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Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Township in Pennsylvania, US From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Mt. Lebanon (locally /ˈlɛb.ə.nən/) is a township with home rule status in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 34,075 at the 2020 census. It is a highly affluent and historic suburb of Pittsburgh,[3]and one of Pennsylvania’s wealthiest townships.[4]
Established in 1912, the township was a farming community. With the arrival of the first streetcar lines and the development of the first real estate subdivision, both in 1901, it became a streetcar suburb, offering residents the ability to commute to Downtown Pittsburgh.[5] Furthermore, the opening of the Liberty Tunnel in 1924 allowed easy automobile access to Pittsburgh. Due to its connections to the city, several of Pittsburgh's industrialists and business elite were influential to the growth of Mt. Lebanon.[6] The community became popular among wealthy families who wanted air away from the polluted downtown area.[7] The area is known to have a number of old money families with deep ties to Pittsburgh.
In 1975, the renamed Mt. Lebanon adopted one of the first home rule charters in Pennsylvania.[8][9] It has recently garnered national attention as one of the most popular neighborhoods in America, known for its walkability, tree-lined streets, nationally rated schools, and historic homes.[10]
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History
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The first European settlers arrived in 1773–1774, having purchased the land from the descendants of William Penn; other pioneers soon bought land from the state government.
In 1912, Mount Lebanon Township was incorporated as a "First Class Township" under Pennsylvania state law. It had formerly been a part of Scott Township, which in turn traces its origins to the long-defunct St. Clair Township. Mount Lebanon was not named for two Cedar of Lebanon trees that were planted in 1850 on Washington Road near the top of Bower Hill Road, but was named after the area from which they came, Mount Lebanon, due to the similarities between the two landscapes.[11] Prior to the incorporation of the township, the "Mount Lebanon" name was used for the area of Upper St. Clair Township near the cedar trees. In the 1880s, a post office located near the transplanted cedar trees was named "Mount Lebanon". Incorporators of neighboring Dormont Borough initially tried to use the "Mount Lebanon" name in 1909, but were opposed by residents of the future Mount Lebanon Township.
In 1928, Mount Lebanon became the first First Class township in Pennsylvania to adopt the council–manager form of government and has had an appointed manager serving as the chief administrative officer since that time.
Mount Lebanon was a farming community until the arrival of streetcar lines, the first line to Pittsburgh opening on July 1, 1901[5] followed by a second in 1924. After the arrival of the streetcar lines, which enabled daily commuting to and from Downtown Pittsburgh, Mount Lebanon became a streetcar suburb, with the first real estate subdivision being laid out in November 1901. Further, the opening of the Liberty Tubes in 1924 allowed easy automobile access to Pittsburgh. Between the 1920 and 1930 censuses, the township's population skyrocketed from 2,258 to 13,403. Today, Pittsburgh's mass transit agency, the Pittsburgh Regional Transit, or "PRT," operates a light rail system whose Red Line, which runs underneath Uptown Mt. Lebanon through the Mt. Lebanon Tunnel, merges with the Blue Line in Pittsburgh's Mt. Washington section. Mt. Lebanon's only platform station, Mt. Lebanon Station, is in Uptown Mt. Lebanon; the adjacent Dormont Junction and Castle Shannon stations are in neighboring municipalities. And as of the census[12] of 2000, there were 33,017 people living in Mt. Lebanon.
Mt. Lebanon has used discriminatory and racist practices throughout its history in order to keep minorities and low-income families from moving in, and keep its status as an exclusive, wealthy suburb.[13] In 1971, Muhammad Ali attempted to purchase a home in Virginia Manor, an affluent sub-division of Mt. Lebanon, but racial discrimination prevented him from doing so.[14] However, some residents have claimed that the rejection was due to the anticipated publicity and crowds which would result from the sale of the property to Ali. In 1974, Ali would purchase a different Mt. Lebanon home, on Orchard Drive. [15]
On May 21, 1974, the electorate approved a home rule charter, which took effect on January 1, 1975;[8] as such, the community is no longer governed under the provisions of the Pennsylvania Township Code. Mount Lebanon became one of the first municipalities in Pennsylvania to adopt a home rule charter.[9] In the charter, the official name of the municipality became Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania; the word "Mount" is abbreviated in all government documents, although the U.S. Postal Service continues to use "Mount."
