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Moon Township is a township along the Ohio River in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. Moon is a part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area and is located 12 miles (19 km) northwest of Pittsburgh. The population was 27,261 at the 2020 census.[2]

Moon Township,
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Township
The house at Robin Hill Park, a large community center area in Moon Township
Location in Allegheny County and state of Pennsylvania
Coordinates: 40°31′N 80°14′W
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountyAllegheny
Incorporated1788
Government
  TypeCouncil
  ChairmanJohn Hertzer (R)
Area
  Total24.12 sq mi (62.46 km2)
  Land23.83 sq mi (61.71 km2)
  Water0.29 sq mi (0.75 km2)
Elevation
1,175 ft (358 m)
Population
 (2020)[2]
  Total27,261
  Estimate 
(2021)[2]
26,956
  Density1,073.57/sq mi (414.52/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
  Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code
15108
Area code(s)412, 724
FIPS code42-003-50784
WebsiteMoon Township

History



Early history (1756–1773)


The initial settlement of Moon Township was a direct result of the westward expansion of English settlers and traders who arrived in the Ohio Valley in the early to mid-18th century. During the French and Indian War (Seven Years' War), the Iroquois, who controlled the land for hunting grounds through right of conquest, ceded large parcels of southwestern Pennsylvania lands through treaty or abandonment to settlers. In some cases, the land was already occupied by squatters who were to be forced off the land.

In the face of this turmoil, Native American settlements of the south bank of the Ohio River typically relocated to more populous areas of the north bank in the current locales of Sewickley and Ambridge.

On the southern banks of the Ohio, political disputes among settlers clouded the disposition of lands. Generally, the Pennsylvania Land Office apportioned land to owners through grants. But, some of the land encompassing what is now the Coraopolis Heights, Thorn Run valley, and Narrows Run valley were claimed through the process of "Tomahawk Improvements", a non-specific and oftentimes contested method. Settlement processes were often convoluted because of differences among land policies of the several colonies claiming the land, specifically Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Each colony had its own means of either granting or restricting settlement opportunities. Each settler claiming land in what is now Moon Township had to go through a multi-level process of application for grant, warrant of property, and survey to ensure the physical boundaries of the property, and patent approval whereby the applicant paid for the land and title was conferred.

On April 3, 1769, Andrew Montour, an Indian interpreter who had provided service to the English settlers during the French and Indian War, was granted one of the first land patents for approximately 350 acres (1.4 km2) of what later became the borough of Coraopolis and Neville Island. In 1773, the settler John Meek was awarded a 400-acre (1.6 km2) land grant from Virginia above the river bottom and between the Thorn Run and Montour Run valleys, and "Moon Township" was born, although formal, legal recognition would have to wait until 1788.


Settlement times (1773–1799)


The settlers Robert Loudon and John Vail were awarded grants to a total of 600 acres (2.4 km2). Loudon's tract was situated on the Coraopolis Heights adjacent to the Meek grant. Vail's grant was established between the current Thorn Run and Narrows Run valleys (although the exact location is open to some interpretation).

Three other early grants were warranted by either Virginia or Pennsylvania land speculators. The boundaries of these land tracts are hard to identify, and the names of the original grantees are contested. But historians believe that they encompassed about 700 acres (2.8 km2) or so, and were occupied by anonymous squatters. Given that the history is somewhat hazy, it remains that in abandoning their lands, the unidentified squatters ceded any potential claims to settlers who would otherwise improve and/or cultivate the land.

As the 18th century drew to a close, abandoned lands were taken up by new settlers who were drawn to the region by the fertility of the soil. This round of pioneers were, by and large, wealthier than their predecessors and had the means to develop the broken and hilly areas into plots suitable for farming.

Moon Township was created in 1788 as one of the original townships of the newly created Allegheny County.[3] In 1789 by an act of the legislature a portion of Washington County south of the Ohio River was transferred to Allegheny County.[4] The transferred area became part of Moon Township.[5]

At this time Moon Township occupied an enormous tract of land – possibly 145 square miles (380 km2). Some reports and, more often, legends of the time indicate that it would take one man on horseback two days to travel between the boundaries of the township. The sheer difficulty of settlers performing their civic duties (e.g., reporting to assigned polling places or attending jury trials) made it necessary for local governing authorities to parcel out the land into smaller municipalities. So, in 1790, the current Fayette Township was portioned off from Moon Township, to be followed by Findlay and Crescent townships, respectively.

