A small town in the Laurel Highlands
Connellsville Township is a quiet community in the Laurel Highlands, a mountainous region of Southwestern Pennsylvania with an emphasis on natural beauty and outdoor recreation. “One of the big things that Connellsville is known for is the GAP trail that runs through town and leads to Ohiopyle State Park,” says Camille Miele, a Realtor with Realty One Group Gold Standard with more than six years of experience in the industry. Locally known as the GAP, the Greater Allegheny Passage is a 150-mile rail trail that residents can access via a trailhead in Yough River Park. While hikers and cyclists hit the trail, kayakers and fishermen head to the shores of the Youghiogheny River. The river flows along the town’s southern edge and through nearby Ohiopyle State Park, a gateway to the Laurel Highlands that attracts more than a million visitors each year. Connellsville Township embraces its natural surroundings as mature trees and State Game Lands occupy most of its land, and its population hovers at just over 2,000.
Fishing, tubing and whitewater kayaking in the Youghiogheny River
State Game Lands 51 stretches into the southern half of Connellsville Township. It’s a popular hunting spot where native game includes white-tailed deer, turkeys and bears. Raccoons and coyotes provide fur-taking opportunities, and there’s a public shooting range open to licensed hunters and range permit holders. The Youghiogheny River winds along the southern edge of town and is a destination for fishing, paddleboating and tubing. Residents can access the water at Yough River Park, which is less than 5 miles from Connellsville Township and doubles as a trailhead for the Great Allegheny Passage. It also has a playground and several picnic pavilions.
Residents have access to some of the most popular attractions in the Laurel Highlands. Ohiopyle State Park is less than 20 miles from town, and the Youghiogheny River Gorge offers opportunities for whitewater kayaking and trout fishing. The region is also one of the snowiest in Pennsylvania, and spots like the Seven Springs Mountain Resort and Hidden Valley Resort take advantage of its natural snowfall with skiing, snowboarding and tubing. Both resorts are about 25 miles from Connellsville Township.
Connellsville Township has raised ranch-style and mobile homes
Residential developments are clustered in the northeastern corner of Connellsville Township. Most homes were built around the mid-1900s and sit on lush half-acre lots. Dutch Colonial Revivals, Foursquares, Cape Cods and raised ranch-style homes are the norm, and homes typically sell for $75,000 to $215,000. “It’s definitely a more affordable area. Fayette County has lower taxes, so a lot of people like to move there because of that,” Miele says. There are also mobile home parks such as Hillcrest Home Estates, where prices for manufactured homes range from $60,000 to $150,000. With limited inventory in Connellsville Township, only 12 properties were sold within the last year. When homes are for sale, they typically sell after an average of 72 days on the market.
Dual enrollment program at Connellsville Area Senior High School
The township is part of the Connellsville Area School District, which earns an overall grade of C from Niche and has an average student-teacher ratio of 13-to-1. West Crawford Elementary School receives a C, while Connellsville Area Middle School scores a C-minus. Connellsville Area Senior High School earns a C-plus and partners with Mt. Aloysius College to offer a College in the High School program. The program allows students to earn college and high school credits simultaneously, and all college-level courses are taught at Connellsville Area Senior High School. Nearby private school options include Conn-Area Catholic School and Geibel Catholic Junior-Senior High School. While the former is not yet rated by Niche, the latter earns a B.
Local businesses and events in downtown Connellsville
There are a handful of shops and restaurants in the northeastern corner of town along U.S. Route 119. Chains include Dollar General, Subway and Dairy Queen Grill & Chill. Residents can find local businesses in neighboring downtown Connellsville, less than 3 miles away. Wavie & Jane’s Emporium is a specialty grocery store selling Pennsylvania Dutch products and made-to-order sandwiches, including its signature Italian Wavie hoagies. For bigger grocery runs, there’s Martin’s and Walmart. The dining scene revolves around local institutions like Bud Murphy’s Sports Bar & Restaurant, a casual spot that tops its pizzas with everything from pepperoni to mashed potatoes. “There are quite a few good restaurants in the area. O’Donnell’s Pub is a popular spot, and they just opened a new restaurant called The River’s Edge,” Miele says. “There’s also Yough River Brewing, which has live music and food trucks on the weekend.”
Downtown Connellsville is also a destination for community events. The Connellsville Farmers Market features local vendors and food trucks, and annual events like the Chili Fest and Simply Soup Walk support the city’s growing business district. In December, It’s a Connellsville Christmas transforms downtown into a winter wonderland with festive decorations, an outdoor market and a parade.
Interstate 76 connects residents to Pittsburgh
The town lacks sidewalks, and residents typically rely on their cars to get around. U.S. Route 119 passes through the northeastern corner of town and provides access to major thoroughfares such as Interstate 76. Pittsburgh is about a 50-mile drive away via I-76. Connellsville station is about 3 miles from town and is part of Amtrak’s Floridian line. The Floridian stops at several major cities between Chicago and Miami, including Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. Residents can hop on the train and reach Pittsburgh in less than two hours. For flights, Arnold Palmer Regional Airport is about 25 miles from town, and Pittsburgh International Airport is about 70 miles away. Residents are less than a mile from Penn Highlands Connellsville, a local hospital with a 24/7 emergency room.
