Shaler Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

Shaler Township is a township in Allegheny County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It consists of much of the community of Glenshaw and several neighboring communities. The population was 28,757 at the 2010 census.

Shaler Township
township
Bridge in Shaler Township
Etymology: Charles Shaler
Location in Allegheny County and the state of Pennsylvania
Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
Coordinates: 40°31′15″N 79°57′49″W
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountyAllegheny County
Area
 • Total11.17 sq mi (28.93 km2)
 • Land11.07 sq mi (28.68 km2)
 • Water0.10 sq mi (0.25 km2)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total28,757
 • Estimate 
(2018)[2]
27,963
 • Density2,554.04/sq mi (986.12/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
FIPS code42-003-69584
School districtShaler Area
Websitewww.shaler.org

History

Traders began settling in the Shaler area in the mid-18th century. The most prominent early trader in the area was George Croghan, who came in the early 1740s. By 1754, settlement included the Pine Creek trading post, where Europeans traded fur and skins with the Mingo and other Native Americans in the Ohio Valley. The second early European settlement was Girty's Run, established by Simon Girty.[3]

The village of Glenshaw, Pennsylvania—at the center of what became Shaler Township—was established in the early 19th century, beginning with a log sawmill built by John Shaw, Sr. after he bought 600 acres (2.4 km2) of land north of Pittsburgh in 1800. The area became known as "Shaw's Glen", and later Glenshaw. Members of the Shaw family subsequently built a log gristmill, a sickle factory, and a coal mine.[4]

On March 20, 1845, a petition to form a new township from portions of Ross and Indiana townships was presented to the Court of Quarter Sessions. Col. James A. Gibson, Alexander V. Brackenridge and John Murray were appointed as viewers. They reported in favor on June 10 of the same year, although it was two years later on March 20, 1847 that the court decree establishing the township was issued, in the name of Marion.[5] While the township was initially confirmed with the name Marion; on the same day the name was changed to Shaler, after Charles Shaler, a prominent mid-19th century Pittsburgh area judge, who served as President Judge of the 5th District Court in Beaver County.[6] The township is not named for the numerous deposits of shale rock found within its borders; this is instead a common misconception.

At the time of establishment, Shaler Township encompassed all of its current holdings plus the boroughs of Etna, Millvale, and a large tract of Ross Township. By 1868, Shaler lost much of its land to the new boroughs. In 1900, Shaler became one of the early townships to be classified as a township of the first class. The township's boundaries remain basically the same today as they were in 1900.

Early settlement of the Shaler area was sporadic, with small farming and mercantile villages appearing. These mainly developed in the valleys next to Pine Creek and Girtys Run. At the time of its incorporation, Shaler Township had a population of 2,000; by 1860 it had grown to 16,399.[4] In the late 19th century, the creation of the Glenshaw Glass plant sped up settlement to a certain degree, drawing workers to settle in the vicinity.

Historic Glenshaw Public Library

From 1907 until 1931 the interurban Pittsburgh and Butler Street Railway passed through the township, linking it with Pittsburgh and Butler.

Following the Second World War Shaler became an affluent suburb with many former City of Pittsburgh residents now populating the Township. Shaler, along with Ross Township, was among the first outer-city areas to develop into the modern suburbs which today define the North Hills region of Allegheny County. Home building and development during this time period was extensive. Shaler remained and still remains a primarily residential municipality, and it was during this period which the Township came to acquire the attributes it still holds today.

Geography

Shaler Township is located at 40°31′15″N 79°57′49″W (40.520926, -79.963784).[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 11.2 square miles (29.0 km²), of which, 11.0 square miles (28.5 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it (1.70%) is water.

Streams

Shaler is largely hilly, with three stream valleys which run from the north into the Allegheny River: the valleys of Pine Creek and Little Pine Creek converge in the Pittsburgh borough of Etna, while the valley of Girtys Run goes from Shaler into the borough of Millvale.[8]

Government and Politics
Presidential Elections Results[9][10]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 53% 8,539 46% 7,443 1% 162
2012 54% 8,746 45% 7,231 1% 131

Councilmembers
  • [2017-2019] Multiparty-6 (Mizgorski,Shutter,McElhome,Fisher,Boyle,Cross), Democrats-1(Skelley), Republicans-0[11]

Surrounding and adjacent communities

Shaler Township has eight land borders, including Hampton Township to the north, Indiana Township to the northeast, O'Hara Township to the east, Sharpsburg, Etna (mostly surrounded by Shaler Township in the southeast), Millvale to the south-southwest, Reserve Township to the southwest, and Ross Township to the west. Shaler also runs catty-corner (without a direct border) with McCandless Township to the northwest. Across the Allegheny River to the south, Shaler runs adjacent with the Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Central and Upper Lawrenceville.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
194011,185—
195016,43046.9%
196024,93951.8%
197033,36933.8%
198033,6941.0%
199030,533−9.4%
200029,757−2.5%
201028,757−3.4%
Est. 201827,963[2]−2.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[12][13]

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 29,757 people, 11,932 households, and 8,686 families residing in the township. The racial makeup of the township was 97.9% White, 0.4% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 0.5% of the population.

There were 11,932 households, out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.1% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.2% were non-families. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the township the population was spread out, with 22.0% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $49,118, and the median income for a family was $56,998. Males had a median income of $40,991 versus $29,473 for females. The per capita income for the township was $23,223. About 3.0% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.

Taxes

School tax millage rate- The Shaler School District (shared with Millvale, Etna and Reserve Township) in 2017 was 23.28. This ranked 16th highest/most expensive out of Allegheny County's 45 school districts [between Cornell SD (15th highest) and Riverview SD (17th highest)].[15]

Notable people

Education
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References
  1. "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Aug 13, 2017.
  2. Bureau, U. S. Census. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. US Census Bureau. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  3. Smith, Malcom C. (1953). A History of Shaler Township. Published by the Author. pp. 3–4.
  4. Rowe, Violet F (1997). Glenshaw. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0-7385-3701-2.
  5. "Shaler Area School District - Our Community". 2006. Retrieved October 7, 2009.
  6. Cushing, Thomas (1889). History of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania including its early settlement and progress to the present time ; a description of its historic and interesting localities ; its cities, towns and villages; religious, educational, social and military history ; mining, manufacturing and commercial interests, improvements, resources, statistics, etc. ; also, biographies of many of its representative citizens. A. Warner & Co. p. 179.
  7. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  8. Smith, Malcom C. (1953). A History of Shaler Township. Published by the Author. p. 3.
  9. EL. "2012 Allegheny County election". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  10. EL. "2016 Pennsylvani general election..." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  11. EL. "Allegheny County". Election Results. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  12. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  13. https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/17216604v1p40ch02.pdf
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  15. EL. "Allegheny County Treasurer". Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  16. Baseball Reference.com. Profile of Art Howe. Retrieved 12/12/2015.
  17. Connor Michalek, 7-Year-Old Cancer Patient, Meets Daniel Bryan, Pro-Wrestling Hero 12 December 2012 Michalek, of Shaler Township, Penn., was diagnosed with cancer of the brain and spine when he was just 3 years old
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