Established in 1912 as a farming community, Mt. Lebanon became astreetcar suburb with the arrival of transit lines and a real estate subdivision in 1901, offering easy access toDowntown Pittsburgh.[2] The 1924 opening of theLiberty Tunnel further improved automobile access.[3] In 1975, it adopted one of Pennsylvania's firsthome rule charters.[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[2] 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, an affluent sub-division of Mt. Lebanon, it was thought to racial discrimination prevented him from doing so.[8] However, the rejection was due to the anticipated publicity and crowds which would result from the sale of the property to Ali. In 1974, Ali would purchase a different Mt. Lebanon home, on Orchard Drive.[9]
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."
Uptown Mt. Lebanon[11] is the central business district and has Washington Rd.[12] (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.[13] Beverly Road is another prominent business district in Mt. Lebanon. The road features several local restaurants, boutiques, and shops. It is located next toLincoln Elementary School in theMt. Lebanon School District.
Neighborhoods within Mt. Lebanon include Avondale, Beverly Heights, Carleton Manor, Cedarhurst, Clearview, Foxland, Highland Terrace, Hoodridge, Hoodridge Hilands, Lebanon Hills, McNeilly, Mission Hills, Old Virginia Manor, Parker Gardens, Seminole Hills, St. Clair Terrace, Sunset Hills, Twin Hills, Uptown, Virginia Manor, Washington Park, Willow Terrace, and Woodridge.[14]
Virginia Manor is an affluent subdivision, with streets designed to follow the natural contours of the land.[15] Future GovernorJames H. Duff helped found Virginia Manor in 1929.[16]
This section needs to beupdated. The reason given is: 2020 census data is available. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(November 2025)
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.
As of 2025, the average income for a household was $166,904. Married families had a median income of $169,482. The mean household income for married families was $207,467, while the mean income for overall households was $166,904. Non-family households had a median income of $53,048 and a mean income of $80,803.[22]
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. 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.[30]
Mt. Lebanon School District's sports teams are a big part of the community. The mascot is the Blue Devil, which has occasionally stirred controversy.[31]
The Mt. Lebanon School District has seven elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school:Mt. Lebanon High School. The Mt. Lebanon School District is a walking school district, meaning there is no provided school bus transportation to schools for students.[34]
The Mt. Lebanon Public Library, founded in 1932, is funded almost entirely by the municipality and county. It houses over 140,000 books, seats for 165 persons, and more than 50 public computers.[35]
Mt. Lebanon has been used as a filming location for various films and television productions. Directors praise and often use Mt. Lebanon due to its "picturesque" homes and streets.[37]
Movies or Television Productions Filmed in Mt. Lebanon
Media related toMt. Lebanon Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania at Wikimedia Commons
