Situated northeast of the City of Pittsburgh, Fox Chapel is only twelve miles from the Golden Triangle. The Borough covers nearly eight and one-half square miles and extends approximately five miles north of the Allegheny River. Fox Chapel is surrounded by the Borough of Aspinwall and the Townships of Harmar, Indiana and O'Hara.

Until the latter part of the 18th century, Native American tribes hunted and fished in this general area. The first settler in the Fox Chapel area was James Powers, who arrived around 1790.

Among the early landowners in the area was James O'Hara, a Revolutionary Army General and prominent Pittsburgh businessman. During the depression of 1818, O'Hara was saved from financial ruin by the side counsel of one James Ross, a noted lawyer and former Senator. As an expression of gratitude, O'Hara gave Ross 1,700 acres of land which is now part of Fox Chapel and comprises the Delafield Estates section of the Borough, as well as the development along Buckingham Road known as the "Ross Meadows Plan of Lots".1

Fox Chapel was originally part of O'Hara and Indiana Townships. In 1928, approximately forty property owners assembled at Shady Side Academy and voted to incorporate the Fox Chapel District Association. The matters of immediate concern to the Association were fire and police protection, and the directors took action to meet these needs. As time went on, the District Association addressed other concerns of its members including naming of roads, development and zoning. However, by 1933 the District Association had grown concerned that its interests were at variance with those of both Townships, and a petition was filed to allow the formation of a new borough. Despite vigorous opposition by both Townships, on August 3, 1934, the Court ordered the incorporation of Fox Chapel Borough from 6.8 square miles of O'Hara Township and 0.4 square miles of Indiana Township. Over the years, the Borough's government has been so efficient and satisfactory that other residents adjacent to the Borough have petitioned Council for annexation, increasing the area of the Borough to its present size of approximately 8.5 square miles.2

Fox Chapel constantly strives to defend and maintain its special ambience. One of our most important tasks is to preserve this position. Not only it is desirable for Fox Chapel, it is desirable for the entire Pittsburgh area. Our wooded hills and uncrowded residential developments are a valuable regional asset. Fox Chapel is a classic example of what can be done to preserve openness and spaciousness in the very midst of urbanization and industrialization.

The name "Fox Chapel" comes from John Fox, who immigrated from Germany in 1831 and farmed the land around the present Faith United Methodist Church until his death in 1889. Shortly after his death his daughter, Eliza Fox Teats, donated some land to the Methodist Protestant Church for a chapel to be named in honor of her father.

For more information visit: http://www.fox-chapel.pa.us./