Town file
Daugherty Township, Pennsylvania
Daugherty Township, Pennsylvania (Beaver County, Pennsylvania) is the town in one episode of Small Town Murder, the comedy true-crime podcast: episode 253, "Bloodthirsty Murder & Stupid People" (9 December 2021). Daugherty Township lies in Beaver County in western Pennsylvania, about forty-five minutes from Pittsburgh.
- Town
- Daugherty Township
- County
- Beaver County
- State
- Pennsylvania
- Country
- USA
- Episodes
- 253
- Approximate location
- 40.749, -80.274
Episode 253 / 9 December 2021 / 165 min / full
Bloodthirsty Murder & Stupid People
""So Doherty Township, Pennsylvania. This is western Pennsylvania, the farthest western county in Pennsylvania, damn near Ohio over here. It's about 45 minutes to Pittsburgh here"; he then says "So this is in Beaver County"." about 0:05:50
The case: Murder of Harleen Mayhew (December 15, 1986); Murder of Earl T. Spann (April 1985; body found February 12, 1987). Read the case file.
The figures, as told in 2021
- Population
- 2,980
- Median age
- 52.1
- Median household income
- a little over $70,000
- Median home value
- $173,000
- Two-bedroom rent
- about $975
- Cost of living
- 89
- Property crime
- ▼ about half
- Violent crime
- ▼ less than half
History, in brief
- Daugherty Township was named in honour of Black Doherty, a local attorney who lived there. about 0:07:44
- In 1890 people in nearby Pulaski Township began talking about dividing the township again and drew up a petition to secede. about 0:08:01
- The petition was voted down in 1891, but by 1892 the landowners were on board again. about 0:08:17
- Landowners met once a week to discuss the issue, ending every meeting with a prayer for guidance. about 0:08:30
- Volunteers went from farm to farm to collect 400 signatures. about 0:08:41
- The court ordered that the north and north-eastern part of the township be designated Doherty Township in honour of B. Doherty. about 0:09:37
- The township website says the town is rich in history and heritage but that the office is short of artifacts and historical information, and asks residents to bring some in. about 0:10:09
- A 1904 newspaper clipping on the town website records a sleighing party from Marion Hill visiting the home of Charles Ferguson for a bonfire and sledding. about 0:11:14
- A 1906 clipping records a train striking a horse owned by Jake Bowers near the pottery. about 0:11:43
- A 1907 clipping advertises a July 4th dance at Doherty Grove. about 0:11:51
- Another clipping records a Bible class corn roast at the Rombold farm in Doherty. about 0:12:01
- A 1910 clipping records Clark Humes of Doherty Township falling twenty feet while repairing a barn, landing on a wheelbarrow and suffering four crushed ribs and a large head wound. about 0:12:19
The reviews read out
4 stars
"Many houses were built by the families who live in them, so each has its own look rather than a tract-home plan, with decent space and a yard for each."about 0:12:58
4 stars
"People are nice around the area and easy to get along with."about 0:13:17
3 stars
"Says "if I could change where I live, I wouldn't" and then says he would like to try something new and hopes to move one day; likes the area's unique character and how close it is to Pittsburgh."about 0:13:26
3 stars
"The public services are good and the first responders respond quickly."about 0:15:17
Nearest Small Town Murder towns
- Ambridge, Pennsylvania11 miles
- Brookfield Township, Ohio37 miles
- Howland Township, Ohio42 miles
- Wheeling, West Virginia52 miles
- Cochranton, Pennsylvania55 miles
- Bellaire, Ohio56 miles
Everything here is as told in the episode, on the date it went out; figures and places may have changed since. Endings are covered: open an episode and use the spoiler switch to read them.