Traffic cones and construction vehicles are a sign of the continued growth spurt in Butler County. Since 2000, nearly 20,000 new residents are calling the county home, according to the 2024 U.S. Census figures. Projections expect the population to top 210,000 in the next four years opening the county to third-class status.

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The Butler County commissioners said their investments in the last 10 years have been the greatest in the county’s history. With $500 million in projects underway, the county — already dressed in construction orange — is predicted to continue growing.

Now a class-four county, the 225-year-old governmental entity reached a population of 199,341 in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, up from 198,665 in 2023. When it surpasses 210,000 residents, the county commissioners will have the option to sign a resolution moving the county from fourth to third class.

“We have been very fortunate that we have been growing at a steady pace, and one that has allowed us to adapt in that time frame to the needs that come with growth,” said Commissioner Leslie Osche.

Population trends indicates the 210,000 threshold could be reached in the next four years — prior to the county’s 230th birthday.

However, the county’s class designation may only be changed after the 2030 census. Because the terms of the current county commissioners end in 2028, the resolution will be signed by the next set of commissioners, but the journey to get here has started with the groundwork — particularly roadwork — laid out by the current commissioners.

“Right now, we’re focused on just being a fourth-class county and making the county the best it can be,” Geyer said.

As PennDOT District 10 completes phase three of four in its Route 228 improvements, traffic cones are a fixture drivers have come to expect along their commute.

Commissioner Kim Geyer said Butler County leaders are working with federal legislators to secure funding from federal grants over the next two years to complete the final construction phase for the 26-mile corridor.

The corridor, which moves about $38 billion in gross domestic product each year, is being widened and will connect Interstate 79 to Route 8, allowing access from the roads to other major roads and ports on the Allegheny and Ohio rivers, according to Mark Gordon, the county’s chief of economic development and planning.

Gordon anticipates the route will continue to attract manufacturers — who need employees.

Gordon said the population growth appears to follow a U-shape starting in Cranberry Township. One half of the “U” follows Route 19 through Zelienople, Harmony and Lancaster Township. The other half follows Route 228 through Mars, Adams Township and Middlesex Township through to Sarver and Saxonburg.

“We have a lot of economic activity and population still coming here,” Gordon said.

He continued by saying growth is also converging near Route 19 and Route 422 in Muddy Creek Township and spreading east toward the City of Butler. Within the “U” shape, Route 8 traffic is encouraging population growth in Penn Township as well.

Additionally, Gordon said he hopes that the city of Butler could see an economic resurgence as a result of the growth. They may not be seeing growth yet, but it could see a revitalization in the not-so-distant future, he said.

The population growth and projected county class change would prompt adjustments to county code, shifting how certain authorities operate and how funds are allocated, in accordance with the Pennsylvania Constitution.

For example, the county’s hotel tax, which is a sales tax on rented rooms, homes and apartments, currently funds tourism, but it could be allocated for economic development under the county code changes, according to Commissioner Kevin Boozel.

Further county code changes could come if county officials opt to establish a charter, which would need to be voted on. A charter would allow the county to outline its own form of government and would grant the county all powers not expressly forbidden by the state constitution.

Eight of the 67 counties across the state are charter counties, according to National Association of Counties. A change in the form of government could look like establishing a county executive and a county council instead of a board of commissioners.

For example, Erie is a third-class charter county with a county executive and county council, and Westmoreland is a third-class non-charter county with a board of commissioners.

Counties by class: Third and fourth class counties in Pennsylvania

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Third Class

• Berks County
• Chester County
• Cumberland County
• Dauphin County
• Erie County
• Lackawanna County
• Lehigh County
• Luzerne County
• Northampton County
• Westmoreland County
• York County

Fourth Class

• Beaver County
• Butler County
• Cambria County
• Centre County
• Fayette County
• Franklin County
• Monroe County
• Schuylkill County
• Washington County

The third-class status may also give the county greater borrowing power. Boozel explained that borrowing rates are defined by comparing Butler County to others with similar populations and resources to negotiate contracts. The larger tax base will likely lead to a strong Moody’s tax rating as well, Boozel said.

However, Boozel said some county leaders he’s spoken with outside of Butler County have been hesitant to move up in class. The larger population associated with moving up in class correlates with government offices hiring more employees to meet the population demand by balancing budgeting with manpower.

Population growth could also slow down the Common Pleas Court system, which could see a higher volume of cases. To combat that potentially higher volume, Butler County Common Pleas Court will receive a seventh judge serving a 10-year term beginning in 2026.

Common Pleas judges earn a salary of $227,411, according to Pennsylvania Code chapter 211. The salary is adjusted for inflation each year as done with state employees.

The new judge may be needed to meet an increase in cases, but its one of the many potential increasing costs — the tip of the iceberg. The new judge will need an office and an assistant.

Though this cost comes out of the state rather than the county-level coffers, it shows how costs can quickly balloon.

The county’s job? Finding a balance between the number of employees needed and what they cost, Osche said.

“It’s about making sure services continue to be provided and the infrastructure is solid and reliable,” she said.

While census figures show surging populations in the southwestern portion of Butler County, growth north of Route 422 appears to be slower.

Resultingly, commissioners aren’t looking at roadwork as much as they are other types of infrastructure investments in that area. These efforts include water, sewer and broadband access in attempts to better quality of life and possibly aid growth north of Route 422.

