Incorporated: As a borough May 2, 1946

Location: Eastern Allegheny County, 8.5 miles east of Downtown Pittsburgh; Braddock Hills covers 1 square mile and is accessed primarily by Route 30 and Brinton and Braddock roads

Population: 1,827 (estimated June 2008, U.S. Census)

Government: Mayor-council

Mayor: Mark Vogel

Secretary: Susan Barry

Median price of a home: $76,000 after the third quarter of 2009, up from $64,000 a year earlier

Municipal phone, Web site: 412-241-5080, www.svcog.org/bradh.html

School district: Woodland Hills, 412-731-1300, www.whsd.k12.pa.us

History: Braddock Hills was born 63 years ago, the last municipality formed following the breakup of Braddock Township. (Swissvale, Braddock Borough and Rankin previously evolved from that municipality.) Until Braddock Township was formed in 1885, the land that would become Braddock Hills was part of Wilkins Township.

Braddock Hills grew quickly, as a number of post-World War II veterans used Veterans Administration loans to build homes. But older houses are there, too. The first development was laid out in 1902 as part of the Braddock Park plan. A number of houses were built by miners around that time, when coal was prevalent throughout Western Pennsylvania. Sinkholes have resulted from abandoned mines.

The first settlers arrived a year or two before British Gen. Edward Braddock was mortally wounded at nearby Braddock's Field during the French and Indian War in 1755. That is the site of the Edgar Thomson steel works.

The borough's Brinton Road and Braddock Road have been major arteries since before they were paved. Brinton originally was a trail used by Native Americans to watch for enemies. Farmers and miners used Braddock Road as a link to Braddock.

World War II hero Leonard A. Funk was from Braddock Hills. U.S. Army Sgt. Funk was a Medal of Honor recipient who died in November 1992. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, and a monument to him is on Brinton Road.

Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.