In 1803, John and Samuel Cunningham became the first settlers in the village of Butler. After settling in Butler, the two brothers laid out the community by drawing up plots of land for more incoming settlers.[5] By 1817, the community was incorporated into a borough.[5] The first settlers were of Irish or Scottish descent and were driving westward from Connecticut. In 1802, the German immigrants began arriving, with Detmar Basse settling in Jackson Township in 1802 and founding Zelienople the following year. After George Rapp arrived in 1805 and founded Harmony, larger numbers of settlers followed. John A. Roebling settled Saxonburg in 1832, by which time most of the county was filled with German settlers.
The first Butler library originated in 1894 with the Literary Society of Butler[6] in what is now known as the Little Red Schoolhouse.[7] The Butler Area Public Library, built in 1921, was the last Carnegie library to be built in Pennsylvania. In the intervening 27, years the library was independently operated.[6] From 1921 to 1941, the library quadrupled the number of patrons served.[8]
Rail and automobile
In the early 1900s, Butler was a "Steel Belt" manufacturing and industrial area. It remains home to a Cleveland Cliffs Butler Works, formerly AK Steel Butler Works. In 1902, the Standard Steel Car Company opened one of its largest railcar manufacturing facilities in Butler, where it manufactured some of the first all-steel rail cars. Standard Steel Car Company merged with Pullman Palace Car Company in 1934, creating Pullman-Standard, a monopoly that was eventually broken by the federal government.[citation needed]
About 2,500 workers produced 60 steel-bed railroad cars per day in 1902. Eastern European immigrants were lured to the area in the early 20th century with the promise of reliable jobs, which offered company housing and a company store. The company constructed a baseball park which was the home of a New York Yankees farm team. The steel workers of Butler made artillery and naval shells during World War II.[9]
The Pullman-Standard plant closed in 1982, but was purchased in 1984 by Trinity Industries. Trinity Industries left the factory in 1993, and the factory was completely demolished in 2005. The site is now occupied by a vacant strip mall, as well as the Butler Transit Authority inter-modal facility. In 2011 the BTA moved a covered hopper rail-car, built in 1974, to the bus terminal in recognition of the former Pullman-Standard plant.[10]
The American Austin Car Company (1929–1941) was headquartered in the area. Later the firm changed its name to American Bantam Car Company. Bantam was an early producer of small fuel-efficient vehicles through the 1930s. In 1940, lead engineer Karl Probst led Bantam design team to create what later was termed the iconic WWII Jeep. Sizeable military contracts eventually went to Willys and Ford, as the Bantam factory had floundered. Today, a controversial monument stands near the courthouse commemorating Bantam's "creation of the Jeep".
Butler is home to one of the early Ford dealerships, established in 1918 and still extant.[11]
At one point, the Rainbow Rubber Company, in the late 1930s, made "Rubrtoy" replicas of Oldsmobiles along with many other rubber toys.[12]
In the 1950s, Butler became one of the first cities to install bells at crosswalks, a common practice today. [citation needed] Pedestrians could cross in either direction.
Like most of the region, by the end of the 1970s, the local economy changed dramatically. Manufacturing virtually ended and well-paying jobs became scarce.[9]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2), all land.
Connoquenessing Creek is the only waterway to pass through the city. In 2000, a scientific study was conducted to determine the health of the creek. Researchers discovered that only the Mississippi River received more toxic materials than the Connoquenessing, making the small river the second most polluted waterway in the United States. At the time, the Armco Inc. steel facility in Butler ranked first nationally for the amount of pollutant discharges.[13] However, by 2010, due to reduced industry and clean up efforts, the creek's health has significantly recovered and has become popular for water-sport activities.[14]
Neighborhoods
The city of Butler has six labeled neighborhoods:
Institute Hill
The Island
North Butler
South Hills
South Side
West End
Climate
Climate data for Butler, Pennsylvania (2mi SW) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1967–present)
As of the 2000 census,[17] there were 15,121 people, 6,740 households, and 3,626 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,611.3 inhabitants per square mile (2,166.5/km2). There were 7,402 housing units at an average density of 2,746.8 per square mile (1,060.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.6% White, 2.7% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.52% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.88% of the population.
There were 6,740 households, out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.0% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.2% were non-families. 40.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.7% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,154, and the median income for a family was $35,893. Males had a median income of $30,607 versus $20,950 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,457. About 14.7% of families and 19.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.8% of those under age 18 and 14.5% of those age 65 or over.
The Maridon Museum is the only museum in the Western Pennsylvania region with a specific focus on Chinese and Japanese art and culture.
