Butler Township is a township in Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 17,248 at the 2010 census. The township was first settled in 1795. It was established as a township in 1804 and as a first class township in 1922.
Video Butler Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania
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.
Connoquenessing Creek, a tributary of the Beaver River, flows to the southwest out of Butler city and crosses the southern part of the 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.
Maps Butler Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania
Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 17,248 people, 7,409 households, and 4,880 families residing 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% 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.
Education
Butler Township is served by the Butler Area School District. The Senior High School, Intermediate High School, Northwest Elementary School, McQuistion Elementary School, and Meridian Elementary School are located in the township. The Butler County Community College main campus is also located in the township on Decatur Drive, just off of PA Route 8.
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. Duffy Road (North and South), Eberhart Road (North and South), Hansen Avenue, Meridian Road, Whitestown Road, South Benbrook Road, Saxonburg Road, Old Plank Road, McQuistion Road, McCalmont Road, Decatur Drive, Vogel Road, Morton Avenue, and Alameda Road are minor arteries in the township.
The township is also served by The Bus, operated by the Butler Transit Authority.
Neighborhoods
- Bon Aire
- Bredinville
- Castle Heights
- Grandview
- Greenwood Village
- Highfield
- Homeacre
- Lyndora
- Meadowood
- Meridian
- North Butler
- Oak Hills
- Stirling Glen
- The Boulevard
- Westwood Manor
Business
The AK Steel Butler Works plant is located entirely in the township on approximately 1,000 acres (400 ha) at 1 Armco Drive, Lyndora.
There are several large shopping malls in the township:
- Butler Commons- Anchor tenants include Walmart Supercenter, Target, Aldi, Dollar General, Famous Footwear, Panera Bread, Rent-A-Center, and Butler Health System.
- Butler Crossing- Anchor tenants include Kohl's, Michael's, Dollar Tree, Petco, Ross Dress for Less, Five Below, rue21, Ulta Beauty, McDonald's, and Applebee's.
- Moraine Pointe Plaza- Anchor tenants include Sam's Club, Giant Eagle, Lowe's, Home Depot, Staples, Regal Cinemas, Harbor Freight Tools, and Dunham's Sports.
- Greenwood Plaza (under construction)- Tenants include Dick's Sporting Goods, Bob Evans, Starbucks Coffee, and Mattress Firm.
- Point Plaza- Anchor tenants include Rite Aid; Altmeyer's Bed, Bath, and Home; Advance Auto Parts; Anytime Fitness; and a PennDOT Driver License Center.
- Alameda Plaza- Anchor tenants include Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe, Big Lots, Tractor Supply Company, Planet Fitness, Sherwin Williams, Fastenal, Jiffy Lube, and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Preferred Realty.
- Bon Aire Plaza- Anchor tenants include Aldi, Farmer's National Bank of Emlenton, a state liquor store, and a beer distributor.
- Greater Butler Mart- Anchor tenants include Friedman's Fresh Market, Trader Horn, Rite Aid, Dollar General, Roomful Express Furniture, McDonald's, and a state liquor store.
The township also currently has six hotels: a Holiday Inn Express is located on North Duffy Road and part of the Butler Commons complex; a Hampton Inn is located on New Castle Road behind #1 Cochran Subaru and part of the Butler Crossing complex; a Fairfield Inn and Suites is located at the US Route 422/PA Route 8 interchange on Fairfield Lane; and a Days Inn, a Comfort Inn, and a Super 8 Motel are all located on Route 8 South within two miles of each other.
Hospitals
Butler Memorial Hospital is a full-service hospital located in Butler Township east of the city of Butler along East Jefferson Street and East Brady Street. The hospital's formal address is 1 Hospital Way, Butler. BMH offers many of the same services as hospitals in large cities.
The Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VA Butler Healthcare) is also located in the township. A new VA Health Care Center was proposed near the current hospital with completion expected in 2015. It was to be built at the former location of the 16-acre (6.5 ha) Deshon Woods, a public forest and park that was sold by the township to the VA.
However, in 2013, the VA cancelled the project and withdrew from the lease agreement with the developer. On December 31, 2014, it was announced that the new VA Healthcare Center would not be built at the Butler Township site, but rather on 46-acre (19 ha) of farm property just over the line in Center Township on North Duffy Road. The new VA Center is currently open.
Recreation
- Preston Park- 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 in her will. The heavily forested park consists of over 90 acres (36 ha), and walking trails are available. Other features of the park include a large pond, Dr. and Mrs. 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. The park is open from dawn until dusk every day. The park is located at 415 South Eberhart Road.
- Alameda Park- Alameda Park is owned and operated by Butler County and is entirely within Butler Township. 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- A park owned and operated by Butler Township. There are walking trails, a playground, a dek hockey rink and a large hall that is available for rental. The park is located at 468 South Duffy Road.
- Highfield Park- A park that is located in the Highfield neighborhood of the township. There are several baseball fields at the park as well as a playground and a hall that can be rented. The park is located at the intersection of South Duffy and Highfield Roads.
- Krendale Golf Course- A 27-hole public golf course located at 131 North Eberhart Road.
- Aubrey's Golf Course- An 18-hole public golf course located at 124 Aubrey Drive, just off of Mercer Road.
References
External links
- Butler Township official website
Source of article : Wikipedia