Derry, Pennsylvania

The center of the crest is adorned with St. George’s Cross. St. George was a martyr, one of the most famous in Christendom, and is noted for refusing many bribes and offerings to renounce his faith. He also gave all of his possessions and holdings to the poor. The heart, in the upper left corner of the cross, is sectioned with a bar rising up that signifies love for God.

The lower part of the shield is draped with noble ermine as a backdrop for the two charges that respectfully represent community values and Derry’s rich railroad heritage. The railroad theme is carried on at the top of the design with a crest emblazoned with the borough’s name and establishment date. The decorative foliage around the design is tinted blue for loyalty and gold for generosity. The tincture also represents the local school’s colors and the borough’s commitment to youth and education. The lower banner motto resonates the strong foundation of community reserved for the families that call the borough home and an acknowledgment of the greatness of the country in which Derry is located. The crest portraits a very noble ideal of community, heritage, charity and endless love for God in the face of danger. The crest was designed by Borough Councilman Richard L. Allison (Rick) and enthusiastically approved by the Derry Borough Council as the official crest of Derry, PA. In communication with the Mayor of Derry, located in County Londonderry, in present-day Northern Ireland and in the province of Ulster, it was adjusted to incorporate the importance of railroading in the borough’s growth and how it came to be the largest employer in the borough until the 1950s.

Derry is located at 40°19′59″N 79°18′4″W (40.333037, -79.301011).[9] According to the U.S. Censusu Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), of which 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²) (2.41%) is water.

As of the 2010 census,[12] there were 2,688 people, 1,235 households, and 824 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,696.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,427.2/km²). There were 1,317 housing units at an average density of 1,627.7 per square mile (628.5/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.00% White, 0.64% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.07% from other races, and 0.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.

There were 1,235 households, out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 24.1% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $29,785, and the median income for a family was $37,585. Males had a median income of $28,641 versus $21,929 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $15,671. About 10.4% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

• Herbert Boyer, chemist and co-founder of Genentech
• James Patterson, Tony Award–winning actor
• William Julius Wilson, American sociologist and Harvard University professor

• Derry Borough