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Geography
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Mt. Lebanon is located at 40°22′30″N 80°3′0″W (40.375, -80.05).[16] According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 6.06 square miles (15.7 km2), all land.
Surrounding communities
Mt. Lebanon is a highly affluent suburb of Pittsburgh 4–6 miles (6–10 km) south of the city's downtown. There are two small borders with Pittsburgh neighborhoods to the northeast (Brookline) and north (Banksville). The remainder of the northeast border is with the borough of Dormont. The entire western border is with Scott Township. On the southern border there are two towns: Upper St. Clair to the southwest and Bethel Park to the southeast. Due to its comparable size and affluence, Upper St. Clair is most often compared with Mt. Lebanon. To the east is Castle Shannon, and finally, to the east-northeast is Baldwin Township (not to be confused with the Borough of Baldwin).
Commercial districts
Uptown Mt. Lebanon[17] is the central business district and has Washington Rd.[18] (U.S. Rt. 19 Truck) as its main thoroughfare.U.S. Rt. 19 Truck continues into Pittsburgh and back out into the city's northern suburbs and beyond.) Uptown Mt. Lebanon is one of the more built up central business districts outside of Pittsburgh, featuring numerous coffee shops, small galleries, pizzerias, and clothing boutiques. The neighborhood is organized as The Uptown Mt. Lebanon Business and Professional Association.[19]
Beverly Road is another prominent business district in Mt. Lebanon. The road features several local restaurants, boutiques, and shops. It is located next to Lincoln Elementary School in the Mt. Lebanon School District.
Driving north from both business districts lead you directly to downtown Pittsburgh, via the Liberty Bridge (Washington Road) and Fort Pitt Bridge (Beverly Road).
There are sizable business districts along the borders with Upper St. Clair and Castle Shannon, as well.
Communities within Mt. Lebanon
Neighborhoods within Mt. Lebanon include: Beverly Heights, Cedarhurst Manor, Hoodridge Hilands, Lebanon Hills, Mission Hills, Sunset Hills, Virginia Manor, Twin Hills, and Woodridge.
Virginia Manor is an affluent subdivision, with streets designed to follow the natural contours of the land.[20] Future Governor James H. Duff helped found Virginia Manor in 1929.[21]
Historical Society
Mt Lebanon United Methodist Church
Southminster Presbyterian Church
St. Bernard’s Catholic Church on Washington Road
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Demographics
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As of the census[12] of 2000, the racial makeup of the township was 96.21% White, 0.61% Black, 0.07% Native American, 2.29% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.
In the township the population was spread out, with 24.8% under the age of 18, 4.0% were 18 to 24, 26.9% were 25 to 44, 25.4% were 45 to 64, and 18.8% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.
As of 2025, the average income for a household was $166,904. Married families had a median income of $169,482. The mean income for families was $207,467, while the mean income for households was $166,904. Non-family households had a median income of $53,048 and a mean income of $80,803. [27]
Though there are varying economic backgrounds, Mt. Lebanon residents tend to range primarily from the upper class to the extremely wealthy[28]The families within Mt. Lebanon tend to have a much higher household income than the non-families.
