913. About 14.0% of families and 17.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 25.8% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Arts and culture==
The [[Frank H. Buhl Mansion]] is a historic mansion that was built in 1891 for the Buhl family, which owned the Sharon Iron Works. The [[ashlar]] [[sandstone]] residence has {{frac|2|1|2}} storeys. Noted [[Youngstown, Ohio|Youngstown]] architect [[Charles Henry Owsley]] (1846–1935) designed it in the [[Richardsonian Romanesque]] style.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.dot7.state.pa.us/ce/SelectWelcome.asp| title = National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania| publisher = CRGIS: Cultural Geographic Information System| format = Searchable database| access-date = 2012-03-21| archive-date = 2007-07-21| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070721014609/https://www.dot7.state.pa.us/ce/SelectWelcome.asp| url-status = dead}} ''Note:'' This includes {{cite web| url = {{NRHP-PA|H000606_01H.pdf}}| title = National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Frank H. Buhl Mansion| accessdate = 2012-03-21| author = Michael J. O'Malley| format = PDF| date = n.d.}}</ref> It was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1977.<ref>{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

[[Shenango River Lake]] is a [[reservoir]] along the Shenango River. It is one of 16 flood control projects in the [[Pittsburgh]] district of the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers]]. It is a popular site for camping, fishing and outdoor recreation.

Sharon has hosted annual [[WaterFire]] festivals since 2013, a free public art installation designed by [[Barnaby Evans]] which consists of 80 burning braziers along the Shenango River in downtown Sharon. On average, WaterFire Sharon events host 40,000 visitors.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://waterfireinternational.com/worldwide/#sharon |title=WorldWide Installations |publisher=WaterFire International |access-date=July 28, 2024 }}</ref>

Sharon is the home of the original [[Quaker Steak & Lube]], which opened in 1974,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sharon: The Original|url=https://thelube.com/locations/pennsylvania/the-original-sharon/|access-date=2021-02-28|website=Quaker Steak & Lube®|language=en-US}}</ref> and formerly [[Vocal Group Hall of Fame|The Vocal Group Hall of Fame]].

==Education==
{{align|right|[[File:Science Building and Forker Laboratory, Penn State Shenango Campus.jpg|thumb|[[Penn State Shenango#Facilities|Science Building and Forker Laboratory]] on the [[Penn State Shenango|Penn State Shenango Campus]] in Sharon]]}}
Children in Sharon are served by the [[Sharon City School District]]. The district colors are black and orange, and the school mascot is the Tiger. The following schools currently serve Sharon:
*Case Avenue Elementary School – grades K-6
*C.M. Musser Elementary School – grades K-6
*West Hill Elementary School – grades K-6
*Sharon Middle School – grades 7-8
*Sharon High School – grades 9-12

St. Joseph's School served as the parochial school for Sharon until 2011 when it closed as part of a merger between Notre Dame School and [[Kennedy Catholic High School (Hermitage, Pennsylvania)|Kennedy Catholic High School]] to form the Kennedy Catholic Family of Schools.  Parochial school students in Sharon now attend St. John Paul II Elementary School, Kennedy Catholic Middle School and Kennedy Catholic High School in nearby Hermitage.

Sharon is home to the [[Penn State Shenango|Shenango]] campus of [[Pennsylvania State University]], which offers several two-year and four-year degrees. It also hosts Laurel Technical Institute, a for-profit trade school, and the Sharon Regional Health System School of Nursing.

==Media==
Because of Sharon's location on the Pennsylvania/Ohio border, it is served by [[WKBN-TV]] ([[CBS]]), [[WFMJ-TV]] ([[NBC]]), [[WYTV]] ([[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]), [[WYFX-LD]] ([[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]) and [[WFMJ-DT2|WBCB]] ([[CW Television Network|CW]]), all broadcast from nearby [[Youngstown, OH]].

Sharon is served by [[AM broadcasting|AM radio stations]] such as [[WLOA|WLOA (1470 AM)]] ([[Farrell, PA]]), [[WPIC|WPIC (790 AM)]], [[WKBN (AM)|WKBN (570 AM)]] ([[Youngstown, OH]]), and by [[FM broadcasting|FM radio stations]] such as [[WYFM|WYFM/"Y-103" (102.9 FM)]], [[WLLF|WLLF/"Sportsradio"<https://www.sportsradio967.com><(96.7 FM)]] ([[Mercer, PA]]), [[WYLE (FM)|WYLE/"Willie 95.1" (95.1 FM)]] ([[Grove City, PA]]), [[WMXY|WMXY/"Mix 98.9" (98.9 FM)]] ([[Youngstown, OH]]) and [[WWIZ|WWIZ/"Z-104"]] ([[West Middlesex, PA]]).

