Ohio Township | Avonworth Historical Society

As reported in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Ohio Township was the third township to be formed in Allegheny County north of the Ohio River, and the first subdivision of Pine township. A petition of incorporation was filed in the court of quarter sessions in December 1802 and was signed by Gen. John Neville. After considerable discussion as to the boundary line's location, in the September term of 1803 the court confirmed a division line which is currently the western boundaries of the jurisdictions of Pine, McCandless, and Ross townships, as well as Bellevue Borough. The division includes the area of Allegheny County located west of the boundary line and north of the Ohio River, including Neville Island.

No event of remarkable interest signaled its early settlement. Being situated on the "Indian side" of the Ohio River, the first Caucasian inhabitants did not appear more than a few years prior to 1800, as this section of the country was not open to settlement until 1792. The first permanent settler to Ohio township was reported in 1801 as William Richey, a soldier in Wayne's expedition. While the army was lying at Legionville (near present-day Baden), he was sent on commission to Fort Pitt. The Duff family was first represented by James Duff and his two sons, who crossed the Ohio River in 1799 and located near the river, relocating further inland in 1805. James Moore immigrated from Northumberland County with a large family about the same time. In addition to these families, the Crawfords, who settled on Lowrie's Run, have been numerously represented by their descendants, the Gillilands, the Ritchies, the Shannons, and others. Mount Nebo United Presbyterian Church was organized June 17, 1838. The land for the church was donated by two local farmers, Hugh Thompson and William Duff.

Ohio Township was later reduced in size by the creation of other townships within its borders, among them Franklin in 1823, Sewickley in 1854, and Kilbuck in 1869. Its population in 1860 was 1,350 but dropped to 685 in 1870 after the loss of Kilbuck Township area. By 1880 the population had begun to rise again, reaching 737.