Moon Township, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
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 (19.3 km) northwest of Pittsburgh. The origin of its name is unknown for certain, although it has been suggested that it derives from a crescent-shaped bend in the river. Another theory is derived from lore that tells of a waning crescent moon descending to plow furrows in farmer's fields with its sharp cusp, but killing many excited people who cursed and praised the moon's early morning activities. The population was 24,185 at the 2010 census.
(Seven Years' War
), the Iroquois, which 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. and were, in some cases, occupied by land squatters. The ceding of these lands occurred either through early treaties or outright abandonment by the Iroquois
nation – the avowed owners of the land.
Indian 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
, Aliquippa
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". 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
settler
s 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 acres (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.
Three other early grants were warranted by either Virginia or Pennsylvania land speculators. The boundaries of these land tracts are hard to identify, but historians believe that they encompassed about 700 acres (2.8 km²) or so, and were occupied by anonymous squatters. while the history is not known, scholars believe the squatters were somehow marginal to the social order. In abandoning their lands, the 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.
At this time Moon Township was an enormous tract of land - possibly 145 square miles (375.5 km²). The sheer difficulty of residents to perform their civic duties (e.g., report to assigned polling places or attend jury trials) made it necessary for local governing authorities to parcel out the land into smaller municipalities. So in 1790, the current Fayette Townships were portioned off from Moon Township, to be followed by Findlay and Crescent townships, respectively.
designed and built a housing plan known as Mooncrest for defense workers. Mooncrest residents produced armor plates, munitions and ship
s 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.
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 majority of the airport's runways and facilities are still located within the boundary of Moon Township.
The township is home to the Air Force Reserve 911th Airlift Wing, 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
, First Health/Coventry and the consumer division of GlaxoSmithKline
are located in Moon.
Ground was broken in late 2006 on the new Cherrington Parkway extension. The extension, anticipated to be opened in early 2008, will create additional shovel-ready land for Class A office space, for corporate development.
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 Walgreens
has been completed.
(now Interstate 376 Business). The center would retain 450 high paying jobs and increase it by 150 for a total of 600 jobs.
for $4.7 million and announced to the public on Jan. 3, 2007.
Wal-Mart officials announced their plans to build a supercenter location on the site of what's now the West Hills Shopping Center. The company also purchased two adjacent parcels of land along Brodhead Road. The store could open as soon as 2010.
.
The new road name also depicts the township's efforts to re-emerge as a business-dominant community. Since the 2003 re-naming, township officials have researched various zoning ordinances to piece together Moon's main business corridor.
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.
, which consists of students from both Moon and Crescent townships. The school district enrolls approximately 3,800 students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade.
, Crescent Township, North Fayette Township, Findlay Township and Robinson Township.
The township is accessible to the boroughs of Sewickley
and Edgeworth
via the Sewickley Bridge
over the Ohio River
.
The township is also situated next to Hopewell Township
in Beaver County.
BusinessWeek.com ranked Moon one of five best affordable suburbs in the North East.
Township officials had no idea the community received the award until Greg Smith, the township's manager, found the report online. The recognition includes the 15108 zip code covering Coraopolis
borough, Kennedy and Moon townships.
Moon also was included in the 2007 "Best Places To Raise Your Family" published by Wiley Publishing, Inc. Moon is featured on pages 166-167. This listing included Coraopolis
and Moon as the rankings are based on zip code.
made a surprise visit to Moon a day after pardoning President Richard M. Nixon on Sept. 9, 1974. President Bill Clinton
in the 1990s 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. In 2008, Clinton made a campaign appearance at Robert Morris University
. 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. September 2009 President Obama visited Pittsburgh for the G-20 conference.
, the township has a total area of 24.1 square miles (62.4 km²), of which 23.7 square miles (61.4 km²) is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), or 1.41%, is water.
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. 26.8% of all households 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.
