Butler County, Pennsylvania
CountyButler County
StatePennsylvania
Founded dateMarch 12
Founded year1800
Seat wlButler
Area total795 sq mi
Area land789 sq mi
Area water6.1 sq mi
Area percentage0.8%
Census yr2020
Pop193763
Pop est as of2025
Population est200169
Webhttps://www.butlercountypa.gov/
Ex imageButler County Courthouse, Butler.jpg
Ex image size200
Ex image capButler County Courthouse in Butler, Pennsylvania
Time zoneEastern
District16th
Named forRichard Butler
Largest cityCranberry Township
City typetownship

Butler County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 193,763.[1] Its county seat is Butler.[2] Butler County was created on March 12, 1800, from part of Allegheny County and named in honor of General Richard Butler, a hero of the American Revolution. The county is part of the Greater Pittsburgh region of the commonwealth.[a]

History

Some famous inventions and discoveries were made in Butler County. Saxonburg was founded as a Prussian colony by John A. Roebling, a civil engineer, and his brother Carl. After farming for a time, Roebling returned to engineering, and invented his revolutionary "wire rope," which he first produced at Saxonburg. He moved the operation to Trenton, New Jersey. He is best known for designing his most famous work, the Brooklyn Bridge, but designed and built numerous bridges in Pittsburgh and other cities as well.

At what is now known as Oil Creek, Butler County resident William Smith and Edwin Drake first proved oil could be tapped from underground for consistent supply.

The Jeep was developed in Butler County by American Bantam in 1941.

Famous politicians have lived in and traveled through Butler County. U.S. Senator Walter Lowrie, the only senator from Butler, built a home in 1828 that still stands behind the Butler County Courthouse. The house has been adapted for use by the Butler County Historical Society. Butler's highest-ranked federal official is William J. Perry, Secretary of Defense under President Bill Clinton from 1994 to 1997. He graduated from Butler High School in 1945.

The 21-year-old George Washington passed through this area in December 1753 following his mission to Fort Le Boeuf in the lead-up to the French and Indian War and narrowly escaped an assassination attempt by a French-aligned Native American who escaped from the scene.[3] In 1923, the funeral train of President Warren G. Harding passed through Butler County on its way to Washington, D.C. John F. Kennedy spoke in front of the Butler County Courthouse during the 1960 United States presidential election. Hubert Humphrey also campaigned in Butler. In 2004, Vice President Dick Cheney spoke in Saxonburg to campaign for President George W. Bush in the 2004 United States presidential election. Donald Trump, while president, campaigned at the Butler County Airport in 2020.

On July 13, 2024, Butler County was the site of an assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump as he spoke at a campaign rally. Trump was shot in the ear and one spectator was killed. The shooter was also killed.[4] The next day, authorities named Thomas Matthew Crooks as the perpetrator.[5]

Bret Michaels, lead singer of the rock band Poison, was born here in 1963.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 795 square miles (2,060 km2), of which 789 square miles (2,040 km2) is land and 6.1 square miles (16 km2) (0.8%) is water.[6] Butler County is one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission,[7] and it is identified as part of the "Midlands" by Colin Woodard in his book American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America.[8]

It is the location of Moraine State Park, with the 3,000-acre (12-square kilometre) glacial lake, Lake Arthur. Lake Arthur is used for fishing and sailing, and the surrounding park is used for hiking and hunting.

Climate

The county has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Dfb), except for areas south of Moraine State Park where it is hot-summer (Dfa). Average monthly temperatures in Butler borough range from 27.7 °F (−2.4 °C) in January to 72.1 °F (22.3 °C) in July.[9]

Waterways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 193,763. The median age was 43.6 years. 19.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.3 males age 18 and over.[10]

The racial makeup of the county was 92.5% White, 1.2% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.7% from some other race, and 4.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.9% of the population.[11]

