Greensburg was formally incorporated as a Borough in 1799. Greensburg really began to grow in the 1850's as a railroad stop with numerous inns and small businesses. The discovery of soft coal in the area led to a vigorous mining industry in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Greensburg became a city in 1928. Today Greensburg is a substantial community, with a 1990 census count of 16,318 residents of the city and 370,321 residents of Westmoreland County.
Numerous attractions make the county a popular regional tourist attraction.