Gibsonia
Located north of Pittsburgh, Gibsonia is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. It is situated in Richland Township.
Where is Gibsonia?
Gibsonia can be found in both the central and southwest regions of Richland Township, positioned 16 miles north of downtown Pittsburgh.
The name Gibsonia was given as a tribute to the Gibson family, who were the original settlers in the area. In December 2019, their original house was torn down. The early history of Gibsonia is closely intertwined with the Gibson family’s story. During the time of the American Civil War, Charles Gibson Jr. constructed the first steam flour mill west of the Allegheny Mountains on Grubbs Road. Nancy Gibson James, the granddaughter of Charles Gibson, recalls hearing her uncle’s account of farmers bringing sacks of grain on horseback to the mill. The Gibson family’s ancestral home was built by Charles Gibson Jr. in 1839. The foundation of Charles Gibson’s general store can still be found near the railway crossing, just below where the home used to stand. This building, which was destroyed by fire in 1908, not only served as a store but was also the first post office in Gibsonia. For about ten years before it burned down, it was used as a mission by the Christian & Missionary Alliance Church.
In 1907, the Pittsburgh and Butler Street Railway connected the village to Pittsburgh and Butler. However, the line ceased operations in 1931 and was replaced by buses running along Route 8. This information can be verified through the Wikipedia pages for Butler, Pennsylvania and the Pittsburgh and Butler Street Railway.
The Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad Museum is a favorite attraction for many locals and visitors alike.
Education
The majority of the area surrounding Gibsonia falls within the Pine-Richland School District and the Hampton Township School District, as well as parts of the North Allegheny School District, Deer Lakes School District, and Mars Area School District. Based on data from Greatschools.com, Pine-Richland School District and Hampton Township School District both have a perfect 10/10 ranking, while Deer Lakes School District has a 7/10 ranking and Mars Area School District has a 9/10 ranking for academic performance on state tests.
The Aquinas Academy of Pittsburgh, a Catholic private school, is situated in the southern part of Gibsonia within Hampton Township, Pennsylvania. This school caters to students from Pre-K to Grade 12.
The location of Chatham University’s Eden Hall campus in Gibsonia serves as a hub for environmental studies and also functions as a community college for the residents of Gibsonia.
Notable People From or Who Lived in Gibsonia
- Erik Buell, the founder of Erik Buell Racing and CTO of Buell Motorcycle Company.
- David I. Cleland, often referred to as the “Father of Project Management”.
- Jackie Evancho, a renowned classical crossover singer, actress, and model.
- Stephen Frick, a retired NASA astronaut who commanded two space shuttle missions in 2002 and 2008.
- Meghan Klingenberg, a member of the United States Women’s National Soccer Team.
- Louis J. Reizenstein, a philanthropist and importer of glass and china ware.
- Florence S. Reizenstein, a civil rights activist.
- Fran Rogel, a former Penn State and Pittsburgh Steeler All-Pro running back.
- Brandon Saad, a National Hockey League player who has won the Stanley Cup twice with the Chicago Blackhawks.
- Jonas Salk, a resident during the development of the polio vaccine.
- Joe Trees, an industrialist and philanthropist whose estate in Gibsonia was primarily devoted to fruit trees.
- Neil Walker, a former second baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
