Butler Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania

For other Pennsylvania townships with similar names, see Butler Township, Pennsylvania (disambiguation).

Butler Township
Township
Building at Preston Park, formerly Preston Laboratories, in Butler Township
Map of Butler County, Pennsylvania highlighting Butler Township
Map of Butler County, Pennsylvania
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Butler
Settled	1795
Incorporated	1804
Government
• Type	Five-member Board of Commissioners
• Board President	David Zarnick
• Township Manager	Tom Knights
• Mailing Address	290 South Duffy Road, Butler, PA 16001
Area [1]
• Total	21.75 sq mi (56.33 km2)
• Land	21.62 sq mi (56.00 km2)
• Water	0.13 sq mi (0.33 km2)
Population  (2020) [2]
• Total	17,230
• Estimate  (2022) [2]	16,854
• Density	775.60/sq mi (299.46/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code	724
FIPS code	42-019-10472
Website	www.butlertwp.org
Butler Area School District

Butler Township is a township in Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 17,230 at the 2020 census. ^[2] The township was first settled by Europeans in 1795. It was established as a township in 1804 and as a first class township in 1922. ^[3]

History

On July 13, 2024, the attempted assassination of Donald Trump took place in Butler Township, ^[4] in the Butler Farm Show Grounds. At the event, Butler Township police primarily did traffic duties. The majority of the venue is in adjacent Connoquenessing Township, and that township uses the Pennsylvania State Police as its local law enforcement. Therefore the state police agency filled several law enforcement duties during the event instead of the Butler Township police. ^[5]

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. ^[6]

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. ^[7] 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. ^[8]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1940	9,248		—
1950	12,069		30.5%
1960	15,219		26.1%
1970	17,422		14.5%
1980	18,651		7.1%
1990	17,625		−5.5%
2000	17,185		−2.5%
2010	17,248		0.4%
2020	17,230		−0.1%
2022 (est.)	16,854	[2]	−2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [9] [10] [11] [12]

As of the census ^[10] of 2010, there were 17,248 people, 7,409 households, and 4,880 families residing in the township. The population density was 799.2 inhabitants per square mile (308.6/km²). There were 7,500 housing units at an average density of 348.8 per square mile (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% of the population.

There were 7,201 households, out of which 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 all households were made up of individuals, and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the township the population was spread out, with 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% who were 65 years of age 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 income for a household in the township was $41,274, and the median income for a family 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

Government

The Butler Township Police Department is the local law enforcement agency. ^[13]

The township houses Pennsylvania State Police Troop D, which provides local law enforcement to adjacent Connoquenessing Township. ^[14]

Education

• Butler Area School District ^[15] All of the following schools are in the township limits: ^[16]

• Butler Senior High School
• Butler Intermediate High School
• McQuistion Elementary
• Northwest Elementary

• Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School
• Butler County Community College (BC3)

Previously the school district operated Meridian Elementary School. In 2015, the district decided to close the school. ^[17]

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

• Butler Memorial Hospital
• The Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VA Butler Healthcare). The new VA Healthcare Center is on 46 acres (19 ha) just over the line in Center Township.

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. ^[18] 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

• Butler, Pennsylvania (City)
• Butler County, Pennsylvania
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Butler County

References

1. "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
2. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
3. "Butler County - 5th Class" (PDF). Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission . Retrieved April 14, 2008.
4. Hutchinson, Bill; Cohen, Miles (July 16, 2024). "Gunman opened fire at Trump rally as witnesses say they tried to alert police". ABC News . Retrieved July 16, 2024. [...]after Trump took the stage at a campaign rally in Butler Township, Pennsylvania,[...]
5. Grubbs, Paula (July 13, 2024). "Meridian neighborhood awaits impact of Trump rally". Butler Eagle . Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024. [...] as most of the Farm Show Grounds is in Connoquenessing Township, which is covered by state police.
6. "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.
7. Hopey, Don (February 18, 2000). "Pa. ranks 2nd worst in toxic dumping" Archived December 11, 2018, at the Wayback Machine . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
8. Butler, Kiera (April 2, 2012). "America’s Top 10 Most-Polluted Waterways" Mother Jones (magazine) Retrieved 2020-01-23.
9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
11. Number of inhabitants: Pennsylvania (PDF)
12. "1990 Census of Population and Housing Population and Housing Unit Counts Pennsylvania" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 27, 2009.
13. "Police Department". Butler Township. Retrieved July 15, 2024. Hours & Location 290 S. Duffy Road Butler, PA 16001
14. "Emergency Services". Connoquenessing Township. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
15. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Butler County, PA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved July 15, 2024. - Text list
16. "Zoning District Map" (PDF). Butler Township. Retrieved July 15, 2024. Northwest School[...]Butler Area High School[...]Intermediate school[...]McQuistion School (see areas: "C, 3" "C, 5", "D, 5", and "E, 7")
17. "Residents Upset With Butler District's Decision To Close Schools". CBS News. KDKA-TV. May 7, 2015. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
18. The Butler Historical Society. "Alameda Park" Retrrived January 25, 2020.

External links

• Butler Township official website
• Butler Area School District
• Butler County Historical Society
• Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau
• 1883 History of Butler County

40°51′15″N79°55′39″W / 40.85417°N 79.92750°W / 40.85417; -79.92750