[3] In the mid-1880s, the area which is now Aspinwall was primarily owned by the descendants of James Ross, but as the steel industry was thriving in Pittsburgh, Henry Warner, superintendent of the Allegheny County Workhouse, had the idea of creating a residential community along the bank of a river.

The existing government of O'Hara Township was having difficulty providing services to the rapidly growing area and, in 1892, 40 residents of the new community signed a petition requesting incorporation as "The Borough of Aspinwall, a self-governing unit.

On September 25, 1905, a group of Aspinwall residents purchased 200 acres (0.81 km2) from the Delafield Plan and annexed this additional land to the borough.

Early recreational facilities in the borough included tennis courts and water fountains.

Aspinwall held their own victory parade and memorial service for the soldiers of their borough.

Adjacent to Aspinwall across the Allegheny River to the south are the Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Highland Park and the southern section of Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar.

The Aspinwall Police Department (2400 units) is the primary law enforcement agency in the borough.

The police station is located within the municipal building on Commercial Ave in the business district.

Foxwall also has two bicycles equipped with medical supplies which are used to provide quick response services in the lower portion of the borough.