Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania

Wilkinsburg is a borough located in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. As of the 2000 census, the borough had a total population of 19,196, after having lost more than 10,000 souls in 60 years since 1940 when 29,853 people were enumerated.

Related Topics:
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania - 2000 - 1940

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In 1919, the world's first commercial radio station, KDKA, began broadcasting here from a small garage owned by Frank Conrad. In 1923, Wilkinsburg-based Russian immigrant Vladimir Zworykin designed and patented the iconoscope, the photocell "eye" of early television cameras.

Related Topics:
1919 - KDKA - Frank Conrad - 1923 - Russian - Vladimir Zworykin - Iconoscope

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Wilkinsburg was founded and developed by highly religious European immigrants. The borough has a remarkably high concentration of churches, mostly Protestant, which is unusual in a predominantly Catholic region of the country. Also, bars are prohibited within the borough limits. In 1871, Wilkinsburg separated from the city of Pittsburgh in order to (according to borough leader James Kelly) maintain the religious integrity of the community.

Related Topics:
Religious - European - Church - Protestant - Catholic - 1871 - Pittsburgh

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In more recent years, the borough has fallen on harder times, with many of its residents living in public housing. In 2000, Wilkinsburg received unwanted national attention when a man suffering from schizophrenia shot two and wounded three others at a fast food restaurant in the borough. Other deaths caused by violent acts have been common occurrences, but are known only locally.

Related Topics:
Public housing - 2000 - Schizophrenia - Fast food

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