New Castle

New Castle is a county seat located at the meeting point of the Shenango River and Neshannock Creek, about 43 miles (69 kilometers) northwest of Pittsburgh near the Pennsylvania-Ohio border. The town spreads across flat terrain along both waterways and features residential neighborhoods, commercial districts, and some older industrial sites.

The settlement began in 1798 when John Carlysle Stewart discovered 50 acres of unclaimed land at the confluence of two waterways and established himself there. By the late 1800s the town had grown into a major center for tin plate production, drawing workers from Europe and the Middle East.

The town is home to a large Arab-American community whose roots trace back to Lebanese and Syrian immigrants who arrived in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Visitors notice this influence in local shops, restaurants, and community events that keep Middle Eastern traditions alive today.

The town center is easy to walk around, with most public buildings and shops concentrated in the main streets. Visitors can find parking along the main roads and should watch for slippery sidewalks near the riverbanks after rain.

The town was once known as the tin plate capital of the world after establishing the largest production facility for this material in America. This industry shaped local life and economy for decades until the decline of heavy manufacturing in the 1980s.