Butler County is a County (United States), county in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is part of Western Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 193,763. Its county seat is Butler, Pennsylvania, Butler. Butler County was created on March 12, 1800, from part of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County and named in honor of General Richard Butler (general), Richard Butler, a hero of the American Revolution. Butler County is part of the Greater Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Some famous inventions and discoveries were made in Butler County. Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, Saxonburg was founded as a Prussian colony by John A. Roebling, a civil engineer, and his brother Carl. After farming for a time, Roebling returned to engineering, and invented his revolutionary "wire rope.", which he first produced at Saxonburg. He moved the operation to Trenton, New Jersey. He is best known for designing his most famous work, the Brooklyn Bridge, but designed and built numerous bridges in Pittsburgh and other cities as well. At what is now known as Oil Creek, Butler County resident William Smith and Edwin Drake first proved Petroleum, oil could be tapped from underground for consistent supply. The Jeep was developed in Butler County by American Bantam in 1941. Famous politicians have lived in and traveled through Butler County. U.S. Senator Walter Lowrie (politician), Walter Lowrie, the only senator from Butler, built a home in 1828 that still stands behind the Butler County Courthouse. The house has been adapted for use by the Butler County Historical Society. Butler's highest-ranked federal official is William J. Perry, United States Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Defense under President Bill Clinton from 1994 to 1997. He graduated from Butler High School in 1945. George Washington passed through this area during the French and Indian War. In 1923, the funeral train of President Warren G. Harding passed through Butler County on its way to Washington D.C. John F. Kennedy spoke in front of the Butler County Courthouse (Pennsylvania), Butler County Courthouse during the 1960 United States presidential election. Hubert Humphrey also campaigned in Butler. In 2004, Vice President Dick Cheney spoke in Saxonburg to campaign for President George W. Bush in the 2004 United States presidential election. Bret Michaels, lead singer of the rock band Poison (American band), Poison, was born here in 1963.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.8%) is water. It is the location of Moraine State Park, with the glacial lake, Lake Arthur. Lake Arthur is used for fishing and sailing, and the surrounding park is used for hiking and hunting. The county has a humid continental climate (''Dfa''/''Dfb'') and average monthly temperatures in Butler borough range from 27.7 °F in January to 72.1 °F in July

Waterways

* Allegheny River (The river touches Butler County at its northeast and southeast corners. It is both a recreational and industrial waterway.) * Connoquenessing Creek (recreational canoeing and kayaking) * Moraine State Park#Lake Arthur, Lake Arthur at Moraine State Park (recreational boating, canoeing and kayaking) * Slippery Rock Creek (recreational canoeing and kayaking) * Little Connoquenessing Creek * Bull Creek (Allegheny River), Bull Creek * Muddy Creek (Slippery Rock Creek), Muddy Creek * Sullivan Run * Semiconon Run * Mulligan Run

Adjacent counties

*Venango County, Pennsylvania, Venango County (north) *Clarion County, Pennsylvania, Clarion County (northeast) *Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Armstrong County (east) *Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Westmoreland County (southeast) *Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County (south) *Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Beaver County (southwest) *Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, Lawrence County (west) *Mercer County, Pennsylvania, Mercer County (northwest)

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 174,083 people, 65,862 households, and 46,827 families residing in the county. The population density was 221 people per square mile (85/km²). There were 69,868 housing units at an average density of 89 per square mile (34/km²). The racial/ethnic makeup of the county is 96.5% Race (United States Census), White, 0.9% Race (United States Census), Black or Race (United States Census), African American, 0.09% Race (United States Census), Native American, 0.8% Race (United States Census), Asian, 0.03% Race (United States Census), Pacific Islander, 0.17% from Race (United States Census), other races, 0.7% from two or more races; and 0.9% Race (United States Census), Hispanic or Race (United States Census), Latino of any race. 46.7% German American, German, 24.8% Irish Americans, Irish, 15.2% Italian Americans, Italian, 9.9% English American, English, 9.2% Polish American, Polish, 6.3% American ancestry, American, 3.7% Scotch-Irish American, Scotch-Irish, and 3.1% French American, French ancestry. There were 65,862 households, out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.80% were Marriage, married couples living together, 8.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 24.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.04. In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.60% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 29.40% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.80 males.

