The name of the township has been traced back to Rostrevor, a seaside community in County Down, now in Northern Ireland. It is known that some of the early settlers, such as the McClains, came from County Down so it is surmised that they probably named their new community out of affection for the native village and spelled it phonetically as Rostraver[5][6] Unfortunately, they neglected to leave to posterity any record of having done so.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 32.9 square miles (85.2 km2), of which 32.2 square miles (83.4 km2) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2; 2.13%) is water.
Across the Youghiogheny River to the east, Rostraver runs adjacent almost entirely with South Huntingdon, the exceptions being Sewickley Township, West Newton and Smithton.
As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 11,634 people, 4,590 households, and 3,442 families residing in the township. The population density was 361.5 inhabitants per square mile (139.6/km2). There were 4,920 housing units at an average density of 152.9 per square mile (59.0/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 96.90% White, 1.94% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.52% of the population.
There were 4,590 households, out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the township the population was spread out, with 23.4% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males. The median income for a household in the township was $39,538, and the median income for a family was $48,115. Males had a median income of $36,860 versus $26,799 for females. The per capita income for the township was $20,455. About 5.5% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.
Public services
The township is protected by a full-time police force, headquartered at the municipal complex on Municipal Drive. Rostraver Township is also home to the Belle Vernon Barracks of the Pennsylvania State Police, which is located on Circle Drive. Fire protection is provided by three volunteer fire companies. Rostraver Central Fire Department [9] (located in the Fellsburg area), Webster VFD[10] (located in the village of Webster), and Collinsburg VFC[11] (located in the village of Collinsburg) respond to calls for assistance. Emergency medical response is handled by Rostraver/West Newton Emergency Services.[12]
^Duff, William Boyd. The forefathers and families of certain settlers in Western Pennsylvania, 1976, p. 10
^Piersoll, Mary, Bess Dailey Winchell, and Ernest Frank Carter. Early Days in Rostraver: An Informal History of Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County, PA, The Times-Sun for the Old Concord Restoration Committee, December 1949, pp 6-7.