In 1800 when Beaver County was created from Allegheny and Washington Counties that portion of Beaver County south of the Ohio River that it received from Allegheny County was in Moon Township. Upon the creation of Beaver County that portion of Moon Township that Allegheny County lost to Beaver County was divided into two new townships: First Moon and Second Moon Townships, Beaver County.[6]


1900s to present


In 1943, the federal government designed and built a housing plan known as Mooncrest for defense workers. Mooncrest residents produced armor plates, munitions and ships at the nearby Dravo Corp. during World War II. Operated by the U.S. Air Force after 1945, homes were sold to private investors in the mid-1950s.

Moon became home to Pittsburgh's modern-day airport in 1951, replacing the Allegheny County Airport as the main terminal for the region. The area developed mainly due to the airport. Prior to this time, the western hills of Allegheny County consisted largely of rolling farms and small residential developments. On April 1, 1956, TWA Flight 400 crashed on takeoff from the airport, killing 22 people just past the east end of the runway, which lies in Moon Township.

During the Cold War, Moon Township was the location of Nike Site PI-71, which was a battery of Nike Ajax and/or Nike Hercules surface-to-air missiles, used by US armed forces for high – and medium-altitude air defense. The former missile site is now a nature preserve.

Development of Pennsylvania Route 60 (now Interstate 376) to the Pittsburgh airport, plus the addition of the Parkway West from Pittsburgh and nearby exits of Interstate 79, allowed Moon to become the area's crossroads for transportation via air and road.

In 1991, the relocation of the landside terminal of the Pittsburgh International Airport to nearby Findlay Township resulted in a loss in traffic to the township. Moon experienced a significant loss of tax revenues but has since rebounded as the cargo area for the airport.

A large part of the airport's runways and facilities are located within the boundary of Moon Township, although the terminal and about half of the airport's land area are in Findlay Township, to the west.

The township is home to the Air Force Reserve 911th Airlift Wing,[7] which was established in 1943. Moon is also home to the 171st Air Refueling Wing of the Pa. Air National Guard. Additionally, the Army has its 99th Regional Readiness Command, built in the late 1990s in Moon Township.

Since the loss of the airport terminal, the township has shifted its focus from airport commerce to corporate development, residences and university hub. The main campus of Robert Morris University is also located within the township.

Major corporation headquarters like Nova Chemicals, FedEx Ground, and First Health/Coventry are located in Moon.

Moon Township is the location of the National Weather Service forecast office that serves Pittsburgh.[8]


Expansion and development


Growth is expected to continue in Moon in the near future due to many new construction projects such as the redevelopment of University Boulevard and conversion of the West Hills Shopping Center into a new shopping plaza.

Ground was broken in late 2006 on the new Cherrington Parkway extension. The extension, which opened in early 2008, created additional shovel-ready land for Class A office space, for corporate development.[9]

As a result of Robert Morris University, the college feeds much of the economy along the township's University Boulevard area.

Several new businesses have opened recently, including the new DoubleTree Hotel and restaurants including Primanti's. A new Walmart has been completed.


US Airways development


US Airways was born in Pittsburgh in 1939 as All-American Aviation, an airmail service that was the brainchild of the duPont family, and helmed by brothers Richard and Alexis Felix duPont – with the supervision of CEO Steven Gardner. Once passenger airline service became the vogue, the duPonts decided to haul people instead of boxes and letters and, in 1953, Allegheny Airlines was born.

Allegheny Airlines was one of the fastest growing airlines between the late '50s and '70s. During that time, Allegheny Airlines had absorbed two regional airlines, Lake Central and Mowhawk. This sudden growth was a burden on the airline employees, who often had to make creative rather than operational decisions when encountering a traveler. Hence, Allegheny Airlines was colloquially called "Agony Airlines."

In 1978, the Airline Deregulation Act was passed. The next year Allegheny Airlines renamed itself USAir.

During the '80s, USAir went on a shopping spree. Within two years, they had bought up both Piedmont and Pacific Southwest Airlines, bringing their total number of flights to about 5,000 daily.

In 1987, with major subsidies from both Allegheny County and the State of Pennsylvania, USAir commanded the building of a 1.2 billion dollar expansion (rebuilding) of Pittsburgh International Airport. Where, it was said, USAir would retain a commanding presence and an airline hub for at least 45 years.