“Anytime you have those key components together, it attracts economic growth and residential (development),” Geyer said.

Further north, the Butler County leaders highlighted how the Allegheny-Clarion Valley received $2.86 million to renovate and expand water and sewer access in its business park between 2022 and 2025.

Also, $1.08 million was allocated in October to 10 other municipal road, water and sewer projects like in Marion Township.

The county helps small municipalities with lower tax bases to fund upgrades and improvements through its infrastructure bank program. The program has allowed the county to allocate $1.4 million to municipalities with returns of almost $12 million in ongoing projects, according to Boozel.

The program works by allowing a group of municipalities to make a list of projects and bring it to the county, which borrows money on their behalf.

The county also collaborates with private entities to improve the county’s infrastructure. Public-private partnerships, such as the county’s collaboration with Armstrong, a telecommunications company, expand broadband access to Butler County residents.

An ongoing partnership addresses Moniteau and Slippery Rock Area school districts access, and in August, an announcement indicated another partnership would likely allow the company to use $5.3 million from $19.9 million in provisionally approved federal funding to expand internet service to other areas in Butler County.

With a growing population, more people will using services, which means more people will be needed to offer the services and fill jobs. Services are already feeling the weight of the population growth.

The manager of Katie’s Kitchen, Justine Brown said that the Butler-based nonprofit is sometimes serving upward of 340 meals a night. This is up for about 80 meals average about six years ago.

“The numbers we serve will only grow as the month goes on... Using our own funds and community resources, feeding these numbers is becoming increasingly difficult,” Brown said.

Osche said the county is no stranger to addressing shortages in healthcare staff and first responders. She said the commissioners have met with providers and emergency services agencies and were informed of the difficulty in getting enough people to complete costly training courses for low-wage jobs.

“This has been a long-talked-about problem,” Osche said.

The county’s unemployment rate is “extremely low — one of the lowest in the Commonwealth,” according to Gordon.

The state Department of Labor and Statistics reported a preliminary unemployment rate of 3.6% in the county compared to the state’s 4% rate in July.

“Jobs are not going to be an issue. Maybe the (number of) workers,” Boozel said.

Osche said each municipality facing health care worker shortages has handled them a little bit differently. Some southern municipalities have commissioned a study into forming a first-responders authority to better share resources.

The Butler County SAFER Group, which stands for Standard Actions For Emergency Response, has been working together since 2017. The group, composed of Adams Township, Cranberry Township, Callery, Evans City and Harmony fire companies, coordinates a multi-agency response program to make fighting fires safer.

Butler Memorial Hospital also supplements its emergency room staff with employees from local EMS companies, Osche said.

The commissioners have worked to address the shortage by partnering with BC3 to provide an EMT academy. Osche said the county pays the amount for a full-time student to attend for one month, and the graduate pledges in exchange to work for at least one year at an emergency services agency in the county.

She said BC3 will also be starting a paramedic academy with a similar structure.

Also in healthcare, Gordon said Independence Health’s Butler Memorial Hospital welcomed its first interns this year through an arbitration agreement with Duquesne University.

The commissioners anticipate healthcare and human services may be where the county struggles to keep up with demand.

Businesses are booming too, growing with a need for people to fill positions.

“We continue to move businesses here all the time,” Gordon said.

He said notable companies such as Westinghouse Electric Corp., MSA Security, PPG Paints and Giant Eagle all have corporate headquarters in Cranberry Township. Manufacturers are attracted to the county because of its proximity to the major roads and ports used to ship their products, he said.

Gordon added Bellvue International’s Butler location has at least doubled its workforce in the last three years. AGR International is also headquartered in Butler Township.

“This area has a rich, rich history of leading the world in a lot of innovative things,” Gordon said.

For instance, manufacturing companies in the county are producing 32 parts that will be used in the country’s next mission to Mars, Gordon said.

School districts like Seneca Valley — one of the 50 largest in the state — have turned their attention to building projects, aiming to address predicted growth. Seneca Valley School District’s proposed $165 million intermediate high school renovation and performing arts center, for instance, has drawn significant public backlash.

“Growth is a sign of a thriving community,” Superintendent Tracy Vitale said. “It reflects a strong local economy and the appeal of our area as a place to live and raise families. But with growth comes a host of challenges, especially for our schools.”

It’s Ehrman Elementary/Middle School was featured on the cover of Time Magazine as one of the Best Inventions of 2022, Gordon said. However, Osche said the district quickly grew out of the new school.

Osche anticipates the county school districts will continue to face infrastructure challenges as their populations increase. Knoch Area School District and Slippery Rock Area School District are undergoing construction, and housing projects in Butler and Connoquenessing Townships point to a rise in the Butler Area School District population, which had previously declined.

Gordon added Butler County Community College has expanded campuses in multiple counties and created an opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree at the community college price. Slippery Rock University has also created more master’s and doctoral programs geared toward students attending later in life.

He said further education in the county is also provided by the Steamfitters Union Local No. 448 with its technology center in Harmony, which offers training and apprenticeships. Flight schools High Flight Academy and AirQuest Aviation also fly between 110 and 120 flights per day from Butler Regional Airport, according to Gordon.