Burnham is a close-knit Appalachian community built around steel
Burnham was built around Standard Steel, which has been in the borough since the late 18th century. The wide metal and brick buildings off Kishacoquillas Creek make the forging plant one of Burnham’s most visible landmarks. Home to about 2,000 people, Burnham today is a small community miles from State College’s student crowds and even farther from Pennsylvania’s largest cities. “I like how it’s all close together. It’s not very big. It’s perfect,” says Bruno Bellotti, a manager at Vince’s Pizza & Family Restaurant. “Everybody helps everybody in a way, and we all know each other.” Nestled in the Appalachians’ Ridge and Valley section, Burnham provides convenient access to various outdoor activities. “It’s a pretty nice rural community,” says Beth Yoder, a Realtor with Cavalry Realty LLC. “It has very easy access to [U.S.] 322, which takes them up to all kinds of camping and recreation.”
Homes include Colonial Revivals, Queen Annes and American Foursquares
Many homes in the area line roads with sidewalks. Some homes are on flat land, while others stand on hilly lots with concrete steps and retention walls. Burnham’s streetscape includes a few roundabouts, one of which has a war memorial surrounded by manicured landscaping, benches and trees. “The homes are really quaint, and people take care of their properties,” says John Pannizzo, owner of the Birch Hill Events venue. The area has many ranch-style homes and Colonial Revivals. Queen Annes, Cape Cods, bungalows and American Foursquares make up some of the other homes in the community. Homes here mostly sell from $80,000 to $220,000, and buyers looking for smaller spaces will find a few townhouses between $60,000 and $130,000.
Restaurants include pizza parlors and retro-style diner
Vince’s is one of a few places in the community that offer pizza and casual Italian dining. Popular choices include the square-cut pizzas, garlic bread and sandwiches. “We’re known for our Philly cheesesteaks,” Bellotti says, adding that the restaurant has been voted among the best in town multiple times. For classic American breakfasts and comfort foods, there’s Bing’s Diner. “It has more of a 50s dinner feel. It’s pretty cute,” Yoder says. The restaurant’s retro features include aqua blue bar and booth seats, checkered flooring and strips of neon lights. JP Edward’s Grill and Bar is a late-night hangout many visit for beers and sports. Many shop at the Greater Lewistown Plaza, and its chains include Weis Markets and JCPenney.
Students can attend Mifflin County schools
The borough is zoned for Indian Valley Center, which covers kindergarten to fifth grade and receives a C-plus from Niche. Students may then go to Mifflin County middle and junior high schools, both of which get a C. They can then finish at Mifflin County High School, which receives a C-plus. The high school’s clubs include its marching band, which won a regional title in 2025 and qualified for the state competition.
The community offers kayaking, fly fishing and BMX biking park
Kish Park is a community destination for games, casual recreation and youth sports. The park’s amenities include a miniature golf course and peewee football and Little League baseball fields. “It [Burnham] has great youth sports facilities,” Pannizzo says. The park is near Kishacoquillas Creek, a popular rainbow and brown trout fishing spot. SteelWorx Pump Track is another park with paved bumps for skateboarders and BMX bikers. A few miles south of Burnham, the Juniata River is a kayaking, canoeing and both traditional and fly fishing destination. Fish in the river include plenty of bass, catfish and walleye.
Many ring in the holidays with the Festival of Ice
Many may go to Lewistown for festivities, and the neighboring borough’s signature events include its Festival of Ice. Set right after Thanksgiving, the event allows many to see a variety of ice sculptures in downtown Lewiston. Over the years, pieces by the sculptors have included gingerbread houses and gingerbread men, a Viking warrior and the front of a vintage Chevrolet.
U.S. 322 leads to State College
The borough is 4 miles north of Amtrak’s Pennsylvanian stop outside Lewistown. Commuters here otherwise drive to get around the region. U.S. Highway 322 provides a route to State College, about 30 miles northwest. The State College Regional Airport is the nearest place for commercial flights. For medical care, many may go to Geisinger Lewistown Hospital, a few miles south of Burnham. The hospital offers robotic surgery and houses a nursing school.
