Braddock Hills

History

Braddock Hills is located northwest of Braddock's Field, the site of General Edward Braddock's 1755 defeat during the French and Indian War. The main road which winds through the borough, Brinton Road, was originally an Indian trail, used by the area's indigenous people to keep watch for their enemies. The other main road in the borough, Braddock Road, was the main link between Braddock Hills and Braddock used by farmers and coal miners. The first area of the borough to be settled was along Brinton Road, first settled as Hannatown. First settled in 1753, the area was part of Wilkins Township until 1885, when Braddock Township was incorporated. On May 2, 1946, after Braddock Township had already been broken up into the boroughs of Swissvale, North Braddock, and Rankin, the remaining area incorporated itself as Braddock Hills. Braddock Hills experienced a housing boom following World War II. Many GIs used their VA loans to acquire newly built homes. Most of the new homes were built on Illinois Ave, Park Ave, Columbia Ave, Circle Drive, McKelvey Ave, and Kings Road. These homes were generally small brick Cape Cods, colonials, or brick ranches. While much of the borough has new housing, there are many older structures. Miners built shotgun-style homes. Many of these homes were located on Indiana Avenue. Some are still in use. Many older residents can recall when the Braddock Hills Shopping Center on Yost Boulevard was the location of a drive-in movie theater. The Ardmore Drive-In operated from 1959 to 1976; it was then torn down and was replaced with a shopping center. During the 1980s the shopping center's parking lot hosted a Sunday flea market and the Braddock Hills Days Festival. Like many Western Pennsylvania communities, Braddock Hills was a coal town.…

Geography

Braddock Hills is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of , all land. Its average elevation is above sea level. Braddock Hills has five borders, including Wilkinsburg to the north, Forest Hills from the north-northeast to the east, North Braddock to the south, Swissvale to the west and southwest, and finally Edgewood to the west.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Baldwin SHS
  High · Pittsburgh · 2,086 students · 18.6:1 ratio
• Pittsburgh Allderdice HS
  High · Pittsburgh · 1,362 students · 13.1:1 ratio
• Fox Chapel Area HS
  High · Pittsburgh · 1,283 students · 13.6:1 ratio
• Penn Hills El Sch
  Elementary · Pittsburgh · 1,279 students · 13.8:1 ratio
• Plum SHS
  High · Plum · 1,226 students · 17.5:1 ratio
• Shaler Area HS
  High · Pittsburgh · 1,225 students · 11.9:1 ratio
• J.E. Harrison Education Ctr
  Elementary · Pittsburgh · 1,143 students · 15.7:1 ratio
• Gateway SHS
  High · Monroeville · 1,135 students · 14.4:1 ratio