Both zip codes encompassing Mt. Lebanon, PA (15228 and 15243), are among the wealthiest in the United States. They rank in the top 1.9% of highest-earning zip codes nationally, placing Mt. Lebanon as one of the wealthiest suburbs in the nation. [29]
Arts and culture
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A large portion of Mt. Lebanon is listed as the Mt. Lebanon Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. The district contains 3,341 contributing buildings and 21 contributing sites. Most of the buildings (89%) are residential, though two commercial areas are included.[30]
The district is a significant example of the transition from a rural agricultural area to a suburb made possible first by the trolley/streetcar, c. 1901, and later by the automobile in the 1920s and 1930s with the opening of the Liberty Tubes in 1924. The boundaries of the district include those areas that were developed between 1874 and c. 1945.[30]
Mt. Lebanon residents are defined to have an “urbane taste” in literature, the arts, and music. The neighborhood has an extremely high concentration of wealthy residents with advanced educational attainment and professional jobs. Cultural interests such as literature, music, theater, and the arts are prominent among Mt. Lebanon residents. The area is also home to a significant number of executives and families with school-aged children.[31]
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Parks and recreation
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (June 2008) |
Mt. Lebanon provides many recreational opportunities for its residents. Fifteen parks are scattered over 200 acres (0.81 km2) throughout the community. In addition to the parks, there is an Olympic size swimming pool, open in summer, and a regulation size ice rink and recreation building located adjacent to Mt. Lebanon Park on Cedar Blvd. Mt. Lebanon also boasts one of the oldest public golf courses in western Pennsylvania and has several tennis and basketball courts which are open year-round. Other recreational facilities include a Sand volleyball court, bocce courts, platform tennis, a plethora of picnic pavilions and over eight children's playgrounds.[32]
Mt. Lebanon School District's sports teams are a big part of the community. The mascot is the Blue Devil, which has occasionally stirred controversy.[33]
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Government and politics
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Congressman Chris Deluzio represents the area in the United States House of Representatives as a part of Pennsylvania's 17th congressional district. Mt. Lebanon is in District 42 of the Pennsylvania Senate and is represented by Wayne Fontana. Mt. Lebanon is in District 42 of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and is represented by Mt. Lebanon resident Dan Miller.
The Mt. Lebanon government takes the form of a commission, made up of 5 commissioners - one from each of Mt. Lebanon's 5 wards.
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Education
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The Mt. Lebanon School District has seven elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school: Mt. Lebanon High School. Both the district and high school are known for their extremely rigorous and academically challenging curriculum. [37]The district has won multiple National Blue Ribbon School [38] awards and has recently been ranked within the top 15 school districts nationally. [39] According to state test scores, 93% of students at Mt. Lebanon High School are advanced in math and 91% are advanced in reading. [40]
The Mt. Lebanon School District is a walking school district, meaning there is no provided school bus transportation to schools for students. [41]
Keystone Oaks High School is physically located in Mt. Lebanon but serves the adjacent communities of Greentree, Dormont and Castle Shannon. Seton-La Salle Catholic High School, the South Hills Catholic Academy, and Ave Maria Academy are prominent Pittsburgh Diocese Catholic schools located in Mt. Lebanon.
The Mt. Lebanon Public Library, founded in 1932, is funded almost entirely by the municipality and county. It houses over 140,000 books, seats for 165 persons, and more than 50 public computers.[42]
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Architecture
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Mt. Lebanon is noted for its architecturally diverse and historically preserved neighborhoods, most of which developed between the 1920s and 1940s. The suburb's distinct home styles reflect its origins as one of the nation’s first automobile suburbs. In 2014, over 4,400 homes were designated as part of a National Register Historic District, making it one of the largest such suburban districts in the United States[43]
Affluent subdivisions such as Virginia Manor, Hoodridge, and Seminole Hills contain homes built by some of the most distinguished Pittsburgh architects.[44]These homes often are praised by realtors and architects for their “storybook” and “fairy-tale” like designs. [45]
Some of the common architectural styles in Mt. Lebanon include:
Colonial Revival – Including both symmetrical brick Georgian types and side-gabled Dutch Colonial homes with gambrel roofs[46]
Tudor Revival – Steep-pitched gables, half-timbering, arched doorways, and masonry chimneys, often with Cotswold or French Provincial influences.[47]
American Foursquare – Boxy two-and-a-half-story homes with wide porches and hipped roofs, popular in the 1910s–1930s.
Craftsman/Bungalow – Known for deep eaves, exposed rafter tails, and full-width porches with tapered columns.
