In southwestern Pennsylvania, Donegal Township is a rural community of less than 3,000 people. Country roads wind gently through its rolling hills, tracing the contours of the land as they pass acres of undeveloped farmland, dense woodlands and expansive State Game Lands. “The topography consists mainly of rolling farm ground and timber ridges," says Jared Prusia, a land and rural home expert with the Countryside Group at Keller Williams Realty. “Washington County draws buyers from all over the state looking for reasonably priced acreage with the option to be close to several city centers.” Donegal Township sits next to the Pennsylvania-West Virginia border, and Interstate 70 bisects the southern half of town. While residents enjoy a slower pace of life in the countryside, I-70 connects this otherwise remote community to nearby shopping and dining. The town also surrounds the borough of Claysville, which has a quaint Main Street community where residents can find the necessities.
Horses in Donegal Township Washington enjoy grazing in the sun in a large field.
Donegal Township Washington is very rural and homes are typically not built near one another.
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Hunting at SGLs and trout stocking at Dutch Fork Lake
There are ample opportunities for outdoor recreation in Donegal Township. State Game Lands 232 and 245 allow hunting during established seasons, and the public shooting range at SGL 245 is open year-round. In the middle of town is Dutch Fork Lake, a popular spot for shore fishing and boating. It has a boat launch where residents can access the water, and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stocks the lake with trout several times a year. McGuffey Community Park sits next to the borough of Claysville and offers 70 acres of green space. It has three ball fields, a basketball court and a playground. The town is also home to Dogwood Hills Golf Course, an 18-hole course that’s open to the public and boasts scenic vistas of the countryside.
Activities such as hiking, boating and fishing are also allowed in State Game Lands 232, near Donegal Township Washington.
Boating on Dutch Fork Lake, near Donegal Township Washington, is limited to unpowered boats and electric motor boats.
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Donegal Township has ranch-style homes with acres of land
Most residents live near I-70 in the unincorporated village of West Alexander or around the borough of Claysville. These communities feature a mix of Colonial Revivals, cottages and ranch-style homes with smaller lots. Further from the interstate, traditional farmhouses and sprawling ranch-style homes sit on larger parcels of farmland. Some properties have enough acreage for a small homestead with detached barns and room for farm animals to roam around. Home prices typically range from $100,000 to $350,000, but larger houses with several acres of land can fetch upwards of $500,000. The township’s overall CAP Index crime score is 1 out of 10, the lowest possible score and significantly lower than the national average of 4.
Drive around Donegal Township Washington and buyers will notice large farms along the hillsides.
Some single family homes sit on large plots of land in Donegal Township Washington.
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Dual enrollment program at McGuffey High School
The township is part of the McGuffey School District, which earns an overall grade of B-minus from Niche and has an average student-teacher ratio of 12-to-1. Claysville Elementary School scores a B-minus, while McGuffey Middle School receives a C-plus. McGuffey High School also earns a B-minus and participates in the University of Pittsburgh’s College in High School program, which allows students to take college-level courses on their own high school campus.
McGuffey High School is where students in Donegal Township Washington may attend grades 9 through 12.
Students of the Donegal Township Washington neighborhood attend McGuffey Senior High School.
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Attractions at the Covered Bridge Festival and West Alexander Fair
Washington County has 23 covered bridges, including the historic Brownlee Covered Bridge in McGuffey Community Park. It crosses over Dutch Fork Creek and is one of several sites for the county’s annual Covered Bridge Festival. Locals take great pride in celebrating these covered bridges each September, and the festivities in Donegal Township usually include live music, food trucks and a car cruise.
A group of residents began the West Alexander Fair in 1906 to honor the area’s agricultural community. Over a century later, it continues to fulfill its original mission with farm shows, tractor pulls, and rodeos. It also has plenty of amusement rides and food trucks. A group of residents is petitioning to reestablish West Alexander Borough as an independent municipality, but the petition has not been presented to the Washington County Courts.
The West Alexander Fair Grounds are an important part of the Donegal Township Washington identity.
Donegal Township Washington is known for its covered bridges.
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A small Main Street community in Claysville
While shopping and dining are limited in Donegal Township, Claysville has a quaint Main Street with a handful of local businesses. Minteer’s Market sells grocery and deli essentials, and there’s also a Dollar General just outside the borough. The walk-up window at Pop’s and Rory’s is a popular spot for pizza, burgers and ice cream. Residents can also grab a bite to eat at Bedillion’s Pizza, Main St. Café or Farmhouse Kitchen and Bakery.
Those looking for more shops and restaurants can head to nearby Washington, less than 20 miles from town. The city has big-box stores like Target, Giant Eagle Supermarket and Walmart. Dining options range from fast food chains to mainstays such as Osso’s Original Pizza, serving thin-crust pies for more than 70 years.
Bedillion's Pizza is where residents of Donegal Township Washington go for their favorite pie.
Minter's Market is a small town grocery store in Claysville where residents of Donegal Township Washington go to shop.
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I-70 provides access to bigger cities like Washington and Wheeling
Like many rural communities, Donegal Township lacks public transportation and is heavily car-dependent. I-70 offers a direct route to bigger cities like Washington and Wheeling, both less than 20 miles away. It also connects with major thoroughfares such as Interstate 79. Pittsburgh is about a 45-mile drive from town via I-79, and residents are 48 miles from Pittsburgh International Airport.
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Anthony Kelly
Video By
Daniel Willingham
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