Exurb of the Week: Allegheny Township (Westmoreland County) (Pittsburgh, Washington: houses, safe area)

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Allegheny is an exurban to rural township located in Westmoreland County's northwest corner, sandwiched between the Allegheny County line across the Allegheny River at Harrison Township and the Armstrong County line across the Kiskiminiteas River. It also briefly borders Butler County at its northwest corner. It is located in the Kiski Area School District.

According to available records, that the Township was actually formed from nearby Washington Township in 1820. At its formation, Allegheny Township included what is now Lower Burrell, Hyde Park, Vandergrift, West Leechburg, Arnold and New Kensington. The area was initially a hunting ground for Seneca and Delaware Indians. Like much of the area, its economy was based much upon farming and coal mining. The township steadily grew in population from being around 5,000 in 1960 to about 8,000 today. However, similar to some of the Allegheny Valley communities of Allegheny County, the township's main issue is that it lacks cohesion as a community. It is about 31 square miles, relatively large like most Westmoreland County townships, and it is a mix of open land and housing developments scattered throughout. The part that borders Allegheny County across the river is relatively empty possibly due to its topography along the river. Its densest housing developments are located right off Route 56 just north of the Lower Burrell area. It is a mix of post-war like and 80's style homes that were maybe an extension of that area's development. Further east in the township, between routes 56 and 356, and near the Kiski Area High School, there is a little bit larger business district that features a larger Giant Eagle, a few shopping centers (one of which featured one of the area's last surviving Kmarts), and a few fast food restaurants. This business district has served as the main one for some of the Kiski Valley mill towns of Leechburg, Vandergrift, Apollo, and possibly a little further out. There are also mixes of newer, modern developed clusters of houses along routes 56 and 356 in this general area of the township.

Today, Allegheny Township's population remains stagnant at just a little above 8,000. It remains a very nice and safe area for families to live in if they can find work nearby. The one main recreational facility in the township is Northmoreland Park, located in the southeast portion and features a newly designed playground built by the Pittsburgh Penguins foundation. It is the largest of all of Westmoreland County's parks. I see it remaining a nice township in the future. However, due to its lack of community, poor access to the city and other thriving areas, and being surrounded by towns that have been struggling to recover economically, I don't see it doing anything real big in the future anytime soon.