Population200,169 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate)
A Courthouse Square And A Park Reborn
Butler County, PennsylvaniaButler anchors its namesake county, where Diamond Park forms a public square beside the courthouse and Alameda Park carries a different community history. These civic and recreational places provide a concrete introduction to how the county’s public spaces developed over time. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated 200,169 residents in Butler County, Pennsylvania, on July 1, 2025. The county has approximately 789 square miles of land, according to the 2020 Census Gazetteer.
Butler County at a Glance
Population200,169 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate)
County SeatButler
Largest Municipality (2025 estimate)Cranberry township
Established1800 (organized; NACo County Explorer)
ZIP Code LookupUSPS address lookup
Total Area, Including Water795.662 square miles, including water (2020 Census geography)
Roads & Traffic511PA travel updates
Telephone Area CodesPUC area-code map
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
Discover Butler County
Butler County
Butler County was created in 1800 from Allegheny County. Alameda Park began as a private amusement park in 1901, later became a church camp and was purchased by the county in 1965. Its changing uses show how a familiar recreation space can preserve several different chapters of community life. The courthouse square and the former amusement grounds represent different kinds of shared space. Reading their histories together shows how public life depends on both civic institutions and places for gathering.
Pair the courthouse area's Diamond Park with a separate Alameda Park outing. The latter's amusement-park history adds context to its present public role, but former attractions should not be assumed to survive. Use current park information to select activities and facilities. A short courthouse-area visit and a longer park stop can work as separate parts of the day. Historical interpretation adds interest without requiring former rides or buildings to remain intact.
What Shapes Us
Local Character
Butler anchors its namesake county, where Diamond Park forms a public square beside the courthouse and Alameda Park carries a different community history.
Community History
Butler County was created in 1800 from Allegheny County. Alameda Park began as a private amusement park in 1901, later became a church camp and was purchased by the county in 1965.
Explore Locally
Pair the courthouse area's Diamond Park with a separate Alameda Park outing. The latter's amusement-park history adds context to its present public role, but former attractions should not be assumed to survive.
Discover the changing stories within familiar community gathering places.
A Closer Look
Butler County
Places and perspectives from Butler County
Butler County Wire
Butler County & Pennsylvania News
Includes Pennsylvania statewide reporting; stories may cover other counties.Photo CreditsSpotlight PA — Pennsylvania Statewide
Top EPA official’s visits to Pa., other swing states ahead of midterms raise ethics concerns
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is visiting battleground districts and states in the runup to the midterm elections. Are…
Read the Story Oct 16, 2026 • 2 min read
Around Butler County
Stories from every corner of Butler County.
Top EPA official’s visits to Pa., other swing states ahead of midterms raise ethics concerns
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is visiting battleground districts and states in the runup to the midterm elections. Are…
Oct 16, 2026 • 2 min read
Erie gunman who killed family controlled their movements, finances: police
A Pennsylvania man who fatally shot eight others, including seven family members, before killing himself had exercised strict…
Oct 16, 2026 • 2 min read
Rep. Perry’s Trump ties targeted by Dems in closely watched Pa. swing district race
The president’s declining popularity could be a liability for Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, a Trump loyalist who…
Oct 16, 2026 • 2 min read
Reading could pull up to $24M from reserves to balance its next 2 budgets
Reading may use $24 million in reserves to cover budget gaps over two years, raising fears the city…
Oct 16, 2026 • 2 min read
The legislature didn’t act on skill games by the Pa. Supreme Court’s deadline. What happens now?
Top lawmakers said they wanted to act before the court-imposed deadline but didn’t, leading some members to mount…
Oct 16, 2026 • 2 min read
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
County Resources
Find the Right Local Connection
Start with the organization responsible for the service you need. Follow its official link for current requirements, office locations and availability.
Government
Pennsylvania statewide resource for residents and visitors.
Schools
Public school contacts
Selected local schools from the NCES 2024-2025 directory. Contact the school or district to confirm enrollment, attendance boundaries and current services; this is not a complete school list.
Broad Street El Sch – Elementary; grades KG-05. 200 Broad St, Butler, PA 16001. 724-214-3630.
Freeport Area SHS – High; grades 09-12. 625 South Pike Rd, Freeport, PA 16055. 724-295-5143.
Karns City Area El Sch – Elementary; grades KG-06. 205 Kittanning Street, Chicora, PA 16025. 724-445-3680.
Knoch Intermediate El Sch – Elementary; grades 04-05. 340 Knoch Road, Saxonburg, PA 16056. 724-352-1700.
