Township Background

Elizabeth Township had its origin in the very beginning of our nation. Located in the mainstream of the early exploration and development of the upper Ohio Valley and its tributaries, it has many historical landmarks dating back to the 18th century.

During the 1800's it developed into a thriving farm and coal mining area. Riverboats and dams on the Youghiogheny River produced the coal mining towns of Boston, Greenock, Buena Vista, Frank, Industry, Blythedale, and Smithdale. The central highland section boasted some of the largest and most prosperous farms in the area supplying the Pittsburgh market.

By the end of the 1930's, the coal-mining era was coming to an end. The character of the area began to change. The post World War II building boom saw many of the large farms subdivided into home sites. A public water system, started in the early 1940's was expanded to meet the increasing demands of the home building market. Later, in the early 1960's, a public sewer system was installed.

Today, Elizabeth Township is a growing, residential community. Elizabeth Township is located in the southeastern section of Allegheny County, on the Western Boundary of Westmoreland County. The Youghiogheny River, which runs along the Township's Eastern Boundary, provides the backdrop for a hiking/biking trail that extends North to Pittsburgh and South to Ohiopyle. The river and the trail combine to give Elizabeth Township one of the longest, most scenic natural recreation areas in Western Pennsylvania.