Butler County, Pennsylvania facts for kids

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Butler County

U.S. county

Butler County Courthouse in Butler, Pennsylvania

Flag

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

Pennsylvania

Founded

March 12, 1800

Richard Butler

Largest township

Area

• Total

795 sq mi (2,060 km²)

• Land

789 sq mi (2,040 km²)

• Water

6.1 sq mi (16 km²) 0.8%%

Population

(2020)

• Total

193,763

• Density

246/sq mi (95/km²)

Time zone

UTC−5 (Eastern)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−4 (EDT)

Congressional district

16th

Pennsylvania Historical Marker

Designated:

June 11, 1982

Butler County is a county in Pennsylvania. In 2020, about 193,763 people lived here. The main town and county seat is Butler.

Butler County was created on March 12, 1800. It was named after General Richard Butler. He was a hero from the American Revolution. The county is part of the larger Greater Pittsburgh area.

Cool Inventions and Discoveries

Butler County is a place where some amazing things were invented!

The Wire Rope

Saxonburg was started by John A. Roebling. He was an engineer who invented the "wire rope." This special rope was super strong. He first made it in Saxonburg.

Roebling later used his wire rope to design many bridges. His most famous work is the amazing Brooklyn Bridge in New York City!

Finding Oil Underground

In Butler County, near what is now called Oil Creek, an important discovery happened. A local resident, William Smith, and Edwin Drake proved that oil could be found deep underground. This was a big step for getting a steady supply of oil.

The Jeep Vehicle

Did you know the famous Jeep vehicle was first developed here? It was created by a company called American Bantam in 1941.

Famous People and Visitors

Many important people have lived in or visited Butler County.

Important Politicians

Walter Lowrie was a U.S. Senator from Butler. He built a house in 1828 that you can still see today. It's now used by the Butler County Historical Society.

William J. Perry is another important person from Butler. He graduated from Butler High School in 1945. He later became the United States Secretary of Defense for President Bill Clinton.

Presidential Visits

Even presidents have passed through Butler County!

George Washington traveled through this area during the French and Indian War. In 1923, President Warren G. Harding's funeral train went through the county.

Later, John F. Kennedy spoke in front of the Butler County Courthouse in 1960. Hubert Humphrey also visited for his campaigns.

In 2004, Vice President Dick Cheney spoke in Saxonburg. More recently, in 2020, Donald Trump campaigned at the Butler County Airport.

A Recent Event

On July 13, 2024, an event happened in Butler County. Former President Donald Trump was speaking at a rally. During this event, he was injured. One person watching was also killed, and the person responsible was also killed. Authorities later named Thomas Matthew Crooks as the person involved.

Music Star from Butler County

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

Geography and Nature

The downtown area of Evans City.

Butler County covers about 795 square miles. Most of this is land, with a small part being water. The county has a climate with warm summers and cold winters.

Moraine State Park

One of the most beautiful places here is Moraine State Park. It has a large lake called Lake Arthur, which is about 3,000 acres. People enjoy fishing and sailing on the lake. The park is also great for hiking and hunting.

This park has an interesting history. Long ago, huge glaciers shaped the land. They created lakes and rolling hills. The park is a great example of how nature can be restored after mining.

Waterways for Fun

Butler County has several rivers and creeks.

Allegheny River: This big river is used for fun and for moving goods.
Connoquenessing Creek: A popular spot for canoeing and kayaking.
Lake Arthur: Perfect for boating, canoeing, and kayaking.
Slippery Rock Creek: Another great place for canoeing and kayaking.

Neighboring Counties

Butler County shares its borders with eight other counties:

Venango County (north)
Clarion County (northeast)
Armstrong County (east)
Westmoreland County (southeast)
Allegheny County (south)
Beaver County (southwest)
Lawrence County (west)
Mercer County (northwest)

Population Information

The population of Butler County has grown a lot over the years. In 1800, there were only 3,916 people. By 2020, the population had grown to 193,763!

Most people in the county are White (92%). Other groups include Black or African American, Asian, and Hispanic or Latino people.

Many families live in Butler County. About 32.9% of households have children under 18. The average age of people in the county is 38 years old.

Education in Butler County

Map of Butler County, Pennsylvania Public School Districts

Butler County has many schools and colleges for students of all ages.

Colleges and Universities

Butler County Community College
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Technical Schools

Butler County Vo-Tech: This school teaches students special job skills.

Public School Districts

Here are some of the public school districts in the county:

Butler Area School District
Knoch School District
Mars Area School District
Moniteau School District
Seneca Valley School District
Slippery Rock Area School District

Some schools in the area have a tradition of giving holidays when deer hunting season starts!

Public Libraries

The Butler County Federated Library System helps connect ten different libraries. These libraries get money from the state, donations, and small fees.

The first library in Butler started in 1894. The Butler Area Public Library, built in 1921, was the last Carnegie library built in Pennsylvania.

Here are some of the libraries:

Butler Area Public Library
Cranberry Public Library
Evans City Public Library
Mars Area Public Library
Slippery Rock Community Library
Zelienople Area Public Library

Local Media

Butler County has its own ways for people to get news and entertainment.

Butler Eagle: This is the daily newspaper for the county.
WBUT: A local radio station.
WISR: Another local radio station.
WLER-FM: A local FM radio station.

Fun and Recreation

State Parks

There are two Pennsylvania state parks in Butler County:

Jennings Environmental Education Center: This park is special because it has the only protected relict prairie in Pennsylvania. A prairie is a large area of flat grassland.
Moraine State Park: This park is a great example of how nature can be restored. It used to be a place with a lot of coal mining. Now, over a million people visit each year to enjoy its hills, forests, and Lake Arthur.

Trails for Exploring

If you love to walk, bike, or hike, Butler County has some great trails!

Butler-Freeport Trail: This trail connects the city of Butler to the town of Freeport.
North Country Trail: This long trail goes through Jennings Environmental Education Center and Moraine State Park.
Washington's Trail: This road trail follows the path George Washington took a long time ago.