This article is one in a series of articles about what life looks like in Butler County ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026. Stories in this series aim to showcase what it’s like to live, work, play and serve in Butler County during this moment in history.

Butler County is growing, offers plenty for residents and visitors to enjoy, and is finding new ways to prepare its youngest residents for the future.

Leaders representing what it’s like to live, work, play and serve Butler County recently shared their thoughts on the state of the county and their outlooks for the future ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday.

“Butler County is one of the few counties growing in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and certainly the fastest growing in Southwest Pennsylvania,” said Leslie Osche, chairman of the county board of commissioners.

Recent population data puts Butler County at just over 200,000 residents, and prior to this, Butler County has consistently inched toward that mark and shown ample signs of growth over the past several years.

Roadwork is plentiful. Recently, most of Route 228 was expanded to four lanes, resulting in a nearly $10 billion increase in the gross domestic product. Route 68 was upgraded to accommodate growth in Buffalo, Jackson, Lancaster, Forward, and Connoquenessing townships, Osche said.

Following the flow of traffic, developments are popping up along Route 228 and Interstate 79 alike.

The county leads the state in the number of housing starts because developers and homebuyers recognize the investments in infrastructure and amenities made by the county and municipalities, Osche explained.

As Osche sees it, Butler County is clearly a place people want to be in 2026.

“Low taxes, business-friendly governance, great schools at all levels, a local independent health care system and a wealth of cultural and outdoor amenities continue to attract families to Butler County,” she said.

The county is a major contributor to manufacturing, energy and artificial intelligence, serving as home to Westinghouse, Coherent, Cleveland-Cliffs and Iron Mountain, she said.

The jobs are here to support the population; there are places that people want to spend their time and money right within Butler County; and more of both are coming, the commissioner said.

The county’s present state is positive, and it’s future promises further potential, she said.

Someone looking back from 100 years in the future would see the county learned from its past, Osche said.

“Much like the oil boom, we've experienced great investments in our county as a result of Marcellus Shale that, with smart planning and management, will have a longer-lasting impact,” Osche said.

In 2026, Butler County isn’t a place that is “recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic” from earlier in the decade. It’s a county that was positioned to cover costs without loans when the state delayed its budget last year.

Osche said Butler County was prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic and responded effectively, using relief funds to make investments for the future, she said.

In recent years, historic investments were made in farmland preservation, emergency management, parks, Butler County Community College and Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport.

The county received two federal grants for Route 228 and Freedom Road, and leveraged the local use fee and the infrastructure bank that uses Act 13 fees from natural gas extraction to subsidize interest on pooled municipal borrowings, she said.

The county created the EMT and paramedic academies to address the EMS crisis, and provided grants to manufacturers to help them meet changing market demands, Osche said.

She noted how she is proud of how the county is recovering from the attempted assassination of then-candidate President Donald Trump here in Butler County, and a heroin crisis.

“Despite the attempted assassination of a former president, then candidate, here in Butler and the tragic loss of a hero, (former Buffalo Township firefighter) Corey Comperatore, our community came through stronger than ever, with the same conviction and resilience that the revolutionists had 250 years ago,” Osche said.

In regard to the heroin crisis, the county’s long-term recovery involved using collaboration and wise investments of government funds and settlements, Osche said.

“All in all, I would say we have successfully garnered more competitive grant funds and made more investments than any past board of commissioners,” she said.

Because of these investments, she said the county could be both comfortable and confident as it eyes a noteworthy milestone: the ability to transition from a fourth to a third class county as population is on pace to top 210,000 in the near future.

At that mark, Butler County would more resemble places like Erie, Dauphin or Westmoreland County rather than Beaver and Cambria County. Already, it’s increasingly facing similar challenges and having seeing similar opportunities as such places with larger populations.

Butler County has everything families need to thrive, and has made significant investments in infrastructure, according to Mark Gordon, chief of planning and economic development.

“We have it all: exceptional places to live, work and raise families, all the amenities of larger city locations without the crime and distractions, along with reasonable affordability,” Gordon said.

The Butler County Infrastructure Bank was created to help municipalities and authorities address roads, bridges, stormwater, water and sewage, and broadband expansions. To date, the BCIB has provided subsidized funding totaling $60.4 million, generating $90.4 million of investment, Gordon said.

The county created the Municipal Infrastructure Program using American Rescue Plan Act funds to provide grants totaling $15.7 million, producing $38.4 million in investment, he said.

The county’s $5 fee on vehicle registrations has been used to deliver $1.3 million to municipalities for road projects, resulting in $11.4 million of investment, he said.

Working with federal and state elected officials and obtaining grants has delivered a total of $182 million, yielding $248 million of investment.

The combination of all those programs and strategies has resulted in $388 million in investment across the county, Gordon said.

New home construction incorporates apartment-style, condominium and townhome-living with single family and patio homes to create walkable neighborhoods with small commercial districts. That allows grandparents, children with families and single young adults to live in proximity, Gordon said.

