In the past, it was known for its extensive iron and steel interests. Also, there were large railroad machine shops, and manufacturers of locomotives, freight and passenger cars, and springs, enamel ware, lumber, wall materials, plaster, nuts and bolts, malleable castings, chains and forgings, tin ware, concrete, and cigars.
The Pittsburgh, Allegheny and McKees Rocks Railroad is located in an area known as the "Bottoms".
The name of the borough is often incorrectly written as "Mc Kees Rocks," "McKee's Rocks," or "McKees Rock," but the official name is "McKees Rocks." The USPS official spelling is "MC KEES ROCKS", possibly because the all-caps spelling could not otherwise represent the internal capital K.
The area is served by Port Authority bus routes 20, 21, 22, 24, and CO.