Mars Area El Sch – Elementary; grades 02-04. 549 Route 228, Mars, PA 16046. 724-625-3161.
Dassa McKinney El Sch – Elementary; grades KG-06. 391 Hooker Rd, West Sunbury, PA 16061. 724-637-2321.
Ehrman Crest El Sch – Elementary; grades KG-04. 2070 Ehrman Rd, Cranberry Township, PA 16066. 724-538-3680.
Hospitals
Local hospital contacts
Facility contacts from the CMS Hospital General Information directory, updated July 22, 2026. Contact the facility directly to confirm current services and appointment arrangements.
Independence Health System Butler Memorial Hospita – Acute Care Hospitals. One Hospital Way, Butler, PA 16001. 724-284-4403.
Public Safety
Pennsylvania statewide resource for residents and visitors.
Emergency Services
Pennsylvania statewide resource for residents and visitors.
State Parks
Pennsylvania statewide resource for residents and visitors.
Trails
Pennsylvania statewide resource for residents and visitors.
Utilities
Pennsylvania statewide resource for residents and visitors.
Libraries
Local library contacts
Locations and public phone numbers are from the IMLS FY2024 Public Libraries Survey. Call the branch to confirm current hours and services before visiting.
Butler Area Public Library – 218 North Mckean St, Butler, PA 16001. 724-287-1715.
Cranberry Public Library – 2525 Rochester Rd Suite 300, Cranberry Twp, PA 16066. 724-776-9100.
Evans City Public Library – 204 S. Jackson Street, Evans City, PA 16033. 724-538-8695.
Mars Area Public Library – 107 Grand Ave, Mars, PA 16046. 724-625-9048.
Prospect Community Library – 357 Main Street, Prospect, PA 16052. 724-865-9718.
Saxonburg Area Library – 240 West Main St, Saxonburg, PA 16056. 724-352-4810.
Zelienople Area Public Library – 227 South High St, Zelienople, PA 16063. 724-452-9330.
Courts
Pennsylvania statewide resource for residents and visitors.
DMV
Pennsylvania — Find a Location
Pennsylvania — Title and Registration
Pennsylvania — Licenses & Photo IDs
Transportation
Pennsylvania statewide resource for residents and visitors.
Postal Services
USPS location finder — Search by street address, city or ZIP Code for nearby post offices, collection boxes and available services.
USPS ZIP Code lookup — Find the mailing ZIP Code for a specific street address.
USPS Hold Mail — Arrange a temporary mail hold and review identity-verification requirements.
USPS change of address and forwarding — Review forwarding options and submit an address-change request through USPS.
USPS package pickup — Check pickup availability for your address and schedule eligible shipments.
Veterans
National services available to local residents
VA accredited representatives — Find help with VA claims and benefit applications.
VA health care applications — Review application options and supporting information.
VA disability claims — Find the official steps for submitting a disability claim.
GI Bill and education benefits — Review how to apply for VA education benefits.
Veteran career and employment support — Explore VA employment, training and career assistance.
Employment
National services available to local residents
USAJOBS federal employment — Search federal openings by location and occupation.
Apprenticeship Finder — Search apprenticeship opportunities by location and occupation.
My Next Move career exploration — Explore occupations, industries and career interests.
Government job-training resources — Find routes to state training programs and support for different job seekers.
Unemployment benefit guidance — Find your state program and its application and eligibility information.
Plan Your Butler County Visit
Find places to go, compare activities and make the most of your time here.
Local Questions
Butler County: Places, Plans & Practical Answers
Start with these 11 answers, then find 5 more planning questions below the discovery lists.
Moraine State Park and Lake Arthur are in Butler County. McConnells Mill State Park is in neighboring Lawrence County. For a Butler County lake outing, start with Moraine; treat a gorge visit at McConnells Mill as a separate stop.
Playthings Etc.: Browse and discover toys at the distinctive roadside toy store north of Butler. Moraine State Park: Plan a family picnic, shoreline walk or longer trail outing around Lake Arthur.
Moraine State Park: Plan a family picnic, shoreline walk or longer trail outing around Lake Arthur. Jennings Environmental Education Center: Walk the prairie and woodland trail network near Slippery Rock and look for scheduled nature programs.
Moraine State Park: Plan a family picnic, shoreline walk or longer trail outing around Lake Arthur. Jennings Environmental Education Center: Walk the prairie and woodland trail network near Slippery Rock and look for scheduled nature programs. Free access does not include purchases, rentals or separately ticketed activities.
