Life in Butler Township Schuylkill centers on small-town charm
Among Western Pennsylvania’s rolling hills and open green fields, Butler Township Schuylkill – often called just Butler Township – is an incredibly rural community. There’s not much here, aside from miles of countryside. But, the township is surrounded by other small towns, which offer shopping, dining and parks. “This county was built on coal,” says Realtor Jill Saunders with Saunders Real Estate, who grew up in Schuylkill County. “All the former mining towns are still around, with generations of families who still live there.”
Homes range from fixer-uppers to newer builds with land
Homes in Butler Township are tucked between the trees. Tall oaks frame two-lane roads, and the mountains rise and fall in the distance. For under $100,000, buyers can find a house in need of significant repairs. Split-levels, bungalows and ranch-style homes can range in price from $140,000 to $260,000, while recently built Colonial Revivals and New Traditionals can cost $350,000 to $450,000. “The price point is very low compared to other areas,” Saunders says. “But you can get a nicer home and a little bit more land.”
Locust Lake and Tuscarora parks are less than 20 miles away
Butler Township is surrounded by scenic hiking trails and pocket parks with playgrounds and sports facilities in nearby towns. In town, the Ashland Gun & Country Club hosts events like barbecue dinners, music sets and shooting activities for its members. Locust Lake State Park and the adjacent Tuscarora State Park are less than 20 miles west of the community and offer sandy beaches along lake shores, campgrounds, hiking trails and more. Weiser State Forest is about 8 miles north and also features trails and camping, as well as hang gliding opportunities.
Students attend North Schuylkill schools
Butler Township is zoned for the North Schuylkill School District. North Schuylkill Elementary School, which educates prekindergarten to sixth-grade students, gets a C from Niche, and North Schuylkill Junior/Senior High School receives a C-plus. The high school offers various clubs and activities, including an Art Club, a Robotics Club, a Yearbook and more.
Groceries and big-box stores are a short drive from town
Shopping and dining are limited within the township; however, the community is surrounded by other small towns with slightly larger commercial presences. There’s a Boyer’s Food Market about a mile north in Ashland and another 5 miles east in Frackville. A Walmart Supercenter about 10 miles away in St. Clair, and big-box retailers, like Boscov’s, Lowe’s Home Improvement and Kohl’s sit about 12 miles away in Pottsville. There’s a good amount of dining options just north in Ashland, like Ashland Pizza, Fabrizio's Italian Restaurant & Pizza and May’s Drive-In, a classic diner.
Butler Township is remote but close to key travel routes
Because it’s so rural, Butler Township Schuylkill is rural and car-dependent. Backroads are the main way folks get around, but Pennsylvania State Route 61 cuts through the community, and U.S. Interstate 81, which leads throughout Appalachia, is just south. Pottsville is about 13 miles southeast, Harrisburg is about 60 miles southwest, Philadelphia is about 110 miles southeast, and Pittsburgh is about 260 miles west. For air travel, Harrisburg International Airport is about 65 miles southwest. In case of emergency, Geisinger St. Luke's Health Center is about 12 miles southeast.
Written By
Adreanna DeMarino
