Butler County, Pennsylvania
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Butler County is a county located in the state of Pennsylvania. As of 2000, the population is 174,083.
Butler County was created on March 12, 1800 from part of Allegheny County and named in honor of General Richard Butler. Its county seat is Butler6.
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Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,058 km² (795 mi²). 2,042 km² (789 mi²) of it is land and 16 km² (6 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.79% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 174,083 people, 65,862 households, and 46,827 families residing in the county. The population density is 85/km² (221/mi²). There are 69,868 housing units at an average density of 34/km² (89/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 97.83% White, 0.79% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 65,862 households out of which 32.90% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.80% are married couples living together, 8.10% have a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% are non-families. 24.20% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.40% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.55 and the average family size is 3.04.
In the county, the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 91.80 males.
Highlights and History
Butler County is named after Richard Butler (general), a hero of the American Revolution. It is the location of Moraine State Park, with the 3,000 acre glacial lake, Lake Arthur. Lake Arthur is used for fishing and sailing, and the surrounding park is used for hiking and hunting.
Some famous inventions and discoveries were made in Butler County. It was in Saxonburg, Butler County, that the designer of the Brooklyn Bridge, John Roebling, invented his revolutionary "wire rope." At what is now known as Oil Creek, Butler County resident William Smith and Edwin Drake first proved that oil counld be tapped from underground for consistent supply.
Butler County has also been lived in and traveled through by famous politicians. George Washington passed through during the French and Indian Wars. Butler's only U.S. Senator ever, Walter Lowrie, built a home in 1828 that still stands today behind the Butler County Courthouse. Butler's highest ranked federal official ever is William J. Perry, Secretary of Defense under President Bill Clinton from 1994-1997. He graduated from Butler High in 1945.
Municipalities
Cities
Boroughs
- Bruin
- Callery
- Cherry Valley
- Chicora
- Connoquenessing
- East Butler
- Eau Claire
- Evans City
- Fairview
- Harmony
- Harrisville
- Karns City
- Mars
- Petrolia
- Portersville
- Prospect
- Saxonburg
- Seven Fields
- Slippery Rock
- Valencia
- West Liberty
- West Sunbury
- Zelienople
Townships
- Adams Township
- Allegheny Township
- Brady Township
- Buffalo Township
- Butler Township
- Center Township
- Cherry Township
- Clay Township
- Clearfield Township
- Clinton Township
- Concord Township
- Connoquenessing Township
- Cranberry Township
- Donegal Township
- Fairview Township
- Forward Township
- Franklin Township
- Jackson Township
- Jefferson Township
- Lancaster Township
- Marion Township
- Mercer Township
- Middlesex Township
- Muddy Creek Township
- Oakland Township
- Parker Township
- Penn Township
- Slippery Rock Township
- Summit Township
- Venango Township
- Washington Township
- Winfield Township
- Worth Township
Census-designated places
Education
Colleges and Universities
Community, Junior and Technical Colleges
Moniteau School District
- Moniteau High School (http://www.moniteau.k12.pa.us/)
News
- Butler Eagle daily newspaper