Township (Pennsylvania)
A township in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a state of the United States of America, is one of four types of municipalities in the state . Townships were established based on convenient geographical boundaries and vary in size from six to forty square miles...
along the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
in Allegheny County
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Moon is a part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area
Pittsburgh Metro Area
The Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area is the metropolitan area surrounding the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is renowned for its industries including steel, glass and oil; moreover, its economy also thrives on healthcare, education, technology, robotics, financial services and more recently film...
and is located 12 miles (19.3 km) northwest of Pittsburgh. The origin of its name is unknown for certain, although it has been suggested that it derives from a crescent-shaped bend in the river. Another theory is derived from lore that tells of a waning crescent moon descending to plow furrows in farmer's fields with its sharp cusp, but killing many excited people who cursed and praised the moon's early morning activities. The population was 24,185 at the 2010 census.
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 WarFrench and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
(Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
), the Iroquois, which 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. and were, in some cases, occupied by land squatters. The ceding of these lands occurred either through early treaties or outright abandonment by the Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
nation – the avowed owners of the land.
Indian settlements of the south bank of the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
typically relocated to more populous areas of the north bank in the current locales of Sewickley
Sewickley, Pennsylvania
Sewickley is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, west northwest of Pittsburgh along the Ohio River. It is a residential suburb of Pittsburgh. The population was 3,827 at the 2010 census...
, Aliquippa
Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
Aliquippa is a city in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The population was 9,438 at the 2010 census. Formerly a borough, it was formally named a city in 1987 by the Aliquippa Council.-History:...
and Ambridge
Ambridge, Pennsylvania
Ambridge is a borough in Beaver County in Western Pennsylvania, incorporated in 1905 and named after the American Bridge Company. Ambridge is located 16 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, alongside the Ohio River. In 1910, 5,205 people lived in Ambridge; in 1920, 12,730 people lived there, and in...
.
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". Settlement processes were often convoluted because of differences among land policies of the several colonies claiming the land, specifically Pennsylvania and Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
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
Andrew Montour
Andrew Montour , also known as Henry Montour, Sattelihu, and Eghnisara, was an important métis interpreter and negotiator in the Virginia and Pennsylvania backcountry in the 1750s and 1760s....
, an Indian interpreter who had provided service to the English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
settler
Settler
A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...
s during the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
, was granted one of the first land patents for approximately 350 acres (1.4 km²) of what later became the borough of Coraopolis
Coraopolis, Pennsylvania
Coraopolis is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA. The population was 5,677 at the 2010 census. In 1940 the population peaked at 11,086. It is a small community located to the west of Pittsburgh, along the Ohio River and to the east of the Pittsburgh International Airport...
and Neville Island. In 1773, the settler John Meek was awarded a 400 acres (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.
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 somewhere between the current Thorn Run and Narrows Run valleys (although this 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, but historians believe that they encompassed about 700 acres (2.8 km²) or so, and were occupied by anonymous squatters. while the history is not known, scholars believe the squatters were somehow marginal to the social order. In abandoning their lands, the 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.
At this time Moon Township was an enormous tract of land - possibly 145 square miles (375.5 km²). The sheer difficulty of residents to perform their civic duties (e.g., report to assigned polling places or attend jury trials) made it necessary for local governing authorities to parcel out the land into smaller municipalities. So in 1790, the current Fayette Townships were portioned off from Moon Township, to be followed by Findlay and Crescent townships, respectively.
1900s to present
In 1943, the federal governmentFederal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
designed and built a housing plan known as Mooncrest for defense workers. Mooncrest residents produced armor plates, munitions and ship
Ship
Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
s at the nearby Dravo Corp. during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. 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
Allegheny County Airport
Allegheny County Airport is located in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, four miles southeast of the city of Pittsburgh. It is the fifth busiest airport in Pennsylvania following Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and Harrisburg...
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.
During the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, Moon Township was the location of Nike
Project Nike
Project Nike was a U.S. Army project, proposed in May 1945 by Bell Laboratories, to develop a line-of-sight anti-aircraft missile system. The project delivered the United States' first operational anti-aircraft missile system, the Nike Ajax, in 1953...
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
Pennsylvania Route 60
Pennsylvania Route 60 is a state highway located in the western suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Although the route follows a mostly east–west alignment, it is signed as a north–south highway. The southern terminus of the route is at a pseudo-interchange with U.S...
