Hopewell Township is located along the Brodhead Road corridor in Beaver County. It is bordered by Moon Township and Aliquippa Borough. Prior to 1812, Hopewell Township was part of Moon Township. Covering 17.0 square miles, Hopewell Township is one of the largest urban municipalities in Beaver County.
Fun Facts about Hopewell Township:
-Hopewell Township was at one time much larger. Hopewell lost Independence Township in 1848, Aliquippa (West Aliquippa) in 1894, Woodlawn (Aliquippa) in 1908, South Heights in 1909, and finally New Sheffield was annexed to Woodlawn/Aliquippa in 1926.
-Hopewell experienced its greatest growth spurt post WWII, when the explosion of the automobile allowed the mill workers of Aliquippa to migrate out further.
-The name Hopewell originally came from a church that was located in the township.
-At the turn of the 20th century, a vast oil field was discovered. A village formed around that field, which was called Gringo. Gringo was located, of course, in the area we today know as Gringo Road. The last working oil rig in Hopewell Township did not stop pumping until the late 1990’s. It was located at the base on the on-ramp to the Beaver Valley Expressway.
-The Aliquippa Airport was located on Airport Road in Hopewell Township. Until the late 1950’s, the airport operated mail and cargo flights seven days a week.
-NFL Hall of Famer and Heisman Trophy Winner, Tony Dorsett, was a star at Hopewell High School in the 1970’s, before graduating and heading to Pitt. Dorsett is considered one the greatest running backs to ever play and spent the majority of his career with the Dallas Cowboys.
-NFL player Paul Posluszny of the Jacksonville Jaguars helped Hopewell win a PIAA State Football Championship in 2002.
-United States Olympic Volleyball player Christa Harmotto helped the U.S. team win a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics. Harmotto is a Hopewell graduate.
-Former NFL player Dan Rains, a Hopewell graduate, was a member of the vaunted 1986 Chicago Bears Super Bowl-winning team.
-NHL Player Nate Guenin of the Columbus Blue Jackets is a Hopewell Graduate.