Bear Rocks, Pennsylvania

Bear Rocks is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Bullskin Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States.[3] It is located along the south side of Pennsylvania Route 31 in northern Fayette County, on the western slope of Chestnut Ridge. The elevation ranges from 1,150 feet (350 m) above sea level at the northwestern end of the community, in the valley of Jacobs Creek, to 2,196 feet (669 m) near the southeastern corner of the community, at the intersection of Kreinbrook Hill Road and Sky Top Road.

Bear Rocks, Pennsylvania
Bear Rocks is located in Pennsylvania
Bear Rocks
Bear Rocks
Bear Rocks is located in the United States
Bear Rocks
Bear Rocks
Coordinates: 40°07′35″N 79°27′54″W / 40.12639°N 79.46500°W / 40.12639; -79.46500
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountyFayette
TownshipBullskin
Area
 • Total
3.24 sq mi (8.39 km2)
 • Land3.24 sq mi (8.39 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,847 ft (563 m)
Population
 • Total
1,005
 • Density310.38/sq mi (119.84/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
FIPS code42-04616
GNIS feature ID2633768

In 1977, Bear Rocks was the site of a controversial murder. A local man, David Munchinski, was found guilty of the crime and served 26 years in prison. He was later found to have been wrongfully convicted and was released.[4][5][6][7][8]

Demographics

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As of the 2010 census, the population of the CDP was 1,048.[9]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
20201,005
U.S. Decennial Census[10][2]

References

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  1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  3. ^ "History of Bullskin Township". Bullskin Township Historical Society. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  4. ^ Gazarik, Richard and Cholodofsky, Rich. "Bear Rocks Slayings: Key evidence raises doubt about guilt of Munchinski". Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh PA. Retrieved October 29, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Ward, Paula Reed. "Lawsuit Settled Against Fayette County, State Police in Wrongful Conviction of Man Imprisoned For 26 Years". Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh PA. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  6. ^ Possley, Maurice. "David Munchinski". The National Registry of Exonerations. Newkirk Center for Science & Society at University of California Irvine, the University of Michigan Law School and Michigan State University College of Law. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  7. ^ ops@our-hometown.com (April 8, 2022). "Wrongful conviction suit settled in 1977 Bear Rocks murder case". The Daily Courier, Connellsvile PA. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  8. ^ Ove, Thorsten (April 11, 2022). "The long, sad tale of David Munchinski, cleared of double murder, ends in death and an $8 million payout". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  9. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001), Bear Rocks CDP, Pennsylvania". American FactFinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  10. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
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