Evergreen Road loking towards intersection with Babcock Blvd and Three Degree Road, taken April 29, 1926
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History of Ross Township
Originally Ross Township was part of Pitt Township, Westmoreland County, until the creation of Allegheny County in 1788. In November 1809, Ross Township was named in honor of James Ross, an eminent attorney and judge in Pittsburgh.
Except for the formation of West View Borough in 1905, Ross Township’s boundaries have remained much the same since 1847. The Venango Path, an Indian trail became the main highway used to travel north through the township. In 1849 a charter was granted to the Allegheny and Perrysville Turnpike Road Company to construct a turnpike or plank road for the Allegheny City line. What started as Perry Plank Road (now Perry Highway) extended to Wexford by 1863. In 1911 the road was covered with brick and eventually in 1929 it was paved with concrete.
On January 1, 1922 Ross Township became a First Class Township. Following World War II, the population more than doubled from 12,000 in 1938 to 24,871 in 1949. McKnight road was completed as a 4 lane highway all the way from the North Side of Pittsburgh to Pine Creek in 1951. This resulted in the greatest commercial development in this part of the country. This expansion added 5 large shopping centers including Northway Mall and North Hills Village to serve an ever increasing demand for food, merchandise and services.
History of Ross Township Police Department
Ross Township Police Department Memorial Page
Links to Historical Documents about Ross Township
Early Ross Township Documents
- Arthur Brooks’ Victory Bond 6 April 1919
- Indenture between Hugh and Elizabeth Davis and Joseph Crider 8 August 1820 detail
- Indenture between Hugh and Elizabeth Davis and Joseph Crider 8 August 1820 more detail
- Indenture between Hugh and Elizabeth Davis and Joseph Crider 8 August 1820
- Indenture between Hugh Davis and Elisha Brooks 25 February 1823 detail
- Indenture between Hugh Davis and Elisha Brooks 25 February 1823 more detail
- Indenture between Hugh Davis and Elisha Brooks 25 February 1823
- Indenture between Joseph Crider and Hugh Davis 8 August 1820
- Indenture between Joseph Crider and Hugh Davis 8 August 1820 detail
- Joseph Crider and Hugh Davis Bond 8 August 1820
- Joseph Crider and Hugh Davis Bond 8 August 1820 detail
- Mary Hubley Land Patent 1786
Links to historical maps of Ross Township
- 1850 Map of Allegheny County through Historic Pittsburgh
- Warrantee atlas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, 1914 – plate no. 41 – Ross Township
- USGS Topographic map, 1908 edition, reprinted in 1944, Pennsylvania – Sewickley Quadrangle
