[2] The township is named after the town of Strabane in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.

South Strabane Township has undergone a rapid burst of commercial and residential development starting in 1998.

The township's location at the juncture of these major arteries, in addition to US Route 40, has played no small part in its rapid commercial development.

Villas on the Green, a development of primarily carriage/cluster homes, was also finished along Country Club Road.

Strabane Manor, a 232 unit townhouse complex, was recently started along Fischer Road.

Most importantly, the township board of supervisors, in conjunction with the Washington County Redevelopment Authority and the Trinity Area School Board approved the Tax-Incremented Financing (TIF) Plan for Bass Pro Shops and Tanger Outlet Malls.

The developments will be located close to The Meadows Racetrack and Casino in neighboring North Strabane.

Bass Pro also intends to install sizable outdoor recreational and test facilities for ATVs, boats, and hunting gear.

Also, a large development, located between US Route 40 and Interstate 70 in an area known as the 'Zediker Corridor', is in the planning stages through Consol Energy, Inc. Consol Energy, a company well known throughout southwestern Pennsylvania, is a large mining company that hopes to develop over 1,600 acres (6 km2) with commercial offices.