West Newton, PA is located in Southwestern Pennsylvania on the northern tip of the Laurel Highlands region. We are almost exactly the halfway between Pittsburgh and the hart of the Laurel Highlands, Ohiopyle State Park. A 45 minute drive will put you into the middle of either. The Youghiogheny River flows through the center of town and the Yough River Bike trail sits to the side of the river. The population of West Newton is approximately 3,152 (1990) and there are 1,453 (1990) families in the town.

Downtown West Newton Inc. is a local group that organizes events and keeps track of an events calendar. Also located in West Newton is the headquarters of the Regional Trail Corporation of the Yough River Trail and the Great Allegheny passage. The Regional Trail Corporation has recently rebuilt the old train station and is planning to locate a new office inside it when it is finished. Also, they have a refurbished train car that they are setting up as an educational center.

The first people arrived in West Newton ( at that time it was know as Simeral's Ferry) on Jan. 21, 1788. They built boats here for the remainder of their journey down the Youghiogheny to the Monongahela and the Ohio Rivers to the mouth of the Muskingum while following an order given to the in response to The Ordinance of 1787, for the settlement of the Northwest Territory. The second party of men to reach Simeral's Ferry did so on Feb. 14 under the leadership of Gen. Putnam who eventually made his way West and was one of the founder of Marietta, Ohio. The name of the town changed from Simeral's Ferry to Robbstown and eventually to West Newton because it is located West of the 'New town' of Greensburg.