HOMESTEAD, a borough of Allegheny county, Pa., U.S.A., on the south bank of the Monongahela river, 6.5m. from the heart of Pittsburgh. It is served directly by the Pennsylvania, the Pitts burgh and Lake Erie, and the Union railways, and has connections with several others ; the river is used largely for the transporta tion of coal, and recently also for shipments of steel. The popula tion in 1920 was 20,452, of whom 5,945 were foreign-born white; 193o Federal census 20,141. The "Homestead District," includ ing the contiguous boroughs of Munhall, West Homestead, Hays and Whitaker, and Mifflin township (of which all these boroughs were originally a part) had in 1928 a population of over 5o,000. In the Homestead District are more than 3o iaige industrial plants, employing between 15,00o and 20,000 men, and producing an nually goods valued at over $200,000,000. The principal products are iron, steel, engines, mill machinery, castings, car-wheels, valves, axles, brick, tile, concrete blocks, ornamental iron, ice, cigars and aeroplane propellers. The great steel works covers 29oac. (lying chiefly in Munhall) ; has loom. of railroad track within the plant, over which in a year move some 400,00o cars, carrying millions of tons of incoming materials and outgoing products. In West Homestead is a 2oac. plant where machinery for iron and steel works is made.
Homestead was planned as a residential centre in the beautiful Monongahela valley. The first lots were laid out in 1870, and the borough was incorporated in 1881. In 1879 appeared the first manufacturing plant, a glass factory; and in 188o-81 the original steel works was built, which in 1883 was bought by Carnegie, Phipps and company. In 1892 Homestead was the scene of one of the most serious strikes in the history of the United States, carried on by the National Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers against the Carnegie Steel company. It lasted days and ended in a victory for the company. The arrival of 200 Pinkerton detectives on July 6 resulted in a riot in which 7 men were killed and 20 or more wounded. To restore order the gov ernor sent the entire militia of the State. (See STRIKES AND