(now Interstate 376
Interstate 376
Interstate 376 is a major auxiliary route of the Interstate Highway System in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, located entirely within the Allegheny Plateau. It runs from I-80 near Sharon south and east to a junction with the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Monroeville, after having crossed the Turnpike...
) to the Pittsburgh airport, plus the addition of the Parkway West
Interstate 376
Interstate 376 is a major auxiliary route of the Interstate Highway System in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, located entirely within the Allegheny Plateau. It runs from I-80 near Sharon south and east to a junction with the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Monroeville, after having crossed the Turnpike...
from Pittsburgh and nearby exits of Interstate 79
Interstate 79
Interstate 79 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern United States, designated from Interstate 77 in Charleston, West Virginia to Pennsylvania Route 5 and Pennsylvania Route 290 in Erie, Pennsylvania...
, 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
Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport , formerly Greater Pittsburgh Airport, Greater Pittsburgh International Airport and commonly referred to as Pittsburgh International, is a joint civil–military international airport located in the Pittsburgh suburb of Findlay Township, approximately west of...
to nearby Findlay Township
Findlay Township, Pennsylvania
Findlay Township is a township located west of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,060 at the 2010 census.The township is the home of Pittsburgh International Airport.-Geography:...
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 majority of the airport's runways and facilities are still located within the boundary of Moon Township.
The township is home to the Air Force Reserve 911th Airlift Wing, 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
Robert Morris University
Robert Morris University is a private, coeducational university in suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1921, the school was named for Robert Morris, who signed the Declaration of Independence, and helped finance the ensuing war with the British.-History:Robert Morris...
is also located within the township.
Major corporation headquarters like Nova Chemicals
NOVA Chemicals
NOVA Chemicals Corporation is a plastics and chemical company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, with Executive Offices in the Pittsburgh suburb of Moon Township, Pennsylvania and Lambton County, Ontario. It was founded in 1954 as Alberta Gas Trunk Lines and was later renamed to NOVA Corporation...
, FedEx Ground
FedEx Ground
FedEx Ground is a shipping company which is a subsidiary of the FedEx corporation. It is headquartered in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. Originally conceived as a lower cost competitor to UPS, Roadway Package System was created to take advantage of new barcode, material...
, First Health/Coventry and the consumer division of GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline plc is a global pharmaceutical, biologics, vaccines and consumer healthcare company headquartered in London, United Kingdom...
are located in Moon.
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, anticipated to be opened in early 2008, will create additional shovel-ready land for Class A office space, for corporate development.
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
Doubletree
.Doubletree by Hilton is a worldwide brand of upscale, full-service hotels and resorts trademarked by Hilton Worldwide. There are currently more than 220 locations with 55,000 rooms worldwide in the United States, Canada, Costa Rica, Peru, China, United Kingdom, Italy, Slovakia, Tanzania, Norway...
Hotel and restaurants including Primanti's
Primanti's
Primanti Brothers is a chain of sandwich shops, founded in 1933. Locations are throughout Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and its suburbs, with an additional three locations in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area...
. A new Walgreens
Walgreens
Walgreen Co. , doing business as Walgreens , is the largest drugstore chain in the United States of America. As of August 31st, the company operates 8,210 locations across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1901, and has since expanded...
has been completed.
US Airways development
After years of declining its operations in Moon Township, US Airways announced Feb. 20, 2007, it would build its flight operations center on a piece of land adjacent to the Pittsburgh International Airport and Business Route 60Pennsylvania Route 60
Pennsylvania Route 60 is a state highway located in the western suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Although the route follows a mostly east–west alignment, it is signed as a north–south highway. The southern terminus of the route is at a pseudo-interchange with U.S...
(now Interstate 376 Business). The center would retain 450 high paying jobs and increase it by 150 for a total of 600 jobs.
West Hills Shopping Center
The West Hills Shopping Center, once the heart of Moon's commercial business, was sold to Wal-MartWal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
for $4.7 million and announced to the public on Jan. 3, 2007.
