Morton, PA

Morton is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 9,811 at the 2010 census. Morton is located at 40°5′N 79°22′W / 40.0906°N 79.4333°W / 40.0906; -79.4333 (40.0955,-79.4292).

The borough of Morton was founded in 1825 and named for General James K. Morton, a hero of the War of 1812 and governor of Ohio during the early days of the Republic.[3] The town was laid out by John Armstrong and surveyed by George Washington Dixon on December 4, 1824.[4] The first settler arrived in Morton on January 2, 1825,[5] and the community grew rapidly as a result of its location on the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad which made it an important transportation hub for coal and other products from western Pennsylvania mines.[6]

Morton's economy has traditionally been based on manufacturing, including iron production,[7] glassmaking,[8] printing,[9] machinery,[10][11][12][13][14][15], textiles[16], food processing[17], chemicals[18], plastics[19], and pharmaceuticals.[20][21][22]. However, since the late 20th century there has been a shift to service industries such as health care[23], information technology[24], insurance brokerage services[25],[26],[27],[28],[29],[30],[31],[32],[33]), banking and financial services [34]- all factors that have helped make Morton one of Allegheny County's most prosperous municipalities.[35]

Today, Morton is home to many well-known companies including PPG Industries [36]; 3M Company [37]; Heinz Foods [38]; Westinghouse Electric Corporation [39]; J&J Snack Foods Division [40]; Hershey Foods Corporation [41]; MeadWestvaco Corporation [42]; Owens Corning Fiberglas Corporation (formerly Owens- Illinois) [43]- among others. These businesses have helped make Morton one of Allegheny County's most economically stable municipalities with excellent job prospects for residents.[44]

Real estate in Morton is characterized by its proximity to major metropolitan areas such as Pittsburgh; Philadelphia; Baltimore; Washington D.C.; New York City; Toronto; Montreal; Chicago; Detroit; Cleveland; Columbus (Ohio); St Louis (Missouri); Omaha (Nebraska); Denver (Colorado) among others making it an ideal place to live or work if you are seeking access to these major markets or want to be close to family and friends who reside in these cities.(See also: List of places adjacent to Morton.)