Pennsylvania's 25th congressional district

Pennsylvania's 25th congressional district was one of Pennsylvania's districts of the United States House of Representatives.

Geography

In 1903 the district was drawn to cover Crawford and Erie counties, which had been its original area 60 years earlier.

The district was again moved in 1922. At this time it was redrawn to cover Washington and Greene counties.^[1]

In 1942 the boundaries of the district were redrawn without actually moving it for the first time. Greene County was transferred to the 24th District while parts of Allegheny County south and west of down-town Pittsburgh were moved to the 25th District. In 1944 the district boundaries were totally redrawn. It now consisted of Beaver, Butler and Lawrence counties. These boundaries were then redrawn in 1972, with a small strip of northern Allegheny County being put in the 25th district.^[2]

The district was eliminated in 1983.

Demographics

In 1902 the district was drawn to cover an area with a population of 162,116. Only 4 of Pennsylvania's 30 districts had fewer people at this point. Some Pennsylvania districts had over 250,000 people at this point. 0.4% of the population of what would be the 25th district in 1902 was black in 1900.^[3]

History

This district was created in 1833. In 1853, It consisted of Crawford County, Pennsylvania and Erie County, Pennsylvania at this point. The district had a population of 76,591.^[4]

It was eliminated in 1863. This district was recreated in 1873. The district was held at-large until 1875. In 1875 it was made a geographical district covering Forest County, Pennsylvania, Clarion County, Pennsylvania, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania and Indiana County, Pennsylvania. It had a population of 131,663.^[5] In 1888 Pennsylvania congressional districts were redrawn because there was a decision to make Pennsylvania's 28th congressional district a geographical district and end its election at large. The 25th district was shifted to cover Butler County, Pennsylvania, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and Mercer County, Pennsylvania.^[6] These would remain the boundaries until 1912.

The district was eliminated in 1983.

List of representatives

Representative	Party	Years	District home	Note
District created in 1833
John Gailbraith	Jacksonian	March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1837
Arnold Plumer	Democratic	March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1839
John Gailbraith	Democratic	March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1841
Arnold Plumer	Democratic	March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843
District eliminated in 1843, District recreated in 1853
John Dick	Whig	March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855
	Opposition	March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1857
	Republican	March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1859
Elijah Babbitt	Republican	March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1863
District eliminated in 1863, District recreated in 1875
George A. Jenks	Democratic	March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877
Harry White	Republican	March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1881		Not a candidate for reelection
James Mosgrove	Greenback	March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1883		Declined to be a candidate for renomination
John D. Patton	Democratic	March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1885		Declined to be a candidate for renomination
Alexander C. White	Republican	March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1887		Not a candidate for reelection
James T. Maffett	Republican	March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889		Not a candidate for renomination
Charles C. Townsend	Republican	March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1891		Not a candidate for renomination
Eugene P. Gillespie	Democratic	March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893		Unsuccessful candidate for reelection
Thomas W. Phillips	Republican	March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1897		Declined to be a candidate for renomination
vacant		March 4, 1897 – April 20, 1897		James J. Davidson was elected to this seat in 1896 but died on January 2, 1897.
Joseph B. Showalter	Republican	April 20, 1897 – March 3, 1903		Not a candidate for reelection
Arthur L. Bates	Republican	March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1913		Redistricted from the 26th district Declined to be a candidate for renomination
Milton W. Shreve	Republican	March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1915		Unsuccessful candidate for reelection
Michael Liebel, Jr.	Democratic	March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1917		Not a candidate for renomination
Henry A. Clark	Republican	March 4, 1917 – March 3, 1919		Not a candidate for renomination
Milton W. Shreve	Republican	March 4, 1919 – March 3, 1923		Redistricted to the 29th district
Henry W. Temple	Republican	March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1933		Redistricted from the 24th district, Unsuccessful candidate for reelection
Charles I. Faddis	Democratic	March 4, 1933 – December 4, 1942		Unsuccessful candidate for renomination, resigned to join the United States Army
vacant		December 4, 1942 – January 3, 1943
Grant Furlong	Democrat	January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1945		Unsuccessful candidate for renomination
Louis E. Graham	Republican	January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1955		Redistricted from the 26th district, Unsuccessful candidate for reelection
Frank M. Clark	Democratic	January 3, 1955 – December 31, 1974		Unsuccessful candidate for reelection
vacant		December 31, 1974 – January 3, 1975
Gary A. Myers	Republican	January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1979		Not a candidate for renomination
Eugene Atkinson	Democratic	January 3, 1979 – October 14, 1981		Switched to Republican Party
	Republican	October 14, 1981 – January 3, 1983
District eliminated in 1983

References

1. Martis, Kenneth C. Historical Atlas of Political Parties in Congress. (New York: Macmillan, 1989) p. 177
2. Martis. Historical Atlas. p. 227
3. Parsons. Congressional Districts p. 407
4. Parsons, Stanley B., William W. Beach and Michael J. Dubin United States Congressional Districts and Data, 1843-1883 (Westport: Greenwood Press, 1986) p. 82
5. Parsons. Congressional Districts and Data. p. 210
6. Parsons, Stanley B., Michale J. Dubin and Karen Toombs Parsons. United States Congressional Districts, 1883-1913. (Westwood: Greenwood Press, 1990) p. 136