Demographics

According to the 2020 U.S. census and American Community Survey data, Ford City Borough had a population of 2,859 people, residing in 1,373 households. The population skews older, with a median age of 43.2 years. Approximately 21% of residents were under the age of 18, while 20% were 65 or older, reflecting a significant senior population. The gender split was nearly even, with 50.3% female and 49.7% male. Racially, the community was predominantly White at 92.6%, followed by 2.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, and 4.1% identifying as two or more races. Less than 1% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,599 housing units, with 67.8% owner-occupied and the remaining 32.2% renter-occupied. The median gross rent was a modest $185, and the median home value was $83,000. The average household size was 2.06, and the average family size was 2.78. Economically, the median household income was $54,457, while families earned a median of $75,505. About 13.6% of all residents lived below the poverty line, including 2.2% of children under 18 and 21.3% of those 65 and older.

Education levels showed that 86% of adults age 25 and older had at least a high school diploma, but only 14% held a bachelor’s degree or higher, which is below the state and national averages. Of the 2,375 residents aged 16 and over, 57% were in the labor force—comprising 1,294 employed individuals and 58 unemployed—while 43% were not in the labor force, including many retirees. The dominant employment sectors included health care, manufacturing, and retail.

Education

A part of the public Armstrong School District, Ford City has an elementary school and, in the past, had its own high school, Ford City Junior/Senior High School. Currently, students in Ford City attend Lenape Elementary from kindergarten through sixth grade, and then Armstrong Junior/Senior High School in Manor Township from grades seven through twelve. Alternatively, students can attend Lenape Vocational Technical School beginning their junior year

The town's high school, Ford City Junior/Senior High School, included grades seven through twelve. FCHS opened its doors in 1909, awarding diplomas to its first graduating class of 4 students on May 10, 1910, and had its final graduating class in June 2015.

Soon after its closing, Ford City Junior/Senior High School was demolished, making way for the move of BC3 @ Armstrong onto its site. In 2022, the State Rep. Jeffery P. Pyle Building was opened housing BC3 and in it providing classes that lead to an associate degree in Business Administration, Psychology and General Studies.

The area's only Catholic elementary school, Divine Redeemer, is located on 4th Avenue in downtown Ford City.

Parks and recreation

thumb|Ford City Memorial Park

Ford City Memorial Park, located on 4th Avenue between 8th and 9th Streets, features an 1891 bronze statue of John B. Ford, by Hartford, Connecticut sculptor Carl Conrads. The park also features a gazebo and a war memorial dedicated to the men and women of Ford City who served in the United States military. The 7th Avenue Playground, located at the northern end of 7th Avenue between 12th and 13th Streets, was upgraded with new playground equipment in 2017. The playground features a covered pavilion, new playground equipment and a large field equipped with a baseball backstop. Boulder Park, located at the southern end of 6th Avenue between 5th and 6th Streets, was also upgraded with new playground equipment in 2017. The park features a full-court lighted basketball court, a covered pavilion and new playground equipment. It was announced in early 2018 that the basketball court would be completely renovated, allowing for the addition of deck hockey to be played on the court.

The 49-mile-long Armstrong Trail is located on the former Allegheny Valley Railroad line along the eastern bank of the Allegheny River in Armstrong & Clarion Counties. Nearly two miles of the trail traverses through the Borough, with a small spur to the riverfront on the Southern end of town. The trail links Leechburg, Schenley, Ford City, Kittanning and East Brady as well as many other communities.

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Notable people

  • Arda Bowser, NFL football player
  • David Coulter, banker
  • Gus Frerotte, NFL quarterback
  • Raymond Harvey, Medal of Honor recipient
  • John F. Hunter, Ohio congressman
  • Tim Levcik, American football player
  • Abby Major, member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
  • Zigmund "Red" Mihalik, Hall of Fame basketball official
  • Albert Pechan, Pennsylvania state senator
  • Chris Valasek, computer security expert
  • Michael Yates, economist and magazine editor

See also

  • List of crossings of the Allegheny River

References

  • Borough of Ford City official website