Small-town life in Brookville in the rural Pennsylvania Wilds
The Jefferson County Courthouse’s clock tower rises above the forested Redbank Valley in the little borough of Brookville. “Brookville is the seat of Jefferson County, a historic town,” says David Fetterhoff, an associate broker with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services who’s served the Jefferson County market for 21 years. “It’s smaller than a city like Pittsburgh or even Punxsutawney. But it’s helped by the nearness to Interstate 80, which goes across the state.” Its out-of-state connections have long powered Brookville, from the time timber flowed through on the way to Pittsburgh to the modern development of highway traffic. Set in the Pennsylvania Wilds, however, Brookville’s annual street fairs and century-old Main Street stand on their own as social and small-town centers for the rural community that calls the rugged woodlands of the Allegheny Plateau home.
Sloping blocks of historic homes in Brookville’s woodsy hillsides
“We get houses and prices all over the board, everything from low-cost foreclosures to big farms and Victorian mansions that really catch your eye,” Fetterhoff says. Wraparound porches and other Victorian characteristics decorate many early 20th-century homes on the blocks that slope upward from Brookville's creeks. Simpler National, Foursquare and farmhouse properties also pop up along these older sidewalk-lined streets. Toward the borough’s outskirts, buyers can find ranch-style homes built in the 1950s and later, both in subdivisions and on acreage along country roads. Homes rarely go on the market in Brookville. Two midcentury ranch-style homes sold in 2025 for $135,000 and $184,000, respectively. Brookville’s median single-family home price is around $160,000, much lower than the national median.
Brookville’s parks, creeks and nearby recreation destinations
Brookville Memorial Park’s Little League fields, playground and athletic courts line Redbank Creek. For swimming and fly fishing, locals head to the North Fork, accessible from Dr. Walter Dick Memorial Park. The historic Brookville Town Square hosts a weekly Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market through the warmer months. The Redbank Valley Trail takes cyclists into the woods and through stone railroad tunnels. In the early 20th century, Douglas Stahlman carved hundreds of boulders with Bible verses around the Brookville area. Modern residents can find many of these stones and learn about this unique figure’s life along a forested trail at Scripture Rocks Heritage Park just outside the borough. Several rural recreation destinations are within 20 miles of home, including Cook Forest State Park, where visitors might hike up to a fire tower overlook in the wooded hills or stay low to the water, kayaking along the Clarion River.
Attending the Brookville Area School District
Brookville is served by the Brookville Area School District. Each school in the district earns a C-plus from Niche, including the kindergarten center, Northside Elementary School, and Pinecreek Elementary School, which serves first and second grades. Hickory Grove Elementary School offers third through sixth grades. The district began considering proposals for a new wing for Hickory Grove in 2025, which would replace Pinecreek. Students finish up at Brookville Area Jr./Sr. High School, which offers college in the classroom courses in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.
Mom-and-pops in downtown Brookville
Brick commercial buildings from the turn of the 20th century line Main Street with a walkable collection of locally owned businesses. Music fans flip through records at Main Street Revolution down the block from the antique items at Finders Keepers Brookville and the Jefferson County Courthouse. The Courthouse Grille & Pub serves homestyle fare across the street from its stately red-and-white namesake. Similarly, historic houses of worship like First United Methodist Church pop up along the borough’s sloping downtown. Another less walkable commercial district orbits the junction of I-80 and Route 36, home to the buffet-style A&M Family Restaurant and chains like Sheetz. Groceries are available at Giant Eagle and Brookville Hometown Market.
The Brookville Laurel Festival and Jefferson County Fair
Brookville’s old-fashioned Main Street and Town Square fill with food court vendors and family-friendly fun each June during the Brookville Laurel Festival. The festivities stretch for eight days, each featuring a different musical headliner, theme and event like a parade or fireworks display. The Jefferson County Fairgrounds are just outside the borough, and their namesake event returns during the third week of each July. The wide-open venue allows for more over-the-top entertainment, from carnival rides and a petting zoo to tractor pulls, livestock shows and a demolition derby.
Highway access to Jefferson County and western PA
Brookville is at the junction of state Routes 28 and 36, U.S. Route 322 and Interstate 80, connecting residents to hubs in Jefferson County and the greater region. Brockway is nearly 20 miles away, home to the county’s largest employer, Owens-Brockway Glass Container. Punxsutawney and Punxsutawney Area Hospital are also about 20 miles away, though locals can also receive healthcare at the smaller Penn Highlands Brookville hospital. Pittsburgh International Airport is approximately 130 miles from home, taking Interstates 80 and 79.
Flood risk on Redbank and Sandy Lick creeks
Low-lying roads and properties near Redbank or Sandy Lick Creek may flood after unusually heavy rain. Buyers can consult maps to understand their potential risk.
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Written By
Julia Szymanski
