Beaver Falls

The West Mayfield community may be small, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less mighty. “We are a quaint community that’s part of a college town, and I love the friendliness of all the neighbors,” says Licia Cogley, the borough’s mayor since 2021. Sitting just west of Beaver Falls and the walkable Geneva College campus, West Mayfield shows its community pride by hosting annual events, celebrating milestones and planning for future improvements. “People really care about this area, and a lot of residents stay for generations. We just had a parade for our centennial celebration, and we’re looking forward to doing park beautification projects,” Cogley says. Homes in West Mayfield are modest and often petite, ranging from ranch-style properties to colorful bungalows with cozy front porches. Residents love to set up whimsical, themed yard decorations for the holidays, and compact gardens come to life with vibrant blooms in summer. Most of the hilly streets do not have sidewalks, but with a gravel buffer providing additional space for street parking, the road remains wide enough to accommodate both pedestrians and cars. Three-bedroom homes around 1,000 square feet usually list between $100,000 and $150,000, making West Mayfield slightly more affordable than neighboring Beaver Falls. But you’ll still have access to all the city’s amenities — including the well-regarded school system. Maintaining an overall grade of B-plus on Niche, the Blackhawk School District is a big draw for homebuyers in this area. Many students will attend Blackhawk Intermediate School, which has a grade of B-plus on Niche, for kindergarten through fourth grade before moving on to Highland Middle School, which maintains a B. In ninth grade, students can transition to Blackhawk High School, which maintains a grade of B and offers a competitive Music Academy program. Interested students can also participate in vocational training at the Beaver County Career and Technical Center. After school, children can burn off extra energy at Beaver Falls’ 37th Street Park, which is especially popular for its mini climbing wall and bright blue tire swing. East of the park, the Beaver River has opportunities for fishing and kayaking throughout the year. At West Mayfield Community Park, three grassy baseball fields provide space for the local baseball team, and a large lawn leaves plenty of room for community gatherings. “This is where we host a lot of our events, including an Easter egg hunt and a Trunk-or-Treat event,” Mayor Cogley says, noting that neighbors also come together for a dinner and bake sale on local election days. Since food has a habit of bringing people together, it’s no surprise that the longstanding local tavern serves as a meeting hub for the community. “Corner Tavern has been here forever. In the 1960s, it was open 24 hours for the mill workers,” Mayor Cogley says. After recent renovations, Cogley says the tavern is about to have another grand opening, and the owners expect a great turnout. Neighbors also enjoy grabbing takeout from The Oven Pizza Co., which Cogley says is new to the area but already gaining popularity. For even more dining options, head into downtown Beaver Falls for a taste of Philadelphia’s finest at Chilly Willy Cheesesteaks. A few blocks over, the Neighborhood North Museum of Play offers interactive exhibits where children can build, climb and play while learning about STEM topics. While in downtown Beaver Falls, you can catch a local bus from Fourth Avenue to the Giant Eagle Supermarket in Chippewa Plaza or the indoor fitness center in nearby Chippewa Center. The 4-mile trip may take a bit longer than it would in a car — about 40 minutes — but the bus is still a huge perk of living close to Beaver Falls. These buses also provide transportation into downtown Pittsburgh, but this 40-mile trek is made much faster by hopping on Interstates 376 or 279. You won’t have to go nearly as far for medical care, though, as primary and emergency care services are available at Heritage Valley Beaver Hospital about 8 miles away. With its own volunteer fire department, snow removal system and employment opportunities close to home, West Mayfield is a self-sufficient community with heaps of pride.