==Notable people== 
<!-- NOTE: Alphabetized listing, by last name, below -->
{{Div col}}
* [[Mike Archie]] – former [[National Football League]] [[running back]]
* [[Carmen Argenziano]] – actor ''[[Stargate SG-1]]''
* [[Teryl Austin]] – [[National Football League]] coach, Pittsburgh Steelers, Senior Defensive Assistant/Secondary coach
* [[Jane J. Boyle]] – judge
* [[Frank H. Buhl]] – steel businessman and philanthropist
* [[Tony Butala]] – founder, lead vocalist, [[The Lettermen]], president [[Vocal Group Hall of Fame]]
* [[Mike Connell (American football)|Mike Connell]] – former National Football League [[punter (football)|punter]] 
* [[John Daverio]] – professor of music
* [[Jonathan Dresel]] – Drummer for [[Jimmy Kimmel Live]] and his older brother [[Bernie Dresel]], Grammy Award-winning LA studio drummer known for the Simpsons, Family Guy and many others. 
* [[Nate Dunn]] – artist, Pennsylvania Impressionism School
* [[John H. Garvey]] – [[President (college)|President]], [[Catholic University of America]] (2010–2022)
* [[Charlie Gibson (1900s catcher)|Charlie Gibson]] –  [[catcher]] for the [[Philadelphia Athletics]] (1905)
* [[Bob Golub]] – stand-up comedian, actor, writer, filmmaker
* [[Mick Goodrick]] – jazz guitarist
* [[Erwin Hahn]] – physicist
* [[Randy Holloway]] – former National Football League [[defensive end]]
* [[Marc Howard (news anchor)|Marc Howard]] – former Philadelphia [[news anchor]]
* [[Marlin Jackson]] – National Football League [[cornerback]]
* [[Benjamin Jarrett]] – [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] member of the [[U.S. House of Representatives]]
* [[Jane Katz]] – (born 1943), Olympic swimmer
* [[John Kiriakou]] – former [[CIA|CIA officer]] convicted of violating the [[Intelligence Identities Protection Act]]; notable in [[waterboarding]] debate
* [[Ty Longley]] – guitarist, [[Great White]]
* [[John D. MacDonald]] – best-selling crime novelist
* [[Jack Marin]] – former [[National Basketball Association]] player
* [[Paul McKee (author)|Paul McKee]] – professor and author of children's reading primers
* [[Hugh McKinnis]] – former [[Canadian Football League]] and [[National Football League]] [[running back]]
* [[Bill Murray (cartoonist)|Bill Murray]] – [[Cartoonist|nationally syndicated cartoonist]] and [[Illustrator|children book illustrator]]
* [[Grover Norquist]] - founder and president, [[Americans for Tax Reform]]
* [[Lester Rawlins]] – actor
* [[Sean Rowe]] – [[List of presiding bishops of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America|Presiding Bishop]] of the [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal Church of America]]<ref>[https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2024/10/21/after-24-years-of-adaptive-ministry-presiding-bishop-elect-sean-rowe-faces-biggest-challenge-yet/ Episcopal News Service, "After 24 years of adaptive ministry, Presiding Bishop-elect Sean Rowe faces biggest challenge yet"], October 21, 2024. Retrieved November 4, 2024.</ref>
* [[Mike Sebastian]] – former [[Halfback (American football)|halfback]] in the National Football League and [[American Football League|second American Football League]]
* [[Frank Secich]] – author, rock musician and member of the group [[Blue Ash (band)|Blue Ash]]
* [[Hershel Shanks]] – founder, [[Biblical Archaeology Society]], editor, ''[[Biblical Archaeology Review]]''
* [[Willie Somerset]] – [[American Basketball Association|ABA]] All-Star professional basketball player
* [[Lorenzo Styles]] – former [[Linebacker (American football)|linebacker]] for [[Atlanta Falcons]] and [[St. Louis Rams]]; [[head coach]] for the [[Marion Blue Racers]]
* [[James Henry Taylor]] – professor of mathematics
* [[Leo Yankevich]] – poet, translator, editor of ''The New Formalist''
{{div col end}}

==See also==
{{cmn|colwidth=30em|
* [[Buhl Farm Golf Course]]
* [[Frank H. Buhl Mansion|Buhl Mansion]]
* [[Penn State Shenango|Penn State Shenango Campus]]
* [[Sharon City School District]]
* [[Vocal Group Hall of Fame]]
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.cityofsharon.net City website]
*[http://www.city-data.com/city/Sharon-Pennsylvania.html Sharon, PA/city-data] 
*{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Sharon}} 
{{Mercer County, Pennsylvania}}
{{PA Home Rule Municipality}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Sharon, Pennsylvania| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Mercer County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Cities in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1795]]
[[Category:1795 establishments in Pennsylvania]]