The Little Red School House is a former one-room schoolhouse that taught students from 1839 to 1874. Throughout its history, it has been a post office, library and Red Cross headquarters. It became a museum in 1966 and is run by the Butler County Historical Society.[18]
Butler is home to the Butler County Symphony Association, which performs at the Butler Intermediate High School auditorium.
The city features artist groups including the Associated Artists of Butler County and the Butler Arts Council, which host galleries and live events at the Art Center, located on Main Street.
Stewart O'Nan's prizewinning 1994 novel Snow Angels is set in Butler, with the protagonist being a local high school student. However, the 2007 film adaption, shot in Canada, removes all references to Butler.
The city was the setting for several scenes in the 2015 novel trilogy Benjamin's Field by local author J. J. Knights.[19]
Events
The Butler Road Race, a 5-mile and 2-mile race held each summer in June, raises scholarship funding for local students.
The Butler Italian Festival is an annual street fair that features ethnic foods, live music and events.
The Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival, the Largest Jeep Festival in the US, is held annually in June with off-road trails, a Jeep Playground obstacle course, and the "original" Jeep Invasion street party.
The Butler Armory is a National Guardarmory located on Washington Street. Built in 1922, it was designed by architect Joseph F. Kuntz with W.G. Wilkins, Co. and expanded in 1930.
The Butler County Courthouse is a government and judicial building located in the heart of the city. The plaza across the street, Diamond Park, displays various war memorials.
The Butler County National Bank, also known as the Lafayette Building and Butler Branch Mellon Bank, it is considered the first "skyscraper" in Butler. It was built in 1902–1903, and is a six-story, five bay by five bay, brick and stone building in the French Renaissance Revival style. A two-story addition was built in 1929. The building housed Butler's post office from 1903 to 1913. The building was rehabilitated into an apartment building in 1992–1993.
The Senator Walter Lowrie House was the home of United States Senator Walter Lowrie, built in 1828, and is the headquarters of the Butler County Historical Society.
Elm Court, often referred to as Phillips Mansion, is a historic Tudor-Gothic mansion designed by architect Benno Janssen and built in 1929–1930 for Benjamin D. Phillips, son of T. W. Phillips, founder of T.W. Phillips Gas & Oil Co. Tucked away and hidden from view, it resides in the northeast corner of the city [20] and is privately owned by one of the Koch Brothers.[21]
Armstrong Neighborhood Channel, a community TV and internet channel[23]
Golden Tornado Television, channel 204, the school district's channel that features school news, sports, events and student projects
Infrastructure
Transportation
Airports
Butler County Airport terminal building
There are two airports located outside the city. Butler County Airport is used for general aviation, and may accommodate large aircraft such as corporate jets. Butler Farm Show Airport is used by pilots with smaller, private aircraft.
Butler is served by The Bus, run by the Butler Transit Authority. The Butler Transit Authority also offers a Commuter service, which operates between Butler and the City of Pittsburgh.
Five major highways run through or near the city, providing links to other areas throughout Western Pennsylvania. The south terminus of Pennsylvania Route 38 is just north of the city at U.S. Route 422. Route 422 skirts the city, to the north, on the Butler Bypass. PA 68 and PA 356 go straight through downtown, where they intersect with PA 8 (Butler's Main Street).
Scott Milanovich (born 1973), former NFL, NFL Europe, XFL, AFL, and CFL quarterback. Coached multiple CFL teams and is the head coach for the Edmonton Eskimos
Bill Saul (1940–2006), former NFL linebacker for multiple teams (1962–1970). Older brother of Rich and Ron.
Rich Saul (1948–2012), former NFL center lineman for the Los Angeles Rams (1970–1981). Six-time Pro Bowler.
Ron Saul (1948–2021), former NFL guard lineman for the Houston Oilers (1970–1975) and Washington Redskins (1976–1981). Younger brother of Bill, twin brother of Rich.
Brown, Robert C. History of Butler County, Pennsylvania:...Pioneers and Representative Citizens, Etc., Etc. [Chicago]: R.C. Brown & Co., 1895. Chapter VI.Print.
An Historical Gazetteer of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Chicora: Mechling Bookbindery, 2006, ISBN978-0-9760563-9-3.
^"Rainbow Rubber Co 1935 Oldsmobile Coupe". WorthPoint. July 7, 2011. Retrieved April 28, 2014. This Oldsmobile Coupe was made by Rainbow Rubber Co. circa 1935. At 3 3/4 inches long by 1 3/8 inches wide, it is made of rubber... Underneath it is marked 'Rubrtoy Oldsmobile Mfg'd by Rainbow Rubber Co. Butler, PA.'
^"Station: Butler 2 SW, PA". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