He said third-class counties have more government flexibility, better access to services and better positioning for economic development, transportation and housing funding, he said.

On the downside, third-class counties can produce a higher cost of government and more bureaucracy, he added about what’s likely ahead for Butler County.

Education in Butler County is in a period of change and opportunity, said Brian White, superintendent of the Butler Area School District.

“Schools today are being asked to do far more than deliver academic content. Public education is at the intersection of workforce development, mental health, technology, community engagement and student well-being,” White said.

He said county schools try to balance academics with a recognition that students need connection, purpose, hope and meaningful experiences. Students learn best when they feel supported, engaged and connected to their community, he added.

Looking back on 2026 in 100 years, people will see schools transforming from standardized learning to a personalized and community-connected approach to education, he said.

Future generations should note this was the beginning of the artificial intelligence era in education. Schools used to focus on helping students access information. Today, information is instantly available, he said.

AI is creating challenges in cybersecurity, misinformation and safety, which are increasingly becoming part of emergency management planning for schools, he said.

“The challenge now is helping students think critically, communicate effectively, solve problems, collaborate with others and use technology responsibly and ethically,” White said.

People in the future might notice that schools in 2026 were grappling with societal questions involving screen time, mental health, movement and play, student engagement and preparing students for careers and technologies that did not yet fully exist, he said.

“At Butler Area School District, we are trying to respond to those realities by creating authentic learning experiences through internships, community partnerships, work-based learning, and career exploration opportunities,” White said.

Students have opportunities for real-world learning experiences through partnerships with Independence Health System, Butler County Community College, local businesses, nonprofits and community organizations.

Families have the most education choices ever, including cyber schools, charter schools, homeschooling, and other alternative learning models, he said.

He said public schools educate every child who enters and provide services extending beyond academics, including transportation, meals, special education supports, extracurricular activities and mental health services.

“Looking ahead, I think we will continue to see more hybrid models of learning that combine traditional instruction with online learning, work-based experiences, community partnerships and competency-based pathways,” White said.

Tourism in the county is better than ever, said Amy Pack, president of Experience Butler County.

The agency measures tourism by the number of social media followers and the amount of money spent by visitors. Both are at record levels, she said.

“We are at our strongest point ever,” Pack said. “Social media followers are at an all-time high, and visitor spending is at the top number ever — $766.6,” Pack said. “Every corner of our county has something different to offer.”

Looking back 100 years from now, people will see local entrepreneurs creating places that made the county a destination, she said.

“We’re what travelers are looking for. We have diverse offerings — Cranberry Township, working farms, lush country sides, outdoor recreation, history, arts. We cover all interests,” Pack said.

The county’s small towns and villages that people can stroll while taking in dinner, shopping and history are what attract tourists, she said.

Hands-on, or “experiential” tourism, is a growing trend in the county. Pack said visitors look for attractions that allow them to participate in activities.

Historic sites are more popular than ever because of the America250 celebration, she said.

“We want to continue to thrive and grow and expand what we offer,” Pack said. “What we offer visitors is what we value ourselves.”

Emergency services in the county were in the spotlight during the attempted assassination of Donald Trump during a campaign rally July 13, 2024.

Steve Bicehouse, emergency services and 911 director, commends first responders for their impeccable service that day.

“Our emergency responders that were there that day handled things impeccably. Most of the work came before the attempt. We focused on heat-related illnesses. After the attempt, we transitioned right way into trauma mode and dealing with victims.

“They rolled from one set of problems to the next without blinking,” Bicehouse said.

He’s proud of the work the first responders did that day.

“A piece of us is still at the site and always will be, and Corey with us,” Bicehouse said of the Buffalo Township firefighter who died that day. “There’s a piece of every one of us on that grass (at the Butler Farm Show grounds).”

He said emergency services is evolving as responders are being asked to do more with less funding while using new technology.

Currently, they work within their bounds, but change is needed moving forward.

“Emergencies of 1992 are much different from 2026,” Bicehouse said.

“Archaic” legislation limiting insurance reimbursement for ambulance services, and the Emergency Management Act, are in need of updates, he said.

On the other hand, the 911 system is supported by updated legislation. Provisions dealing with mutual aid and technology have been beneficial.

“Emergency services is always evolving and always adapting and always overcoming obstacles,” Bicehouse said.

The use of AI in emergency management is in its infancy. However, the technology is already improving the 911 dispatch system with foreign language translation and by transcribing emergency calls to allow dispatchers to identify keywords, names and addresses, he said.

One of the biggest changes in emergency services is the declining number of volunteer firefighters, Bicehouse said. The result is mergers among fire departments and some municipalities paying volunteers.

“The culture is different today. In the 80s, the firehouse was a family-oriented organization,” he said. “Families came for fish fries and bingo. Not today.”