It is 22 miles (35 km) northeast of Downtown Pittsburgh, along the Allegheny River.

Tarentum was an industrial center where plate glass and bottles were manufactured; bricks, lumber, steel and iron novelties, steel billets and sheets, sack and wrapping paper were also produced.

The Pennsylvania Railroad operated a station in Tarentum; its rail line ran through the town.

[4] Two statues of Hebe, the Greek goddess of youth, are displayed by the borough in Tarentum.

To the southeast, across the Allegheny River in Westmoreland County, are New Kensington (via Tarentum Bridge) and Lower Burrell.

34.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.