Cumberland Township Greene has quiet living with an active community
Situated at the bend of the Monongahela River, Cumberland Township Greene is a rural community dating to 1796. The borough of Carmichaels anchors itself in the center of the area, and residents living in the township enjoy a quiet way of living in the Pennsylvania countryside. "It's a small community, and we're very laid-back. There's not much exciting happening here, but we care a lot about our community and we're working to see some growth here," says Brian Sokol, the township manager. "Once the coal mines closed, we lost a lot of our population. Until we can find a way to build revenue, we focus on keeping the township clean and ensuring there are things for people to do."
Midcentury housing and opportunities to remodel vintage homes
Cumberland Township Greene's rural setting means quiet residential roads, rolling acres of fields and plenty of privacy. The community has no new construction. Some homes date to the early 20th century, but the majority were built between 1950 and 1995. Small vintage residences needing renovations can sell between $16,000 and $90,000. Midcentury ranch-style homes, remodeled cottages and large National Folk styles can sell between $110,000 and $350,000. The township's CAP Index Crime Score is 2 out of 10, below the national average of 4.
Outdoor fun at local Wana B Park and water activities on the river
While the township is very rural, comprised of rolling fields and dense forest thickets, residents can find maintained green spaces near the center of the community. Wana B Park is a popular gathering place for both Cumberland Township Greene and Carmichaels residents, offering a large playground, community pool and a walking track around an open field. "We've made a lot of upgrades to Wana B. We put in sensory equipment at the playground and are improving the baseball fields for the youth leagues," Sokol says. The Carmichaels Golf Club, which has been open to the public since 1989, has a challenging 18-hole course. The community is bordered by the Monongahela River, where locals can fish for bass and catfish and launch boats.
Local public schools offer career-focused classes
Carmichaels Area School District serves the community, and most kids living in Cumberland Township Greene start at Carmichaels Area Elementary Center before moving on to Carmichaels Area Middle School. Carmichaels Area Senior High offers the Career Pathways program, which provides unique classes to students interested in a specific career, such as health science and technology. All three schools earn a C from Niche.
A few restaurants and a popular No-Cook Wednesday food truck event
At the township's center, Carmichaels has essentials such as Circle K, Dollar General and Shop 'n Save for groceries. A few locally owned eateries have served the area for decades, such as Hartley Inn Restaurant, which serves traditional American comfort food. "Since we don't have fast food places, and only a couple of places to eat, we've started this thing called No-Cook Wednesday," Sokol says. "We get a bunch of food trucks to come in from nearby towns once a week, and they all park over at Wana B. People come over and order dinner and just hang out."
Community festivals, youth games and seasonal events
The township community is very active, and its council focuses on organizing gatherings throughout the seasons. "We put on at least five to 10 events a year, all held at the park, and it stays pretty busy," Sokol says, adding that there are small festivals for the holidays and lots of youth games. "Pigfest is a big deal. Many people around here are of Polish and Slovak descent, so they hold judging competitions for traditional food at the festival, and there are games and music."
Main roads offer access to medical care and urban amenities
The two main roads are Route 21, an east-west highway, and Route 88, which runs north-south. These routes are essential for connecting to nearby towns and Interstate 79. Downtown Pittsburgh is roughly 61 miles north of Cumberland Township Greene via I-79, and residents can get there in about an hour's drive. The closest medical center, UPMC Greene, is about 5 to 7 miles away in the neighboring community of Waynesburg.