2020 Census

Law and government

Elected county officials

* Commissioner Leslie Osche (chairman), Republican Party (United States), Republican * Commissioner Kim Geyer, Republican Party (United States), Republican * Commissioner Kevin Boozel, Democratic Party (United States), Democratic * District Attorney: Richard Goldinger, Republican Party (United States), Republican * Controller: Ben Holland, Republican Party (United States), Republican * Treasurer: Diane Marburger, Republican Party (United States), Republican * Prothonotary: Kelly Ferrari, Republican Party (United States), Republican * Clerk of Courts: Lisa Lotz, Republican Party (United States), Republican * Sheriff: Michael Slupe, Republican Party (United States), Republican * Recorder of Deeds: Michele Mustello, Republican Party (United States), Republican * Register of Wills: Sara Edwards, Republican Party (United States), Republican

County judges

*Dr. S. Michael Yeager(President Judge) *Timothy McCune *Kelly Streib *Joseph Kubit *William Shaffer(Senior Judge) *William Robinson, Jr.

District judges

*Kevin P. O'Donnell *Joseph Nash *Lewis Stoughton *Sue Elaine Haggerty *Kevin Flaherty *B.T. Fullerton *Amy Marcinkiewicz

State Senate

* Scott Hutchinson, Republican Party (United States), Republican, Pennsylvania's 21st Senatorial District * Joe Pittman, Republican Party (United States), Republican, Pennsylvania's 41st Senatorial District * Elder Vogel, Republican Party (United States), Republican, Pennsylvania's 47th Senatorial District

State House of Representatives

* Tim Bonner, Republican Party (United States), Republican, Pennsylvania's 8th Representative District * Aaron Bernstine, Republican Party (United States), Republican, Pennsylvania's 10th Representative District a
PA House
* Marci Mustello, Republican Party (United States), Republican, Pennsylvania's 11th Representative District * Daryl D. Metcalfe, Republican Party (United States), Republican, Pennsylvania's 12th Representative District *Jim Marshall, Republican Party (United States), Republican, Pennsylvania's 14th Representative District * R. Lee James, Republican Party (United States), Republican, Pennsylvania's 64th Representative District *Jeff Pyle, Republican Party (United States), Republican, Pennsylvania's 60th Representative District

United States House of Representatives

* Glenn Thompson (politician), Glenn Thompson, Republican Party (United States), Republican, Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district * Mike Kelly (Pennsylvania), Mike Kelly, Republican Party (United States), Republican, Pennsylvania's 16th congressional district * Conor Lamb, Democratic Party (United States), Democrat, Pennsylvania's 17th congressional district

United States Senate

*Pat Toomey, Republican Party (United States), Republican *Bob Casey, Jr., Bob Casey, Democratic Party (United States), Democrat

Politics

Butler County has long been one of the most consistently Republican counties in Pennsylvania. The last Democratic presidential candidate to win it was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, when he won a national landslide and carried all but four counties in the state. In the 2000 U.S. presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 62%, while Democrat Al Gore received 35%. In the 2004 U.S. presidential election, the county was carried by Republican George W. Bush 64% to Democrat John Kerry 35%. In the 2008 U.S. presidential election, the county was carried by Republican John McCain 63% to Democrat Barack Obama 35%. Since 2008, Butler County has continually given Republican nominees support in the mid-60s, with both Mitt Romney Mitt Romney and Donald Trump Donald Trump receiving around 66% of the vote in 2012, 2016, and 2020. As of November 7, 2022, there are 137,349 registered voters in Butler County. * Republican Party (United States), Republican: 77,650 (56.53%) * Democratic Party (United States), Democratic: 40,372 (29.39%) * Independent (United States), Independent: 13,379 (9.74%) * Third Party (United States), Third Party: 5,948 (4.33%)

Education

Map of Butler County Pennsylvania School Districts

Colleges and universities

*Butler County Community College (Pennsylvania), Butler County Community College'
Homepage
*Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania'
Homepage

Technical schools

*Butler County Vo-Tech a
bcvt.tec.pa.us

Public school districts

* Allegheny-Clarion Valley School District (part) * Butler Area School District * Freeport Area School District (part) * Karns City Area School District * Mars Area School District * Moniteau School District * Seneca Valley School District * Slippery Rock Area School District * South Butler County School District

