Duquesne is a city along the Monongahela River in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The population was 5,254 at the 2020 census.

History

The city of Duquesne was settled in 1789 and incorporated in 1891. The city derives its name from Fort Duquesne. Duquesne Works, a productive steel mill that was part of Carnegie Steel Corporation and later part of U.S. Steel, was the heart and soul of Duquesne during its brightest moments in the early 20th century. Duquesne was home to the largest blast furnace in the world, named the "Dorothy Six". Bob Dylan's song Duquesne Whistle (Tempest, 2012) is dedicated to it. The city's population peaked in 1930, then declined with the Great Depression and deindustrialization beginning after World War II. Today a stark post-industrial landscape, Duquesne has fewer total residents (5,565 at the 2010 U.S. census) than were the city's mill workers in 1948. According to the McKeesport Daily News, Duquesne has the worst performing schools in the state of Pennsylvania. Duquesne was designated a financially distressed municipality in 1991 by the state.

Geography

Duquesne is located along the Monongahela River, approximately 12 mi south of Pittsburgh. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.0 sqmi, of which 1.8 sqmi is land and 0.2 sqmi, or 10.84%, is water.

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, there were 7,332 people, 3,179 households, and 1,853 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,035.0 PD/sqmi. There were 3,768 housing units at an average density of 2,073.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 38.92% White, 57.75% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.74% from other races, and 2.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.72% of the population. There were 3,179 households, out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.8% were married couples living together, 27.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.7% were non-families. 37.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 3.00. In the city the population was spread out, with 28.3% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 80.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.1 males. The median income for a household in the city was $19,766, and the median income for a family was $25,898. Males had a median income of $25,046 versus $22,272 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,067. About 31.3% of families and 34.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 52.9% of those under age 18 and 19.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Nickole Nesby, Duquesne's first Black female mayor, took office in January 2018.

Education

Duquesne City School District operates a public elementary school. Duquesne High School closed in 2007. Beginning with the 2007–08 school year, Duquesne students have reported to West Mifflin Area High School, or East Allegheny High School. Since July 2007, the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU) has managed all academic and business operations of the Duquesne's K–8 school district. As of 2023 the School district now has grades 6-8 as well.

Notable people