Queen Anne Homes – Often referred to as “storybook homes,” these homes include turrets, rolled eaves, arched doors, and leaded windows, often imitating European countryside castles.[48][49]
- Homes throughout Mt. Lebanon
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In popular culture
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Movies and Films
Mt. Lebanon has been used as a filming location for various films and television productions[50]. Examples include: Bob Roberts(1992), The Temptations (1998), Dogma (1999), Graduation (2007), Abduction (2011), The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), The Fault in Our Stars (2014), Hollidaysburg (2014), Manhunt: Deadly Games (2017), Mindhunter (2017), A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019), Sweet Girl (2021), and Anything's Possible (2022)[51][52]
Cultural Nicknames
"Lebo" or "Mt. Lebo" - Residents and locals often refer to Mt. Lebanon simply as "Lebo" or "Mt. Lebo." These versions of the township's name are commonly used in conversation, local media, and by the school district. Mt. Lebanon High School frequently uses "Lebo" in their branding and communications.[53]
"The Bubble" - A nickname often used to describe Mt. Lebanon’s reputation as a self-contained, affluent suburb. Residents and outsiders use the term to highlight the community’s sense of ignorance, both socially and economically. The neighborhood is known for well-maintained homes, excellent schools, and active local organizations, which contribute to a lifestyle somewhat separate from the surrounding Pittsburgh region. The nickname also reflects the idea that residents live in a “protected” environment, with fewer of the social or economic challenges faced by nearby urban areas. While some use the term jokingly or affectionately, others may use it critically to suggest that life in Mt. Lebanon is somewhat sheltered. Despite this, many locals embrace the bubble identity as part of what makes the community safe, family-friendly, and close-knit. [54]
"Cake Eaters" - An informal term sometimes applied to residents of Mt. Lebanon and other affluent suburbs in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The phrase has been throughout history used by neighboring working-class communities to describe residents perceived as wealthy, privileged, or socially insulated. In regional slang, a cake eater refers to someone who enjoys a lifestyle of relative ease and comfort, in contrast to the blue-collar identity associated with much of western Pennsylvania. The term has appeared in local commentary since at least the late 20th century, often in reference to suburban communities such as Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair. Although sometimes used in a critical sense, the term has also been adopted or even embraced by some associated with the community, reflecting Mt. Lebanon’s reputation as one of Pittsburgh’s more affluent suburbs. The term has even made it's way into the high school's student led chants at athletic events:[55]
"Cake, cake for Mt. Lebanon High / don't give us cookies, don't give us pie / send the sophomores out for more / and don't let our rivals think we're poor. / We are from Lebo, we are the BEST / we eat more cake than all the rest ..." [56]
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Notable people
- Muhammad Ali, professional boxer, widely considered the greatest of all time; resided in Mt. Lebanon during the 1970's[57]
- Eric Angle, professional wrestler
- Kurt Angle, Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling and former professional wrestler[58]
- Troy Apke, NFL football player
- Matt Bartkowski, NHL hockey player
- Ellen Berliner, activist and Alzheimers disease researcher
- Carl Betz, actor
- Mia Bhuta, college soccer player, the first Indian-American to play at a FIFA tournament.