Butler County, Pennsylvania – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000[12]Pop 2010[13][14]% 2000% 2010
White alone (NH)169,634176,259style='background: #ffffe6; |178,08197.44%95.86%style='background: #ffffe6; |91.90%
Black or African American alone (NH)1,3431,954style='background: #ffffe6; |2,1740.77%1.06%style='background: #ffffe6; |1.12%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)139166style='background: #ffffe6; |1540.07%0.09%style='background: #ffffe6; |0.07%
Asian alone (NH)9731,826style='background: #ffffe6; |2,7920.55%0.99%style='background: #ffffe6; |1.44%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)5147style='background: #ffffe6; |360.02%0.02%style='background: #ffffe6; |0.01%
Other race alone (NH)86102style='background: #ffffe6; |5770.04%0.05%style='background: #ffffe6; |0.29%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)8411,567style='background: #ffffe6; |6,2840.48%0.85%style='background: #ffffe6; |3.24%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)1,0161,941style='background: #ffffe6; |3,6650.58%1.05%style='background: #ffffe6; |1.89%
Total174,083183,862style='background: #ffffe6; |193,763100.00%100.00%style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

56.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 43.3% lived in rural areas.[15]

There were 78,727 households in the county, of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 53.8% were married-couple households, 17.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[10]

There were 85,019 housing units, of which 7.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.5% were owner-occupied and 24.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.2%.[10]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,[16] there were 174,083 people, 65,862 households, and 46,827 families residing in the county. The population density was 221 inhabitants per square mile (85 /km2). There were 69,868 housing units at an average density of 89 /mi2. The racial/ethnic makeup of the county is 96.5% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, 0.7% from two or more races; and 0.9% Hispanic or Latino of any race. 39.0% German, 20.8% Irish, 13.1% Italian, 8.6% English, and 7.8% Polish. There were 65,862 households, out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.80% were married couples living together, 8.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 24.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.80 males.

Law and government

County commissioners

OfficeHolderParty
CommissionerLeslie OscheRepublican
CommissionerKim GeyerRepublican
CommissionerKevin BoozelDemocratic

Other elected row officers

OfficeHolderParty
District AttorneyRichard GoldingerRepublican
ControllerBen HollandRepublican
TreasurerDiane MarburgerRepublican
ProthonotaryKelly FerrariRepublican
Clerk of CourtsLisa LotzRepublican
SheriffMichael SlupeRepublican
Recorder of DeedsMichele MustelloRepublican
Register of WillsSara EdwardsRepublican

Judges on the Court of Common Pleas

  • Dr. S. Michael Yeager (president judge)
  • Timothy McCune
  • Kelly Streib
  • Joseph Kubit
  • Maura Palumbi
  • William Shaffer (senior judge)
  • William Robinson Jr.

District judges

  • Kevin P. O'Donnell
  • Joseph Nash
  • Lewis Stoughton
  • Sue Elaine Haggerty
  • Kevin Flaherty
  • B.T. Fullerton
  • Amy Marcinkiewicz

State Senate

SenatorPartyDistrict
Scott HutchinsonRepublicanPennsylvania's 21st Senatorial District
Elder VogelRepublicanPennsylvania's 47th Senatorial District

State House of Representatives

RepresentativePartyDistrict
Aaron BernstineRepublicanPennsylvania's 8th Representative District
Marci MustelloRepublicanPennsylvania's 11th Representative District
Stephenie ScialabbaRepublicanPennsylvania's 12th Representative District
Timothy R. BonnerRepublicanPennsylvania's 17th Representative District

United States House of Representatives

RepresentativePartyDistrict
Mike KellyRepublicanPennsylvania's 16th congressional district

United States Senate

SenatorParty
John FettermanDemocratic
Dave McCormickRepublican

Politics

Butler County has long been one of the most consistently Republican counties in Pennsylvania and the nation.[citation needed] The last Democratic presidential candidate to win it was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, when he won a national landslide and carried all but four counties in the state; indeed, Johnson is the only Democratic presidential candidate to carry this county in over a century. In 2000, Republican George W. Bush received 62% of the vote, while Democrat Al Gore received 35%. In 2004, the county was carried by Bush's 64% to Democrat John Kerry's 35%. In 2008, the county was carried by Republican John McCain's 63% to Democrat Barack Obama's 35%. Since 2008, Butler County has continually given Republican nominees support in the mid-60s, with both Mitt Romney and Donald Trump receiving around 66% of the vote in 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024.

