A host of suburban amenities in Beaver County
In the northwestern corner of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area, Chippewa Township is a leafy suburban community where residential subdivisions and lush green spaces sit alongside major thoroughfares. Pennsylvania Route 51 bisects the township and serves as a convenient commercial corridor, while Interstate 376 winds through the eastern half of town and connects residents to Pittsburgh, about 40 miles away. “You can get in and out of the city without having to live in the traffic,” says Jodi Peluso, a Realtor with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services with over 12 years of experience in the industry. “It’s great for anyone who wants to travel for their job, and you’re going to get a lot more home than you would in Pittsburgh.” In addition to its central location in Beaver County, Chippewa Township brings residents together through local festivities and is part of the highly rated Blackhawk School District, which Niche ranks as the second-best school district in the county. “The school system is one of the main things that attracts buyers,” Peluso says. “It’s definitely community-oriented. There’s a lot of activity and a lot of events.”
Chippewa Township has established neighborhoods and new construction
The township features a mix of established neighborhoods and new new-construction communities. “There have been a lot of new builds within the past 10 years because of the township’s appealing location,” Peluso says. Older subdivisions feature traditional cottages, ranch-style, and split-level homes dating back to the mid-1900s. With a median lot size of just over half an acre, most properties sit along quiet, tree-lined streets and offer residents plenty of space for a private backyard. Prices for more established homes typically range from $150,000 to $420,000, but larger custom-built estates can fetch anywhere from $575,000 to $900,000. Homebuyers looking for more recent construction will find New Traditional homes selling for $415,000 to $600,000. There are also several townhouse developments in Chippewa Township, with prices ranging from $240,000 to $315,000 for three-bedroom units.
Shopping and dining along the Constitution Boulevard corridor
Also known as Constitution Boulevard, Pennsylvania Route 51 hosts a commercial corridor with shops and restaurants. The Chippewa Plaza features Home Depot and Giant Eagle Supermarket, while the Chippewa Towne Center has Walmart and Dollar Tree. Local dining favorites include the Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe and Sal’s Ristorante and Bar, an old-school Italian spot serving pizza, pasta and subs in a cozy dining room with vinyl booths and wood-paneled walls. The Z Pub & Diner specializes in comfort foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with plenty of craft beers on tap. Chippewa Township is also 10 miles from the Beaver Valley Mall, which has shops, restaurants and department stores like Rural King and JCPenney.
College-level courses at Blackhawk High School
The Blackhawk School District earns an overall grade of B from Niche and has an average student-teacher ratio of 15-to-1. Blackhawk Intermediate School covers prekindergarten through fourth grade and scores a B-plus. Highland Middle School and Blackhawk High School both receive a B. The district’s College in High School program allows students to earn college credit from the Community College of Beaver County, Robert Morris University, the University of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Technical College. All college-level courses are taught at the high school and are offered at a discounted rate. Nearby private school options include Beaver County Christian School, which scores a B and serves kindergarten through 12th grade.
Abundant green spaces include Sahli Nature Park
With three parks in Chippewa Township, residents have access to various outdoor spaces. Chippewa Park has ballfields, picnic shelters and two playgrounds. In the northwestern corner of town, Veteran’s Park features paved walking paths, turf fields and a baseball complex. Its facilities are also used by local youth sports leagues like the Blackhawk Area Youth Baseball Association and Blackhawk Area Soccer Association. Across the street from Veteran’s Park is the I.S. and Gertrude Sahli Nature Park, a 90-acre conservation area protected by the Hollow Oak Land Trust. A dense canopy of evergreen trees provides shade to its nature trails, and butterfly releases bring hundreds of monarchs to its pollinator gardens each summer. The Chippewa Branch Library hosts recreational and educational programming for all ages, while the Rolling Acres Golf Course features three nine-hole courses that golfers can play in various combinations. In the southeastern corner of town, the Beaver Valley Rifle & Pistol Club has trap, rifle and combat ranges where members can practice shooting.
Festivities in Veteran’s Park and the Air Heritage Aviation Museum
The Wright Fields at Veteran’s Park are a popular spot for community events. In October, the annual Fall Family Festival and Chili Sale features hayrides, a petting zoo and face painting. Proceeds from the chili sale support the park’s McKinley Schoolhouse, a brick one-room schoolhouse dating to the late 19th century. Christmas in Chippewa spreads holiday cheer to the township with train rides, local vendors and a twinkling light display. Each summer, residents gather in the park for Chippewa Township Community Day, which includes live music, a car show and inflatables. Chippewa Township is also home to the Beaver County Airport, a public airport that offers flight training, charter flights and storage for private planes. The airport’s Air Heritage Aviation Museum is open to the public year-round and hosts air shows, seasonal festivities and annual events like the Aviation Appreciation Day and Classic Car Show. Also known as Wings and Wheels, it includes food trucks, family-friendly activities and, of course, plenty of vintage cars and aircraft on display.
Access to I-376, Pittsburgh commutes and BCTA bus service
With few sidewalks and several major thoroughfares passing through town, Chippewa Township is primarily car-dependent. PA Route 51 connects residents to the rest of Beaver County and beyond, while I-376 leads 40 miles southeast into Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh International Airport is about a 24-mile drive away. The Beaver County Transit Authority provides local bus service, with stops at major shopping complexes like the Chippewa Plaza and Chippewa Towne Center. The closest hospital is Heritage Valley Beaver, which is less than 10 miles from town and boasts the only National Cancer Institute and designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the region.
