History comes alive in Monongahela!

City is 7 years older than the United States

From the graceful lines of the gazebo to the historic buildings dotting Main Street, Monongahela is a community steeped in history, tradition, and pride.

Years before the nation was born - seven (7) years to be exact - Monongahela came into existence. It all began when William Nowland, Peter Froman and James Linnes purchased tracts of land at the mouth of Pigeon Creek. Those first dwellers had an ample supply of wood from the rolling land covered with forests, as well as flowers and fruit.

Names like Eden and Paradise were attributed to the land. Eden, as it was originally known, would today be found in the city's First Ward from south of the city's line to near Factory and Walnut streets. Paradise was located north of Eden and south of Pigeon Creek. Gloucester, of former days, is now the area from Fourth Street to Dry Run and from Sheridan Street to the riverfront.

Given credit for founding Monongahela was Joseph Parkinson. Parkinson and the Devore brothers built and operated competing ferries on opposite sides of the river. Even more than it is today, the river was used extensively for commercial navigation. Boat-building centers were located in Brownsville, Elizabeth, and at Parkinson's Ferry (a former name for Monongahela).

The town took its name from Parkison, who is credited for laying out the City of Monongahela.
He was a trader and served as supply agent at Fort Pitt in the Revolutionary times and traveled as far as New Orleans while trading.

The nearby Monongahela River yielded a bountiful supply of trout, perch, sturgeon and catfish. Settlers hunted the forests for bear, deer and turkey. Indians who occupied the area at the time were friendly and showed the early Monongahelans how to till the soil to raise wheat, rye, and other grains that were milled into flour for bread and other staples.