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Moon Township is a rapidly growing suburban municipality located along the Ohio River in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The origin of township's name is unknown for certain, however, it is believed to be named after a crescent-shaped bend in the river. Moon is a suburb in the Pittsburgh Metro Area as it is located 15 miles (24 km) northwest of Pittsburgh. The population was 22,290[1] as reported in the 2000 census.
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History
Early history (1756-1773)
The initial settlement of Moon Township was a direct result of the westward expansion of English settlers and traders that arrived in the Ohio Valley in the early to mid-18th century. During the French and Indian War large parcels of southwestern Pennsylvania lands were ceded to settlers 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, such as they were at the time, 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 clouded the ways and means of appropriate settlement. Generally, land was apportioned to owners through grants by the Pennsylvania Land Office. However, 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. Regardless, the process of obtaining land in what is now regarded as “Moon Township” meant that each settler claiming land 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 where the applicant paid for the land and title was conferred. In 1769, Henry Andrew Montour, an Indian interpreter who had provided service to the settlers during the war, was granted one of the first land patents for approximately 350 acres (1.4 km²) of what would later become the borough of Coraopolis and Neville (or Long) Island. It wasn’t until 1773, when settler John Meek was awarded a 400-acre (1.6 km²) land grant above the river bottom and between the Thorn Run and Montour Run valleys that “Moon Township” was born.
Settlement times (1773-1799)
In addition to the John Meek land grant two other 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). In addition to the grants mentioned above, there were three other grants that were warranted by either Virginian or Pennsylvanian land speculators. The boundaries of these land tracts are hard to identify, but it is generally thought that they encompassed about 600 or so acres and were occupied by anonymous squatters. The reasons for occupation of these lands by squatters, and their subsequent abandonment is questionable at best. But it is widely held that squatters were somehow social outcasts or opposed to social order. In abandoning their lands the squatters ceded any potential claims to settlers who would otherwise improve and/or cultivate the land.
1900s to present
In 1943, the federal government designed and built a housing plan known as Mooncrest for defense workers. Mooncrest residents produced armor plates, munitions and ships 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. Development of Route 60 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 1990's 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 Michael Baker Corporation, Nova Chemicals, FedEx Ground, First Health/Coventry and the consumer division of GlaxoSmithKline 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.[2] 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 Target and Giant Eagle are also rumored to be in development.
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 60.[3] US Airways announced its intention to build its brand new Operations Center in Moon Township in early 2007 which will 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-Mart for $4.7 million and announced to the public on Jan. 3, 2007. [4] Wal-Mart officials announced their plans to build a supercenter location on the site of what's now the West Hills Shopping Center.[5] 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 University.[6] The new road name also depicts the township's efforts to re-emerge as a business-dominate community. Since the 2003 re-naming, township officials have researched various zoning ordinances to piece together Moon's main business corridor.[7][8]
Explore Our Universe
Playing off of 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 University 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.[9]
Moon Park renovations
Moon Park, the township's largest community park, will begin a $10 million renovation this Spring of 2008.[10]
Moon Area School District
Moon Township is home to the Moon Area School District, which is comprised of students from both Moon and Crescent townships. The school district enrolls approximately 3,800 students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade.
Surrounding neighborhoods
In Allegheny County, Moon Township is surrounded by Coraopolis, Crescent Township, North Fayette Township, Findlay Township and Robinson Township. The township is accessible to the boroughs of Sewickley, Edgeworth, Osborne via the Sewickley Bridge over the Ohio River. The township is also situated next to Hopewell Township in Beaver County.
'Fifth Best Affordable Suburb in Northeast'
In 2007, BusinessWeek.com ranked Moon Township as one of the “Best Affordable Suburbs” in the Northeast.[11][12] Township officials had no idea the community received the award until Township Manager Greg Smith found the report online.[13] The recognition includes the 15108 zip code covering Coraopolis and Moon Township.
