Ben Avon, Pennsylvania
Ben Avon is a borough of 1,919 people in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, founded in January 1891.
Why visit Ben Avon
Townapedia lists 6 museums and landmarks, 7 parks and trails, 37 places to eat and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include McKees Rocks Bridge, Fleming Park Bridge, Becky Thatcher and Dixmont State Hospital.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 85°F; January lows average 20°F.
Weather in Ben Avon
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Ben Avon
Ben Avon is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 1,918 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area.
From the Wikipedia article Ben Avon, Pennsylvania (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
McKees Rocks Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
Bridge in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States
Fleming Park Bridge
Bridge · 1.0 mi
Bridge in United States of America
West View Park
Monument and historic site · 2.6 mi
Former amusement park in West View, Pennsylvania, United States
Museums and landmarks6
Becky Thatcher
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Sternwheel ship built 1927 in Indiana
Dixmont State Hospital
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi
Former hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
John Morrow Elementary School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi
Primary school in Pittsburgh, United States of America
Davis Island Lock and Dam Site
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Parks, trails and playgrounds7
Restaurants and cafes37
Pizza Station
Restaurant · Regional, Pizza · 1.3 mi
616 Lincoln Avenue, Bellevue
Mo-Th 11:00-23:00, Fr-Sa 11:00-01:00, Su 11:00-23:00
Luigi's
Restaurant · Italian · 1.5 mi
531 Lincoln Avenue, Bellevue
Mo-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 12:00-22:00
The Original Big Shot Bob’s - Avalon
Diner · American · 1.1 mi
344 Union Avenue
Mo-Th 16:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-00:00; Su 12:00-21:00
Rockin' Cat Organic Cafe & Roastery
Cafe · Coffee Shop, Tea, Bakery · 1.4 mi
567 Lincoln Avenue, Bellevue
Mo-Fr 07:00-14:00,Sa-Su 09:00-15:00
The Pitt Stop
Restaurant · 1.4 mi
564 Lincoln Avenue, Pittsburgh
Tu-Th 11:00-20:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-21:00; Su 11:00-16:00
25 more on the map.
History
Ben Avon was incorporated as a borough in January 1891, from Kilbuck Township.
Like many early suburbs, Ben Avon was originally linked to Pittsburgh by train. One of the first homes in the area, the Arthurs-Johnson House, was built at a bend in the Ohio River above the Pittsburgh and Fort Wayne Railroad, a route that was known to George Washington. The house was built by a merchant from Allegheny City looking for a summer retreat from the steel industry. To make the commute from Pittsburgh easier, a commuter railroad was built. Laurel Run station was located by the Arthurs-Johnson House. The new railroad made Ben Avon and bordering Avalon a desirable place for wealthy merchants and executives to live. Ben Avon had its own newspaper, the Ben Avon Forum, which, in July 1930, wrote, "Ben Avon is the most desirable community to live in the entire Allegheny County - and if pressed, we might take an even larger territory."
From the History section of Ben Avon, Pennsylvania on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship13
Church of the Assumption
Church · Roman Catholic · 1.4 mi
42 North Sprague Avenue, Bellevue
Saint Andrew the Apostle Romanian Orthodox Church
Church · Romanian Orthodox · 1.2 mi
56 Glenn Way, McKees Rocks
Holy Trinity Polish National Church
Church · Catholic · 1.5 mi
200 Grace Street, McKees Rocks
Shopping4
Gas and EV charging7
Schools, colleges and libraries49
Healthcare4
Map of Ben Avon
131 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 20°F | 3.4 in |
| Feb | 42°F | 22°F | 2.8 in |
| Mar | 51°F | 29°F | 3.2 in |
| Apr | 64°F | 39°F | 3.2 in |
| May | 74°F | 50°F | 3.5 in |
| Jun | 81°F | 59°F | 3.5 in |
| Jul | 85°F | 64°F | 3.6 in |
| Aug | 84°F | 62°F | 3.2 in |
| Sep | 78°F | 55°F | 3.2 in |
| Oct | 66°F | 44°F | 2.8 in |
| Nov | 54°F | 33°F | 2.8 in |
| Dec | 43°F | 26°F | 3.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Emsworth L/D Ohio Rvr (0 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Allegheny County has had 8 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2020-03-30: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2013-10-01: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2012-10-29: Hurricane Sandy (Hurricane)
- 2010-04-16: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms (Snowstorm)
- 2005-09-10: Hurricane Katrina (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 9 miles away.
- Avalon 1 mi east, about 1 min by car
- Bellevue 2 mi southeast, about 3 min by car
- Franklin Park 6 mi north, about 10 min by car
- Pittsburgh 7 mi southeast, about 12 min by car
- Carnot-Moon 7 mi west, about 12 min by car
- Edgeworth 7 mi northwest, about 11 min by car
- Glendale 7 mi south, about 12 min by car
- Allison Park 8 mi northeast, about 13 min by car
- Bell Acres 8 mi northwest, about 12 min by car
- Heidelberg 8 mi south, about 13 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- McKeesRocksBridge, Joseph E. B. Elliott, Public domain
- Becky Thatcher at Marrietta, Ohio, Jackrperry.com, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Davis Island dam site from Fleming Park Bridge, Nyttend, Public domain
- 1912 circa West View Park postcard, Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.