The township contains the following communities: Armbrust, Bovard, Carbon, Centerville, Darragh, Eastwood, Emmonston, Evanston, Fort Allen, Grapeville, Hannastown, Haydenville, High Park, Lincoln Heights, Luxor, Maplewood Terrace, Midway, Radebaugh, St. Clair, Stonevilla, Swede Hill, White Hill, and West Point.

The township uses the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) as the sole form of law enforcement.

[6] Public school students attend the Hempfield Area School District,[7] which includes Hempfield Township and the communities of Adamsburg, Armbrust, Bovard, Grapeville, Hunker, Luxor, Manor, New Stanton, and Youngwood.

[8] Hempfield Township is a major economic player in Westmoreland County.

In addition, Greengate Centre serves as the area's largest big-box retail center.

Several smaller shopping centers, well-known national retailers and restaurants can also be found in the township.

On March 23, 2011, a funnel cloud briefly appeared over the central area of Hempfield Township southwest of the city of Greensburg just around 4:45 PM and eventually touched down as an EF2 tornado, causing widespread damage to scores of homes in the West Hempfield area as well as the Fort Allen neighborhood and in neighboring Sewickley Township.