Boquet is an

unincorporated community An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...

in Penn Township, Westmoreland County,

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

Name origin

Though his name was spelled somewhat differently, it is commonly accepted that Boquet was named after General

Henry Bouquet Henry Bouquet (born Henri Louis Bouquet; 1719 – 2 September 1765) was a Swiss mercenary who rose to prominence in British service during the French and Indian War and Pontiac's War. He is best known for his victory over a Native American ...

, a

British army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...

officer of the 18th century. The community lies along the original route of the Forbes Road, the road created by a British/colonial force under British General John Forbes to displace the French from Fort Duquesne in 1758. It was the second road into western Pennsylvania, the first having been Braddock's Road in 1755. Within a few years of its creation, the segment of Forbes' Road that Boquet would come to be located upon was removed several miles to the south. The newer, more southerly variant diverged from the original near present SR 66, east of Boquet, and rejoined the original road several miles west of Boquet. The

Battle of Bushy Run The Battle of Bushy Run was fought on August 5–6, 1763, in western Pennsylvania, between a British column under the command of Colonel Henry Bouquet and a combined force of Delaware, Shawnee, Mingo, and Huron warriors. This action occurred du ...

, during Pontiac's War, took place at a site on the newer, more southerly route of Forbes' Road. Although General John Forbes was the commander of the military expedition that created the road, Colonel Henri Boquet had become the de facto commander, as General Forbes was very ill. Also named after Henri Boquet are Boquet Street in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh, and a blockhouse at the site of Fort Pitt, named Boquet's Redoubt. This blockhouse, built in 1764, is commonly considered to be the oldest structure in western Pennsylvania.

Landmarks

Possibly the most significant landmark in the Boquet area is the Greensburg-Jeannette Regional airport. Just over a mile's distance from the community lies the site of the

, an important part of the

French and Indian War The French and Indian War (1754–1763) was a theater of the Seven Years' War, which pitted the North American colonies of the British Empire against those of the French, each side being supported by various Native American tribes. At the ...

. Re-enactments of the battle are held during the summer. Other prominent places in and around Boquet include three golf courses: Cloverleaf Golf Club, Westmoreland

Country Club A country club is a privately owned club, often with a membership quota and admittance by invitation or sponsorship, that generally offers both a variety of recreational sports and facilities for dining and entertaining. Typical athletic offer ...

, and Manor Valley Country Club. In addition, Boquet is home to numerous historical buildings from the 19th century, including a former whiskey bonding house, built of cut stone in 1818, that has since been remodeled into a home. {{authority control Unincorporated communities in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Unincorporated communities in Pennsylvania 1764 establishments in Pennsylvania