The narrow space between the hills on either side and the Beaver River was dammed at the lower falls; the water power allowed Fallston to achieve great importance as a manufacturing center.

The Harris's Pittsburgh Business Directory for the year 1837 states "This place and the surrounding neighborhood, bids fair to be extensively increased, in consequence of the immense mineral and water advantages which it possesses.

"[5] The borough of Fallston, the largest manufacturing center of its time in Beaver County, was incorporated by an Act of the Assembly in 1829.

[5] Their business was successful and in 1876, the Kennedy brothers established a second plant in New Brighton, Pennsylvania.

On October 1, 1836, a contract for building a covered wooden bridge over the Beaver River at Fallston was awarded to Lathrop & LeBarron.

The covered bridge stood in place until February 6, 1884, when flooding on the Ohio and Beaver rivers inflicted extensive damage in low-lying areas and swept it away.

Across the Beaver River, the borough runs adjacent with New Brighton (with a direct connection via Veteran's Bridge) and Rochester Township.

About 6.8% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.1% of those under the age of eighteen and 4.5% of those sixty five or over.