Even before their custom-made airport was finished, USAir became US Airways and promised that the hub status of PIT airport would remain in place.

After years of declining its operations in Moon Township, US Airways announced February 20, 2007, it would build its flight operations center on a piece of land adjacent to the Pittsburgh International Airport and Business Route 60 (now Interstate 376 Business).[10] The center would retain 450 high paying jobs and increase it by 150 for a total of 600 jobs. The facility was closed following the 2015 merger of US Airways and American Airlines, and replaced by a different facility in Fort Worth, Texas.[11]


West Hills Shopping Center


The West Hills Shopping Center, once the heart of Moon's commercial business, was sold to Wal-Mart for $4.7 million and announced to the public on January 3, 2007.[12]

Wal-Mart officials announced their plans to build a supercenter location on the site of what was the West Hills Shopping Center.[13] The company also purchased two adjacent parcels of land along Brodhead Road. Preparation of the site began in the second half of 2015. The store opened in fall of 2016.

Among the usual businesses occupied by shopping centers, West Hills Shopping Center also housed Sacco Bowling Lanes (later renamed Runway Lanes), Rolling Wheels roller skating rink, Jojo's Gyros, Blandino's Pizza, Jenny Lee Bakery, and in a separate building next to the center's south end, West Hills Cinema.


University Boulevard


On the morning of August 14, 2003, the former Beers School and Narrows Run Roads (from the I-376 Business Loop route to Thorn Run Road) became known as University Boulevard, a move that helped to promote the township as the home of Robert Morris University.[14]

The new road name also depicts the township's efforts to re-emerge as a business-dominant community. Since the 2003 renaming, township officials have researched various zoning ordinances to piece together Moon's main business corridor.[15][16]


Explore Our Universe


Playing off the township's unique name, supervisors in 2005 gave Moon a new slogan, "Explore Our Universe". "The slogan is a play not only on the township's lunar name but also on Robert Morris University and the University Boulevard business corridor, which township officials would like investors and consumers to explore a little more thoroughly," wrote the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 2005.[17]


Moon Park renovations


Moon Park, the township's largest community park, was to begin a $10 million renovation in the spring of 2008.[18]


Geography and Climate


According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 24.1 square miles (62 km2), of which 23.7 square miles (61 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2), or 1.41%, is water.

Climate data for Moon Township, PA (1991-2020 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 35.6
(2.0)
39.4
(4.1)
48.5
(9.2)
62.0
(16.7)
71.8
(22.1)
79.0
(26.1)
83.0
(28.3)
82.3
(27.9)
75.6
(24.2)
63.3
(17.4)
50.8
(10.4)
40.4
(4.7)
61.0
(16.1)
Daily mean °F (°C) 27.5
(−2.5)
30.4
(−0.9)
38.1
(3.4)
49.8
(9.9)
60.5
(15.8)
68.6
(20.3)
72.6
(22.6)
71.3
(21.8)
64.4
(18.0)
52.2
(11.2)
41.8
(5.4)
33.1
(0.6)
50.9
(10.5)
Average low °F (°C) 19.4
(−7.0)
21.3
(−5.9)
27.8
(−2.3)
37.6
(3.1)
49.2
(9.6)
58.3
(14.6)
62.2
(16.8)
60.2
(15.7)
53.2
(11.8)
41.2
(5.1)
32.7
(0.4)
25.8
(−3.4)
40.7
(4.8)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.06
(78)
2.59
(66)
3.35
(85)
3.56
(90)
3.96
(101)
4.37
(111)
4.11
(104)
3.56
(90)
3.81
(97)
3.07
(78)
3.11
(79)
3.25
(83)
41.80
(1,062)
Source: NOAA[19][20]

Surrounding and adjacent communities


Moon Township has six land borders, including Crescent Township to the north-northwest, Hopewell Township (Beaver County) to the northwest, Findlay Township to the west and southwest, North Fayette Township to the south, Robinson Township to the southeast, east and northeast, and the borough of Coraopolis to the north-northeast. Across the Ohio River to the northwest, a section of Moon runs adjacent with (from north to south) Edgeworth, Sewickley, and Glen Osborne. The Sewickley Bridge is the direct link between Moon Township and Sewickley.


