Township History & Facts Contents:
• Geography
• Population Statistics and Composition
• Current land use
• Attitude of the citizens
• Intent of the Township leaders


Geography
Findlay Township is a scenic region of forested hills, open fields and steeply cut stream valleys. It is located on the Allegheny Plateau, as is most of Western Pennsylvania. The Township is characterized by great variations in topography with relatively broad, rounded hills about 1000 feet wide which are dissected by often deep v-shaped stream valleys. The active downcutting of the streams accounts for the landslide prone nature of many of the stream valley walls. Many of these streams have significant flood plains which extend up the valley walls.

The Pittsburgh Coal seam is found throughout this area at elevations of 1100 to 1200 feet. As a result, Findlay Township has been extensively deep and strip mined.

Findlay is largely rural in character with active farms and vast stretches of undeveloped land.

Population Statistics and Composition
With a 2000 census resident population of 5,145 and a total area of 20,736 acres, the Township has a relatively low population density of one person for each 4.03 acres. Residents of Findlay are generally younger than the county average with a median age of 37.4 in 2000 compared to 39.6 for the county as of the 2000 census.

In the period 1960 to 1980, the Township maintained its population with minor fluctuations, while at that same time many townships, the City of Pittsburgh, and Allegheny County lost population. In the decade between 1980 and 1990, the Township lost population but again it was not at the rate of loss experienced by those referred to above. Since the middle of the 1990's, the Township is experiencing residential growth with the expansion of new and existing residential areas. As part of the West Allegheny School District, Findlay Township and its residents are partners with one of the fastest growing and commendable school districts in the State of Pennsylvania. To learn more about West Allegheny, visit them on-line at www.westallegheny.k12.pa.us.

Current land use
The Pittsburgh International Airport owns slightly more than 8,000 acres in the northern half of the Township. This tract of land comprising 39% of the Township is administered by the Allegheny County Department of Aviation. With the advent of the Midfield Terminal Complex in the Fall of 1992, a great deal of expansion has occurred at this site. The Airport Expressway has modified traveling patterns for the residents of Findlay. The Airport Complex is within a 5 to 10 minute drive for the majority of the Township's residents. The link of population centers in Westbury and Clinton is enhanced by the route of the Airport Expressway. Plans are underway for expansion of Air Cargo facilities along with a Master Plan of the Airport calling for increased development in hotels and support facilities as well as runway additions.

Vast portions of privately owned land in Findlay also are currently open, agricultural or undeveloped. More than half of the privately owned land in the township is currently not developed. A good percentage of this vacant land occurs in large contiguous parcels which gives Findlay and its land owners a significant planning advantage. Act 537 (Sewage Facilities Planning) up-dates and Transportation Studies (inclusive of the Findlay Connector/Southern Beltway) will certainly have an impact on the population growth in Findlay from this point to the turn of the century.

There are many population centers within Findlay: 1) Clinton in the west along U.S. Route 30;
2) Imperial in the east along U.S. Route 30 near its junction with U.S. Route 22; and
3) the Montour Run Corridor where Westbury Subdivision, Aten Road, and the Regional Industrial Development Corporation (RIDC) Park West complex are found. Imperial is by far the largest with neighborhoods of residential streets and a central shopping and business district.

The remainder of the residential and business land uses intermittently line the roads of the Township with strong evidence of a tendency to radiate from the three population centers. 

Access to the privately owned land area south of U.S. Route 30 has effectively been blocked since the Airport began to grow in the 1950's. Because of the Airport's location in the north central portion of the township, few north/south roads lead into the heart of Findlay Township. Only State Route 30 and the Potato Garden Run Road span the township as uninterrupted east/west routes.

As a result, the township has been isolated from the major regional transportation routes, with the exception of the Airport Expressway, and has remained largely rural in character. Most township residents live in one of the three population centers: Clinton in the west, Imperial in the east, or in the Westbury subdivision at Aten and McClaren Roads in the north. Situated between these three population concentrations are vast stretches of sparsely settled, farmed, and reclaimed strip-mined land.

  Attitude of the citizens
The citizens of Findlay value and enjoy their community and their environment, but  they are practical, too. The airport generated development is fully expected to be realized and the residents of the township are convinced that they can influence the quality and nature of that development. They encourage the extensive business development in the community with the understanding that design standards and performance criteria will result in better environments for all concerned

Intent of the Township leaders
The Township leaders have clarified the process of land development in Findlay. They expect to exercise controls which attract the highest quality businesses to the community. The more then 3,000 acres of open land in and around the airport property are a valuable resource for future airport generated development. The Township leaders recognize the opportunity to shape a new urban landscape where streams and open space are integrated with corporate structures of great size. The scale of the available land encourages a broad approach with long range planning for quality development patterns.