Public Libraries

The Butler County Federated Library System (additionally known as the Library System of Butler County) includes the ten listed libraries. Each library is managed by its own Board of Directors. The majority of the funding for these libraries comes from state grants, user fines and donations with additional financial contributions from Butler County. The first Butler library originated in 1894 with the Literary Society of ButlerButler County Federated Library System. (2015). Butler Area Public Library. Retrieved from https://www.bcfls.org/butler-area-public-library in what is now known as the Little Red Schoolhouse. The Butler Area Public Library, built in 1921, was the last Carnegie library built in List of Carnegie libraries in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania. In the intervening 27 years the library was independently operated. From 1921 to 1941 the library quadrupled the number of patrons served. In 1987 the County Commissioners, through a resolution, founded the Butler County Federated Library System. * Butler Area Publi
Library
* Chicora Communit
Library
* Cranberry Publi
Library
* Evans City Publi
Library
* Mars Area Publi
Library
* North Trails Publi
Library
* Prospect Communit
Library
* Slippery Rock Communit
Library
* South Butler Communit

* Zelienople Area Publi
Library

Media

*''Butler Eagle'' daily newspaper *WBUT-AM *WISR-AM *WLER-FM

Recreation

Parks

There are two List of Pennsylvania state parks, Pennsylvania state parks in Butler County. *Jennings Environmental Education Center is the home of the only protected relict prairie in Pennsylvania. *Moraine State Park The gently rolling hills, lush forests and sparkling waters disguise a land that has endured the effects of continental glaciers and massive mineral extraction. Each year over one million people visit the park, yet never realize that many people helped restore the park from prior coal mining and oil and gas drilling practices. Today, the park is an outstanding example of environmental engineering achievement. During the third great ice advance about 140,000 years ago, a continental glacier dammed area creeks making three glacial lakes. To the north, Slippery Rock Creek filled giant Lake Edmund. To the southeast, extinct McConnells Run filled tiny Lake Prouty. In the middle, Muddy Creek filled the medium-sized Lake Watts. Before the glacier dam, Slippery Rock and Muddy creeks flowed north while extinct McConnells Run flowed south. The glacier dammed Lake Prouty on the edge of the drainage divide. Eventually Lake Pouty spilled over and rushed to the south, carving Slippery Rock Creek Gorge. Lakes Watts and Edmund drained into the gorge, digging it deeper and making Slippery Rock and Muddy creeks flow south. Areas of the deep Slippery Rock Gorge may be seen at nearby McConnells Mill State Park. The glacier created a landscape of rolling hills topped with hardwood trees and swamps in the valley bottoms. Moraines containing gravel, sand and clay were draped upon the landscape and silt was left on the extinct lake bottoms. Reference to: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateParks/parks/moraine/moraine_history.aspx

Trails

*Butler-Freeport Trail- The trail is a rail trail that connects the city of Butler with the borough of Freeport, Pennsylvania, Freeport. *North Country Trail- The trail passes through Jennings Environmental Education Center and Moraine State Park, as well as several State Game Lands. *Washington's Trail- A regional scenic byway road trail that roughly follows the route George Washington and Christopher Gist took on the Venango Path from the Point State Park, Forks of the Ohio to Fort Le Boeuf in 1753. *There is also a trail in Slippery Rock Township that connects with McConnells Mill State Park in Lawrence County.

Transportation

Airports

*Butler County Airport *Butler Farm Show Airport *Lakehill Airport

Major roads and highways

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Transit

* Butler Transit Authority

Communities

Map of Butler County Pennsylvania With Municipal and Township Labels

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: List of cities in Pennsylvania, cities, List of towns and boroughs in Pennsylvania, boroughs, List of townships in Pennsylvania, townships, and, in at most two cases, List of towns and boroughs in Pennsylvania#Towns, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Butler County:

City

*Butler, Pennsylvania, Butler (county seat)

Boroughs

*Bruin, Pennsylvania, Bruin *Callery, Pennsylvania, Callery *Cherry Valley, Pennsylvania, Cherry Valley *Chicora, Pennsylvania, Chicora *Connoquenessing, Pennsylvania, Connoquenessing *East Butler, Pennsylvania, East Butler *Eau Claire, Pennsylvania, Eau Claire *Evans City, Pennsylvania, Evans City *Fairview, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Fairview *Harmony, Pennsylvania, Harmony *Harrisville, Pennsylvania, Harrisville *Karns City, Pennsylvania, Karns City *Mars, Pennsylvania, Mars *Petrolia, Pennsylvania, Petrolia *Portersville, Pennsylvania, Portersville *Prospect, Pennsylvania, Prospect *Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, Saxonburg *Seven Fields, Pennsylvania, Seven Fields *Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, Slippery Rock *Valencia, Pennsylvania, Valencia *West Liberty, Pennsylvania, West Liberty *West Sunbury, Pennsylvania, West Sunbury *Zelienople, Pennsylvania, Zelienople

