legal pa. definition of class 1 city?

[str8shooter]

I think it is a half million.

LRT answered the question correctly in post #2 as 1 million, and ChrisJames_71 corroborated LRT's response in post #4 with documentation defining the different city classifications based on population in PA. It's 1 mill. FTW.

[indianjack]

Just as having money doesn't insure class, neither does having a large population.

[chrisjames_71]

I think it is a half million.

Its not a half million.

[LittleRedToyota]

PA Title 53, section 13101:

"Those [cities] containing a population of one million or over shall constitute the first class."

i can't find an online version, but that is what is says. without any doubt, the criteria for being a "city of the 1st class" in PA is having a population of one million or more.

[Armed_in_Lancity]

In 1895, when some cities were growing rapidly, the state assigned them to four population
classes. These classifications, which still exist today, allow the General Assembly to pass laws
for cities according to their population:
• First Class – 1 million or more
• Second Class – 250,000 – 999,999
• Second Class A – 80,000 – 249,999
• Third Class – cities with a population of less than 250,000 that have not elected to
become a city of the second class A.
Philadelphia, the oldest and largest city in Pennsylvania, is the only city of the first class, and
all laws pertaining to cities of the first class are for Philadelphia alone.

courtesey of The Pennsylvania Township News Magazine

http://www.psats.org/today_About_PA_Municipalites.pdf

[tl_3237]

Here's the LEGAL definition

Title 53 P.S. Municipal and Quasi-Municipal Corporations

Part I. General Municipal Law

Chapter 1. Classification of Cities (Refs & Annos)

§ 101. Purpose of classification; division into classes



For the purpose of legislation regulating their municipal affairs, the exercise of certain corporate powers, and having respect to the number, character, powers, and duties of certain officers thereof, the cities now in existence and those hereafter created in this Commonwealth shall be divided into four classes:

Those containing a population of one million or over shall constitute the first class.

Those containing a population of two hundred and fifty thousand and under one million shall constitute the second class.

Those containing a population of eighty thousand and under two hundred and fifty thousand and which by ordinance elect to be a city of the second class A shall constitute the second class A.

Those containing a population under two hundred and fifty thousand and which have not elected to become a city of the second class A shall constitute the third class.

[djturnz]

I would imagine that after the next census, Pittsburgh will also be class 1.

[vetter3006]

For a city that let's convicted fellons back out on the street to kill police officers I say that's a low class city.

[indianjack]

I would imagine that after the next census, Pittsburgh will also be class 1.

Maybe, Maybe not, so much depends on where they draw the legal boundaries. Wonder if Pittsburgh proper is gaining resident population or not? Or is the gain just outside of the city limits?

[LittleRedToyota]

I would imagine that after the next census, Pittsburgh will also be class 1.

not unless the definition of a first class city changes.

pittsburgh does not have (and never has had) anywhere close to 1,000,000 people. further, our current population trend is downward, not upward.

EDIT:

here are population statistics for pittsburgh through 2000. first column is the year, second is the population, third is percentage change over previous 10 years. note that the population peak for pittsburgh was about 675,000 in 1950 and we have been losing people ever since...down to around 330,000 in 2000. also, the city's population has continued to decline since 2000 (over the summer, there were a few new articles pointing out that our population has dropped below that of even toledo, OH.)

these figures are from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburgh,_Pennsylvania

1810 4,768 —
1820 7,248 52.0%
1830 12,568 73.4%
1840 21,115 68.0%
1850 46,601 120.7%
1860 49,221 5.6%
1870 86,076 74.9%
1880 156,389 81.7%
1890 238,617 52.6%
1900 321,616 34.8%
1910 533,905 66.0%
1920 588,343 10.2%
1930 669,817 13.8%
1940 671,659 0.3%
1950 676,806 0.8%
1960 604,332 −10.7%
1970 520,117 −13.9%
1980 423,938 −18.5%
1990 369,879 −12.8%
2000 334,563 −9.5%