Demographics


Historical population
CensusPop.
18501,383
18601,148−17.0%
18701,2307.1%
18801,38912.9%
18901,4494.3%
19001,371−5.4%
19101,52611.3%
19201,70011.4%
19302,90070.6%
19403,73328.7%
19507,09690.1%
196010,64250.0%
197018,31772.1%
198020,93514.3%
199019,631−6.2%
200022,29013.5%
201024,1858.5%
202027,26112.7%
2021 (est.)26,956[2]−1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[21][22][23][24][25][26][27]

As of the census[28] of 2000, there were 22,290 people, 8,445 households, and 5,767 families residing in the township. The population density was 939.1 people per square mile (362.5/km2). There were 9,200 housing units at an average density of 387.6/sq mi (149.6/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 93.17% White, 3.58% African American, 0.06% Native American, 1.94% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.99% of the population.

There were 8,445 households, out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. Of all households, 26.8% were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the township the population was spread out, with 22.1% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $57,173, and the median income for a family was $68,256. Males had a median income of $48,444 versus $31,073 for females. The per capita income for the township was $26,457. About 2.2% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.


Education


Moon Township is home to the Moon Area School District, which consists of students from both Moon and Crescent townships. The school district enrolls approximately 3,900 students in their 7 schools educating grades kindergarten through 12th grade.


Government and politics


Presidential Elections Results[29][30][31]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 51% 7,658 47% 7,098 1% 187
2016 55% 6,875 44% 5,554 1% 94
2012 57% 6,785 42% 4,908 1% 121

The township is policed by the Moon Township Police Department.


National recognition


In 2007, Moon Township was honored with several honors as one of the country's best places to live. BusinessWeek.com ranked Moon one of five best affordable suburbs in the Northeast.[32][33] The recognition includes the 15108 zip code covering Coraopolis borough, Kennedy and Moon townships.

Moon was nominated as a runner-up in the list of top Pittsburgh suburbs to raise a family in 2013.[34]


Notable people



Moon in the media



Presidential visits


Because Pittsburgh International Airport is adjacent to Moon, many presidential visits to the Pittsburgh area start in Moon. For example, President Gerald Ford made a surprise visit to Moon a day after pardoning President Richard M. Nixon on September 9, 1974.[37] In 1994, President Bill Clinton greeted Prime Minister John Major of Great Britain at a hangar at the 911th Air Wing of the Air Force Reserve at the Pittsburgh International Airport in Moon Township.[38][39] A day after securing the Democratic nomination for president, then–Vice President Al Gore held a rally at Moon's high school gym on March 16, 2000. In September 2009, President Obama visited Pittsburgh for the G-20 conference.[40] Then–Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump held a rally on June 11, 2016, at the Moon Township airplane hangar. On March 10, 2018, then-President Trump held another rally at the Moon Township airplane hangar, campaigning in support of Republican congressional candidate Rick Saccone for a special election within Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district.[41]


