Bessemer, Pennsylvania is a small city located in the northwest corner of the state, in Lawrence County. The city is situated on the banks of the Shenango River and is approximately 10 miles from both the Ohio and New York state lines. The area has a total population of 2,000 people and covers an area of 1.9 square miles. See definitionexplorer to learn about Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.
The terrain surrounding Bessemer consists mostly of rolling hills and flat farmland, with some areas featuring steep cliffs along the riverside. Much of the land around town is used for agricultural purposes, with crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat, hay and tobacco being grown in abundance. The climate in this region is temperate with cold winters and warm summers that are often accompanied by thunderstorms.
The city is home to several parks including Bessemer City Park which features a playground, walking trails, picnic areas and a basketball court; Bessemer Community Park which offers baseball fields; and Eureka Park which has a large lake for fishing and swimming. There are also several nearby lakes such as Lake Wilhelm which provides great opportunities for boating, fishing and camping.
The main transportation artery running through Bessemer is Interstate 80 which connects to other major cities such as Pittsburgh (75 miles east) and Cleveland (130 miles west). There are also several bus routes that run through town connecting it to other nearby cities including Youngstown (20 miles south) and Erie (45 miles north).
In addition to its natural beauty, Bessemer also offers plenty of shopping opportunities with local stores offering everything from clothing to antiques. There are also several restaurants in town serving up classic American fare as well as international cuisines like Italian or Chinese food. For entertainment there are movie theaters showing new releases as well as bowling alleys for those looking for something more active to do on their night out. All these amenities make Bessemer an ideal place to live or visit.
History of Bessemer, Pennsylvania
Bessemer, Pennsylvania is a small city located in the western corner of the state, in Lawrence County. The area has a total population of 2,000 people and covers an area of 1.9 square miles. The city is situated on the banks of the Shenango River and is approximately 10 miles from both the Ohio and New York state lines.
The history of Bessemer dates back to 1802 when it was first settled by James Brown, a Revolutionary War veteran from Virginia who came to the area with his family in search of a new life. The town’s name was derived from Henry Bessemer, an English industrialist who invented an efficient steel-making process in 1855.
In 1858, Bessemer was officially recognized as a borough and its first mayor was elected in 1860. During this time period, many industries began to develop around town such as coal mining, brick manufacturing and lumber mills which provided jobs for the local population. In addition to these industries, Bessemer also had several stores selling goods such as food, clothing and hardware which helped fuel its economy.
As time went on, Bessemer began to grow with more businesses opening up including hotels, restaurants and even a theater for entertainment purposes. By 1880 the population had grown to over 2200 people making it one of the largest towns in Lawrence County at that time.
The early 1900s saw further development with more factories opening up around town providing employment opportunities for many residents while also helping to boost the economy even further. In 1951, Bessemer celebrated its 150th anniversary with parades and festivities throughout town that were attended by thousands of people from all over Lawrence County.
Today, Bessemer continues to be an important part of Lawrence County’s economy with plenty of employment opportunities available thanks to its various industries such as coal mining and brick manufacturing as well as its numerous stores selling goods like food and clothing which help fuel its economy even further. There are also plenty of parks around town providing recreational activities for residents while nearby lakes like Lake Wilhelm offer great opportunities for boating, fishing and camping too. With all these amenities available it’s no wonder why so many people choose to live or visit here.
Economy of Bessemer, Pennsylvania
Bessemer, Pennsylvania is a borough located in Lawrence County. It was first settled by James Brown, a Revolutionary War veteran from Virginia, and its name was derived from Henry Bessemer, an English industrialist who invented an efficient steel-making process in 1855.
Bessemer’s economy is largely based on its various industries including coal mining, brick manufacturing and lumber mills. Coal mining has been the mainstay of the borough’s economy since the 19th century and continues to be an important part of its economic activity today. The coal mined in Bessemer is used for a variety of purposes such as generating electricity, heating homes and powering industrial machinery. The brick manufacturing industry is also a significant contributor to Bessemer’s economy since it produces bricks for construction projects all over the region. Finally, lumber mills provide employment opportunities for many residents while also supplying wood materials for buildings, furniture and other products throughout Lawrence County.
In addition to these industries, Bessemer also has several stores selling goods such as food, clothing and hardware which help fuel its economy even further. These businesses serve both locals and tourists alike providing them with essential services and products they need throughout the year.
The borough’s infrastructure has also helped contribute to its economic growth over the years with plenty of roads connecting it to nearby towns like New Castle as well as other parts of Pennsylvania. This makes it easier for people to get around which helps attract more visitors from outside the area thus helping boost business activity in Bessemer even more.
The local government also plays an important role in maintaining Bessemer’s economic stability by providing incentives such as tax breaks for businesses that invest in the borough or create jobs within it. This helps attract new businesses while encouraging existing ones to remain in town thus helping ensure that Bessemer remains a viable economic hub for Lawrence County going forward.
Overall, Bessemer is an important part of Lawrence County’s economy thanks to its various industries and stores providing employment opportunities and essential goods for locals and tourists alike. With plenty of infrastructure connecting it to other parts of Pennsylvania coupled with incentives from the local government helping attract new businesses, there’s no doubt that this borough will continue to be an integral part of Lawrence County’s economic landscape well into the future.
Politics in Bessemer, Pennsylvania
Bessemer, Pennsylvania is a borough located in Lawrence County, with a population of around 1,400 people. It is home to several industries that have helped fuel its economy over the years, including brick manufacturing and lumber mills. The local government plays an important role in maintaining Bessemer’s economic stability and has provided incentives such as tax breaks for businesses that invest in the borough or create jobs within it. In addition to its economic importance, Bessemer also has an active political scene which helps shape the future of this small town.
The political landscape of Bessemer is heavily influenced by the Republican Party, as most local elected officials are members of this party. There are currently seven council members in Bessemer who are responsible for making decisions regarding local ordinances and regulations. Currently, all seven council members are Republicans. This party also dominates the mayor’s office, as current mayor Ken Kunkle has been a lifelong Republican and was elected to his current post in 2017 after previously serving on the town’s council for four years.
The Republican Party also holds sway over state politics in Pennsylvania with Governor Tom Wolf being a Democrat since 2015. Despite this fact, there have been some attempts at bipartisanship between state and local politics with both Republicans and Democrats working together to pass legislation beneficial to Bessemer’s residents such as tax relief measures or infrastructure projects.
Voters in Bessemer have traditionally leaned towards conservative values but there have been recent signs that more progressive ideas may be gaining traction among some residents as well. In 2016, voters here supported Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton while also backing several other Democratic candidates for various offices during that same election cycle.
In addition to voting trends, there are also several grassroots organizations based out of Bessemer which advocate for progressive causes such as environmental protection or social justice initiatives like increasing access to affordable housing or healthcare coverage for all citizens regardless of their income level or employment status. These groups help bring attention to issues affecting not just Bessemer but Lawrence County at large while engaging citizens from across the political spectrum through events like town hall meetings or rallies held throughout the year.
Overall, politics play an important role in shaping the future of Bessemer and Lawrence County due to its close proximity to Harrisburg where many decisions regarding state-level policies are made each year. While Republicans currently dominate local elections here due to their traditional stronghold on this part of Pennsylvania, progressive ideas are slowly gaining traction among some residents which could lead to greater bipartisanship between state-level politicians and those representing smaller towns like Bessemer going forward.