This township was erected June 7, 1860, by decree of court, from West Deer and Pine. The proceedings in this case were begun at March term, 1859, when William McKendry, Thomas M. Shaw and Col. John Brown were appointed as viewers. Their report was filed July 16, 1859, and the election, held May 22, 1880, resulted in its indorsement by a unanimous vote. The name was suggested in the following manner: Charles Gibson was one of those most strongly in favor of the new township, and his father, Thomas Gibson, was equally strenuous in opposing the measure. While arguing the question on one occasion, the father asserted that all the rich land and rich men in both Pine and West Deer would be included in the proposed new district, and that its erection would be greatly to their detriment. The son. acknowledged the compliment to the section of country for which he was endeavoring to secure political autonomy, and by his influence the name of "Richland" was conferred on it.

The township is three miles five furlongs and eighteen perches wide, and varies in length from three miles seven furlongs and twenty perches on the east to four miles and thirty perches on the west. The area is about eight thousand acres. Both Deer creek and Pine creek, the principal affluents of the Allegheny river in this county, have their sources here. The resources of the township are of an exclusively agricultural character. The population in 1870 was 707; in 1880, 760.

This part of the county was one of the last to receive attention from actual settlers. The land was originally secured in large tracts by eastern capitalists for speculative purposes. John Crawford is usually regarded as the first permanent settler, and is supposed to have arrived about 1800. His first neighbors began to appear about 1820, but there was only a sparse population several decades after that. William Waddle, who kept a tavern on the Butler plank-road, John Ewalt, Isaac Grubbs and John Dickey may also properly be classed as early settlers.

Other pioneers were Richard Morrow (many of whose descendants are still here), William and Robert Dickey, Hughey Douglass, J. W. Bougher. Dr. S. H. Allen, James Harbison, Thomas Waddle (a blacksmith), Jacob, William and John Waddle, John Dickson (his sons Samuel and David are still residents), John Sterling, Rev. James McConnell, Rev. Thomas Guthrie, Archibald and Robert Glasgow, William Bricker, Thomas Baker, David Crummey, Thomas Richards, James Jones.

The Pittsburgh & Western railroad crosses the township from north to south, with stations at Valencia, Bakerstown and Gibsonia. The latter is a postoffice, which was established in 1880, and the present name was adopted in 1882.

The village of Bakerstown, two miles from the station of that name, is a place of some local importance, derived from its position on the Butler plankroad. It was named from Thomas Baker, and in 1830 was nearly as large as at present. Its population is estimated at 130. It has three stores, a hotel, and the usual mechanic-shops. The Methodist church was built in 1838. The Presbyterian Church was organized in 1870, by Rev. William G. Stewart, the first pastor.

Recently, oil has been "struck" in Richland township, and several wells have since been drilled. One of these proved to be one of the most productive gaswells that has been discovered. It is near the line between Richland and West Deer. Some of the wells that have been sunk have yielded no oil, and but little gas.