Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|
 Uptown Mt. Lebanon along Washington Road (Rt. 19 Truck) | |
| Motto: "A Community with Character" | |
 Location inAllegheny County and inPennsylvania | |
| Coordinates:40°22′30″N80°3′0″W / 40.37500°N 80.05000°W /40.37500; -80.05000 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Allegheny |
| Named after | Cedrus libani (Cedar of Lebanon) |
| Government | |
| • Body | Commission |
| • President of Commission | Anne Swager Wilson (D) |
| Area | |
• Total | 6.08 sq mi (15.75 km2) |
| • Land | 6.08 sq mi (15.74 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 34,075 |
| • Density | 5,604.44/sq mi (2,163.49/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 15228, 15243 |
| FIPS code | 42-003-51696 |
| Website | www.MtLebanon.org |
Mt. Lebanon Historic District | |
| NRHP reference No. | 14000813[2] |
| Added to NRHP | September 30, 2014 |
Mt. Lebanon (locally/ˈlɛb.ə.nən/) is atownship withhome rule status inAllegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 34,075 at the2020 census. It is asuburb ofPittsburgh. Established in 1912 as Mount Lebanon, the township was a farming community. With the arrival of the firststreetcar lines and the development of the first real estate subdivision, both in 1901, it became astreetcar suburb, offering residents the ability to commute toDowntown Pittsburgh.[3] Furthermore, the opening of theLiberty Tunnel in 1924 allowed easyautomobile access to Pittsburgh. In 1975, the renamed Mt. Lebanon adopted one of the firsthome rule charters in Pennsylvania.[4][5]
The first European settlers arrived in 1773–1774, having purchased the land from the descendants ofWilliam Penn; other pioneers soon bought land from the state government.
In 1912, Mount Lebanon Township was incorporated as a "First Class Township" underPennsylvania state law. It had formerly been a part ofScott Township, which in turn traces its origins to the long-defunctSt. Clair Township. Mount Lebanon was not named for twoCedar of Lebanon trees that were planted in 1850 on Washington Road near the top of Bower Hill Road, but was named after the area from which they came,Mount Lebanon, due to the similarities between the two landscapes.[6] Prior to the incorporation of the township, the "Mount Lebanon" name was used for the area ofUpper St. Clair Township near the cedar trees. In the 1880s, apost office located near the transplanted cedar trees was named "Mount Lebanon". Incorporators of neighboringDormont Borough initially tried to use the "Mount Lebanon" name in 1909, but were opposed by residents of the future Mount Lebanon Township.
In 1928, Mount Lebanon became the first First Class township in Pennsylvania to adopt thecouncil–manager form of government and has had an appointed manager serving as the chief administrative officer since that time.
Mount Lebanon was a farming community until the arrival ofstreetcar lines, the first line to Pittsburgh opening on July 1, 1901[3] followed by a second in 1924. After the arrival of the streetcar lines, which enabled daily commuting to and fromDowntown Pittsburgh, Mount Lebanon became astreetcar suburb, with the first real estate subdivision being laid out in November 1901. Further, the opening of theLiberty Tubes in 1924 allowed easyautomobile access to Pittsburgh. Between the 1920 and 1930 censuses, the township's population skyrocketed from 2,258 to 13,403. Today, Pittsburgh's mass transit agency, thePittsburgh Regional Transit, or "PRT," operates alight rail system whoseRed Line, which runs underneath Uptown Mt. Lebanon through theMt. Lebanon Tunnel, merges with theBlue Line in Pittsburgh'sMt. Washington section. Mt. Lebanon's only platform station,Mt. Lebanon Station, is in Uptown Mt. Lebanon; the adjacentDormont Junction andCastle Shannon stations are in neighboring municipalities. And as of thecensus[7] of 2000, there were 33,017 people living in Mt. Lebanon.
