Cranberry Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cranberry Township,
Butler County, Pennsylvania |
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Township
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Aerial photo of Cranberry Township (looking north-north-east)
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Location of Cranberry Township in Butler County
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 Cranberry Township,
Butler County, Pennsylvania Location in Pennsylvania
Cranberry Township,
Butler County, Pennsylvania Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Butler |
| Settled | 1796 |
| Incorporated | 1804 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 22.83 sq mi (59.13 km2) |
| • Land | 22.82 sq mi (59.11 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 33,087 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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33,955 |
| • Density | 1,450.3/sq mi (559.9/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code(s) | 724, 878 |
| FIPS code | 42-019-16920 |
Cranberry Township is a community located in southwestern Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is a township, which is a type of local government area. In 2020, about 33,087 people lived here. It is one of the fastest-growing areas near Pittsburgh, a major city in Pennsylvania.
Contents
Discovering Cranberry Township's Past
Cranberry Township has a long and interesting history. It was once a wild area with many cranberries. These berries gave the township its name.
Early Explorers and Settlers
In 1753, a young George Washington traveled through this area. He was on a mission for the British governor. He tried to tell the French to leave northern Pennsylvania. The French refused, which led to a big war. This war was called the French and Indian War.
The township was named after the wild cranberries that grew along Brush Creek. These berries attracted deer, which brought Native American hunters. Sadly, by the 1880s, farming and dry weather made the cranberries disappear.
The first European settlers arrived in 1796. Mathew and William Graham were brothers who settled here. They received land as payment for fighting in the American Revolutionary War. This was part of a program to pay soldiers with land instead of money.
Growing the Community
Over time, the Graham family and other early settlers built businesses. They opened a tavern, a sawmill, and a grist mill. A grist mill grinds grain into flour. In 1806, the first church, Plains Church, was started. It is still an active church today.
Cranberry Township was much larger when it was first created in 1804. Its size was changed in 1854. It went from 81 square miles down to 25 square miles.
Modern Growth and Development
Before World War II, Cranberry Township was mostly farmland. It did not have a main downtown area. Things changed when new highways were built. The Pennsylvania Turnpike opened in 1951. Then Interstate 79 opened in 1966. These highways made it easy to travel to and from Cranberry.
Local leaders helped create business parks. These parks offered affordable land and easy highway access. This brought many companies to the area. The opening of Interstate 279 in 1989 made it even faster to get to Downtown Pittsburgh. This helped the township grow even more.
Today, Cranberry Township also includes smaller areas like Fernway and Fox Run. The Cranberry Township Historical Society works to save old items from the community's past. They are building a display at the Municipal Center. In 2019, Cranberry Township became a sister city with Haiyang, a city in China.
Where is Cranberry Township?
Cranberry Township is located in western Pennsylvania. It is about a 30-minute drive from downtown Pittsburgh. Many people think of it as a suburb of Pittsburgh. However, Cranberry is also a busy place for jobs and businesses on its own.
More people travel into Cranberry for work than those who live in Cranberry and travel out for work. This shows that Cranberry Township is a major work center.
Neighboring Communities
Cranberry Township shares borders with several other towns and townships. To the north is Jackson Township. To the east are Adams Township and Seven Fields. To the south are Pine Township and Marshall Township. To the west is New Sewickley Township.
People of Cranberry Township
Cranberry Township has seen its population grow a lot over the years.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 479 | — | |
| 1880 | 1,180 | 146.3% | |
| 1960 | 3,596 | — | |
| 1970 | 4,873 | 35.5% | |
| 1980 | 11,066 | 127.1% | |
| 1990 | 14,816 | 33.9% | |
| 2000 | 23,625 | 59.5% | |
| 2010 | 28,098 | 18.9% | |
| 2020 | 33,096 | 17.8% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 33,955 | 20.8% | |
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In 2015, about 30,458 people lived in the township. Most residents were White (94.4%). There were also African American (1.2%) and Asian (2.8%) residents.
Cranberry is known as a family-friendly community. Many households have children living in them. The average age of people in the township in 2016 was about 36 years old. In 2023, the average household income was around $120,554. Only a small number of families lived below the poverty line.
Cranberry Township's Economy
Cranberry Township has over 1,000 businesses. Its economy is strong and diverse. This means it has many different types of industries. Local plans have guided its business growth since 1977.
Cranberry has become a big center for shopping and hotels. But its main economic strength comes from its many companies. These include corporate offices, factories, and research groups. There are about 20,500 jobs in Cranberry.
Many large companies have operations here. These include McKesson Automation-Aseynt, PPG Architectural Coatings, and MSA Safety. Giant Eagle and Westinghouse Electric Company also have a big presence. The township is also home to new technology companies.
Major Employers
Westinghouse Electric Company is the largest employer in Cranberry. Its main office moved here in 2009. Over 3,000 people work at its campus. Westinghouse designs and maintains nuclear power plants around the world.
In 2015, the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team and UPMC opened a new facility. It is called the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. It is used for hockey practice and sports medicine. It is named after famous hockey player Mario Lemieux.
Cranberry Township continues to grow. New restaurants and stores are being built. There are also plans for more hotels and retail spaces.
Getting Around Cranberry Township
Cranberry Township is a hub for transportation. Two major highways cross through it. These are Interstate 79 (north-south) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 76, east-west). U.S. Route 19 and Pennsylvania Route 228 are also important roads.
In 2004, a large interchange was built. It cost $44.3 million. This interchange connects all four of these busy roads. This allows for direct travel between them. Interstate 279, which goes straight to Downtown Pittsburgh, is also nearby.
In 2021, the MSA Thruway was completed. This is a tunnel that connects Interstate 79 to the Cranberry Springs area. It helps drivers avoid traffic lights on Route 228.
From 1908 to 1931, a trolley line served Cranberry Township. It connected the township to Pittsburgh. Today, people mostly use private cars to get around. There is no regular public transit service.
Famous People from Cranberry Township
- Don Barclay, a football player in the NFL
- Thomas Bickerton, a bishop in the United Methodist Church
- Joey Porter Jr., a football player in the NFL
- Stephenie Scialabba, a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
