Cranberry Township offers rural living near growing commercial life
Rolling with the hills south of the Allegheny River, Cranberry Township fills a quiet stretch of Venango County between Franklin and Oil City. Thanks to the arrival of the UPMC Northwest regional hospital and its position along U.S. Route 322, the area’s sleepy villages and main thoroughfares have seen an influx of commercial development in recent decades. “Cranberry has more or less become a hub for businesses like Walmart and Home Depot,” says William Moon Jr., broker-owner at Gates & Burns Realty, who was born and raised in Venango County. Despite the increase in big-name retailers, Cranberry Township remains a largely rural place where residents can become regulars at the log cabin diner, cheer on local kids at fishing derbies and enjoy the simple, woodsy calm of western Pennsylvania.
Single-family homes in quiet villages and on country acreages
In old country villages like Seneca, National houses, Minimal Traditional homes and bungalows line quiet, sidewalk-lined side streets. More suburban subdivisions were built around Cranberry Township from the 1950s through the 1970s, dominated by classic ranch-style, Minimal Traditional and split-level homes. Small acreages dip along hilly country roads between forests and farmland, where buyers can find everything from century-old Foursquares to simple ranch-style homes and large New Traditional construction. Move-in-ready homes on less than an acre sell for around $100,000 to $220,000. Prices range from around $230,000 to $650,000, depending on the house's condition and whether the property has closer to 1 or 5 acres.
Venango County commuting and proximity to Erie and Pittsburgh
UPMC Northwest, a major hospital and employer for Venango County, is in the middle of Cranberry Township. Oil City is just north, and the busy city of Franklin is about 10 miles down Route 322. Several churches hold services throughout the township, including Seneca Son Rise Global Methodist Church. Most residents rely on cars to get around, but Crawford Area Transportation Authority buses following the Intercity route also make a handful of stops in Cranberry. Erie International Airport is about 70 miles away, and downtown Pittsburgh is nearly 100 miles away when using Interstates 80 and 79.
Route 322 shopping and locally owned restaurants
Strip malls line Route 322 with big-box stores like Walmart, Home Depot, Tractor Supply and Aldi. “They keep building things, the chains are realizing that people out here want to buy from them,” Moon says. “Dairy Queen is coming in, and Sheetz has made itself the gas spot.” The Cranberry Mall is anchored by Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, but there are persistent rumors about a potential mall redevelopment. Bob Evans, Hoss’s Steak and Sea House and other national chains make up most of the dining scene, but locally owned restaurants are more common along state Route 257. Residents browse the general store-style shelves at Farmer’s Daughters Country Market and order deli sandwiches. The Log Cabin restaurant has been a community staple for generations and serves homestyle American staples for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Township parks, bike trails and larger western Pennsylvania recreation
Moving between the woods and fields of Morrison Park, locals might hit the playground and athletic courts or take tranquil walking paths to picnic pavilions and a lily-covered pond. A fountain sprays over the pond at the smaller Moody Park, a quiet spot to watch the water or do some catch-and-release fishing. The Allegheny River snakes along the township's western edge, and locals might launch a boat at the Oil City or Franklin Boat Ramps. Cyclists follow along and cross over the water when biking down the Sandy Creek Bike Trail and Samuel Justus Recreation Trail. Hunters head into the deeply forested State Game Lands 45 to find deer, turkey or bears. When winter comes around, people can stay warm and play a game of bowling at Seneca Lanes.
Attending Cranberry Area School District
Cranberry Township is served by the Cranberry Area School District, rated B-minus by Niche. Cranberry Elementary School earns a C-plus and feeds into Cranberry Area Junior-Senior High School, which also scores a C-plus. High schoolers can explore dual enrollment credit opportunities through Pennsylvania Western University, Clarion.
From car shows and fishing derbies to the Cranberry Festival
The Cranberry Small Business Association and Venango Area Chamber of Commerce bring the community together throughout the year with annual events. Classic car enthusiasts park at Morrison Park during the summertime Car Show Concert Food Truck Festival, while young anglers surround Moody Park’s pond during fishing derbies. Each September, the Cranberry Festival brings food and craft vendors to the Cranberry Mall parking lot, alongside other family-friendly entertainment like live music and a pancake breakfast.
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Written By
Julia Szymanski
