Rural and mountainous living in Allegheny Township
Allegheny Township is an extremely rural and quiet locale, nestled among the mountains of southwestern Pennsylvania. While the area has been populated since before the establishment of the United States, the township has remained relatively secluded, with fewer than 1,000 residents living there today. The township does have several road connections and is within commuting distance to cities such as Bedford and Somerset. “Basically [Allegheny Township] is in the middle of nowhere along the highway,” says Aaron Hillegass, a Realtor with Howard Hanna Bardell Realty, who has sold in Allegheny Township. “A lot of the people that live out there work in Bedford or on a farm.”
Multiple housing styles to pick from, with neighbors far apart
Architecture includes cabins, manufactured homes, ranch-styles and New Traditionals. Prices are typically between $140,000 and $500,000; however, some properties can cost over $1 million. Homeowners’ associations do oversee some properties.
Housing is typically spread along winding country roads and feature smaller lot sizes than the national average, with mature oaks and pines accenting properties. Farmsteads are also present. Hillegass notes that the community has attracted “retired folks” and younger families while the farms have been in the township for generations.
While the risk for flooding is low according to maps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, snow and storms can be a factor for residents. “It gets pretty messy up there [in winter],” says Hillegass.
Pupils are served by Berlin Brothersvalley School Distrct
Students can start at Berlin Brothersvalley Elementary, graded B on Niche, then continue to the B-plus-rated Berlin Brothersvalley Middle. Berlin Brothersvalley High earns a B and has multiple athletic programs, including rifling, softball and soccer. Transfers into or out of the district are allowed via application.
Game and conservation areas, with Shawnee State Park nearby
The northern tip of the community stretches onto State Game Lands 228, open for seasonal hunting, while hiking and recreational use is permitted year-round. The International Conservation Center on Glen Savage Road is part of the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. It has elephants and other animals on display, but facility only opens by appointment or when it is hosting events. The township is home to several houses of worship, including Trinity Lutheran Church and St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in New Baltimore.
Shawnee State Park, to the east, has swimming holes, a disc golf course, hiking trails and fishing spots. Shanksville and the Flight 93 National Memorial are 23 miles west. More entertainment can be found in Bedford, 23 miles east, and Somerset, 18 miles west.
Dining and shopping locations are in Bedford and Somerset
Restaurants are outside the township. Hillbilly Haven in Fairhope has a full bar. Both Somerset and Bedford have multiple chains and locally owned spots. The township also does not have any grocery stores or shops. Somerset has a Giant Eagle, an Aldi and other big-box retailers.
Highways connect the township to the turnpike and to health care
The township is car-dependent and does not have any public transit connections. U.S. Highway 30 runs along the northern end, while Glades Pike is on the southern portion. The Pennsylvania Turnpike bisects Allegheny Township, but the entrances are in Bedford and Somerset. John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport is 42 miles north, and UPMC Somerset Hospital is 16 miles west.
