A historic downtown district and a neighborly atmosphere in Ebensburg
Among the rolling foothills of the Allegheny Mountains, Ebensburg is a rural, community-oriented borough and the seat of Cambria County. The community has a charming downtown district with brick storefronts housing locally owned businesses, while annual events bring neighbors together throughout the year. “Our downtown is in the National Register of Historic Places,” says Danea Koss, Ebensburg’s Community Development Director. “We have a lot of preserved century-old architecture, which brings some historic charm to the area. One of the best things about living here is the close-knit community. Everyone knows their neighbors, and you can’t go anywhere without seeing someone you know. Commuters are also about equal distance from Johnstown and Altoona, which is a big plus.”
Historic homes meet late 20th-century builds
The streets of Ebensburg are lined with well-maintained sidewalks and historical homes, many built between the 1890s and 1960s. American foursquares, Victorians and brick workers cottages are common, along with ranch-style homes and split-levels built in the late 20th century. Most homes sit close together on properties ranging from 2,000 to 8,000 square feet, while some houses on the higher end of the market feature lots over half an acre. Fixer-uppers and quaint cottages with around 1,200 square feet or less range from $80,000 to $190,000, while larger, move-in-ready homes can go for $200,000 to $400,000.
Dual enrollment courses at Central Cambria High School
Most students attend Cambria Elementary School, which earns a B-minus grade from Niche. Also with a B-minus, Central Cambria Middle School has an array of unique elective courses, from creating a cookbook and history of rock and roll to crime scene investigation and 3D design. Central Cambria High School receives a C-plus and partners with nearby institutions like St. Francis University, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College and Mount Aloysius College for its dual enrollment classes. The Ebensburg Cambria Public Library is on the north side of town and hosts community events like used book sales, author meet-ups, book clubs and live music.
Local businesses and amenities in downtown Ebensburg
High Street serves as Ebensburg’s commercial quarter, with a small selection of restaurants and other small businesses, including a bridal shop, a beauty salon and a historic inn. Clark Powell’s Restaurant and Bar is a local favorite serving pizza, sandwiches and tacos. Our Station House is a fire house-themed eatery offering draft brews and pub fare from wings to specialty burgers. The restaurant has daily specials and hosts a trivia night every Tuesday. Shoppers can pick up groceries at Walmart, ALDI or Giant Eagle Supermarket on Route 22. On Saturdays from July through September, locals flock to Penn Eben Park for the Ebensburg Farmers Market.
A diverse array of seasonal events
The community hosts a variety of events throughout the year from parades on Memorial Day and Halloween to the annual turkey trot race every Thanksgiving. On the last Saturday of September, Potato Fest hosts hundreds of food and art vendors along with live music and crafts to celebrate Cambria County’s roots in potato farming. The week-long Cambria County Fair is complete with concerts, livestock shows and carnival rides. “Concerts in the Park draws in a lot of people every year,” Koss says. “It’s a free concert series held on Friday nights throughout the summer.”
Athletic facilities and miles of trails in Ebensburg
The rolling hills and woodlands of Ebensburg have an abundance of outdoor recreation areas. The waterside Lake Rowena Park has facilities for baseball, tennis and roller hockey along with a picnic shelter and a dog park. Visitors can launch a boat for an afternoon on the lake or cast a line from one of the park’s fishing docks. The Ebensburg Reservoir is surrounded by quiet, wooded walking trails. For more mileage, the Ghost Town Trail spans for 32 miles from Black Lick to Ebensburg.
Public transit and easy access to nearby cities
CamTran operates buses across Cambria County, with service from Ebensburg to Cresson and Portage. The community is almost directly in between Johnstown and Altoona, both cities around a 30-minute drive away. Pittsburg is roughly 2 hours away via U.S. Route 22.
Written By
Jillian Pillow