Wal-Mart officials announced their plans to build a supercenter location on the site of what's now the West Hills Shopping Center. The company also purchased two adjacent parcels of land along Brodhead Road. The store could open as soon as 2010.
University Boulevard
On the morning of Aug. 14, 2003, the former Beers School and Narrows Run roads became known as University Boulevard, a move that helped to promote the township as the home of Robert Morris UniversityRobert Morris University
Robert Morris University is a private, coeducational university in suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1921, the school was named for Robert Morris, who signed the Declaration of Independence, and helped finance the ensuing war with the British.-History:Robert Morris...
.
The new road name also depicts the township's efforts to re-emerge as a business-dominant community. Since the 2003 re-naming, township officials have researched various zoning ordinances to piece together Moon's main business corridor.
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 UniversityRobert Morris University
Robert Morris University is a private, coeducational university in suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1921, the school was named for Robert Morris, who signed the Declaration of Independence, and helped finance the ensuing war with the British.-History:Robert Morris...
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
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
in 2005.
Moon Park renovations
Moon Park, the township's largest community park, was to begin a $10 million renovation in the spring of 2008.Moon Area School District
Moon Township is home to the Moon Area School DistrictMoon Area School District
The Moon Area School District is located about 13 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It serves a portion of the West Hills/Airport Area that includes Crescent and Moon townships...
, which consists of students from both Moon and Crescent townships. The school district enrolls approximately 3,800 students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade.
Surrounding communities
In Allegheny County, Moon Township is surrounded by CoraopolisCoraopolis, Pennsylvania
Coraopolis is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA. The population was 5,677 at the 2010 census. In 1940 the population peaked at 11,086. It is a small community located to the west of Pittsburgh, along the Ohio River and to the east of the Pittsburgh International Airport...
, Crescent Township, North Fayette Township, Findlay Township and Robinson Township.
The township is accessible to the boroughs of Sewickley
Sewickley, Pennsylvania
Sewickley is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, west northwest of Pittsburgh along the Ohio River. It is a residential suburb of Pittsburgh. The population was 3,827 at the 2010 census...
and Edgeworth
Edgeworth, Pennsylvania
Edgeworth is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, along the Ohio River. The population was 1,680 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Edgeworth is located at ....
via the Sewickley Bridge
Sewickley Bridge
The Sewickley Bridge is a steel continuous truss bridge spanning the Ohio River at Sewickley, Pennsylvania and Moon Township, Pennsylvania carrying State Route 4025 and the Orange Belt. It was built by American Bridge Company and opened October 21, 1981. Its center span is long and the side spans...
over the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
.
The township is also situated next to Hopewell Township
Hopewell Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania
Hopewell Township is a township in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States, and a suburb of Pittsburgh. The population was 13,254 at the 2000 census....
in Beaver County.
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 North East.
Township officials had no idea the community received the award until Greg Smith, the township's manager, found the report online. The recognition includes the 15108 zip code covering Coraopolis
Coraopolis, Pennsylvania
Coraopolis is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA. The population was 5,677 at the 2010 census. In 1940 the population peaked at 11,086. It is a small community located to the west of Pittsburgh, along the Ohio River and to the east of the Pittsburgh International Airport...
borough, Kennedy and Moon townships.
Moon also was included in the 2007 "Best Places To Raise Your Family" published by Wiley Publishing, Inc. Moon is featured on pages 166-167. This listing included Coraopolis
Coraopolis, Pennsylvania
Coraopolis is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA. The population was 5,677 at the 2010 census. In 1940 the population peaked at 11,086. It is a small community located to the west of Pittsburgh, along the Ohio River and to the east of the Pittsburgh International Airport...
and Moon as the rankings are based on zip code.
Current
- Chuck AberChuck AberChuck Aber is an American actor.A graduate of Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, Aber appeared in the films Creepshow and The Silence of the Lambs , He has appeared in commercials and in the children's television series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood...
, actor - Kurt AngleKurt AngleKurt Steven Angle is an American professional wrestler, amateur wrestler, and 1996 Olympic gold medalist. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is recognized as a 15-time World Heavyweight Champion...
