Originally part of the vast Province of Virginia, what is now our Pleasant Hills was in turn a part of Yohogania County, Westmoreland County, Washington County and finally, in 1788, it became a part of the newly established Allegheny County. The first land owner of record was John Reed, Jr. He named the area Reedsburg and built a log cabin on what is now Orchard Drive. A brother-in-law of his, William Walker, soon followed John and settled on a farm nearby which he named "Pleasant Hill Farm". The stone farm house he built later became a tavern and a stage coach stop. It was located near the Route 51/Lebanon Church Rd Cloverleaf. Today, this home, as well as many other historic local scenes, can be seen in the pictorial history of Pleasant Hills at the Pleasant Hills Public Library.
During the last quarter of the 18th century, Reed and Walker were joined by other settlers who were mainly farmers of rye and corn crops. Most of the grain grown on these farms was converted to whiskey as that was the easiest and most profitable product to transport over the mountains to the eastern markets. In the early 1790’s, the new US Government placed a high excise tax on whiskey. Many of the areas farmers felt unfairly persecuted by their new government. Tempers ran hot as many farmers refused to pay their levies and destroyed the stills of farmers who did.
The Whiskey Rebellion, as it was called, became one of the first challenges to the governing authority of the new American government. Fighting broke out all over the "South Hills" area. Well armed groups of farmers waged their war against the government’s revenue collectors going so far as to set fire to the "revenuer’s" homes and robbing the US Mail. Not surprisingly, troops were soon called in from Philadelphia to put down the insurrection. In the end, some of the rebel leaders were taken to the state capital to be tried for Treason. Ultimately, they were all pardoned.
After the Whiskey Rebellion, the area enjoyed over 100 years of peace. During this time, many political subdivisions took place. In 1828, Jefferson Township was carved out of Mifflin and St. Clair Townships. Over the next 18 years, Jefferson would loose parts of its township to Baldwin Township and Snowden Township (known as South Park Township today). These subdivisions and realignments quieted down for another century. During the 1930’s however, the rural nature of the area began to change rapidly.
The first plan of suburban, residential streets and homes actually opened in 1929 along Airport Road - now known as Lebanon Church Road. Despite the Depression, other developments opened new streets for new home construction. "Suburbia" now included new home owners on Betty Rae Drive, Melvin Drive, Old Lebanon Church Road and Pleasant Hills Boulevard. Local resident, Bill Green had a small refreshment stand on the corner of Old Clairton Road and Route 51 - which was not much more than a back country road at the time. The new development brought prosperity to the area and soon Bill Green’s grew into a famous Pittsburgh Night Club.
Finally, in December of 1946, local residents wanting to break away from the still rural majority of Jefferson Township petitioned for incorporation as the Borough of Pleasant Hills. Originally, Pleasant Hills consisted of 837 homes and a total population of 2500. Within 25 years, it had grown to 2630 homes with a population of 10,500. Residents earned livelihoods from: the local steel industry giants of US Steel, (now USX), J&L Steel and Bethlehem Steel; Gulf Oil; Koppers; General Motors; Dravo; Mellon Bank and Pittsburgh National Bank. Many small business owners and professionals in the the legal, medical, insurance and accounting fields enjoyed the small town community life of Pleasant Hills.