Forward Township offers quiet country living with city access
Forward Township, an enclave with small-town charm, sweeping pastures and rural settings has a mix of housing styles for homeowners who prefer not to live in Pittsburgh but still want to have access to all the city has to offer. Roughly 20 miles outside the Steel City, Forward's roots, which date back to 1854, are in agriculture. “It’s an older area that used to be a farming community and now has a cute little village,” says Diane Bureman, Realtor at Howard Hanna. Forward Township also features a walkable main street district with several restaurants.
Forward offers its residents large yards and open space.
Forward residents are only a half an hour out from the excitement of Downtown Pittsburgh.
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Growing mix of home styles, from farmhouses to new builds
Homes tend to be spread out and the styles consist of farmhouses, vinyl colonial homes, bungalows, two-stories, ranches and split-entries. “Up until about 5 years ago, Forward Township was more or less a rural area,” says Georgie Smigel, the principal and founder of The Georgie Smigel Group, which is part of Coldwell Banker Realty. “Recently, many new housing developments have gone into the area, and most of those homes are two-story.” Homes can cost between $154,000 and $1.6 million. On the low end, a three-bed, one-bath farmhouse can cost around $230,000. A four-bed, two-bath newly constructed home costs between $420,000 and $460,000. Some of the higher-end luxury homes can go higher than $1.6 million. For example, a five-bedroom, five-bath home on 40 acres with two ponds and farming space can go for $2.4 million. For homebuyers looking for a renovation project, a two-bedroom, one-bath home built in 1900 can cost between $18,000 and $30,000. “Forward Township is starting to grow because there’s very little new land available in Cranberry, so now people are building near Evans City,” Bureman says.
New Traditional single family homes can be found along sidewalk lined streets Forward Township.
Ranch-style homes are scattered throughout Forward Township.
Newer homes can be found in Forward in developments such as Leslie Farms.
Newer single-family homes in Forward Township often feature garages.
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High-performing schools focused on digital learning
The Seneca Valley School District, which serves students in Forward Township, has an A-minus from Niche, which also ranks the school system as the best in Butler County. To promote digital access and contemporary education, the school district launched a one-to-one computing program with a focus on the 4Cs of 21st-century learning: communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity via web-based resources. The school district won eight awards in the National School Public Relations Association's (NSPRA) 2024 Publications and Digital Media Contest, including four Awards of Excellence, the highest distinction from NSPRA. Students can attend Ehrman Crest Elementary School, Ehrman Crest Middle School and Seneca Valley High School. The elementary and middle schools earn a B-plus and the high school earns an A-minus according to Niche.
Ehrman Crest Elementary & Middle School has a student-teacher ratio of 9 to 1 and serves the youngest students in Forward.
Forward students head to Seneca Valley Senior High School which gets a B+ on Niche.
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Parks offer trails, creek access and green space
Those seeking fresh air and outdoor activities can find those opportunities at one of Forward Township's many popular parks. Visitors can kayak or canoe and go for a ride on Connoquenessing Creek at the Major Washington Canoe Launch. Walking trails, fields, ponds and forests are some of the features in the 50-acre Succop Nature Park. The park, which was formerly a farm that dates back to 1805, is run by the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania. The green space is a popular location for weddings, private parties and homecoming pictures.
Locals sit and watch birds at Succop Nature Park just outside of Forward Township.
Major Washington Canoe Launch provides a place to kayak and canoe on Connoquenessing Creek in Forward.
Residents of Forward enjoy fishing at the Connoquenessing Creek.
The playground at Harcrest Park in Nixon has plenty of play structures for children in Forward.
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Local dining and shopping options
Forward Township has a robust restaurant scene. For a morning pick-me-up, Coffee Brake Evans City serves croissants paired with specialty lattes. For lunch, residents looking to spice up their taste buds can head to Big E’s Bar and Grill for a stuffed banana pepper starter and a buffalo chicken wrap. Sports & Spirits, a small sports bar, offers wings with creative sauce flavors paired with a large beer selection. During their PumpkinFest, the eatery offers pumpkin-spiced wings and pumpkin deviled eggs. The restaurant has often won recognition for the best wings in Butler County’s Wingfest competition. Shoppers can find a variety of food and home goods retailers on the community’s main street. Evans City Pharmacy & Gift is one local stop to go for health supplies and medication. Nearby the pharmacy is The Grocery Place, where residents can pick up all the supplies needed for the week's recipes and meals.
Residents of Forward Township can head to Evans City to hit the shops and restaurants.
The wings at Sports & Spirits are a favorite of residents in Forward Township.
P & B's Sweets & Eats is where locals visit when they crave something sweet in Forward Township.
Forward locals can grab a beer with friends at TJ's Hideaway.
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Seasonal events bring community together
Evans City hosts a variety of special events that the community is welcome to attend. The Evans City Easter Party features Bunny Olympics and a Hop Along Easter Walk for kids 12 and under. The town's summertime celebration of Independence Day culminates with a fireworks display. In July, locals can witness a sea of sunflowers at Schwirian Farm Sunflower Fields. A pumpkin carving contest, live music and a pumpkin eating contest are all part of Evans City's relatively new PumpkinFest, which takes place every fall. Evans City Cemetery, the site of the film “Night of the Living Dead,” has celebrations centered around the film in October and hosts the town's annual Halloween parade in September.
Forward Township had a moment on the big screen with some scenes in the 1968 Night of the Living Dead being filmed in Evans City.
Evancs City provides Forward residents with year round fun and events, like the Evans City Pumpkin Fest.
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A 20-mile trip to the Steel City
Residents of Forward Township can reach downtown Pittsburgh via Interstate 79 South, which is approximately 20 miles away from the city center. Residents can also use the Butler Transit Authority using the seven stops throughout Main Street and Evans City Road. The closest airport is Pittsburgh International, a 35-mile trip.
Acrisure Stadium, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, is only about a 35 minute drive for most residents of Forward.
Forward residents drive approximately 35 minutes to Pittsburgh International Airport.
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