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Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania
Borough
Jefferson Hills War Memorial
Jefferson Hills War Memorial
Location in Allegheny County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
Location in Allegheny County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Allegheny County
Post office Pittsburgh
President of Council Melissa Girman-Steffey
Area
 • Total 16.75 sq mi (43.38 km2)
 • Land 16.59 sq mi (42.95 km2)
 • Water 0.16 sq mi (0.42 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 12,424
 • Density 749.11/sq mi (289.24/km2)
Time zone UTC-4 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (EDT)
Area code(s) 412
School District West Jefferson Hills

Jefferson Hills is a town (called a borough) in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA. In 2020, about 12,424 people lived there. It's part of the larger Pittsburgh metropolitan area.

Jefferson Hills is served by the West Jefferson Hills School District. It was first created as Jefferson Township and was officially made a borough on January 22, 1828. The town was named after Thomas Jefferson, an important figure in American history. Before 1998, the borough was simply known as Jefferson.

History of Jefferson Hills

The Oak Noggin Bed & Breakfast
The Oak Noggin Bed & Breakfast

During the American Revolutionary War, the Peters Creek Rangers were based in this area. They were a local group that helped fight for American independence.

Geography and Nature

Jefferson Hills is located at 40°17′8″N 79°55′59″W / 40.28556°N 79.93306°W / 40.28556; -79.93306.

The borough covers about 16.6 square miles (43 square kilometers). Only a small part of this area, about 0.04 square miles (0.1 square kilometers), is water. Most of the water in Jefferson Hills flows into two main areas:

The area is known for its rolling hills and forests. The Monongahela River forms the southeastern border of the borough. Three streams flow through Jefferson Hills: Peters Creek, Beam Run, and Lewis Run.

Weather in Jefferson Hills

Climate data for Allegheny County Airport, ~5 mi (8.0 km) to the north-northeast
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 35.8
(2.1)
39.3
(4.1)
49.0
(9.4)
61.6
(16.4)
70.6
(21.4)
78.6
(25.9)
82.4
(28.0)
81.1
(27.3)
73.6
(23.1)
62.6
(17.0)
50.8
(10.4)
39.5
(4.2)
60.5
(15.8)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 21.8
(−5.7)
24.0
(−4.4)
31.0
(−0.6)
41.6
(5.3)
50.7
(10.4)
59.3
(15.2)
63.3
(17.4)
62.5
(16.9)
55.4
(13.0)
44.0
(6.7)
35.7
(2.1)
26.4
(−3.1)
43.1
(6.2)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.73
(69)
2.68
(68)
3.10
(79)
3.15
(80)
4.17
(106)
4.04
(103)
3.77
(96)
3.51
(89)
3.35
(85)
2.52
(64)
3.35
(85)
2.92
(74)
39.29
(998)
Source: NOAA

The weather in Jefferson Hills is typical for the region. Summers are warm, and winters are cold. The area gets a good amount of rain throughout the year.

Neighboring Towns

Jefferson Hills shares its borders with several other towns. To the north are Pleasant Hills and West Mifflin. To the east is Clairton. West Elizabeth is to the southeast. To the south is Union Township in Washington County, and to the west is South Park Township.

Across the Monongahela River, Jefferson Hills is close to Elizabeth Township, Elizabeth Borough, and Forward Township.

Population Information

Historical population
Census Pop.
1930 4,138
1940 5,585 35.0%
1950 5,534 −0.9%
1960 8,280 49.6%
1970 8,512 2.8%
1980 8,643 1.5%
1990 9,533 10.3%
2000 9,666 1.4%
2010 10,619 9.9%
2020 12,424 17.0%
Sources:

In 2000, there were 9,666 people living in Jefferson Hills. The population has grown over the years, reaching 12,424 people in 2020. Most residents are White (96.76%), with smaller percentages of African American (1.31%) and Asian (1.09%) people.

About 31.7% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average age of people in Jefferson Hills in 2000 was 41 years old.

Parks and Outdoor Fun

885 Baseball Field
Andrew Reilly Memorial Park

Jefferson Hills has five parks for everyone to enjoy:

  • Gill Hall Park
  • Andrew Reilly Memorial Park
  • Lobb's Park
  • Beedle Park
  • Tepe Park

These parks offer many fun things to do, like sports fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, and playgrounds. You can also rent pavilions and the Gill Hall Community Center for events.

