Surrounding the small borough of West Sunbury, Clay Township embraces the tranquility of a rural community. Rolling hills and swaths of undeveloped land comprise most of its 25 square miles, and just over 2,500 sparsely populate the township. “You’re going to encounter people who have been in their homes for years and years,” says Sheryl Eagle, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and longtime resident of Butler County. Many of the bucolic homes in Clay Township date to the turn of the 20th century, and while the community maintains a sense of historic and rustic charm, it also offers proximity to major thoroughfares. “We have easy access to so many highways. It’s easy to head east, and it’s easy to head west. They’ll get you to wherever you want to go,” Eagle says. Residents can hop on Pennsylvania Route 8 and travel south to the neighboring city of Butler, which offers shopping, dining and entertainment just 10 miles away.
Green spaces throughout Clay Township invite quiet outdoor time.
Farmhouses with open fields reflect Clay Township’s agricultural roots.
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Rustic farmhouses and sprawling ranch-style homes
A variety of architectural styles complement the township’s verdant landscapes. Traditional farmhouses date back to the late 19th century and feature detached sheds, wood-burning fireplaces and spacious porches. Homebuyers will also find ranch-style and split-level homes built throughout the mid-to-late 1900s. Residents have plenty of privacy, with mature trees shading spacious lots that average just over an acre and a half. Most properties are also set back from the street by long, winding driveways. Prices for single-family homes typically range from $100,000 to $350,000, and homebuyers can also purchase land to build their own houses. Lots sell for anywhere from $30,000 to $85,000, depending on acreage. Clay Township has an overall CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, significantly lower than the national average of 4.
Many colonial homes in Clay list between $100,000 and $350,000.
Midcentury designs add variety to Clay Township housing.
Farm properties line the countryside throughout Clay Township.
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Hiking along the North Country Trail
Clay Township Community Park sits in the center of town and features a basketball court, playground and a covered pavilion with picnic benches. Over in the borough of West Sunbury, residents can access a trailhead for the North Country Trail. The trail weaves diagonally through the township and leads to the Jennings Environmental Education Center, which is about 5 miles away and has miles of hiking trails where visitors can walk through mature forests and lush prairies. In the winter, its prairie trails are a popular destination for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The center also offers guided nature walks and educational programming for all ages. Clay Township is less than 10 miles from three public golf courses: Slippery Rock Golf Club and Events Center, Lake Arthur Golf Club and Stoughton Acres Golf Course.
Nature and green space dominate much of Clay Township, offering a peaceful retreat.
Jennings Environmental Education Center has hiking trails and space to observe wildlife.
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Switchback MX offers an indoor and outdoor motocross park
Residents can find year-round entertainment at Switchback MX, a motocross park with an outdoor track, a peewee track and an indoor facility. The park offers open practice hours and hosts motocross competitions for riders of all skill levels. Annual events include the Muddy Kids run, which invites participants to complete a 2-mile obstacle course with mud pits, inflatable walls and balance beams.
Big-box shops and restaurants at the Clearview Mall
While shopping and dining are limited in Clay Township, there are several local businesses in town. Three C’s Pizza is a family-owned spot serving fresh pies, subs and strombolis in the borough of West Sunbury. Over on Pennsylvania Route 8, Playthings Etc. is known for its spaceship-shaped building and impressive collection of toys, crafts and games. PA 8 leads about 8 miles south to the Clearview Mall, which features big-box shops like Boscov’s and Rural King. The mall also has chain restaurants such as Texas Roadhouse, Compadres Mexican and Ponderosa Steakhouse, a western-themed spot with wooden booths and an all-you-can-eat buffet. Next to the mall is Giant Eagle Supermarket, which is the closest grocery store to Clay Township. Residents can also run errands at the Butler Commons shopping center, which is about a 10-mile drive away and includes stores like Target, Walmart and Aldi.
Clay Township residents make short drives into Butler for shopping and dining.
Residents of Clay Township shot in Rural King at the Clearview Mall.
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Specialized career academies at Moniteau Junior and Senior High School
Clay Township is served by the Moniteau School District, which earns a C-plus from Niche and has an average student-teacher ratio of 14-to-1. Kids can begin their education at Dassa McKinney Elementary School, which scores a B-minus from Niche and serves kindergarten through sixth grade. Moniteau Junior and Senior High School receives a C and requires all students to declare a Career Academy course of study during their second semester of eighth grade. Students can choose from the following three academies: College & Career Academy, Career Cluster Academy and Career Technical Education Completer/Concentrator Career Academy. Within the CTE Completer/Concentrator Academy, teens can enroll in vocational agricultural programs designed to prepare them for careers in food, agriculture and natural resource sciences.
Dassa McKinney Elementary School serves kindergarten through sixth grade.
Local students may attend Moniteau Junior-Senior High School in West Sunbury, PA.
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Pennsylvania Route 8 connects residents to Pittsburgh
Clay Township is largely car-dependent. Pennsylvania Route 8 runs through the southwestern corner of the township, and the thoroughfare leads about 45 miles south to Pittsburgh. Residents are about a 63-mile drive away from Pittsburgh International Airport. While there is no public transportation in Clay Township, the Butler Transit Authority is about 10 miles south and offers daily bus service between Butler and Pittsburgh.
Photography Contributed By
Carmen Gerace
Video By
Charlie Kennedy
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