Butler Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania

Butler Township is a township in Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 17,248 at the 2010 census.[3] The township was first settled in 1795. It was established as a township in 1804 and as a first class township in 1922.[4]

Butler Township,
Butler County,
Pennsylvania
Township
Building at Preston Park, formerly Preston Laboratories, in Butler Township
Map of Butler County, Pennsylvania highlighting Butler Township
Map of Butler County, Pennsylvania
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountyButler
Settled1795
Incorporated1804
Government
 • TypeFive-member Board of Commissioners
 • Board PresidentDavid Zarnick
 • Township ManagerEdward A. Kirkwood
 • Mailing Address290 South Duffy Road, Butler, PA 16001
Area
 • Total21.75 sq mi (56.33 km2)
 • Land21.62 sq mi (56.00 km2)
 • Water0.13 sq mi (0.33 km2)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total17,248
 • Estimate 
(2018)[2]
16,535
 • Density775.60/sq mi (299.46/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code(s)724
FIPS code42-019-10472
Websitewww.butlertwp.org
Butler Area School District

Geography

Butler Township is located near the center of Butler County and surrounds the city of Butler, the county seat. The township contains the unincorporated communities of Homeacre-Lyndora, Meridian, Meadowood, and Oak Hills, all of which are census-designated places. The unincorporated town of Lyndora, which has its own post office (zip code 16045), is located within Butler Township.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 21.7 square miles (56.3 km2), of which 21.6 square miles (56.0 km2) is land and 0.12 square miles (0.3 km2), or 0.58%, is water.[3]

Connoquenessing Creek, a tributary of the Beaver River, flows to the southwest out of Butler city and crosses the southern part of the township. In 2000, a scientific study was conducted to determine the health of the creek. Researchers discovered that only the Mississippi River received more toxic materials than the Connoquenessing, making the small river the second most polluted waterway in the United States. At the time, the Armco Inc. steel facility in Butler ranked first nationally for the amount of pollutant discharges.[5] However, by 2010, due to reduced industry and clean up efforts, the creek's health has significantly recovered and has become popular for water-sport activities.[6]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
19409,248—
195012,06930.5%
196015,21926.1%
197017,42214.5%
198018,6517.1%
199017,625−5.5%
200017,185−2.5%
201017,2480.4%
Est. 201816,535[2]−4.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[7][8][9][10]

At the 2010 census there were 17,248 people in 7,409 households, including 4,880 families, in the township. The population density was 799.2 people per square mile (308.6/km²). There were 7,500 housing units at an average density of 348.8/sq mi (134.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.1% White, 0.5% African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 0.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.4%.[11]

There were 7,201 households, 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 28.8% of households were made up of individuals, and 14.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.87.

The age distribution was 20.7% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.1% 65 or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.

The median household income was $41,274 and the median family income was $51,824. Males had a median income of $41,486 versus $24,818 for females. The per capita income for the township was $21,218. About 5.0% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

Neighborhoods
  • Bon Aire
  • The Boulevard
  • Bredinville
  • Castle Heights
  • Grandview
  • Greenwood Village
  • Highfield
  • Homeacre
  • Lyndora
  • Meadowood
  • Meridian
  • North Butler
  • Oak Hills
  • Stirling Glen
  • Westwood Manor

Education
  • Butler Intermediate High School
  • McQuistion Elementary
  • Meridian Elementary
  • Northwest Elementary
  • Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School
  • Butler County Community College (BC3)

Economy

The AK Steel Butler Works plant is located entirely in the township on approximately 1,000 acres (400 ha).

The main shopping corridor is on New Castle Road and features an array of strip malls and shops. Below is a list of the shopping areas within the township:

  • Alameda Plaza
  • Bon Aire Plaza
  • Butler Commons, formally the Butler Mall
  • Butler Crossing
  • Greater Butler Mart
  • Greenwood Plaza
  • Moraine Pointe Plaza
  • Point Plaza

Health

Parks and recreation
  • Alameda Park, owned and operated by Butler County is entirely within Butler Township. It was once an early amusement park with a small lake. All but the shell of the carousel remains, which has been converted into a pavilion. The lake is also gone.[12] The park is heavily forested and features several hiking trails. The lower portion of Alameda Park Road has been closed to automotive traffic since 2007, but is still open to walking, biking, and running. The park also features a public swimming pool, several picnic shelters, a carousel shelter, two playgrounds, sand volleyball courts, and a bocce court.
  • Butler Township Park, owned and operated by the township, there are walking trails, a playground, a dek hockey rink and a large hall that is available for rental.
  • Highfield Park, has several baseball fields, playground and a hall that can be rented.
  • Preston Park, was the private estate of scientist Dr. Frank W. Preston, a prominent local figure. Upon the death of his wife Jane in 2008, the property was left to the township. The heavily forested park consists of over 90 acres (36 ha) with various walking trails. The park includes a large pond, the Preston's house and laboratory, an arboretum of several dozen coniferous tree species, a prairie, and the largest examples of several coniferous tree species in Pennsylvania. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
  • Krendale Golf Course, a 27-hole public golf course
  • Aubrey's Golf Course, an 18-hole public golf course

Transportation

Pennsylvania Route 68 (Evans City Road/East Jefferson Street) and PA Route 356 (New Castle Road/Center Avenue/Freeport Road) are major roads in the township. PA Route 8 (Pittsburgh Road and North Main Street Extension) passes through the township in a north-south direction on either side of the city limits of Butler. U.S. Route 422, a limited-access highway, runs through the township near its northern edge as it bypasses the city.

The township is also served by The Bus, operated by the Butler Transit Authority.

Sports

See Sports of Butler, Pennsylvania (City)

Media

See Media of Butler, Pennsylvania (City)

Notable people

See Notable People of Butler, Pennsylvania (City)

See also

References
  1. "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Aug 13, 2017.
  2. Bureau, U. S. Census. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. US Census Bureau. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  3. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Butler township, Butler County, Pennsylvania". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  4. "Butler County - 5th Class" (PDF). Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Retrieved 2008-04-14.
  5. Hopey, Don (2000-02-18). "Pa. ranks 2nd worst in toxic dumping". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
  6. Butler, Kiera (2012-04-02). "America’s Top 10 Most-Polluted Waterways" Mother Jones (magazine) Retrieved 2020-01-23.
  7. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  8. United States Census
  9. https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/17216604v1p40ch02.pdf
  10. https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-40.pdf
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  12. The Butler Historical Society. "Alameda Park" Retrrived 2020-01-25.

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