Boggs

A night drive through Boggs Township will take residents through country backroads, with just the headlights lighting the way, surrounded by towering pine, oak, and maple trees. With no light pollution, rolling farmlands, little traffic and a population of fewer than 1,000 residents spanning across 24.9 square miles — as per the 2020 census — the rural appeal of Boggs Township is clearer than its starry skies at night. “The township doesn’t have many restrictions, which feels weird to say as a perk,” says Judy Tonya with a laugh. Tonya is the park manager of Bear Ridge Campground and a township resident for almost 20 years now. “People can have the big fireworks in their backyards every 4th of July; they can ride ATVs and side-by-sides on the main roads.” Folks move to this township for the gorgeous scenery and clean air, yes, but also for a slower, friendlier, no-frills approach to daily life. “Everyone supports the community,” Tonya says. “We’re a small town like that. We support the farms out here; farming is a big part of this township. We support the local restaurants in Kittanning — about a 12- or 15-minute drive away.” Kittanning is the town seat of Armstrong County. This borough lies cloistered on the east shores of the Allegheny River. Locally owned restaurants and businesses can be found along these streets, such as The Market on Reynold’s. Just across the river, outside West Kittanning, there are two commercial shopping plazas with a Walmart Supercenter, Shop ‘n Save, Aldi and more. Drives to this side of town utilize a main thoroughfare, Route 422, which is the road used for commutes to Butler County, and the connector to Route 28, a straight shot to Pittsburgh. While there is no singular staple style of houses in Boggs Township, the township does have a few architectural trends. In this neck of the woods are historic colonials built as early as 1858, as well as early 20th-century National Folk farmhouses and midcentury ranch-style homes. While some lots are just over an acre, most properties sit on multiacre lots out here. With that in mind, neighbors are few and far between, depending on the road. Listing prices range between $178,000 and $220,000, with the average listing price of $197,269 having the potential to land you a three-bedroom, one-bathroom home. Students in Boggs Township can start school at Shannock Valley Elementary, which is rated with a B-minus on Niche and instructs kindergarten through Grade 6. From there, they can attend and eventually graduate from West Shamokin Junior/Senior High, rated with a C-plus overall and a B-minus for Clubs and Activities on Niche. This school offers dual enrollment, work-study and College Within High School (CWHS) programs. In particular, the Armstrong School District’s CWHS program allows students to earn college credits in unison with their high school curriculum by completing certain approved Armstrong School District courses. As for athletics, varsity sports include soccer, tennis, cross country, basketball and volleyball. As for what to do in this township, hunting, fishing, hiking and camping are all great options, and most can be done at the local Bear Ridge Campgrounds. These gorgeous campgrounds feature outdoors, family-focused fun with three playgrounds, a three-acre, fully stocked lake, a game room, a pool and, of course, places to camp out. These campgrounds invite residents to stay for weeks in an RV or camp out for a few nights. These grounds are as much an escape into nature as they are a community touchstone, with fun events consistently drawing township members together. “Our holidays are big,” Tonya says. “We have people busy from morning to night.” For example, on Halloween, the day starts with autumnal arts and crafts. Then there’s trick-or-treating, a costume competition and lastly, pumpkin decorating. “Locals and tourists come out and spend weeks on the grounds,” Tonya says. “I mean, it’s beautiful out here.” It’s easy to get bogged down by the noise and traffic in cities and around suburbs. So, locals find a piece of paradise in Pennsylvania’s countryside, in the lush rolling hills of Boggs Township.