In 2024, by political party, almost 80,000 residents registered as Republican, almost 40,000 registered as Democratic, and about 20,000 are not Democratic nor Republican. The New York Times described the county as being politically conservative.[17]

Voter registration

As of September 30, 2024, there are 142,305 registered voters in Butler County.[18]

Education

Colleges and universities

Technical schools

  • Butler County Vo-Tech

Public school districts

K-12 school districts include:[19]

As of 2024, several area school districts, as a tradition, gave school holidays when the deer hunting season began.[17]

Public libraries

The Butler County Federated Library System (additionally known as the Library System of Butler County) includes the ten listed libraries. Each library is managed by its own Board of Directors. The majority of the funding for these libraries comes from state grants, user fines and donations with additional financial contributions from Butler County.[20] The first Butler library originated in 1894 with the Literary Society of Butler[21] in what is now known as the Little Red Schoolhouse.[22] The Butler Area Public Library, built in 1921, was the last Carnegie library built in Pennsylvania. In the intervening 27 years the library was independently operated.[21] From 1921 to 1941 the library quadrupled the number of patrons served.[23] In 1987 the County commissioners, through a resolution, founded the Butler County Federated Library System.

Media

Recreation

Arts and culture

The Butler County Symphony Orchestra (BCSO), is Butler County's largest performing arts non-profit. Founded in 1948 as the Butler Orchestral Association, the BCSO has been in continuous operations since its first concert in April 1950. Edward Roncone served as the first music director and conductor, and the inaugural performance also served as the sesquicentennial (150 years) celebration of Butler County.[24] The BCSO currently sponsors six subscription concerts, a Chamber Music Series, and a Summer Concert Series, making them operate as a year-round performing arts organization.

Parks

There are two Pennsylvania state parks in Butler County.

  • Jennings Environmental Education Center is the home of the only protected relict prairie in Pennsylvania.
  • Moraine State Park The gently rolling hills, lush forests and sparkling waters disguise a land that has endured the effects of continental glaciers and massive mineral extraction. Each year over one million people visit the 16,725-acre (67.68-square kilometre) park, yet never realize that many people helped restore the park from prior coal mining and oil and gas drilling practices. Today, the park is an outstanding example of environmental engineering achievement. During the third great ice advance about 140,000 years ago, a continental glacier dammed area creeks making three glacial lakes. To the north, Slippery Rock Creek filled giant Lake Edmund. To the southeast, extinct McConnells Run filled tiny Lake Prouty. In the middle, Muddy Creek filled the medium-sized Lake Watts.

Before the glacier dam, Slippery Rock and Muddy creeks flowed north while extinct McConnells Run flowed south. The glacier dammed Lake Prouty on the edge of the drainage divide. Eventually Lake Pouty spilled over and rushed to the south, carving Slippery Rock Creek Gorge. Lakes Watts and Edmund drained into the gorge, digging it deeper and making Slippery Rock and Muddy creeks flow south. Areas of the 400-foot (120-metre) deep Slippery Rock Gorge may be seen at nearby McConnells Mill State Park.

The glacier created a landscape of rolling hills topped with hardwood trees and swamps in the valley bottoms. Moraines containing gravel, sand and clay were draped upon the landscape and silt was left on the extinct lake bottoms.[25]

Trails

Transportation

Airports

Transit

Communities

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Butler County:

City

Boroughs

Townships

Census-designated places

Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well.

Unincorporated communities

Several of these communities, most notably Renfrew, Lyndora, Herman, Sarver, Cabot, Boyers, and Forestville, have post offices and zip codes, but aren't officially incorporated under Pennsylvania law, and exist entirely within townships.

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Butler County.[26]

† county seat

RankCity/town/etc.Municipal typePopulation (2010 census)
1† ButlerCity13,757
2Fernway (former CDP)CDP12,414
3Homeacre-LyndoraCDP6,906
4Shanor-NorthvueCDP5,051
5MeridianCDP3,881
6ZelienopleBorough3,812
7Slippery RockBorough3,625
8Fox Run (former CDP)CDP3,282
9Seven FieldsBorough2,887
10MeadowoodCDP2,693
11Oak HillsCDP2,333
12Slippery Rock UniversityCDP1,898
13Evans CityBorough1,833
14MarsBorough1,699
15SaxonburgBorough1,525
16NixonCDP1,373
17ProspectBorough1,169
18ChicoraBorough1,043
19UnionvilleCDP962
20HarrisvilleBorough897
21HarmonyBorough890
22East ButlerBorough732
23Lake Arthur EstatesCDP594
24ValenciaBorough551
25ConnoquenessingBorough528
26BruinBorough524
27CalleryBorough394
28West LibertyBorough343
29Eau ClaireBorough316
30PortersvilleBorough235
31PetroliaBorough212
32Karns CityBorough209
33FairviewBorough198
34West SunburyBorough192
35Cherry ValleyBorough66
See also: List of films shot in Pittsburgh