In 1971,Muhammad Ali attempted to purchase a home in Virginia Manor, but racial discrimination prevented him from doing so.[8] However, some residents have claimed that the rejection was due to the anticipated publicity and crowds which would result from the sale of the property to Ali.
On May 21, 1974, the electorate approved ahome rulecharter, which took effect on January 1, 1975;[4] as such, the community is no longer governed under the provisions of the Pennsylvania Township Code. Mount Lebanon became one of the first municipalities in Pennsylvania to adopt a home rule charter.[5] In the charter, the official name of the municipality became Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania; the word "Mount" is abbreviated in all government documents, although theU.S. Postal Service continues to use "Mount."
Mt. Lebanon is located at40°22′30″N80°3′0″W / 40.37500°N 80.05000°W /40.37500; -80.05000 (40.375, -80.05).[9] According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 6.06 square miles (15.7 km2), all land.
Mt. Lebanon is a highly affluentsuburb ofPittsburgh 7 miles (11 km) south of the city's downtown. There are two small borders with Pittsburgh neighborhoods to the northeast (Brookline) and north (Banksville). The remainder of the northeast border is with theborough ofDormont. The entire western border is withScott Township. To the south are the two towns which, due to their comparable size and affluence, are most often compared with Mt. Lebanon:Upper St. Clair to the southwest andBethel Park to the southeast. To the east isCastle Shannon, and finally, to the east-northeast isBaldwin Township (not to be confused with theBorough of Baldwin).
Uptown Mt. Lebanon[10] is the central business district and has Washington Rd.[11] (U.S. Rt. 19 Truck) as its main thoroughfare. (U.S. Rt. 19 Truck continues into Pittsburgh and back out into the city's northern suburbs and beyond.) Uptown Mt. Lebanon is one of the more built up central business districts outside of Pittsburgh, featuring numerous coffee shops, small galleries, pizzerias, and clothing boutiques. The neighborhood is organized as The Uptown Mt. Lebanon Business and Professional Association.[12]
There are sizable business districts along the borders with Upper St. Clair and Castle Shannon, as well.
Neighborhoods within Mt. Lebanon include: Beverly Heights, Cedarhurst Manor, Hoodridge Hilands, Mission Hills, Sunset Hills, Virginia Manor, Twin Hills, and Woodridge.
Virginia Manor is an affluentsubdivision, with streets designed to follow the natural contours of the land.[13] Future GovernorJames H. Duff helped found Virginia Manor in 1929.[14]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 2,258 | — | |
| 1930 | 13,403 | 493.6% | |
| 1940 | 19,571 | 46.0% | |
| 1950 | 26,604 | 35.9% | |
| 1960 | 35,361 | 32.9% | |
| 1970 | 39,157 | 10.7% | |
| 1980 | 34,414 | −12.1% | |
| 1990 | 33,362 | −3.1% | |
| 2000 | 33,017 | −1.0% | |
| 2010 | 33,137 | 0.4% | |
| 2020 | 34,075 | 2.8% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 33,218 | [15] | −2.5% |
| Sources:[7][16][17][18][19] | |||
As of thecensus[7] of 2000, there were 33,017 people, 13,610 households, and 9,023 families residing in the township. The population density was 5,457.2 inhabitants per square mile (2,107.0/km2). There were 14,089 housing units at an average density of 2,328.7 per square mile (899.1/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 96.21%White, 0.61%Black, 0.07%Native American, 2.29%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.18% fromother races, and 0.62% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.80% of the population.
There were 13,610 households, out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.3% weremarried couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.00. The median age was 42 years.
In the township the population was spread out, with 24.8% under the age of 18, 4.0% were 18 to 24, 26.9% were 25 to 44, 25.4% were 45 to 64, and 18.8% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $60,783, and the median income for a family was $79,744 (these figures had risen to $73,765 and $98,731 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[20]). Males had a median income of $56,183 versus $37,008 for females. Theper capita income for the township was $33,652. About 2.2% of families and 3.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.
