Donaldson is a small residential Pennsylvania community
Between two crests of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, Donaldson is a neighborhood comprised of residential streets in central Pennsylvania. The pocket community is set against a largely rural part of the state and appropriately concentrated on Center Street, which runs horizontally through the area. Donaldson is a satellite of the borough of Tremont, and its remoteness is one of its draws. “There are lots of cows and fields,” says Will Primeau, a Realtor with Ramus Realty Group. “It’s very, very rural.” It’s also very sparsely populated; according to public records, the population in 2023 was only 379., Major cities are 40 miles or more away, but locals still have convenient access to major highways thanks to nearby on-ramps to Interstate 81.
Housing variety on Center Street
Most homes sit along Center Street or on short roads branching off this main thoroughfare. Housing styles vary, but include American Foursquare, colonial-style homes and Cape Cods. Homes in Donaldson are usually valued between $50,000 and $150,000. The median price of homes here is just under $62,000, an amount that is significantly below both the state and national medians.
Recognition for Blue Mountain High School’s exchange program
The Blue Mountain School District serves the greater Schuylkill area, which includes Donaldson, and gets a B rating from Niche. Blue Mountain Elementary West has yet to receive a rating. Blue Mountain Middle School garners a B-minus and Blue Mountain High School scores a B. In 2024, Blue Mountain High was nationally recognized for its student exchange program, receiving the EF High School Exchange Year Global Education Excellence Award, which is awarded to schools that exhibit the highest levels of dedication to improving global awareness among their students.
Nearby recreation in rural Pennsylvania
Good Spring Creek flows through the neighborhood, and residents can fish in the water there. In the adjacent borough of Tremont, the Tremont Little League Field hosts baseball games and has also been the site of several District 24 Little League tournaments. Though the Tremont Community Pool is closed indefinitely, Tremont Community Park still has a ballfield, basketball court and playground. Hidden Valley Golf Course is over 15 miles from Donaldson, offering a public 18-hole layout.
Tremont has a pair of local restaurants
Residents can head into Tremont for local eateries. The Little Run Sportsman’s Club specializes in American fare and has a beer garden. On the south side of the borough, Behm’s Family Restaurant is family-owned and operated, and serves comfort food. Grocery shoppers can head less than 8 miles west to Redner’s Warehouse Markets in Hegins. A Walmart Supercenter is located in Pottsville, more than 20 miles northeast.
Heading south to Pine Grove for events
Donaldson’s Annual Community-Wide Yard Sale takes place each fall and brings residents out to peruse the treasures their neighbors have decided to part with. For other local events, residents head outside the community. Pine Grove is under 10 miles south and puts on various events throughout the year, including a Food Truck and Vendor Market.
Access to Interstate 81 just outside of Donaldson
Because there is no public transportation in the area, locals need their own vehicles to get around. Interstate 81 winds its way through the landscape nearby, with on-ramps about 2 miles southwest of central Donaldson. Reading is less than 50 miles away, while Allentown sits about 60 miles east. Philadelphia is over 100 miles from Donaldson. Geisinger St. Luke’s Hospital is over 20 miles away. Harrisburg International Airport sits about 50 miles south. The MTD9 Amazon Warehouse sits about 2 miles from central Donaldson and is a significant employer in the area.
