Farrell

History

Once dubbed "The Magic City," Farrell sprang up practically overnight when a steel mill was constructed in 1901 on a plain bordering the Shenango River, near Sharon, in what was then part of Hickory Township (now Hermitage). The community name was at the beginning South Sharon. In 1912, the population reached 10,000. At that time, the residents of the new city elected to take the name of Farrell, after industrialist James A. Farrell. The community was incorporated as the Borough of South Sharon in 1916; its population peaked at over 15,000 in 1920 and its status was elevated to a third-class city in 1932. The mill, which eventually became known as the Roemer Works of Sharon Steel Corporation, would serve as the community's lifeblood until 1992, when it was liquidated after filing bankruptcy. Many of the assets were sold at auction to Britain-based Caparo Corporation and later to Swiss steelmaker Duferco, which operates the plant today. Farrell was designated a financially distressed municipality in 1987 by the state of Pennsylvania. In 2004 local politicians proposed the creation of Shenango Valley City, consisting of Farrell as well as Hermitage, Sharpsville, Sharon, and Wheatland with the issue being put on the ballot in the form of a referendum. Then Governor of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell voiced support for the measure and would be joined by Kathleen McGinty, Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, and Dennis Yablonsky, Secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development with the trio touring the region to urge for voters to pass the motion. Despite years of population and industrial decline, Farrell has made progress in rebuilding itself due to new industrial investments on tax abated land and several new housing starts.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Hickory HS
  High · Hermitage · 811 students · 13.5:1 ratio
• Artman El Sch
  Elementary · Hermitage · 609 students · 17.4:1 ratio
• Sharon HS
  High · Sharon · 523 students · 11.4:1 ratio
• Case Avenue El Sch
  Elementary · Sharon · 484 students · 11.3:1 ratio
• Sharpsville Area El Sch
  Elementary · Sharpsville · 424 students · 15.7:1 ratio
• Farrell Area ES/LMS
  Elementary · Farrell · 378 students · 9.4:1 ratio
• Sharpsville Area SHS
  High · Sharpsville · 357 students · 9.2:1 ratio
• West Middlesex Area JSHS
  High · West Middlesex · 346 students · 11.5:1 ratio