East McKeesport, the East End of McKeesport, was named after the McKee family, pioneers in the area. David McKee was born in Scotland in 1710. His parents were strict Presbyterians and deeply religious and for that reason they were persecuted. About 1750 David McKee and several of his brothers, with their families, came to America.

David McKee's son John, the founder of McKeesport, was born in 1746 in northern Ireland. He was about 22 years of age when the family arrived at the present site of McKeesport. John McKee became a trader in land for profit. He bought and sold land in Pittsburgh, Beaver County, along the Allegheny River, and in Versailles Township. Through his real estate operations and other business ventures, he became one of the wealthiest men in Western Pennsylvania. However, financial reverses and disappointment came later in life, and he died a broken-hearted man, the victim of his own generosity, on January 11, 1807.

East McKeesport is a borough located four miles north of the Monongahela River in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. It is bounded on three sides by North Versailles and on the north by the borough of Wilmerding. The borough, which has an altitude of 1200 feet, is located on a beautiful plateau sandwiched between the Turtle Creek, Monongahela, and Youghiogheny Valleys. The area of the community is 0.4 square miles.

The property was originally owned by James McClure and James Carson. Deeds were transferred to the Monongahela Investment Company July 5th, 1892. After the purchase of the farms, Mr. Stiling blocked off a portion and developed the land which was then called Stiling Terrace. Later, two brothers named Devenny developed that portion of the land from Stiling Terrace south to the North Versailles Township line. In the Court of Quarter Sessions of the peace of Allegheny County, a petition was presented at No. 51 December Sessions 1893, requesting the incorporation of a portion of North Versailles Township into the present borough of East McKeesport.

This petition was signed by resident freeholders: W.D. Repper, John F. Hughes, James Carson, Elizabeth Carson, George L. Good, Alice A. Good, Harvey S. Welsh, E.W. Gordon, and Lena Gordon. At No. 51 December Sessions 1893, the Court ordered and decreed incorporation of the borough of East McKeesport as petitioned to be granted. At the time of the incorporation of the borough, a toll-gate had stood for many years at the intersection of what is now the Lincoln Highway and Fifth Avenue. This toll-gate was not owned or operated by the state but by a stock company and was later removed by a resident, Thomas H. Taylor.

Following the incorporation of the Borough, East McKeesport elected its first officers. The man elected to serve as the first burgess, Mr. James Carson, was born in a log house near what is now Carson Street and Broadway.

The first council meeting was held at the home of H. G. Curry on March 2, 1896. The members of the original council were as follows: Oscar E. Lindbom, John T. Muse, Harvey S. Welsh, H.J. Harris, H.G. Curry, W.S. Brashear, and G.B. Watkins. At a meeting March 17, 1896, the tax rate was set at four mills for the ensuing year.

On December 10, 1896, an ordinance was passed granting the East McKeesport Water Company the right to lay mains and pipes for the purpose of supplying water to all parts of the borough. An article in the East McKeesport News reported, "East McKeesport has a complete water system and mains are laid on every street. The water is clear as crystal and absolutely pure all the year round.

A short time after the borough was incorporated, Council granted the Pittsburgh Railway Company the right to lay tracks through the borough on Broadway. As a result of this action, street car service became available to Wilmerding and McKeesport. The fare was five cents and service was available every ten minutes. Sometime later the tracks were moved from Broadway to Fifth Avenue.

The population was 2,076 at the 2020 census.