Oakdale Borough was incorporated in 1892. On May 18, 1918, a TNT explosion in a local chemical factory killed 200 people. On September 17, 2004, Oakdale was devastated by a flood resulting from the rain brought by the remnants of category 5 Hurricane Ivan. The downpour from Ivan followed a steady rain that had covered the Allegheny County area from category 4 Hurricane Frances, which struck the area just 10 days before Ivan hit. The flooding caused a large-scale evacuation of the community, and brought Red Cross volunteers and National Guard members to the area in an effort to control the confusion. The flooding destroyed businesses, many of which never reopened, and displaced many residents whose homes were condemned.
Oakdale Borough spans a total area of 0.47 square miles, all of which is land. Robinson Run, a tributary to Chartiers Creek, runs through the southeastern portion of the borough. The borough is flanked by North Fayette Township to the north and South Fayette Township to the south.
The borough is served by the West Allegheny School District, which provides quality educational services to its residents. Further, Pittsburgh Technical College and the West Hills branch of the Community College of Allegheny County also call the area their home, providing higher education opportunities to the borough’s residents.