North Country Brewing Company: Stop for a meal in downtown Slippery Rock. The Harmony Inn: Try German-inspired food during a visit to historic Harmony.
Bottlebrush Gallery & Center for the Arts: Browse locally made pottery, glass, art and jewelry in Harmony. The Little Green Bookstore: Make a book-shopping stop during a Zelienople visit.
Boutique Blue: Browse women's fashion on East Spring Street in Zelienople. FYIE Boutiques: Explore a women's clothing and lifestyle boutique in downtown Mars.
Butler anchors its namesake county, where Diamond Park forms a public square beside the courthouse and Alameda Park carries a different community history. Use the local museums and historic sites above to explore that story in more detail.
Butler Area Public Library – 218 North Mckean St, Butler, PA 16001. 724-287-1715. Cranberry Public Library – 2525 Rochester Rd Suite 300, Cranberry Twp, PA 16066. 724-776-9100. These contacts come from the supplied local-library directory; call for current opening hours, children’s programs and visitor services.
Broad Street El Sch – Elementary; grades KG-05. 200 Broad St, Butler, PA 16001. 724-214-3630. Freeport Area SHS – High; grades 09-12. 625 South Pike Rd, Freeport, PA 16055. 724-295-5143. These are selected contacts from the supplied school directory. Contact the school or district to confirm attendance boundaries and enrollment; a nearby school is not necessarily the assigned school.
Butler is the county seat recorded in the supplied Butler County information. Use the Government tab in local resources to locate the department you need; offices may have different addresses and appointment arrangements.
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
My Local Guide
Find Something Fun
Make Time for a Local DiscoveryExplore places to eat, shop and spend time in Butler County, Pennsylvania. Follow each link for current visiting details.
Kids’ Fun
- Playthings Etc. — Browse and discover toys at the distinctive roadside toy store north of Butler.
- Moraine State Park — Plan a family picnic, shoreline walk or longer trail outing around Lake Arthur.
Restaurants
- North Country Brewing Company — Stop for a meal in downtown Slippery Rock.
- The Harmony Inn — Try German-inspired food during a visit to historic Harmony.
Shopping & Retail
- Bottlebrush Gallery & Center for the Arts — Browse locally made pottery, glass, art and jewelry in Harmony.
- The Little Green Bookstore — Make a book-shopping stop during a Zelienople visit.
Clothing & Boutiques
- Boutique Blue — Browse women's fashion on East Spring Street in Zelienople.
- FYIE Boutiques — Explore a women's clothing and lifestyle boutique in downtown Mars.
Outdoor Fun
- Moraine State Park — Plan a family picnic, shoreline walk or longer trail outing around Lake Arthur.
- Jennings Environmental Education Center — Walk the prairie and woodland trail network near Slippery Rock and look for scheduled nature programs.
Free Things to Do
- Moraine State Park — Plan a family picnic, shoreline walk or longer trail outing around Lake Arthur.
- Jennings Environmental Education Center — Walk the prairie and woodland trail network near Slippery Rock and look for scheduled nature programs.
Businesses in This County Guide
More Butler County Questions
How could I build a short Butler County outing from these places?
One possible plan is Playthings Etc., a meal at North Country Brewing Company, and a browse at Bottlebrush Gallery & Center for the Arts. These are separate stops; map their addresses and check opening times before deciding whether all three fit your day.
How can I keep a Butler County day trip inexpensive?
Start with Moraine State Park and Jennings Environmental Education Center and bring a picnic where permitted. Budget separately for museum or amusement tickets, restaurant meals, parking where charged, rentals and purchases. Check the linked destination’s current fees instead of assuming every activity on its grounds is free.
Where should I check the forecast before visiting Moraine State Park?
Use the county weather section above for the forecast. For Moraine State Park, also open the destination’s notices for trail, road or facility closures. A county forecast does not confirm that an individual trail or activity is operating.
What should I confirm before making a special trip to Boutique Blue?
Use Boutique Blue to confirm the physical-store address, current opening days and whether the item or fitting you need is available. Some shops list online stock, multiple locations or appointment services, so contact the store about a specific visit.
Where can I find the businesses featured in this Butler County guide?
The “Businesses in This County Guide” section links to API Auto Body Products Inc, Joden. Open a business page for its contact details. A business featured in this guide may serve the county from another location; confirm its address and service area directly.
Every place has a story.Find Your Next Favorite.