Elizabeth

One of the original seven townships of Allegheny County, Elizabeth Township, 24 miles from Pittsburgh, sits within rolling green hills dotted with clusters of residences and within driving distance of towns along the Monongahela River. “There is a lot of farmland,” says Janna Sandleitner, Realtor with Realty Association. “My sister lives on a 300-acre farm out there.” Despite the open green space within the area, residents form a close-knit community through holiday events and the proximity of homes, which are organized in clusters along wide roadways. Residents enjoy the open spaces, numerous trails and parks within Elizabeth Township, and amenities in nearby towns or along the highways cutting through the area. “It’s close to the mountains, rivers and lakes,” says Terry Fox, farm manager of Round Hill Park. “There’s plenty to do indoors and out. It’s a nice town.” The CAP Index crime score for the neighborhood is a 2 out of 10, with the national average being 4. Round Hill Park is one of nine available in Allegheny County. While its 1,100 acres are home to barn animals including chickens, sheep and retired police horses, it’s also a working farm that grows hay and corn for feed. The public is welcome to visit and take advantage of the miles of trails for hiking and biking, the barn-themed splash pad and the playground that’s tucked into a grove of thick trees. Sometimes the park hosts outdoor movies. “In the fall, it’s breathtaking,” says Fox. The Youghiogheny River flows through the area and is a favorite for water activities, including kayaking. The Great Allegheny Passage runs beside the river and through the hamlet of Boston. The passage is an interstate trail that ends in downtown Pittsburgh. There are two private golf courses in the area: Victory Hills Golf Course, which has an 18-hole course, and Butler’s Golf Course, which has a 36-hole course. Seasonal basketball, soccer and wrestling tournaments are hosted at Marx’s Court Time. Elizabeth Township is on a hilly terrain, with homes built on an incline. There are no sidewalks in residential areas, and long driveways lead from the street to attached garages. Homes are on medium lots in the split-level, Colonial Revival, raised-ranch and minimal traditional styles and range from $80,000 to $450,000. Homes near Butler’s Golf Course start higher, ranging from $200,000 to $450,000. Holiday-themed events bring the community together throughout the year, including the Elizabeth Township Fall Festival where residents can snap photos with popular animated characters or try pumpkin painting. Throughout December, a private home on Williamsburg Drive draws crowds for its elaborate display of Christmas lights and animatronics. The Zombek family's display started about a decade ago as a way to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and has expanded to provide Thanksgiving meals and holiday gifts to local families. Residents looking to attend religious services in the community have choices including World of Life at the Outpost, Central Highland Community United Methodist Church and Sisters of the Divine Redeemer. Elizabeth Township is served by the Elizabeth Forward School District, which receives an A-minus from Niche. Children may attend Greenock Elementary School and Mt. Vernon Elementary School. Students advance to Elizabeth Forward Middle School and Elizabeth Forward High School. All four schools receive a B-plus. A new program at Mt. Vernon Elementary allows students to watch chickens hatch and grow on a live stream. Customers gather outside The Red Caboose, standing in line smoothing dollar bills to pay for the cash-only hot dogs and cheese fries. Carriage Inn Restaurant and Catering offers an elevated American-style diner menu in a 1930s speakeasy atmosphere. Patrons at The Barn & Barrel Bar and Grill on Blaine Hill perch on old Western saddles during bingo and trivia nights. Groceries are available at Giant Eagle Supermarket or P&W Convenience. While there are plenty of parks and trails here, the area lacks public transportation and is car-dependent. Routes 48 and 51 connect locals to nearby towns and interstates. The Pittsburgh International Airport is 36 miles away. Nearby Rostraver Airport is a public-use airport set aside for private planes to land or take off. Flooding during heavy rainfall may occur, though most homes are far from the Youghiogheny River.