Charleroi, a small borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, has recently gained national attention due to its increasing immigrant population. Former President Donald Trump highlighted the town’s demographic changes shortly after making erroneous claims about Haitian immigrants and pets in Springfield, Ohio.
Despite some initial challenges, Charleroi and its school district are finding that the influx of immigrants has been a positive force, providing much-needed economic support.
Immigrant Population Boosts Charleroi’s Economy
Once a bustling steel town, Charleroi saw a decline as the steel industry left, resulting in widespread blight and unemployment. The arrival of Augusta Goll, known as Queen, and other immigrants from Liberia five years ago marked the beginning of a turnaround.
“When we came here, the city was a ghost town,” Goll said. “Houses were falling down, and many businesses were closing.”
Since then, the town has seen a significant increase in its immigrant population, with several hundred Haitian refugees arriving recently. Most of these newcomers have legal status and protection from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Many have renovated abandoned homes and opened businesses in vacant storefronts.
Goll, for example, has established her own grocery store.
“We came here, opened businesses, paid taxes, and contributed to the city’s improvement,” Goll said.
Positive Impact on Borough Resources
Borough Manager Jim Manning confirmed that the immigrant population has not strained local resources. “We haven’t seen a spike in crime or major problems,” Manning said. “The immigrants have been beneficial to Charleroi.”
Currently, Charleroi is home to approximately 1,000 immigrants, which represents a 20 percent increase in a total population of 4,200. Despite some claims of rising crime and other issues, Manning asserts that immigrants are playing a key role in revitalizing the town, which has long struggled with population decline.
“They purchase property, start businesses, work, and pay taxes,” Manning said. “Overall, their presence has been beneficial. Charleroi is one of the few communities in the Mon Valley experiencing population growth.”
Adapting to New Demands in the School District
The influx of immigrant families has led to an increase in the number of students in Charleroi’s school district. There are now 125 immigrant K-5 students, necessitating additional English Language Learning instructors. Although the district seeks more support from state and federal sources, it has observed that these students adapt quickly.
“They’re great,” said Mark Killinger, the K-2 principal at Charleroi Elementary Center. “They arrive with smiles, hug the staff, and work well with each other. As they learn English, it’s exciting to see their progress.”
Community Pride in Charleroi’s Transformation
Immigrants who frequent Fallowfield Avenue take pride in their contributions to the town.
“When the African and other communities arrived, they opened many businesses here,” said Liberian immigrant James Jarrett.
Overall, Charleroi is embracing its new residents, who are helping to breathe new life into the town.