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Uniontown and McClellandtown, Pennsylvania — Fayette County Population: As of April 1, 2000, Fayette County has a population of 148,644. Between 1990 and 2000, Fayette County has seen a 2.3 percent growth in population. This contrasts the 13.2 percent population growth rate seen nationally. Fayette County has a population density of about 188 people per square mile, slightly higher than the Appalachian Pennsylvania average of about 160 people. Density is up slightly from 1990 figures.
Unemployment/Income: Fayette County has had stable, high rates of unemployment. 1999 and 2001 rates of unemployment are both 6.9 percent compared to the national rates of 4.2 and 4.8 percent respectively. Unemployment dropped off slightly in 2000, falling to 6.6 percent. March 2004 statistics indicate Fayette County’s unemployment rate has increased to 9.7 percent. Fayette County residents have a mean market income of about $10,000 less than the national average ($15,920 compared to $25,676). High unemployment and lower mean earnings indicate Fayette County is doing poorly economically.
Poverty: As the unemployment and income statistics indicate, Fayette County has a high poverty rate. The 2000 rate of poverty was 18 percent, compared to the national level of 12.4 percent. This is down from Fayette County’s 1990 poverty rate of 20.9 percent compared to the national rate of 13.1. In 1980, the poverty rate was 15.5 percent compared to the national rate of 12.4. During the entire time period, Fayette County has had a significantly higher poverty rate than the national average.
Education: Fayette County has an adult high school graduation rate of 76 percent in 2000 compared to the national rate of 80.4. In terms of college degrees, 11.5 percent of Fayette County adults have graduated college compared to the national rate of 24.4 percent. In 1980, 57.8 percent of adults graduated from high school and 7.2 percent graduated from college compared to national levels of 66.5 and 16.2 respectively. In terms of educational attainment, Fayette County has a history of doing worse than the national average.
Economic Status: Fayette County has an economic classification level of Transitional for fiscal year 2004. This means that Fayette County is below the national average on one or more of the three economic indicators (three-year average unemployment, per capita market income, and poverty) but does not fall into the Distressed category. Fayette County performs under the national levels in all three economic indicator categories and is classified as At-Risk for becoming Distressed.
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