Ross Township history

In 1817 Ross Township was formed from a division of Chestnuthill Township and named after a very prominent citizen, Judge John Ross of Easton, Pennsylvania.

Indenture between Joseph Crider and Hugh Davis 8 August 1820 detail

Indenture between Hugh Davis and Elisha Brooks 25 February 1823 more detail

In 1849 a charter was granted to the Allegheny and Perrysville Turnpike Road Company to construct a turnpike or plank road for the Allegheny City line.

What started as Perry Plank Road (now Perry Highway) extended to Wexford by 1863.

Recently, Ruth Dodds, a lifelong Ross resident, found a copy of a letter her mother wrote in October 1908, describing the first firefighters' parade held in Perrysville.

Stanko said she first learned about local history through family members, who had lived in Ross since the 1920s.

On January 1, 1922 Ross Township became a First Class Township.

In 1924 the department consisted of three police officers who patrolled on two motorcycles and in a police car.

Evergreen Road loking towards intersection with Babcock Blvd and Three Degree Road, taken April 29, 1926

Perrysville 1950 telephone directory

McKnight road was completed as a 4 lane highway all the way from the North Side of Pittsburgh to Pine Creek in 1951.

By 1959, there were two radio equipped cars and 12 officers.

In 1967, a wing to house the Police Department was added to the former Municipal Building that was located at 5325 Perrysville Avenue.

In 1971, the Ross Township Police Department was staffed by 35 full time officers, including the Police Chief.

The Ross Township Police Department continued to grow and reached its current compliment of 43 officers in 2001.