This article is sponsored by the adoption agency in Greensburg, PA, from Adoptions From The Heart.
Greensburg, located just 30 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, is known for its huge business, tourism, academic and diversified culture. The city is the county seat of Westmoreland County and is a prominent part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan area. The U.S. News & World Report also ranked Greensburg as one of the “Best Places to Retire” in 2007.
History
The foundation of Greensburg dates back to the end of the Revolutionary War in the 18th century. At that time, a hostelry was built as a pitstop along the trail from Philadelphia through Pittsburgh. That inn became the hub for a small settlement that grew around the building, known as Newtown, which today is the center of the Greensburg Business District.
In 1785, the Westmoreland County seat was given to Newtown after a raid by the Senaca people, and Canadian rangers destroyed Hannastown, the previous county seat. Upon granting the new county seat, two acres of land were purchased by William Jack and Christopher Truby to build the first courthouse and jail. The conjoined building was constructed of heavy planks, logs, stone, and brick, designed to prevent prisoners from escaping.
The area around the courthouse was renamed Greensburg, after Nathanael Greene, an American Revolutionary War general. On February 9, 1799, Greensburg was officially incorporated as the first borough in the county. Greensburg saw relatively little population increase in the early nineteenth century. Greensburg grew as a county seat after 1850, with inns and small businesses. It was the core of a thriving mining industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, thanks to a train stop and the discovery of vast soft coal fields nearby.
From 1965 to 1977, Greengate Mall and Westmoreland Mall opened, which extends tons of retail shopping to the residential community. By the mid-1990s, the city created a new plan to implement cultural aspects into Downtown Greensburg, including restorations and renovations to abandoned theaters, train stations, and a new performing arts center.
Historical Facts
- St. Clair Park is home to the first log schoolhouse in Greensburg.
- Mid Town Plaza was once a cemetery but has since relocated all the graves to other areas.
- St. Clair Park was also once a cemetery but was later moved to its current area just east of town.
If you found this article interesting, head over to our next on Pittsburg, PA.
Our Local Office
The Greensburg, PA, adoption agency from Adoptions from the Heart is proud to have been one of the first agencies to offer open adoption in Pennsylvania and is happy to answer any questions that prospective parents may have. Contact our local office to learn more.
