Kennedy Township is located in Allegheny County 10 miles west of Pittsburgh. Back in 1787, James Speer got a patent of land from William Penn. He built the first brick house on a farm in the area that is now Kennedy. Other notable beginnings at Kennedy were the Clever and Nolte families.

The first church in Kennedy was Mt. Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1843.

Gas, oil and coal mining were crucial to keeping Kennedy Township afloat. One of the most infamous coal strikes was in Kennedy—the movie Black Fury showed the story. In 1921, the first school with more than one room and a gymnasium was built. Kennedy was granted stature of first class township in 1961.

Kennedy Township is served by the Montour School District. Schools in the township include David E. Williams, Montour Elementary and St. Malachy School.

Kennedy Township is bordered by McKees Rocks to the east, the Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Windgap and Fairywood to the southeast, Robinson Township to the south and west, and Stowe Township to the northeast. Also, a portion of the Ohio River's back channel runs through the border of Kennedy Township and Neville Township, a/k/a Neville Island.