, NCAA champion wrestler, US Olympic gold-medal wrestler and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) professional wrestler; also formerly a sports anchor at WPGH-TVWPGH-TVWPGH-TV is the Fox-affiliated television station for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 43 from a transmitter at its studios on Ivory Avenue in the city's Summer Hill section. The station can also be seen on Verizon FiOS and Comcast channel 7... - Willie Colon, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Joe DeNardoJoe DeNardoJoseph William DeNardo is a Pittsburgh meteorologist. He is known for his 1994 Campaign "Joe Said It Would" the first "Said It Would" slogan in the nation...
, long-time WTAE-TVWTAE-TVWTAE-TV is the ABC affiliated television station for Western Pennsylvania that is licensed to Pittsburgh, broadcasting on UHF channel 51 and identifying via PSIP as channel 4 . It also serves as an ABC affiliate for the Wheeling/Steubenville and Clarksburg/Weston, West Virginia market areas...
personality that is mostly known for his work as a weather forecaster and the phrase "Joe Said It Would" - Trai EssexTrai EssexTrai J. Essex is an offensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League who has won two Super Bowl rings with the Steelers in Super Bowl XL and Super Bowl XLIII.-High school years:...
, Pittsburgh Steelers - Marc-Andre FleuryMarc-Andre FleuryMarc-André Fleury is a French Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League...
, Pittsburgh Penguins - James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Sarah MarinceSarah MarinceSarah Marince is an American country music singer from Moon Township, Pennsylvania. Active as a singer since childhood, she self-released one album in 2008...
, singer - T. Mark Mustio, Pennsylvania state representative
- John PippyJohn PippyJohn Pippy is an American politician from the U.S. State of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Republican Party and currently serves in the Pennsylvania State Senate.-Personal:...
, Pennsylvania state senator - Katelyn PippyKatelyn PippyKatelyn Pippy is an American actress, best known for her role as Emmalin Holden on the Lifetime television drama Army Wives....
, American actress
Former
- Jodi ApplegateJodi ApplegateJodi Applegate is an American news anchor for WPIX New York. She formerly anchored WNYW-TV's Good Day New York and News 12 Long Island.-Life and career:...
, graduate of Moon Area High School, former NBC NewsNBC NewsNBC News is the news division of American television network NBC. It first started broadcasting in February 21, 1940. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is...
anchor, currently employed at the Fox affiliate in New York City - Gust AvrakotosGust AvrakotosGustav Lascaris "Gust" Avrakotos was an American case officer and Afghan Task Force Chief for the United States Central Intelligence Agency....
, CIA operative whose exploits in Afghanistan were depicted in the 2007 film Charlie Wilson's WarCharlie Wilson's WarCharlie Wilson's War is a 2007 American biographical comedy drama film recounting the true story of U.S. Congressman Charlie Wilson who partnered with "bare knuckle attitude" CIA operative Gust Avrakotos to launch Operation Cyclone, a program to organize and support the Afghan mujahideen in their... - Jim BaechtoldJim BaechtoldJames E. "Jim" Baechtold was an American basketball player and professor at Eastern Kentucky University.He played collegiately for Eastern Kentucky University....
, second pick in 1952 NBA draft and Head Coach of Eastern Kentucky UniversityEastern Kentucky UniversityEastern Kentucky University, commonly referred to as Eastern or by the acronym EKU by local residents, is an undergraduate and graduate teaching and research institution located in Richmond, Kentucky, U.S.A.. EKU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
basketball - Barry BondsBarry BondsBarry Lamar Bonds is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. Bonds played from 1986 to 2007, for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He is the son of former major league All-Star Bobby Bonds...
, resided in Moon while playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates - Plaxico BurressPlaxico BurressPlaxico Antonio Burress is an American football wide receiver who currently plays for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers eighth overall in the 2000 NFL Draft...
, resided in Moon while playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers - John CalipariJohn CalipariJohn Calipari is an American basketball coach. Since April 2009, he has been the men's head coach at the University of Kentucky....
