Ben Avon

Incorporated as a town on January 9, 1892, Ben Avon has a long and storied history.  The name Ben Avon was proposed by resident James C. Lewis who thought the area reminded him of a hamlet near his birthplace in England.  The name Ben Avon when translated by the Scots means, “Hill by the water.”

The Borough began with five members, and by 1904 had increased to seven members.  By 1906 twenty-eight streets had been laid out in the borough.  Since then only a few streets have been added.

Growing populations in the early 1900’s required the building of schools.  First was a two story four room brick school at the corner of Dickson and Sturgeon finished in the fall of 1893.  A high school building was built in 1912.  In 1938, the Avonworth Union School District was formed, becoming the first union school district in the state.  Made up of the communities of Ben Avon, Ben Avon Heights, Emsworth, and Kilbuck Township and later Ohio Township, and in 1970 dropped Union from the name, became as it is known today, Avonworth School District.

Originally there three churches but, only one church remains in Ben Avon--the Community Presbyterian Church of Ben Avon.  The three original churches were Ben Avon Methodist, Emsworth Methodist Episcopal church, and Emsworth United Presbyterian Church.

Since its incorporation in 1892, Ben Avon has grown steadily, with the largest number of residents in 1970 with 2,713.  Numerous additions and changes have made Ben Avon more accessible to Pittsburgh.  The addition of the Ohio River Boulevard in 1930 made for a scenic drive through Avalon and Bellevue.  The road was not connected in Pittsburgh until some sixty years later.  The additions of Rts. 79 and 279 have made Pittsburgh very accessible to Ben Avon residents through Camp Horne Road.

Today, Ben Avon is as vibrant as ever, populated by a few businesses, and over 2,000 residents who are dedicated to preserving the storied past of Ben Avon through organizations such as the Avon Club and the Ben Avon Area Historical Association.

To learn more about Ben Avon, please try out some of the links below:

http://benavon.go-gbs.com/

http://www.city-data.com/city/Ben-Avon-Pennsylvania.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Avon,_Pennsylvania

http://www.hometownlocator.com/City/Ben-Avon-Pennsylvania.cfm

Return to Main Page

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

All information provided on this website is believed to be correct but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Users of this website and the pages within agree that they will not rely on any information provided.