- Gloria Bigelow, comedian and actress
- Rocky Bleier, NFL football player
- Shane Black, screenwriter and director [59]
- Kenyen Brown, United States attorney
- Howard J. Burnett, former president of Washington & Jefferson College
- Patti Burns, TV news anchor
- Twink Caplan, actress, comedian, and producer
- Frank Cappelli, children's musician[60]
- Christina Cindrich, actress and television host
- Ruth Colker, scholar, lawyer, and distinguished professor
- Susan J. Crawford, lawyer appointed by George W. Bush for the Guantanamo military commissions
- Brian Cuban, attorney and author
- Mark Cuban, businessman and media personality[61]
- William Sheldrick Conover, member of the U.S. House of Representatives
- Myron Cope, sports broadcaster, journalist, and radio personality; died in Mt. Lebanon
- Gwyn Cready, author
- Ave Daniell, NFL football player
- Jim Daniell, NFL football player
- Todd DePastino, author and professor
- Q. Todd Dickinson, Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- Daya, singer
- Sandra Moore Faber, world renowned astrophysicist specializing in the evolution of galaxies and National Medal of Science recipient
- Greg Fenves – 21st President of Emory University and 28th President of the University of Texas
- Scott Ferrall, sports talk show radio personality
- Dave Filoni, filmmaker and animator (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels)[62]
- John Fitsioris, professional basketball player
- John Frank, NFL football player
- James G. Fulton, politician; U.S. House of Representatives
- Matt Kennedy Gould, former American television personality and current basketball coach
- Bruce Gradkowski, NFL football player
- Marty Griffin, investigative reporter and talk show journalist
- Ian Happ, professional baseball player, Chicago Cubs
- Terry Hart, NASA astronaut, mechanical engineer, and Air Force colonel and pilot
- Timothy Hauser – Economist with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Bureau of Labor Statistics; two-time winner of the Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Executive
- Stuart A. Herrington , author and retired counterintelligence officer
- Bob Hoag, record producer
- Gillian Jacobs, actress[63]
- Donald Johnson, professional tennis player, Wimbledon doubles champion[64]
- Paige Kassalen, electrical engineer; only American, female engineer, and youngest member of the ground crew for the Solar Impulse 2 project
- Don Kelly, MLB baseball player and coach
- Dan Klein, computer scientist, professor, and artificial intelligence researcher
- Caroline Klivans, mathematician
- Rich Lackner, college football coach
- Christine Laitta, actress
- Conor Lamb, attorney and politician; U.S. House of Representatives
- Dick Lamm, former governor of Colorado and presidential candidate
- Vince Laschied, organist
- Mark Livolsi, film editor
- Mario Lemieux, NHL hockey player and hall of famer; resided in Mt. Lebanon during his career[65]
- Daniel London, actor
- Ching Chun Li, Chinese-American human geneticist[66]
- Joe Manganiello, actor[67]
- Andrew Mason, Groupon founder[68]
- Matt McConnell, NHL play-by-play announcer
- Terri Minsky, television writer and producer
- Robert H. Meneilly, megachurch pastor
- Christopher Moeller, writer and painter
- Linn F. Mollenauer, physicist and author
- William D. Morgan, U.S. Marine and Medal of Honor recipient
- Judith O'Dea, actress
- John O'Hara, professional soccer player
- James O'Toole, journalist and U.S. Capitol correspondent
- Rick Peterson, MLB baseball coach and player
- Marty Pottenger, OBIE-award-winning playwright, performer, civic engagement artist, founder of Art At Work [69][70]
- Denis Roddy, journalist
- Bill Roth, sportscaster
- Peter Safar, cardiopulmonary specialist; died in Mt. Lebanon, where he resided as an adult[71]
- George Savarese, educator and radio personality
- Samuel A. Schreiner, writer
- Lynn Scarlett, government official, environmental policy executive and analyst; U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Interior
- John Seymour, U.S. Senator
- Sara Shepard, best-selling author of Pretty Little Liars [72]
- Brian Simmons, MLB baseball player
- Rich Skrenta, computer programmer, entrepreneur, and writer of the Elk Cloner virus
- Matthew H. Smith, Pennsylvania Senator
- Leah Smith, Olympic swimmer
- Ketlen A. Solak, bishop; resides in Mt. Lebanon
- Tom Stechschulte, actor
- Paul Steigerwald, sportscaster
- John P. Surma, businessman, former CEO of US Steel, minority owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins
- Colby Sorsdale, NFL football player
- Carole Beebe Tarantelli, Italian parliament member; first American citizen elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies
- William Tenn, author; resided and died in Mt. Lebanon
- Paul Tortorella, college football coach; coached at Mt. Lebanon High School
- Ronald L. Thompson, politician
- Gerald Bard Tjoflat, lawyer and jurist; Senior U.S. circuit judge on the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
- Bob Ufer, University of Michigan track and field athlete and radio broadcaster
- Ann M. Valentine, Yale University bioinorganic chemist and researcher
- Keith Van Horne, NFL football player[73]
- Doug Walgren, politician; U.S. House of Representatives
- Ming-Na Wen, actress, partly raised there and attended high school there[74]
- Brian Williams, NFL football player
- Josh Wilson, MLB baseball player
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See also
References
External links
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