Jefferson Township

Next to the West Virginia border 30 miles west of Pittsburgh, Jefferson Township in Washington Country features rolling green hills and farmlands. With just over 1,000 people, Jefferson Township is sparsely populated with small farms marked by red barns and tall silos, rural homesteads down winding country roads and clusters of residential homes centered around small communities like Jefferson and Eldersville. While it may be remote, rural tranquility attracts people to the area. Brenda Petkunas with Howard Hanna Real Estate has been selling homes in Washington County for years. She says, “People want to be out in the country. Some people still commute to urban areas, but ultimately, they’re coming to Jefferson to find peace and quiet.”

In addition to a rural lifestyle, Petkunas says, “Washington County’s lower taxes are a real draw, especially for people coming for areas like Pittsburgh. ” Home prices also offer appeal. With a median list price of $220,000, Jefferson provides “bang for the buck.” A three-bedroom chalet on a secluded acre of land lists around $225,000, and an all-brick ranch home on a private 5-acre lot with three bedrooms might list for just under $250,000. On the opposite ends of the pricing scale, a four-bedroom renovation-ready 1880s farmhouse on 1.5 acres might be priced around $80,000, while a luxury, one-level custom home with contemporary architecture, three bedrooms, 2,100 square feet and 25 acres could be $650,000.

Rural living doesn’t mean boring, and Jefferson keeps its locals busy. Borelli Cellars is a family-owned winery just north of Eldersville. They offer 13 varietal wines, plus they host live music events and a wine club. Active organizations like the Jefferson Township Volunteer Fire Departments and the Jefferson Township Historical Society unite the community for events like Christmas in the Village. Each November, this three-day festival features crafts and food and ends with a parade. History is alive here, too. The historical society maintains a small museum in the 1876 Heritage Hall building, and the 1844 White Church serves as a site for community events. Locals and visitors alike come to explore the Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Villages. This remarkable archaeological site features a rock overhang showing evidence of habitation dating back more than 19,000 years. From May through October, visitors can explore the ancient dwelling, along with three interpretive sites, including a 16th-century Eastern Woodland Indian Village, an 18th-century log cabin and trading post and a blacksmith forge and one-room schoolhouse from the 19th century.

For day-to-day recreation, locals can hike the Panhandle Trail, which covers 29 miles through Washington County to Colliers, West Virginia, and hunt at Hidden Meadows Game Preserve, a 550-acre private preserve with guided hunts, training and sporting clays. The township doesn’t contain community parks, but neighboring Langeloth offers youth ballfields, a community center and a small playground. A few miles further east, Burgettstown Community Park provides a large playground, swing sets, a pavilion and picnic tables. Burgettstown also hosts a community library with activities for all ages, from story times and LEGO clubs to book clubs and holiday parties.

With few local businesses in the township, Petkunas says, “This is not an area where you let yourself run out of things.” Groceries are available in Burgettstown at Petruci’s IGA, or folks can dine at local favorites like T-N-T Pizza with dine-in and carryout options and Walden’s at 1709 Main, where homestyle cooking and low prices keep customers coming back.

Trips to Burgettstown can also be combined with school runs because Jefferson Township students are zoned for the Burgettstown Area School District. Burgettstown Elementary Center and Burgettstown Area Middle/High School earn a C rating from Niche. At the elementary center, kids enjoy a close student-teacher ratio of 12-to-1. At the combined middle school and high school, students get a head start on their future with dual enrollment classes for college credit or the option to receive technical training.

Jefferson Township may not be rich in urban amenities, but it has exactly what many people seek. Petkunas says, “I see people coming here because they want a certain lifestyle. In Jefferson, they’ll find that small town feel of being in a place where everyone knows one another.”

Written By

Anna Strock

Photography Contributed By

Anthony Kelly

Video By

Adam Lapallo