References


  1. "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
  2. Bureau, US Census. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  3. History of Alleghany County, Pennsylvania, 2 volumes (Chicago: A Warner & Co., 1889), vol. 2, p. 5; digital images, Internet Archive (https://archive.org : accessed November 3, 2018).
  4. Laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 4 vols. (Philadelphia: John Bioren, 1810), vol. 2, page 492-493, Chapter MCCCCXXIV, Section II, "An Act for annexing part of the county of Washington to the county of Allegheny," September 17, 1789, an area of Washington County south of the Ohio River was annexed to Allegheny County after the survey, digital images, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Legislative Reference Bureau (http://www.palrb.us : November 3, 2018).
  5. Joseph Henderson Bausman, History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania: And Its Centennial Celebration, 2 volumes (New York: Knickerbocker Press, 1904), vol. 2, p. 861; digital images, Google Books (https://books.google.com : accessed November 2, 2018).
  6. Until 1789 all that area south of the Ohio River that would become part of Beaver County was part of Washington County. In 1789 by an act of the legislature all that portion of Washington County south of the Ohio River that in 1800 was included in First and Second Moon Townships was transferred to Allegheny County. There is no map of Allegheny County of that period showing townships, and there is a break in the Minutes of the Court of Quarter Sessions from 1793 to 1820, two books having been lost or burned at the time of the burning of the Allegheny County court-house, May 7, 1882. But from what is yet remaining of those minutes, that is, up to 1793, and from the Road Dockets and Miscellaneous Dockets, it would appear that this annexed territory was considered a part of one of the original Allegheny County townships, namely Moon. The dockets uniformly show under the head of Moon township the petitions for roads, etc., coming up from the inhabitants in every part of the annexed region. This is the case up to 1800, when Beaver County was formed; and until 1804, when Beaver County ceased to be connected with Allegheny County for judicial purposes,—all that part of the county, even as far down as Georgetown, is spoken of as Moon township. Joseph Henderson Bausman, History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania: And Its Centennial Celebration, 2 volumes (New York: Knickerbocker Press, 1904), vol. 2, p. 861; digital images, Google Books (https://books.google.com : accessed November 2, 2018).
  7. "Air Force Reserve". www.afreserve.com.
  8. "NWS Forecast Office Pittsburgh, PA". September 23, 2018.
  9. "Allegheny County News". Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved March 18, 2007.
  10. David, Brian (March 1, 2007). "US Airways will build in Moon". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  11. Belko, Mark (July 29, 2015). "US Airways operations center in Moon to close in late August". www.post-gazette.com. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  12. Wal-Mart buys strip mall Archived January 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, January 3, 2007.
  13. Wal-Mart offers first glimpse of Moon plans, Coraopolis-Moon Record, September 6, 2007.
  14. Brandebura, Joyce (April 16, 2003). "University Boulevard unveiled with ceremony at Robert Morris". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  15. Gigler, Dan (October 15, 2003). "Moon: Plan for University Boulevard includes pedestrian-friendly features". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  16. Gigler, Dan (March 2, 2005). "Moon designates corridor for development". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  17. Gigler, Dan (August 11, 2004). "Township invites visitors to explore". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  18. "yourmoontownship.com". ww5.yourmoontownship.com.
  19. "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  20. "Monthly Normals 1991-2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  21. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  22. "1850-1870 Population" (PDF).
  23. "1870-1880 Population" (PDF).
  24. "1890-1910 Population" (PDF).
  25. "1910-1930 Population" (PDF).
  26. "1940-1960 Population" (PDF).
  27. "1970-1990 Population" (PDF).
  28. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  29. EL. "2012 Allegheny County election". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  30. EL. "2016 Pennsylvania general election..." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  31. "Official Results". results.enr.clarityelections.com.
  32. Roney, Maya. "The 20 Best Affordable Suburbs in the Northeast". businessweek.com. Archived from the original on August 23, 2007. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  33. "Moon Township Voted Fifth Best Affordable Suburb". moontwp.com. Moon Township Administration. Archived from the original on July 1, 2007. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  34. ampackard (October 21, 2013). "Best Suburb of Pittsburgh to Raise a Family?". www.heartlandluxuryhomes.com. Heartland Homes. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  35. "Lou Christie High School". "Lou Christie Official Web Site. Retrieved February 1, 2007.
  36. Vancheri, Barbara (April 2, 2009). "'Adventureland' uses several locations in area". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  37. Majors, Dan (December 28, 2006). "In wake of Nixon pardon, Ford visited Pittsburgh". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved February 18, 2007.
  38. Tramontina, Gary (February 28, 1994). "President Bill Clinton and British Prime Minister John Major visit Pittsburgh". www.upi.com. United Press International, Inc. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  39. Sebak, Rick (December 21, 2015). "Bill Clinton's Most Unusual Visit to Pittsburgh". www.pittsburghmagazine.com. WiesnerMedia. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  40. O'Toole, James (March 16, 2000). "Gore, in Moon, asks if Bush is qualified". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved February 18, 2007.
  41. Delano, Jon (March 10, 2018). "Trump Comes to Pittsburgh as Congressional Election Goes Down to the Wire". CBS Pittsburgh. Retrieved March 10, 2018.



На других языках


- [en] Moon Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

[fr] Moon Township (comté d'Allegheny, Pennsylvanie)

Moon Township est un township, situé dans le comté d'Allegheny, en Pennsylvanie, aux États-Unis[1],[2]. En 2010, il comptait une population de 24 185 habitants.

[it] Moon (Pennsylvania)

Moon è una township degli Stati Uniti d'America, nella contea di Allegheny nello Stato della Pennsylvania. Secondo il censimento del 2000 la popolazione è di 22.290 abitanti.



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