Townships

*Adams Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Adams *Allegheny Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny *Brady Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Brady *Buffalo Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Buffalo *Butler Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Butler *Center Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Center *Cherry Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Cherry *Clay Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Clay *Clearfield Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Clearfield *Clinton Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Clinton *Concord Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Concord *Connoquenessing Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Connoquenessing *Cranberry Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Cranberry *Donegal Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Donegal *Fairview Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Fairview *Forward Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Forward *Franklin Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Franklin *Jackson Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Jackson *Jefferson Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Jefferson *Lancaster Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Lancaster *Marion Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Marion *Mercer Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Mercer *Middlesex Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Middlesex *Muddy Creek Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Muddy Creek *Oakland Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Oakland *Parker Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Parker *Penn Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Penn *Slippery Rock Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Slippery Rock *Summit Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Summit *Venango Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Venango *Washington Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Washington *Winfield Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Winfield *Worth Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Worth

Census-designated places

Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the United States Census Bureau, U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well. *Homeacre-Lyndora, Pennsylvania, Homeacre-Lyndora *Lake Arthur Estates, Pennsylvania, Lake Arthur Estates *Meadowood, Pennsylvania, Meadowood *Meridian, Pennsylvania, Meridian *Nixon, Pennsylvania, Nixon *Oak Hills, Pennsylvania, Oak Hills *Shanor-Northvue, Pennsylvania, Shanor-Northvue *Slippery Rock University, Pennsylvania, Slippery Rock University *Unionville, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Unionville

Unincorporated communities

Several of these communities, most notably Renfrew, Lyndora, Herman, Sarver, Cabot, Boyers, and Forestville, have post offices and zip codes, but aren't officially incorporated under Pennsylvania law, and exist entirely within townships. *Boyers, Pennsylvania, Boyers *Branchton, Pennsylvania, Branchton *Bredinville, Pennsylvania, Bredinville *Cabot, Pennsylvania, Cabot *Eidenau, Pennsylvania, Eidenau *Fernway, Pennsylvania, Fernway *Forestville, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Forestville *Fox Run, Pennsylvania, Fox Run *Glade Mills, Pennsylvania, Glade Mills *Greece City, Pennsylvania, Greece City *Herman, Pennsylvania, Herman *Hilliards, Pennsylvania, Hilliards *Hooker, Pennsylvania, Hooker *Lyndora, Pennsylvania, Lyndora *Meridian, Pennsylvania, Meridian *Muddy Creek Flats, Pennsylvania, Muddy Creek Flats *Murrinsville, Pennsylvania, Murrinsville *Renfrew, Pennsylvania, Renfrew *Sarver, Pennsylvania, Sarver *Unionville, Butler County, Pennsylvania, Unionville *Wahlville, Pennsylvania, Wahlville *Watters, Pennsylvania, Watters

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 United States census, 2010 census of Butler County. † ''county seat''

In popular culture

Butler County has often been used as a setting for films shot in the North Pittsburgh area. Such films include: *''Night of the Living Dead'' (1968) *''The Crazies (1973 film), The Crazies'' (1973) *''The Prince of Pennsylvania'' (1988) *''Iron Maze'' (1991) *''Kingpin (1996 film), Kingpin'' (1996) *''The Haunting Hour Volume One: Don't Think About It'' (2007) *''Homecoming (2008 film), Homecoming'' (2008) *''Staunton Hill'' (2008) *''The Road (2009 film), The Road'' (2008) *''I Am Number Four (film), I Am Number Four'' (2011) Keener, Craig (2010-07-22). "Stone Church site of sci-fi film" ''Butler Eagle''. Retrieved 2010-08-12. *''Death from Above (film), Death from Above'' (2011) Stonesifer, Jared (2010-06-09). "Angle Action in Valencia" ''Butler Eagle''. Retrieved 2010-06-12. *''The Avengers (2012 film), The Avengers'' (2012) *''A Separate Life'' (2012) *''Foxcatcher'' (2013) Films set in Butler County, but not necessarily filmed there. *''Mrs. Soffel'' (1984) *''Night of the Living Dead (1990 film), Night of the Living Dead'' (1990) *''Snow Angels (film), Snow Angels'' (2008) Novels set in Butler County. ''Benjamin's Field'', a trilogy by local author J. J. Knights The Pennsic War, an annual medieval camping event by the Society for Creative Anachronism, is fought in Butler County. Its site becomes the fourth most populous place in the county for a few weeks each year.

References

External links

Butler County official website
{{Authority control Butler County, Pennsylvania, 1800 establishments in Pennsylvania Counties of Appalachia Pittsburgh metropolitan area Populated places established in 1800