Dawson is a borough in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 451 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Dawson is located at 40°2′52″N, 79°39′31″W (40.047892, -79.658659)^[1].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²), of which, 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²) of it is land and 5.56% is water.

There are many distinct sub-divisions of Dawson. North Dawson is located on a hill to the direct north of Dawson. Hulltown Hill is set in the eastern edges of Dawson. "RD" Dawson is everything outside the borough, until the Linden Hall area and the town of Perryopolis. Some of the features of "RD" Dawson include the annual Grange Fair, Linden Hall, and numerous farms.

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 451 people, 183 households, and 120 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,692.6 people per square mile (1,024.3/km²). There were 205 housing units at an average density of 1,223.9/sq mi (465.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough is 99.78% White, 0.22% African American, 0.00% Native American, 0.00% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from other races, and 0.00% from two or more races. 0.00% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 183 households out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the borough the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 86.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $27,500, and the median income for a family was $30,938. Males had a median income of $27,292 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $12,753. About 14.2% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.

Landmarks

The Philip G. Cochran Memorial United Methodist Church, a gothic-style structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is located in Dawson. Linden Hall, a resort and golf course, is also located in Dawson about five miles from the borough. The Oscar award winning film, Silence of the Lambs was filmed in the areas surrounding Dawson, (Buffalo Bill's house is located in Layton, PA).

Education

Dawson Borough children attend the Connellsville Area School District. Students living outside the borough's limits attend Frazier School District.

Projects

Dawson had been very neglected until the turn of the 20th Century. Starting in the summer 2006, the Dawson Bridge Project began much to the rejoice of the citizens because the bridge was deemed as a potential danger by many of the inhabitants. The project finished on schedule and the new bridge opened in time for the beginning of the school year. Dawson is also was equipped with sewage for the first time starting in the spring of 2007. Before this project, most of the residents' waste went directly into the Youghigheny River.

References

1. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
2. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

External links

• http://www.fayetteportal.com/dawson

• Dawson, Pennsylvania is at coordinates 40°02′52″N 79°39′31″W / 40.047892, -79.658659 (Dawson, Pennsylvania)Coordinates: 40°02′52″N 79°39′31″W / 40.047892, -79.658659 (Dawson, Pennsylvania)

v â€¢ d â€¢ e Municipalities and communities of Fayette County, Pennsylvania
County seat: Uniontown
Cities	Connellsville | Uniontown
Boroughs	Belle Vernon | Brownsville | Dawson | Dunbar | Everson | Fairchance | Fayette City | Markleysburg | Masontown | Newell | Ohiopyle | Perryopolis | Point Marion | Seven Springs | Smithfield | South Connellsville | Vanderbilt
Townships	Brownsville | Bullskin | Connellsville | Dunbar | Franklin | Georges | German | Henry Clay | Jefferson | Lower Tyrone | Luzerne | Menallen | Nicholson | North Union | Perry | Redstone | Saltlick | South Union | Springfield | Springhill | Stewart | Upper Tyrone | Washington | Wharton
CDPs	East Uniontown | Grindstone-Rowes Run | Hiller | Hopwood | Leith-Hatfield | Lynnwood-Pricedale | New Salem-Buffington | Oliver | Republic
Unincorporated community	Star Junction