Sewickley Township

Sewickley Township is known for its homey, small-town vibe. Founded in 1835, the township takes its name from the nearby Big Sewickley Creek and got its start during the heyday of the coal mining industry. Once the mines closed in the mid-1900s, residents found the township to be a tranquil escape from larger communities like North Huntingdon, which had already started to hasten residential development. Now, more than a century later, residents take pride in maintaining front gardens of flowering hostas that thrive in the shade of old oak trees, and the rural surroundings contribute to a peaceful, slow-paced lifestyle. As a bedroom community about 35 miles from downtown Pittsburgh, Sewickley has few employment opportunities close to home besides farming, and most residents venture outside of the township for work.

The streets in Sewickley Township aren’t known for their walkability. With no sidewalks and several miles between homes in the more secluded areas, the township is best navigated by car or bike, although the hilly roads give cyclists quite the workout. Half-acre lots are the norm, and buyers will find three-bedroom ranch-style homes in Herminie listed for around $200,000 to $250,000. Eric LeBlanc, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty who has sold numerous homes in the township, says land is the determining factor for prices, and although there are plenty of undeveloped parcels available for building, “home sales usually outrank land sales, and most buyers are looking for something more established here.” Heading south away from Herminie, lot sizes expand, and 50-acre properties with four-bedroom ranch-style homes top out around $650,000.

In the heart of Herminie, the outdoor pool at Crabapple Community Park is a popular summer stop for residents of all ages. Afternoon picnics or fishing trips on the banks of Crabapple Lake come with a songbird soundtrack, and there are plenty of benches where residents rest between laps around the park’s paved walking trails. There’s also a compact, classic playground on a small patch of grass beside the pool. The adjacent Sewickley Township Athletic Complex includes multiple baseball and soccer fields, and residents gather at the bleachers to cheer on young athletes during weekend games. The Youghiogheny River rides the western edge of the township, and Realtor LeBlanc says it’s an extremely popular location for trout fishing, boating and kayaking. The riverside also offers access to the Great Allegheny Passage trail, a 150-mile regional hiking and biking trail that spans from Pittsburgh to Maryland.

Zoned for the Yough School District, students living in Sewickley Township can attend HW Good Elementary School, which maintains a grade of B-minus on Niche. Students can move on to attend Yough Intermediate Middle School, which has a grade of C-plus on Niche, before finishing their secondary school career at Yough Senior High School, which maintains a B. Here, interested students can help produce a local news show by joining the Yough Broadcasting Network.

In the summer, neighbors gather for the annual Sewickley Township Community Fair, a six-day experience with truck pulls, live music and irresistible fried fair food like funnel cakes. The fair has been a mainstay event for the township since the 1930s, celebrating the agricultural roots of the community with local produce and livestock competitions. “There’s also a Renaissance Festival in West Newton that’s a pretty big draw each year,” says Realtor LeBlanc. For more than 20 years, the Pittsburgh Renaissance Fair has brought the 16th century to life with jousting matches, roasted turkey legs and period-accurate performers.

When it comes to shopping and dining, Sewickley Township residents have limited options close to home, and Realtor LeBlanc says most people make the trip up to North Huntingdon Square for groceries and home goods. Target, Kohl’s and Giant Eagle Supermarket are all located here, along with a host of casual restaurants. For bulk buys, there’s an ALDI across the street. In Herminie, diners frequent mainstays such as Zala’s Café, which serves an eclectic menu of barbecue, pizza and cocktails. Everyone’s family at Herminie Diner, a local breakfast and lunch joint with daily homemade specials like sausage gravy and cinnamon rolls. At the family-owned Greenhouse Winery, local wines taste even better during live performances, which feature everything from jazz to comedy.

Written By

Hannah Rainey

Photography Contributed By

Joe Pulcinella

Video By

Anthony Pesa