About Elizabeth Township

Welcome to Elizabeth Township, one of the best kept secrets in Western Pennsylvania!
Elizabeth Township offers a unique combination of rural lifestyle, proximity to a major city (Pittsburgh, PA), and access to recreation areas that, we believe, is unequaled in Western Pennsylvania.  Elizabeth Township provides a range of services, including full-time police and public works departments. Public schools are well maintained and provide a safe, progressive learning environment for our children.

The Board of Commissioners provides this web site as a way to introduce you to our Community, of which we are very proud.  Whether you are a Township resident looking for information, a family looking for a home, or an entrepreneur looking to locate your business, we believe you will find this web site useful.

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.

Township Today

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.

Elizabeth Township provides police protection, street maintenance and street illumination.  Water is supplied by Pennsylvania American Water Company  Local volunteer fire companies provide fire protection.
 

This page has links to the News page, where you will find the latest and previous news about the township; the Commissioners page, which list the Board of Commissioners, Township Treasurer, Professional Staff, and Employees at the Municipal Building; the Contacts page, which displays addresses and phone numbers of the different departments;