Mt. Lebanon Historic District | |
 | |
| Area | 1,306.0 acres (528.5 ha) |
|---|---|
| Built | 1874–1945 |
| NRHP reference No. | 14000813 |
| Added to NRHP | September 30, 2014 |
A large portion of Mt. Lebanon is listed as the Mt. Lebanon Historic District on theNational Register of Historic Places. The district contains 3,341 contributing buildings and 21 contributing sites. Most of the buildings (89%) are residential, though two commercial areas are included.[21]
The district is a significant example of the transition from a rural agricultural area to a suburb made possible first by thetrolley/streetcar,c. 1901, and later by the automobile in the 1920s and 1930s with the opening of the Liberty Tubes in 1924. The boundaries of the district include those areas that were developed between 1874 andc. 1945.[21]
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Mt. Lebanon provides many recreational opportunities for its residents. Fifteen parks are scattered over 200 acres (0.81 km2) throughout the community. In addition to the parks, there is an Olympic size swimming pool, open in summer, and a regulation size ice rink and recreation building located adjacent to Mt. Lebanon Park on Cedar Blvd. Mt. Lebanon also boasts one of the oldest public golf courses in western Pennsylvania and has several tennis and basketball courts which are open year-round. Other recreational facilities include a Sand volleyball court, bocce courts, platform tennis, a plethora of picnic pavilions and over eight children's playgrounds.[22]
Mt. Lebanon School District's sports teams are a big part of the community. The mascot is currently the Blue Devil, which has occasionally stirred controversy.[23]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 31%6,862 | 68%15,268 | 2%348 |
| 2020 | 32%7,146 | 67%15,164 | 1%315 |
| 2016 | 36%6,856 | 63%12,235 | 1%219 |
| 2012 | 46%8,940 | 53%10,426 | 1%197 |
| 2008 | 45%9,041 | 54%11,019 | 1%216 |
CongressmanChris Deluzio represents the area in theUnited States House of Representatives as a part ofPennsylvania's 17th congressional district. Mt. Lebanon is inDistrict 42 of the Pennsylvania Senate and is represented byWayne Fontana. Mt. Lebanon is inDistrict 42 of thePennsylvania House of Representatives and is represented by Mt. Lebanon residentDan Miller.
The Mt. Lebanon government takes the form of a commission, made up of 5 commissioners - one from each of Mt. Lebanon's 5 wards.
| Name | Ward Representing | Term | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeff Siegler | 1 | 2027 | D |
| Steve Silverman | 2 | 2026 | D |
| Anne Swager Wilson | 3 | 2024 | D |
| Craig Grella | 4 | 2026 | D |
| Andrew Flynn | 5 | 2024 | D |
The district has seven elementary schools: Foster Elementary School, Hoover Elementary School, Howe Elementary School, Jefferson Elementary School, Lincoln Elementary School, Markham Elementary School, and Washington Elementary School. The two middle schools are Jefferson Middle School and Andrew W. Mellon Middle School. There is one high school:Mt. Lebanon High School. The district has won multipleNational Blue Ribbon School awards.[27] The high school was rated as one of the Top 500 high schools in the United States byNewsweek in 2000 and 1st inWestern Pennsylvania by thePittsburgh Business Times in 2005.[28]
Keystone Oaks High School is physically located in Mt. Lebanon but serving the adjacent communities ofGreentree,Dormont andCastle Shannon.Seton-La Salle Catholic High School, and the St. Bernard school, both Diocese of Pittsburgh schools, are also in Mt. Lebanon.
The Mt. Lebanon Public Library, founded in 1932, is funded almost entirely by the municipality and county. Its home is a $4.2 million building, with shelves for 140,000 books, seats for 165 persons, and more than 50 public computers. When the building opened in 1997, it won an architectural design award and was featured in the architectural issue ofLibrary Journal.[29]
Media related toMt. Lebanon Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania at Wikimedia Commons
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