Rated Top 100 Places to Raise Your Family
Moon Township is included in the Frommer's Travel Book authored by Bert Sperling & Peter Sander, titled the "Best Places To Raise Your Family" published by Wiley Publishing, Inc. Moon Township, and other locations in the US, are listed in no particular order in 'The Top 100 Affordable Communities in the United States'. (See pages 166-167 for Moon Township's narrative in the book.) This listing included Moon Township as well as Coraopolis Borough which consists of the 15108 zip code. It was rated by the following criteria which are further described in the book: 'Standard of Living', 'Education', 'Health and Safety', 'Lifestyle',and 'Population Profiles'. Sperling and Sander are also the authors of "Ranked and Rated". In the book, Moon is also identified as one of the top five in the 'Education' Category, specifically, 'Best in Class-Schools', top five 'In the Life Style Category', as 'Best Cul-de-Sac Suburbia', and in the 'Life Style Category', Moon Township is in the top five for the 'Best Power Burbs', 'Best for Professional Sports Lovers', 'Best for the Art(s) Minded', and 'Best Where-the Puck-is Going'. "This publication was researched independently by the authors, without the knowledge or cooperation of the communities rated", said Greg Smith, Township Manager.
Notable residents
Current
- James Harrison, Pro-Bowl Pittsburgh Steeler
- John Pippy, Pennsylvania state senator
- T. Mark Mustio, Pennsylvania state representative
- Trai Essex, Lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Willie Colon, Pittsburgh Steeler
- Joe DeNardo, long-time WTAE-TV personality that is mostly known for his work as a weather forecaster and the phrase "Joe Said It Would"
- Kurt Angle, former Olympic and current professional wrestler, former sports anchor at WPGH-TV
- Marc-Andre Fluery, Pittsburgh Penguins
- Ryan Malone, Pittsburgh Penguins
Former
- Barry Bonds - resided in Moon while playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates
- Ann B. Davis - briefly lived in Moon in the 1990s
- Shannon Perrine - graduate of Moon Area High School, anchor/reporter at WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh
- Plaxico Burress - resided in Moon while playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Sean Gilbert - Washington Redskins player
- Eric Green - Pittsburgh Steelers tight end
- Ray Seals - resided in Moon while playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Brandon Wilson - graduate of Moon Area High School, author/explorer
- John Calipari - graduate of Moon Area High School, basketball coach
- Jodi Applegate - graduate of Moon Area High School, former NBC News anchor, currently employed at the FOX affiliate in New York City.
- Lou Christi - Graduate of Moon Area High School in 1961, songwriter/singer
- Gust Avrakotos - CIA operative whose exploits in Afganistan were depicted in the 2007 film Charlie Wilson's War.
- Bob Davie former Notre Dame University football coach and current ESPN sportscaster grew up in Moon
Moon in the media
- Scenes from the 1979 movie The Fish that Saved Pittsburgh were shot in the gym at Moon Area High School
- Because of the township's location to the City of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh International Airport, many presidential visits often start in Moon.
- President Bill Clinton in the 1990s greeted Prime Minister John Major of Great Britain at a hanger at the 911th Air Wing of the Air force Reserve at the Pittsburgh International Airport in Moon Township.
- President Gerald Ford made a surprise visit to Moon a day after pardoning President Richard M. Nixon on Sept. 9, 1974.[14]
- A day after grabbing the Democrat nod for president, then-Vice President Al Gore held a rally at the school's gym on March 16, 2000.[15]
- Los Angeles based production company, Falco Films, was established in Moon Township in early 2006 before relocating to the west coast.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 24.1 square miles (62.4 km²), of which, 23.7 square miles (61.5 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.9 km²) of it (1.41%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census² 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.
External links
References
- ^ U.S. Census 2000, U.S. Census 2000.
- ^ http://www.county.allegheny.pa.us/news/2007/270119.asp
- ^ http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07060/765741-57.stm
- ^ Wal-Mart buys strip mall, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Jan. 3, 2007.
- ^ Wal-Mart offers first glimpse of Moon plans, Coraopolis-Moon Record, Sept. 6, 2007.
- ^ http://www.post-gazette.com/neigh_west/20030416wmoon0416p3.asp
- ^ http://www.post-gazette.com/neigh_west/20031015wmoon1015p2.asp
- ^ http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05061/464795.stm
- ^ http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04224/359530.stm
- ^ http://www.yourmoontownship.com/corymoonrecord/article/moon-park-site-plan-gains-final-approval+
- ^ http://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/05/0501_affluent_suburbs/index_01.htm
- ^ http://www.moontwp.com/fifthbest.html
- ^ http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07200/802647-57.stm
- ^ In wake of Nixon pardon, Ford visited Pittsburgh. "post-gazette.com. Retrieved on 2007-02-18.
- ^ Gore, in Moon, asks if Bush is qualified. "post-gazette.com. Retrieved on 2007-02-18.
