Evans City is a small borough with a real main street, and it is one of the least crowded ways into Seneca Valley School District. It sits in southwestern Butler County, north of Cranberry and Zelienople, with Forward Township wrapped around it and Route 68 running through town.
If you have seen an Evans City 16033 address and wondered what you are actually buying into, this is the guide.
| Evans City at a glance | What to know |
|---|---|
| What it is | A borough in Butler County |
| Population | 1,737 at the 2020 census |
| Size | About 0.82 square miles |
| Incorporated | 1882 |
| ZIP code | 16033, shared with surrounding townships |
| Neighbor | Forward Township, 3,164 residents in 2020 |
| Borough schools | Seneca Valley School District |
Where Evans City is
Evans City grew up in the valley of Breakneck Creek. Forward Township, about 23 square miles, surrounds much of the area and borders Cranberry Township to the south. Connoquenessing Creek runs east to west through the northern part of the township.
The town was known as Boggs Mill and then Evansburg, a name taken from Thomas B. Evans, before it became Evans City. The railroad arrived in 1878, and the old depot was said to be the only one in the country built over water.
The movie history
Evans City has a footnote most towns do not. The Evans City Cemetery and parts of the borough were filming locations for the 1968 film Night of the Living Dead, and George Romero filmed The Crazies here in 1973. Fans still visit the cemetery.
The 16033 address: check the parcel
The 16033 ZIP code reaches beyond the borough into Forward, Jackson, Lancaster, Adams and Connoquenessing townships, and into the boroughs of Callery and Connoquenessing. That matters, because they are not all in the same school district.
Evans City, Forward, Jackson, Lancaster and Callery are in Seneca Valley. Adams Township is in Mars Area, and Connoquenessing is in a different district. Two homes with an Evans City address can attend different schools. It is the same rule I explained in my Marshall Township guide: the mailing address does not decide the district. The parcel does.
Schools
Seneca Valley covers four townships and five boroughs, including Evans City and Forward. The old Evans City Elementary and Middle School on West Main Street stopped holding classes in 2022 when Ehrman Crest opened in Cranberry, so students now attend the district’s newer buildings. My Seneca Valley School District guide walks through each school.
Homes and who Evans City fits
Evans City itself is older homes on a compact street grid, close to the shops and restaurants on Main Street. Forward Township is more open, with larger lots and newer homes, and it grew about 25 percent between 2010 and 2020.
It fits buyers who want Seneca Valley and a small town feel, who want more land than Cranberry offers, or who like the historic character of Zelienople and Harmony and want a quieter version. My Zelienople and Harmony guide covers the towns just to the west, and my Butler County property tax guide explains the tax side.
It is a weaker fit if you want to be right on I-79, or if you want large shopping centers within walking distance.
If you want to actually look
If Evans City or Forward Township is on your list, get in touch and I will set up a search and flag the homes worth seeing in person. Selling first? Start with a valuation of your current home, or call me directly at (412) 980-5654.