Butler County has often been used as a setting for films and series shot in the North Pittsburgh area. Such films include:

Films/series filmed recently in Butler, but unreleased (as of April 2026):

  • Parallax (Unreleased)[31]

Films set in Butler County, but not necessarily filmed there:

Novels set in Butler County:

  • Benjamin's Field, a trilogy by local author J. J. Knights[32]
  • The Pennsic War, an annual medieval camping event by the Society for Creative Anachronism, is fought in Butler County. Its site becomes the fourth most populous place in the county for a few weeks each year.

Video games set in Butler County:

  • The Roottrees are Dead, a mystery video game by Jeremy Johnston, is primarily set in Butler County, Pennsylvania, home to the eponymous Roottree family and the headquarters of its candy corporation.

See also

References

  1. ^ Includes Allegheny, Washington, Butler, Beaver, Lawrence and Armstrong Counties
  1. ^ "Census – Geography Profile: Butler County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Julie Carr Smyth (July 18, 2024). "'Of all the places': Deep red Butler, Pennsylvania, grapples with Trump assassination attempt". Sentinel Colorado. Associated Press. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  4. ^ Tori B. Powell; Shania Shelton; Matt Meyer; Isabelle D'Antonio; Emma Tucker; Jessie Yeung; Dalia Faheid; Amarachi Orie; Michelle Shen; Michael Williams; Maureen Chowdhury (2024-07-13). "Live updates: Trump injured in shooting at Pennsylvania rally that left at least 1 dead". CNN. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
  5. ^ Adler, Nils. "Bomb-making materials found in car of Trump rally shooting suspect: Reports". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  7. ^ "About the Appalachian Region". Appalachian Regional Commission. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  8. ^ Woodard, Colin. "The Maps That Show That City vs. Country Is Not Our Political Fault Line". New York Times. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  9. ^ "PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University"
  10. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  11. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  12. ^ [https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?q=P004:+HISPANIC+OR+LATINO,+AND+NOT+HISPANIC+OR+LATINO+BY+RACE+[73]&g=050XX00US42019 "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Butler County, Pennsylvania"]. United States Census Bureau
  13. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Butler County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau
  14. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Butler County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau
  15. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  16. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  17. ^ Smialek, Jeanna & Gebeloff, Robert (2024-07-13). "Butler Is a Republican Stronghold". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  18. ^ Pennsylvania Department of State (February 5, 2024). "Voter registration statistics by county". dos.pa.gov. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  19. ^ "2020 Census – School District Reference Map: Butler County, PA". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2024-07-15. – Text list
  20. ^ Holland, B. (December 31, 2017). County of Butler, Pennsylvania Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the Year Ended December 31, 2017. Retrieved from www2.co.butler.pa.us › controller › Butler_CAFR_2017
  21. ^ Butler County Federated Library System. (2015). Butler Area Public Library. Retrieved from https://www.bcfls.org/butler-area-public-library
  22. ^ "The Little Red Schoolhouse". Butler County Historical Society. 2019.
  23. ^ Pennsylvania economy league Butler. (1941). The Pennsylvania economy league surveys the Butler public library. Butler, PA.
  24. ^ "Our History". butlersymphony.org. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  25. ^ "Department of Conservation and Natural Resources". dcnr.state.pa.us
  26. ^ "2010 U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  27. ^ Keener, Craig (July 22, 2010). "Stone Church site of sci-fi film" Butler Eagle. Retrieved 2010-08-12.
  28. ^ Stonesifer, Jared (June 9, 2010). "Angle Action in Valencia" Butler Eagle. Retrieved 2010-06-12.
  29. ^ "'Avengers' headed this way". blogs.sites.post-gazette.com. Archived from the original on July 3, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  30. ^ "'A Separate Life' Mars actress, director takes film to Cannes festival". Butler Eagle. May 26, 2011.
  31. ^ "Apple TV show continues shooting in Butler" https://www.butlereagle.com/20260113/apple-tv-show-continues-shooting-in-butler/
  32. ^ "Local novelists release new works with local settings". Butler Eagle. July 30, 2015. Retrieved August 25, 2025.