Exurb of the Week: North Huntingdon Township (Pittsburgh, Harrisburg: for sale, new home)

[runpens1]

North Huntingdon is a predominantly suburban township located on the western edge of Westmoreland County, stretching from about 16-22 miles southeast of downtown Pittsburgh. It is across the Allegheny County line from North Versailles Township and borders Hempfield Township on its east. It also surrounds the borough of Irwin. It is about 27 square miles and has a population of just shy of 32,000.

North Huntingdon Township was founded as plain Huntingdon Township in 1772. It is one of the oldest townships in Westmoreland County and was named after England's Earl of Huntingdon. It was later divided into the townships of North Huntingdon, East Huntingdon, South Huntingdon and Sewickley, that mostly border it to the south. Many Native American tribes initially settled in the area, giving it its first inhabitants, prior to the township's founding. The first white man came along in 1662 and established trading posts in the area. Many different European groups began settling in the area in the years following and many area farmers donated land to provide many schools for the childrens' education, one of which was located at the current site of Norwin Middle School. These settlers also made their own homes out of logs. The township remained a predominantly rural and lightly populated area for quite some time with some villages mixed in, a lot of which came about during the "Golden age of coal mining," as it was a prime area for mining in its day. In the mid 20th Century, things began to change in the township. By 1960, its population was already over 20,000. It could possibly be considered one the first exurbs in the country. A big part of that may be for the fact that "America's First Superhighway," The Pennsylvania Turnpike was first built in 1940 from Pittsburgh to Harrisburg. The Turnpike's eastern terminus was at Route 30 in the eastern portion of the township. Its population rose to a then peak of near 32,000 in 1980 due to the exurban growth that was occurring in the township. Then, like much of Western PA, due to the declining of industry in the area and lack of new housing growth, a period of decline hit for the 1990 Census as its population fell back down to 28,000.

Today, North Huntingdon Township has re-established itself as one of the area's prime exurban/suburban areas. The main road through the township is U.S. Route 30. Once crossing the county line, it begins with mostly small scale businesses, with a few car dealerships and smaller shopping centers. On the other side of the borough of Irwin and near the Turnpike interchange, seems to be where the major commercial activity of the township seems to be. This area is lined with many chain restaurants, decent size strip malls, which feature nothing particularly upscale or downscale, just grocery stores and common big box stores such as Wal Mart, Target, Kohls, etc. as well as some newer style office buildings. Since 1990, many new homes have been built in the township. It slightly rebounded its population in 2000, with a big boom in the 2000's, and slightly slower but still positive growth remaining today. The 2020 U.S Census reported that the township has grown enough to even surpass its previous peak in 1980 by a few hundred. As there is still some undeveloped land within the township, on its northern and southern ends mostly, it is safe to assume that growth will continue at least through this decade as many homes are still in the process of being built. Overall, North Huntingdon Township should continue to thrive as a prime suburban/exurban area of Pittsburgh for years to come with its good location and highway access along with its schools being an attraction for many families.

[RetireinPA]

About time you got to my 20.


one correction...it aint route 30. Its route '230' as in 'you sit at a traffic light for 2 or minutes in order to get a green and then drive at most 30 seconds' 230 :-)


Fun fact: all the potholes left here when I moved out in 1983 were still here when I moved back in 2017. Consistency is key.

[gg]

Sure is a good location. Tons of shopping and you can get to Seven Springs pretty fast as well as all the wonderful places east to enjoy the outdoors.

Since it is so old, is there anything historical left? Is there anything left of the old trading post or any sort of downtown with history?

[runpens1]

Originally Posted by gg

Sure is a good location. Tons of shopping and you can get to Seven Springs pretty fast as well as all the wonderful places east to enjoy the outdoors.

Since it is so old, is there anything historical left? Is there anything left of the old trading post or any sort of downtown with history?

Yeah its proximity to the Laurel Highlands would be the nicest thing about it despite the traffic right there. I am not sure if there is anything left of the old trading post or not. There is an active Norwin area Historical Society.

[RetireinPA]

Originally Posted by gg

Sure is a good location. Tons of shopping and you can get to Seven Springs pretty fast as well as all the wonderful places east to enjoy the outdoors.

Since it is so old, is there anything historical left? Is there anything left of the old trading post or any sort of downtown with history?

most of downtown is still there, it just aint is what it was. The lamp is restored and operational, but only for b grade bands and tributes....rarely a film (I saw every which way but loose there....)


The old PRR tracks and structures are still there, but you aint allowed near them...the john irwin house stands, but not for you...most everything else but an occasional structure has been razed for the latest concrete lot du jour.


Pop quiz: why is the plaza with all the excela medical crap referred to as the 'Norwin Hills'?

[runpens1]

Originally Posted by RetireinPA

most of downtown is still there, it just aint is what it was. The lamp is restored and operational, but only for b grade bands and tributes....rarely a film (I saw every which way but loose there....)


The old PRR tracks and structures are still there, but you aint allowed near them...the john irwin house stands, but not for you...most everything else but an occasional structure has been razed for the latest concrete lot du jour.


Pop quiz: why is the plaza with all the excela medical crap referred to as the 'Norwin Hills'?

I thought there was a Hills department store there years ago, but I didn't if the plaza was just named that for its location on a hill.

[RetireinPA]

Originally Posted by runpens1

I thought there was a Hills department store there years ago, but I didn't if the plaza was just named that for its location on a hill.

You were right....The Nowin 'Hills' was there and left the scene many decades ago. today the building is a bunch of excela medical - pittsburgh blight: ex stores repurposed as medical. You can still tell they were once stores but instead of kidney beans for sale you get a transplant....


A lot like Poughkeepsie was in the 80's for IBM. Once building was literally a Grand Union grocery store, you badged in and entered the sliding doors.....all that was missing was carts.


Back at norwin hills....the theatre where I saw Star Trek 2 still stands, but its a covid shot/test center.


The plaza also was a site for a nice saturday car cruise in .... but plague put a kaybosh on that.