Great Allegheny Passage Trail

The Great Allegheny Passage is a super long trail system for biking and hiking. It stretches about 150 miles (240 km) from Cumberland, Maryland, all the way to Pittsburgh. In 2006, this trail connected with the C&O Canal Trail, creating a huge 318-mile (512 km) journey from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C.. This amazing project was put together by the Allegheny Trail Alliance.

Jefferson Hills (Gill Hall) Trailhead
Jefferson Hills Trailhead

Jefferson Hills is special because two parts of this trail system meet nearby in Clairton: the Montour Trail and the Steel Valley Trail. You can find local trailheads at Triphammer Road, Jefferson Hills (Gill Hall Road), Route 51 - Large, and Clairton.

Montour Trail

The Montour Trail is a multi-use trail that goes for about 40 miles (64 km) from Coraopolis to Clairton. The trail is made of crushed limestone, which is great for biking, walking, and even cross-country skiing in the winter. The Montour Trail also connects to the Panhandle Trail, which is about 29 miles (47 km) long and runs between Carnegie, Pennsylvania, and Weirton, West Virginia.

Steel Valley Trail

The Steel Valley Trail is about 14 miles (23 km) long. It goes from Clairton through McKeesport to West Homestead. The part of the trail from McKeesport to West Homestead is part of the larger GAP trail. This means you can bike all the way from Washington, D.C., to Pittsburgh just on bike trails! At the Clairton Trailhead 40°18′19.44″N 79°52′59.14″W / 40.3054000°N 79.8830944°W / 40.3054000; -79.8830944, the Steel Valley Trail connects to the Montour Trail.

Local Media

People in Jefferson Hills get the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette newspaper, just like other communities in the Pittsburgh area. There are also two local papers: the South Hills Record and the Union-Finley Messenger.

Jefferson Hills is part of the Pittsburgh TV and radio market. This means residents can watch many local TV channels and listen to various radio stations. For example, KDKA 1020 AM was the very first commercially licensed radio station in the United States, starting on October 27, 1920!

Transportation and Services

Roads and Buses

Two main roads run through Jefferson Hills: PA Route 51 and PA Route 43. Route 51 goes from Uniontown to the Pennsylvania/Ohio border. Route 43, also known as the Mon–Fayette Expressway, ends in Jefferson Hills. Route 43 is a toll road and part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike system.

The Port Authority of Allegheny County provides bus services in and around Jefferson Hills. Several bus routes pass directly through the borough, making it easier for people to get around.

Jefferson Hills bus routes
Route number Route map Schedule Route description
Y46 - Elizabeth Route Map Schedule This bus runs daily and uses the South Busway and Pennsylvania Route 51.
Y1 – Large Flyer Route Map Schedule This is a fast express route that runs Monday to Friday during busy times, using the South Busway and Pennsylvania Route 51.
55 – Jefferson Route Map Schedule This bus runs daily and connects to other routes in West Mifflin and McKeesport.

Airports

Jefferson Hills is about 45 minutes southeast of Pittsburgh International Airport. This is the main airport for most air travel in the Pittsburgh area. The borough is also a short drive from the Allegheny County Airport, which is in nearby West Mifflin. This airport is important for business and corporate flights.

Utilities and Healthcare

Electricity in Jefferson Hills comes from West Penn Power and Duquesne Light. Natural gas is supplied by Equitable Gas Company. Republic Services takes care of trash and recycling.

JeffersonHospital
Jefferson Hospital

Jefferson Hills is home to AHN Jefferson Hospital, which used to be called Jefferson Regional Medical Center. This hospital opened in 1977 and has 373 beds. It serves the South Hills region of Pittsburgh, providing important medical care.

Safety Services

The Jefferson Hills police department is located in the town's municipal center. It has eighteen officers and other staff who help the community. The police department works with schools on programs like Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE). They also work with police from nine other nearby towns to share information about crimes.

The borough also has emergency management services and volunteer firefighters. There are two volunteer fire companies: Floreffe Volunteer Fire Company and Jefferson 885 Fire Company.

See also

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