Kline Avenue, and therefore my home, is located in a section of North Versailles named West Wilmerding. Although West Wilmerding is technically a section of Wilmerding, PA, it is officially considered part of the township of North Versailles.
North Versailles Township was formed September 18, 1869 by a division of (the original) Versailles Township into North and South Versailles Townships. Versailles Township was one of the original seven townships of Allegheny County formed in 1788 from Westmoreland County. Additionally, the land which encompasses the present day North Versailles Township was disputed territory between Pennsylvania and Virginia which claimed the area as part of Yohogania County of the District of West Augusta.
The territory designated in 1788 as Versailles Township now contains the townships of North Versailles and South Versailles; the boroughs of White Oak, East McKeesport, Wall, Versailles, and portions of Wilmerding and Trafford (including West Wilmerding); as well as the major portion (excluding 10th ward) of the City of McKeesport.
North Versailles was further divided with the formation of the boroughs of East McKeesport (1893), Wall (1904), and portions of the boroughs of Wilmerding (1890) and Trafford (1904). The section of Wilmerding on the north side of Turtle Creek was originally part of the former Patton Township and the majority of Trafford is situated in Westmoreland County. An area of North Versailles (Allequippa Grove later known as North McKeesport and Highland Grove) was also annexed by the City of McKeesport.
Early villages and population centers in North Versailles included Port Perry, Saltsburgh and Allequippa Grove along the Monongahela River; Pleasant Hill near to what is now East McKeesport; Point Pleasant located near the present intersections of Route 30 and McKee and Naser Roads; and Stewart's Station, Spring Hill, Mosside Station, Wall Station, and Wilmerding Station (West Wilmerding) along Turtle Creek, a tributary of the Monongahela River.
North Versailles has a number of named neighborhoods including the following which roughly corresponds to the township's seven wards:
At one time, North Versailles was served by eight volunteer fire departments. Each ward was served by one department with the exception of Ward 3 which had both the Sunset and South Wilmerding VFDs. Ward 4 and 6's fire departments were the Green Valley VFD and Dixon VFD respectively. West Wilmerding's firehall, which is no longer active, is pictured above.
Currently two fire departments serve the township. Crestas VFD (with one station) serves Crestas Terrace and West Wilmerding. The remaining five wards of the township are serviced by the Fire Department of North Versailles (FDNV) with three stations. The stations are respectfully the former Sunset-Central VFD, Green Valley VFD, and Dixon Hollow VFD.
The North Versailles Township Police department also patrols the Borough of Wilmerding.
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,125 people, 4,933 households, and 3,102 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,371.9 people per square mile (529.6/km²). There were 5,227 housing units at an average density of 644.6/sq mi (248.8/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 87.81% White, 9.77% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 1.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.49% of the population.
There were 4,933 households out of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the township the population was spread out with 19.9% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $30,617, and the median income for a family was $38,145. Males had a median income of $31,389 versus $25,451 for females. The per capita income for the township was $16,991. About 8.5% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.