Moving to Butler, Pennsylvania

About Butler, Pennsylvania
Butler

Butler is a city and the county seat of Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is 35 miles (56 km) north of Pittsburgh and part of the Greater Pittsburgh region. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,502.

Butler is named after Major General Richard Butler, who died in the Battle of the Wabash in 1791. It was first settled in 1803 by John and Samuel Cunningham and incorporated as a borough in 1817 before becoming a city in 1918. Initially settled by Irish and Scottish immigrants, Butler saw a significant influx of German settlers in the early 19th century. Detmar Basse founded Zelienople in 1803, and George Rapp established Harmony in 1805, leading to further growth and development.

In the early 20th century, Butler became an industrial hub, contributing significantly to the Steel Belt manufacturing region. The city was home to the Standard Steel Car Company, which opened in 1902 and manufactured some of the first all-steel railcars. This facility later became part of Pullman-Standard. Butler also housed the American Bantam Car Company, known for developing the original WWII Jeep. Despite these industrial advancements, the Pullman-Standard plant closed in 1982, and the American Bantam Car Company struggled, eventually losing military contracts to larger companies.

The Butler Area Public Library, built in 1921, was the last Carnegie library established in Pennsylvania. Butler is home to the Butler Little Theatre, which has been producing plays since 1941. Notable historical sites include the Butler County Courthouse and the Butler Armory. Butler hosts annual events, such as the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival and the Butler Italian Festival. Butler has faced economic changes, with manufacturing jobs becoming scarce by the end of the 1970s. However, the city has made efforts to revitalize its economy and community. Noteworthy employers include AK Steel, Butler Area School District, and VA Butler Healthcare.

Butler gained international attention in July 2024 after the assassination attempt against Donald Trump at the Butler Farm Show Grounds in nearby Connoquenessing Township.

Gender
Gender Butler Pennsylvania Country
Female 49.2% 51% 50.8%
Male 50.8% 49% 49.2%
Gender

Household Income


Income Butler Pennsylvania Country
Less than $10,000 14.3% 5.8% 5.8%
$10,000 to $14,999 9.6% 4% 4.1%
$15,000 to $24,999 16.1% 8.8% 8.5%
$25,000 to $34,999 13% 9% 8.6%
$35,000 to $49,999 12.4% 12.1% 12.0%
$50,000 to $74,999 15.3% 17.6% 17.2%
$75,000 to $99,999 6.7% 13.2% 12.8%
$100,000 to $149,999 8.1% 15.7% 15.6%
$150,000 to $199,999 2.2% 6.7% 7.1%
$200,000 or more 2.3% 7.1% 8.3%
Education


Education Butler Pennsylvania Country
< 9th Grade 2% 2% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 8% 6% 7.0%
High School or GED 38% 34% 27.0%
Other College 17% 16% 20.0%
Associate's Degree 12% 9% 9%
Bachelor's Degree 17% 20% 20.0%
Master's Degree 5% 9% 9.0%
Professional Degree 0% 2% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 1% 2% 1.0%
Household Income
Education
Race / Ethnicity


Ethnicity Butler Pennsylvania Country
White 87.5% 75.7% 60.1%
African American 2.5% 10.6% 12.2%
American Indian 0.1% 0.1% 0.6%
Asian 1% 3.5% 5.6%
Hawaiian 0% 0% 0.2%
Other 0.6% 0.3% 0.3%
Multiracial 4.7% 2.2% 2.8%
Hispanic 3.7% 7.6% 18.2%
Race / Ethnicity