Ben Avon

James C. Lewis was reminded of a small hamlet near his birthplace in England, thus he proposed the name Ben Avon for this Pittsburgh suburb, located a few miles north to northwest of the City of Pittsburgh.  Incorporated in 1892, the name is Scottish for “Hill by the water.”

This early neighborhood was linked to the city by train with Laurel Run Station, a commuter railroad.  Built near one of the first homes in the area, the Arthur-Johnson House, the rail spurred early growth in the neighborhood.

Ben Avon grew steadily, reaching it’s largest population in 1970.  Ohio River Boulevard, constructed in 1930, made the area more accessible to Pittsburgh via commuter traffic.  Today, Ben Avon is a vibrant community with over 2000 residents and a few local businesses.