Zelienople Borough - A Modern Place with Old-Fashioned Grace

Located in western Butler County, the Borough of Zelienople is approximately 28 miles north of Pittsburgh.

German diplomat, Baron Dettmar Basse (1762-1836), arrived in 1802, purchased 10,000 acreas of land, and proceeded to lay out a village, which ultimately included a store and some houses.

By 1826, there were 50 houses and three churches. In the year 1840, the borough was incorporated. The population in 1870 was 387, and in 1890, it had grown to 639. Named after the doll of Baron Basse’s daughter, the town also goes by the nickname of “Zelie.”

Since 1850 there has been a full-time fire department. A full-time borough manager was hired in 1994. And, with the growth of Pittsburgh to the south, along with the construction of Interstate 79, Zelienople was able to meet the demands of the 21st century and thrive.

Zelienople is located on the south bank of the Connoquenessing Creek, in an area that is rich in coal and iron ore. The town was linked to Ellwood City, and Pittsburgh in 1908 by the Pittsburgh, Harmony, Butler, and New Castle Railway, an interurban trolley line. The line closed in 1931, and the trolleys were replaced by buses.

Zelienople is also known for its historical Eichholtz Building. The Eichholtz family played a historical and transformational role in Zelienople. Another staple in the borough is the Strand Theatre. Through private and public support, the Strand Theatre Initiative opened the cultural, educational, and community outreach center in 2009. The Strand presents a wide variety of concert, theatre, and film programs.

Another impressive building in the borough is the First National Bank of Zelienople, built in 1906, the three-story brick building stands as a reminder of yesteryear, as the second floor held an opera house, and the third floor held a lodge headquarters. The town clock was added during the 1920s.

Today, this historic borough holds events for its residents year-round for all to enjoy. It truly is a “modern place with old-fashioned grace.”