Banksville (Pittsburgh)
Encyclopedia
Banksville is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
(20th ward). The neighborhood of Banksville is located in the western part of the city and borders the South Hills
region. Real estate agencies frequently refer to the Banksville area as Greentree City due to Banksville's shared border with the borough of Green Tree
. It has two zip codes of both 15220 and 15216, and has representation in Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 2 (West Neighborhoods). Theresa Kail-Smith is the current Councilperson for district two. Banksville's primary corridor, Banksville Road, is frequently used as a gateway between the South Hills of Pittsburgh and downtown Pittsburgh via the Fort Pitt Tunnels.
Alexander Carnahan laid out Banksville just after the Civil War. The town was a farming community as well as a properous mining town whose settlers were mostly Scotch-Irish.
The Little Saw Mill Run Railroad
, owned by the Harmony Society
, was operated between Banksville and the West End
beginning in April 1853.
Banksville was formerly a part of Union Township before being annexed into the city of Pittsburgh in 1907.
Banksville Related Mining activities: Coal Ridge Mine; Venture Mine, operated by Gray and Bell; Enterprise Mine, operated by Hartley and Marshall; Pittsburgh, Carnegie and Western Railroad; Westside Belt Railroad Company.
, Dormont
(a neighboring borough
), Green Tree
(a neighboring borough
), Mt. Lebanon
(a neighboring municipality
), Ridgemont
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
(20th ward). The neighborhood of Banksville is located in the western part of the city and borders the South Hills
South Hills (Pennsylvania)
The South Hills is a term generally used to collectively describe the southern suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the neighborhoods in the City of Pittsburgh south of the South Side Slopes. The city neighborhoods include Knoxville, Mt. Oliver, Allentown, Banksville, Beechview, Brookline,...
region. Real estate agencies frequently refer to the Banksville area as Greentree City due to Banksville's shared border with the borough of Green Tree
Green Tree, Pennsylvania
Green Tree is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and a suburb of Pittsburgh. The population was 4,432 at the 2010 census.The town is the birthplace of U.S...
. It has two zip codes of both 15220 and 15216, and has representation in Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 2 (West Neighborhoods). Theresa Kail-Smith is the current Councilperson for district two. Banksville's primary corridor, Banksville Road, is frequently used as a gateway between the South Hills of Pittsburgh and downtown Pittsburgh via the Fort Pitt Tunnels.
History
The first known European inhabitant of Banksville was Isaac Sellers, who settled in the area in 1773. According to the "History of Allegheny County", "the earliest settlers were subjected to frequent alarms by marauding Indians." Shortly after his settlement, he was joined by James Kearns and William Chess, both from Ireland. The 400 acres (1.6 km²) land, known as "The Experiment" and located on the waters of Little Saw-Mill Run, was sold in 1784 to David and Agnes Carnahan of Ireland. Just before David's death, 250 acres (1 km²) of the land was split between David's 3 children -- William, Alexander and Joseph. The land was named Banksville by Alexander Carnahan (1789–1879) in honor of the family of his second wife — Eliza Banks.Alexander Carnahan laid out Banksville just after the Civil War. The town was a farming community as well as a properous mining town whose settlers were mostly Scotch-Irish.
The Little Saw Mill Run Railroad
Little Saw Mill Run Railroad
The Little Saw Mill Run Railroad was a standard gauge coal railroad in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. It was incorporated July 23, 1850, and opened in April 1853. Originally, it was owned by the Harmony Society, and ran from Temperanceville, Pennsylvania on the Ohio River to Banksville,...
, owned by the Harmony Society
Harmony Society
The Harmony Society was a Christian theosophy and pietist society founded in Iptingen, Germany, in 1785. Due to religious persecution by the Lutheran Church and the government in Württemberg, the Harmony Society moved to the United States on October 7, 1803, initially purchasing of land in Butler...
, was operated between Banksville and the West End
West End (Pittsburgh)
West End Village is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's west city area. It has a zip code of 15220, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 2 ....
beginning in April 1853.
Banksville was formerly a part of Union Township before being annexed into the city of Pittsburgh in 1907.
Banksville Related Mining activities: Coal Ridge Mine; Venture Mine, operated by Gray and Bell; Enterprise Mine, operated by Hartley and Marshall; Pittsburgh, Carnegie and Western Railroad; Westside Belt Railroad Company.
Recreation
Residents have convenient access to the Banksville park, operated by the Pittsburgh Citiparks. The park features a playground, swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball court, batting cages, and ballfield.Surrounding communities
BeechviewBeechview (Pittsburgh)
Beechview is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's South Hills area. It has a zip code of 15216, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by both the council member for District 4 and for District 2 . Beechview was founded in 1905. It is Pittsburgh Fire Bureau Zone 4-10 and...
, Dormont
Dormont, Pennsylvania
Dormont is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 8,593 at the 2010 census and is the most densely populated municipality in Allegheny County. Dormont is a home to a diverse population including young professionals,...
(a neighboring borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
), Green Tree
Green Tree, Pennsylvania
Green Tree is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and a suburb of Pittsburgh. The population was 4,432 at the 2010 census.The town is the birthplace of U.S...
(a neighboring borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
), Mt. Lebanon
Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Mt. Lebanon is a home rule municipality, formerly a township, in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 33,137 at the 2010 census....
(a neighboring municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
), Ridgemont
Ridgemont (Pittsburgh)
Ridgemont is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's southwest city area. It has zip codes of both 15220 and 15216, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 2 .-Surrounding communities:...
