Crafton

Crafton

Crafton, located west of downtown Pittsburgh, is a borough in Allegheny County.  Named after a frontier attorney, James F. Craft, who purchased the land in the Chartiers Valley.  He was able to do so by selling his land grant near the Ohio river… which is now present day Oakland in the City of Pittsburgh.

Charles Craft, the son of James, divided the land into lots upon his father’s death, and submitted the plan to the Allegheny County Courthouse, naming the land Crafton.  A period of settlement and growth followed, leading to incorporation as a borough in 1882.

1896 saw the neighborhood linked to downtown Pittsburgh with trolley service.  Construction of the Fort Pitt Bridge ended this service, as the bridge was built without trolley tracks.

The area is home to many historic landmarks, churches and stately homes.  The neighborhood was named as the best place to raise children in Pennsylvania in 2011 by Bloomberg Businessweek, and is also the childhood home of former Steelers head coach, Bill Cowher, who attended Carlynton High School.

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