Bethel Park, Pennsylvania Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Bethel Park, Pennsylvania

Borough

Bethel Presbyterian Church, the community's namesake

Flag

Seal

Location in Allegheny County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania

Country

Founded (as Bethel Township)

1886

Incorporated

1949 (borough)

Government

• Type

Council

Area

• Total

11.70 sq mi (30.31 km²)

• Land

11.70 sq mi (30.31 km²)

• Water

0.00 sq mi (0.00 km²)

Elevation

1,197 ft (365 m)

Population

(2020)

• Total

33,577

• Density

2,869.34/sq mi (1,107.85/km²)

Time zone

UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))

• Summer (DST)

UTC-4 (EDT)

ZIP Code

15102, 15234, 15236, 15241

Area code(s)

412

FIPS code

42-06064

Bethel Park is a town in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. It's a suburb located about 7 miles (11 km) south of Pittsburgh. In 2020, about 33,577 people lived there. Bethel Park is known for its friendly neighborhoods and good schools. It's a great place to live and grow up!

History of Bethel Park
Geography of Bethel Park
- Neighboring Towns
- Rocks and Mines
People of Bethel Park
Arts and Culture
Education in Bethel Park
Getting Around Bethel Park
Famous People from Bethel Park
Images for kids
See also

History of Bethel Park

An eastbound car is near the location of the first US armored car robbery

The area where Bethel Park is today was first settled around the year 1800. It became known as Bethel Township in 1886. The name comes from the Bethel Presbyterian Church. This church was named after an ancient place called Bethel in Israel. Bethel Park officially became a "borough" (a type of town) on March 17, 1949.

An interesting event happened in Bethel Park on March 11, 1927. It was the first time an armored car was robbed in the United States! A truck carrying money for a mine was attacked. The robbers used dynamite to block the road and steal the mining payroll.

Geography of Bethel Park

Bethel Park covers an area of about 11.7 square miles (30.3 square kilometers). It's located in a hilly region. The average height above sea level is about 1,197 feet (365 meters). The highest point in Bethel Park is Rocky Ridge, which is 1,370 feet (418 meters) high. The lowest point is 980 feet (299 meters) where two creeks meet.

Neighboring Towns

Bethel Park shares its borders with several other towns:

To the north: Castle Shannon and Whitehall
To the northeast: Baldwin
To the east and southeast: South Park
To the south: Peters Township
To the west: Upper St. Clair
To the north-northwest: Mt. Lebanon

Rocks and Mines

The rocks you can see in Bethel Park are mostly made of sandstone, limestone, shale, and layers of coal. These rocks formed a very long time ago, about 300 million years ago! Back then, the area was sometimes covered by a shallow sea or had rivers and deltas. Over time, these layers of mud, sand, and plant material turned into the rocks we see today.

Underneath Bethel Park, there are old coal mines. One of these was the Coverdale Mine, which opened around 1920. Miners used a method called "room and pillar" mining to dig out the coal. This means they left pillars of coal to support the mine roof. The Coverdale Mine is now closed.

People of Bethel Park

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1950	11,324	—
1960	23,650	108.8%
1970	34,758	47.0%
1980	34,755	0.0%
1990	33,823	−2.7%
2000	33,556	−0.8%
2010	32,313	−3.7%
2020	33,577	3.9%
Sources:

In 2020, about 33,577 people lived in Bethel Park. The town has grown a lot since the 1950s! Most families in Bethel Park are married couples with children. The average age of people living here is about 42 years old.

Arts and Culture

Bethel Park has a few interesting places to visit:

Bethel Presbyterian Church: This historic church is where the town gets its name.
South Hills Village: A large shopping mall where you can find many stores and places to eat.

Education in Bethel Park

Students in Bethel Park attend schools in the Bethel Park School District. The main high school for the district is Bethel Park High School.

Getting Around Bethel Park

Port Authority of Allegheny County's Silver Line - Library is one of three light rail routes that serve Bethel Park.

Bethel Park is well-connected by public transportation. In the early 1900s, streetcar lines were built, which helped the town grow. Even though many streetcar lines in the Pittsburgh area closed down, the ones in Bethel Park stayed open and were updated to modern light rail lines in the 1980s.

Today, all three of Port Authority of Allegheny County's light rail lines run through Bethel Park. These lines make it easy for people to travel to Pittsburgh and other nearby areas. There are also "park-and-ride" lots where commuters can leave their cars and take the train.

Major roads like Pennsylvania Route 88 and U.S. Route 19 also pass through Bethel Park. Many shops and businesses are located along these roads. Bus services are also available to help people get around.