About Hempfield Township

Did You Know?

Hempfield Township recently acquired a piece of property on Fosterville Road from Habitat for Humanity. This property will be incorporated into our Fort Allen Flood Control project and will help collect additional water, particularly off the Sioux Drive area. The property was unexpectedly acquired in June by the Township at no cost to taxpayers.

Hempfield Township will spend over $1.5 million dollars in 2010 to improve roads throughout our community.

Hempfield Township has almost 18,000 residential structures and seventeen (17) zip codes within its borders.

Hempfield has not raised taxes in 2 decades?

Hempfield is undertaking the most comprehensive storm water improvement program in its history.

Hempfield is now improving over thirty (30) miles of roads every year.

Hempfield can now pave in-house since it now has its own paver.

Hempfield is now demolishing dilapidated and abandoned properties.

Hempfield is working to control those neglected yards in your neighborhood.

Hempfield has competitively bid a significant number of contracts or services out over the last eighteen (18) months resulting in $100,000 in savings to taxpayers. I look forward to outlining many more “Did You Know’s?”. What we are undertaking is an ambitious agenda, and I am grateful to be part of it.”

Kurt M. Ferguson, Manager
Hempfield Township
1132 Woodward Dr.,Suite A
Greensburg, PA 15601
Phone: 724-834-7232 X 141
E-mail: kferguson@hempfieldtwp.org

About Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County PA

The Township of Hempfield is the third largest Second Class Township in the State of Pennsylvania and encompasses 90 square miles. Hempfield maintains over 219 road miles. The 2000 Census reported a total population of 40,721.

History

Many people often wonder where "Hempfield Township" got its name and how it originated. Hempfield's early settlers were Germans from southeastern Pennsylvania. The name "Hempfield" was taken from Hempfield Township in Lancaster County, which was formed in 1729 as an English place name. Hempfield Township in Lancaster County derived their name from the production of hemp. In 1818 Lancaster County divided Hempfield Township into East and West Hempfield.

The settlers from Lancaster County that came to this area gave the same name to our Township where some of the early settlers had resided. Agriculture was the base for the settlers in the early days. The Township was known for the stills and distilleries where farmers refined the substantial grain output. Hempfield Township is one of the original six townships created as part of Bedford County in 1771. Two years later on April 6th, 1773 it became part of the formation of Westmoreland County. Hempfield holds the honor of being the oldest local municipality in western Pennsylvania.

100th Anniversary of the Village of

About Bovard Anniversary

The town of Bovard in Hempfield Township celebrated its 100th Anniversary in 2010. Originally called Crow’s Nest, the town was founded in 1910, as home to the families of men working the Crow’s Nest Coal Mine. The town was re-named in 1914 after Harry F. Bovard, President of the Coal Company.

The Anniversary Logo highlights the unique tunnel at the entrance to Bovard, as well as a helmet and pick that would have been used by a coal miner in 1910. These objects suggest Bovard’s history and the back-breaking sacrifice of its ancestors, while the light from the miner’s lamp shows the forward-thinking attitude that its ancestors maintained and instilled in the current residents of Bovard.

To kick-off this year-long celebration of the town and its residents, a dinner was held on Sunday, January 24th, 2010 to honor those current residents of Bovard over the age of 70. The idea behind the dinner was to honor the senior members of the community who have made their lives in Bovard and whose families created the churches, fire department, and various organizations that are still important to today’s residents. The dinner provided an opportunity for people to catch up with old friends, reminisce about the good old days, and get involved in planning the Centennial Celebration in August.

Approximately forty (40) residents were in attendance. Following the dinner, members of the Centennial Committee had a chance to talk with the guests to record some of their most-treasured memories and stories to share with other members of the community. This priceless information will hopefully be passed on to give younger residents a better understanding of their town and their heritage. This year will be a time of both reflection and celebration…remembering where they came from and celebrating how far they have come, as well as where they are headed in the future.

In addition, the committee is also selling bricks to pave the area around the new Honor Roll location. Everyone is welcome to purchase a paver brick, which will be engraved with a name and/or message of their choosing.

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