, graduate of Moon Area High School, basketball coach - Lou ChristieLou ChristieLuigi Alfredo Giovanni Sacco , known professionally as Lou Christie, is an American singer-songwriter best known for three separate strings of pop hits in the 1960s , including his 1966 smash, "Lightnin' Strikes" and his incredible 3 octave vocal range.-Biography:Sacco was born in Glenwillard,...
, graduate of Moon Area High School in 1961; singer, songwriter - Bob Davie, former Notre Dame football coach and current ESPN sportscaster, grew up in Moon
- Ann B. DavisAnn B. DavisAnn Bradford Davis is an American television actress.Davis achieved prominence for her role in The Bob Cummings Show for which she twice won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series...
, actress, briefly lived in Moon in the 1990s - Sean GilbertSean GilbertSean Gilbert is a former professional American football defensive lineman who was selected by the Los Angeles Rams as the third overall pick of the 1992 NFL Draft. A 6'5", 318-lb...
, Washington Redskins player - Ryan MaloneRyan MaloneRyan Malone is an American professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, former Pittsburgh Penguin - Rich MilotRich MilotRichard Paul Milot is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League who played his entire nine year career with the Washington Redskins from 1979 to 1987. He played college football at Penn State University and was drafted in the seventh round of the 1979 NFL Draft....
, graduate of Moon Area High School, a former American football linebacker who played his entire nine year career with the Washington RedskinsWashington RedskinsThe Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
from 1979 to 1987 in the National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He played college football at Penn State University. - Ray SealsRay SealsRaymond Seals is a former football defensive end in the NFL. He is famous for not having attended college, a rarity in the NFL; and in 1992 he batted away Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre's pass which ended up being his first ever career completion which was to himself...
, resided in Moon while playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers - Brandon WilsonBrandon WilsonBrandon Wilson is known as an author of non-fiction travel narratives and explorer.-Early years:Born in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, son of Dr. Edgar and Mary Beth Wilson is the eldest of 3 children...
, graduate of Moon Area High School, author/explorer
Moon in the media
- Scenes from the 1979 movie The Fish that Saved PittsburghThe Fish That Saved PittsburghThe Fish That Saved Pittsburgh is an American sports/fantasy comedy film that was released in 1979. The movie was directed by Gilbert Moses and co-produced by David Dashev and Gary Stromberg. It was produced by Lorimar and distributed by United Artists. The rights to the film are currently owned by...
were shot in the gym at Moon Area High SchoolMoon Area High SchoolMoon Area High School is a public high school located in the Moon Area School District in Pennsylvania. The school serves students in grades 9 through 12 from Crescent and Moon townships. It is now located at 8353 University Boulevard... - Los Angeles based production company, Phalco Films, was established in Moon Township in early 2006 before relocating to the west coast.
- Parts of the movie The Silence of the Lambs were filmed in Moon Township. Several Moon Township police officers had minor non speaking roles as extras in the film.
- Parts of the movie AdventurelandAdventureland (film)Adventureland is a 2009 Retro comedy-drama film written and directed by Greg Mottola. The film stars Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Margarita Levieva, Ryan Reynolds, Martin Starr, Bill Hader, and Kristen Wiig.-Plot:...
were filmed in Moon Township at the Stardust Lounge.
Presidential visits
Because Pittsburgh International Airport is adjacent to Moon, many presidential visits to the Pittsburgh area start in Moon. For example, President Gerald FordGerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
made a surprise visit to Moon a day after pardoning President Richard M. Nixon on Sept. 9, 1974. President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
in the 1990s 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. In 2008, Clinton made a campaign appearance at Robert Morris University
Robert Morris University
Robert Morris University is a private, coeducational university in suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1921, the school was named for Robert Morris, who signed the Declaration of Independence, and helped finance the ensuing war with the British.-History:Robert Morris...
. A day after securing the Democratic nomination for president, then-Vice President Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
held a rally at Moon's high school gym on March 16, 2000. September 2009 President Obama visited Pittsburgh for the G-20 conference.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the township has a total area of 24.1 square miles (62.4 km²), of which 23.7 square miles (61.4 km²) is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), or 1.41%, is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 22,290 people, 8,445 households, and 5,767 families residing in the township. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 26.8% of all households 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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.