South Fayette Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

South Fayette Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Township
South Fayette High School
Etymology: Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette
Location in Allegheny County and state of Pennsylvania
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Allegheny
Established	1842
Area
• Total	20.95 sq mi (54 km2)
Population (2010)
• Total	14,416
• Estimate (2016)	15,576
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	15017, 15031, 15057, 15064, 15082
Area code(s)	412, 724
FIPS code	42-003-72160
Website	South Fayette Township

South Fayette Township is a township in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 14,416 at the 2010 census.

Thorough its early history, South Fayette has been the site of numerous conflicts between the earlier Native American residents and arriving settlers, particularly in the northern areas of the township. There are several historical relics found in South Fayette, in particular Native American stone instruments and graves.

Probably one of the first settlers of European descent came to the township sometime before 1768. Little is known of this settler, but he was of English descend and was named Miller, who settled at the mouth of Miller's run, for whom the stream is named. However, before emigrating to Kentucky, Miller sold an expansive tract of land to a land speculator named Campbell for a pair of shoes. The first permanent settler was Christopher Lesnet, a German immigrant who came from Baltimore, Maryland in 1770.

In 1770, George Washington is believed to have acquired 2,813 acres (1,138 ha) of land from his neighbor John Posey in exchange for forgiveness of debt. Washington was an absentee landlord and treated the property as a land investment. Today, this parcel of land includes what is now known as the Hickory Heights community and it is located in the southwest corner of the township.

Originally, South Fayette and North Fayette Township were known as Fayette Township in honor of General Lafayette. However, in 1842, Fayette township was separated into North and South Fayette townships. Following the creation of Collier Township in 1875, South Fayette Township territorial limits as stand today are formed by the Washington County line, Robinson's Run, Coal Run and Chartiers Creek.

Today, South Fayette is a fast-growing community benefiting from its proximity to Downtown Pittsburgh, Southpointe, Pittsburgh International Airport and Robinson commercial district as well as its highly ranked school district. In 2013, South Fayette was nominated as the best Pittsburgh suburb to raise a family in a regional survey.