Some famous inventions and discoveries were made in Butler County.Saxonburg was founded as a Prussian colony byJohn A. Roebling, a civil engineer, and his brother Carl. After farming for a time, Roebling returned to engineering, and invented his revolutionary "wire rope," which he first produced at Saxonburg. He moved the operation to Trenton, New Jersey. He is best known for designing his most famous work, theBrooklyn Bridge, but designed and built numerous bridges in Pittsburgh and other cities as well.
At what is now known as Oil Creek, Butler County resident William Smith andEdwin Drake first provedoil could be tapped from underground for consistent supply.
Famous politicians have lived in and traveled through Butler County. U.S. SenatorWalter Lowrie, the only senator from Butler, built a home in 1828 that still stands behind the Butler County Courthouse. The house has been adapted for use by the Butler County Historical Society. Butler's highest-ranked federal official isWilliam J. Perry,Secretary of Defense under PresidentBill Clinton from 1994 to 1997. He graduated from Butler High School in 1945.
On July 13, 2024, Butler County was the site of anassassination attempt of former President Donald Trump as he spoke at a campaign rally. Trump was shot in the ear and one spectator was killed. The shooter was also killed.[5] The next day, authorities namedThomas Matthew Crooks as the perpetrator.[6]
It is the location ofMoraine State Park, with the 3,000-acre (12 km2) glacial lake, Lake Arthur. Lake Arthur is used forfishing andsailing, and the surrounding park is used forhiking andhunting.
The county has a warm-summerhumid continental climate (Dfb), except for areas south of Moraine State Park where it is hot-summer (Dfa). Average monthly temperatures in Butler borough range from 27.7 °F (–2.4 °C) in January to 72.1 °F (22.3 °C) in July.[10]
U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13] 1990-2000[14] 2010-2019[15]
As of the2000 census,[16] there were 174,083 people, 65,862 households, and 46,827 families residing in the county. The population density was 221 inhabitants per square mile (85/km2). There were 69,868 housing units at an average density of 89 units per square mile (34/km2). Theracial/ethnic makeup of the county is 96.5% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, 0.7% from two or more races; and 0.9% Hispanic or Latino of any race. 39.0%German, 20.8%Irish, 13.1%Italian, 8.6%English, and 7.8%Polish.There were 65,862 households, out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.80% were married couples living together, 8.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 24.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.60% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 29.40% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.80 males.
Butler County has long been one of the most consistently Republican counties in Pennsylvania and the nation.[citation needed] The last Democratic presidential candidate to win it wasLyndon B. Johnson in1964, when he won a national landslide and carried all but four counties in the state; indeed, Johnson is the only Democratic presidential candidate to carry this county in over a century. In2000, RepublicanGeorge W. Bush received 62% of the vote, while DemocratAl Gore received 35%. In2004, the county was carried by Bush's 64% to DemocratJohn Kerry's 35%. In2008, the county was carried by RepublicanJohn McCain's 63% to DemocratBarack Obama's 35%. Since 2008, Butler County has continually given Republican nominees support in the mid-60s, with bothMitt Romney andDonald Trump receiving around 66% of the vote in2012,2016,2020, and2024.
In 2024, by political party, almost 80,000 residents registered as Republican, almost 40,000 registered as Democratic, and about 20,000 are not Democratic nor Republican.The New York Times described the county as being politically conservative.[20]
The Butler County Federated Library System (additionally known as the Library System of Butler County) includes the ten listed libraries. Each library is managed by its own Board of Directors. The majority of the funding for these libraries comes from state grants, user fines and donations with additional financial contributions from Butler County.[23] The first Butler library originated in 1894 with the Literary Society of Butler[24] in what is now known as the Little Red Schoolhouse.[25] The Butler Area Public Library, built in 1921, was the last Carnegie library built inPennsylvania. In the intervening 27 years the library was independently operated.[24] From 1921 to 1941 the library quadrupled the number of patrons served.[26] In 1987 the County commissioners, through a resolution, founded the Butler County Federated Library System.
The Butler County Symphony Orchestra (BCSO), is Butler County's largest performing arts non-profit. Founded in 1948 as the Butler Orchestral Association, the BCSO has been in continuous operations since its first concert in April 1950. Edward Roncone served as the first music director and conductor, and the inaugural performance also served as the sesquicentennial (150 years) celebration of Butler County.[27] The BCSO currently sponsors six subscription concerts, a Chamber Music Series, and a Summer Concert Series, making them operate as a year-round performing arts organization.
Moraine State Park The gently rolling hills, lush forests and sparkling waters disguise a land that has endured the effects of continental glaciers and massive mineral extraction. Each year over one million people visit the 16,725-acre (67.68 km2) park, yet never realize that many people helped restore the park from prior coal mining and oil and gas drilling practices. Today, the park is an outstanding example of environmental engineering achievement. During the third great ice advance about 140,000 years ago, a continental glacier dammed area creeks making three glacial lakes. To the north,Slippery Rock Creek filled giant Lake Edmund. To the southeast, extinct McConnells Run filled tiny Lake Prouty. In the middle, Muddy Creek filled the medium-sized Lake Watts.
Before the glacier dam, Slippery Rock and Muddy creeks flowed north while extinct McConnells Run flowed south. The glacier dammed Lake Prouty on the edge of the drainage divide. Eventually Lake Pouty spilled over and rushed to the south, carving Slippery Rock Creek Gorge. Lakes Watts and Edmund drained into the gorge, digging it deeper and making Slippery Rock and Muddy creeks flow south. Areas of the 400-foot (120 m) deep Slippery Rock Gorge may be seen at nearbyMcConnells Mill State Park.
The glacier created a landscape of rolling hills topped with hardwood trees and swamps in the valley bottoms. Moraines containing gravel, sand and clay were draped upon the landscape and silt was left on the extinct lake bottoms.[28]
Map of Butler County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Cities and Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).
Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities:cities,boroughs,townships, and, in at most two cases,towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Butler County:
Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by theU.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well.
Several of these communities, most notably Renfrew, Lyndora, Herman, Sarver, Cabot, Boyers, and Forestville, have post offices and zip codes, but aren't officially incorporated under Pennsylvania law, and exist entirely within townships.
Benjamin's Field, a trilogy by local author J. J. Knights[34]
ThePennsic War, an annual medieval camping event by theSociety for Creative Anachronism, is fought in Butler County. Its site becomes the fourth most populous place in the county for a few weeks each year.
Video games set in Butler County:
The Roottrees are Dead, a mystery video game by Jeremy Johnston, is primarily set in Butler County, Pennsylvania, home to the eponymous Roottree family and the headquarters of its candy corporation.
^Includes Allegheny, Washington, Butler, Beaver, Lawrence and Armstrong Counties
^"PHMC Historical Markers Search".Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Archived fromthe original(Searchable database) on March 21, 2016. RetrievedJanuary 25, 2014.
^Holland, B. (December 31, 2017). County of Butler, Pennsylvania Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the Year Ended December 31, 2017. Retrieved from www2.co.butler.pa.us › controller › Butler_CAFR_2017
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