The National Road anchors the quaint borough of Beallsville
Beallsville is a small borough with a rich history in Southwestern Pennsylvania. It began as an early pike town serving travelers heading westward along the National Road, the country’s first federally funded highway. While the National Road is now better known as U.S. Route 40, it continues to pave the way for the borough’s growth today. “That history is still a big part of the community,” says Adam Giles, a Realtor with Place Trust, Inc. who specializes in the Washington County area. The National Road anchors the Beallsville Historic District, which showcases a collection of 19th-century homes and mom-and-pop shops. “People are drawn to that small-town feel with the older homes, and a lot of them want to take on the project of restoring those homes back to what they were in the past,” Giles says.
Historic district with 19th-century homes and low inventory
The Beallsville Historic District preserves a variety of architectural styles. Properties here that were built throughout the early 1800s typically incorporate elements of Greek Revival and Federal-style architecture, while those built later in the 19th century embrace Victorian, Queen Anne and Italianate styles. The Beallsville United Methodist Church is also part of the historic district and has been serving the community since 1874. Craftsman-style bungalows, farmhouses, raised ranches and ranch-style homes are common throughout the rest of the borough. While houses on the National Road typically sit on narrow lots, those farther from Beallsville’s center have anywhere from half an acre to several acres of land.
Properties rarely go on the market in Beallsville. “People tend to stay there, so that’s why it’s very unique for a house to come up,” Giles says. As of mid-2025, four properties have sold within the last year at prices ranging from $50,000 for 1,000 square feet of space to just under $340,000 for a 2,500 square-foot home. The median sales price for single-family homes is around $130,000, and when properties are for sale, they sell after an average of over two months on the market. The borough’s overall CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, significantly lower than the national average of 4.
A few small-town businesses, with more options a short drive away
The National Road is an old-fashioned Main Street where a handful of local businesses sit between the borough’s 19th-century homes. The first floor of the Historic National Hotel, formerly known as the Greenfield Tavern, is now a quaint restaurant serving homestyle dinners and desserts on most Sundays. It also offers Friday fish fries during the spring. The Padiddle Gourmet Donuts & Coffee building has been in the same family for over a century, and the cafe has a small sidewalk patio where locals can enjoy the family’s signature vanilla cake donuts. At Rte. 40 Deli, residents line up at the counter to order fresh subs, salads and soups. For the essentials, Joe’s Farm Market and Dollar General are less than 2 miles east of Beallsville on U.S Route 40. The borough is also within 10 miles of Giant Eagle Supermarket and Walmart.
Annual Pike Days celebrates history along the National Road
Pike Days, also known as the National Road Festival, celebrates the region’s rich history on the third weekend of each May. It takes place over a 90-mile stretch of the National Road and features a horse-drawn wagon train that travels between towns along the pike, like Scenery Hill, less than 3 miles northwest of Beallsville. Residents can head to Scenery Hill and enjoy live music, local vendors and more while waiting for the wagon train to make its way through town. “They do some of the most activities on the National Road. It’s just miles and miles of yard sales,” Giles says.
Bethlehem-Center public schools earn C-range ratings from Niche
Beallsville is part of the Bethlehem-Center School District, which earns an overall grade of C-minus from Niche and has an average student-teacher ratio of 14-to-1. Bethlehem-Center Elementary School covers prekindergarten through sixth grade and receives a C-minus from Niche, while Bethlehem-Center Junior/Senior High School serves seventh through 12th grade and earns a C. Course offerings at the high school include a College in the High School program that’s taught in partnership with Robert Morris University and allows students to simultaneously earn high school and college credit.
Nearby outdoor activities include golfing, boating and hunting
Beallsville is next to the Nemacolin Country Club, where members can access an 18-hole golf course designed in part by world-famous golf course architect Albert Warren Tillinghast. It also has a driving range and an outdoor pool. The borough doesn’t have any parks, and the closest green space is Richeyville Community Playground. It’s just over 2 miles away and has two separate play areas for younger and older kids, a basketball court and an open field with room for outdoor activities.
There are more opportunities for outdoor recreation near the Monongahela River. “The river attracts a lot of people to the area for boating,” Giles says. Waterfront destinations include Ten Mile Creek County Park, which is about 8 miles from Beallsville and has a boat ramp open to fishermen and locals with boat launching permits. For hunters, State Game Lands No. 297 is less than 10 miles away.
Car-dependent area where US 40 connects to nearby highways and cities
While the National Road now hosts cars rather than horse-drawn wagons, it continues to serve as a vital transportation corridor. Known today as U.S. Route 40, the highway connects Beallsville to the rest of Southwestern Pennsylvania and beyond. It offers about a 15-mile drive northwest to Washington and a 25-mile drive southeast to Uniontown. Those cities are home to the closest hospitals, UPMC Washington and WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital. U.S. 40 also leads west to Interstate 79, which leads 45 miles to Pittsburgh. For flights, Pittsburgh International Airport is less than 50 miles from the borough. Washington County’s fixed-route buses don’t travel to Beallsville, meaning residents typically rely on their cars to get around.
Written By
Sally Stimpson
