Sunflowers and small-town charm near Lake Erie in Girard
Girard is a blend of activity in the borough and rural scenery in the surrounding township stretching from Lake Erie's bluff-topped shoreline past the rush of Interstate 90. “Girard’s a small, quiet town with that mom-and-pop feel, lots of youth sports and a community pool,” says Libby Remache, a Realtor with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services who’s specialized in Erie County for over nine years. This expansive section of Erie County blends the country-style agriculture and recreation areas the region is known for with its own quirky and historic traditions. “It’s a nice in-between spot for Ohio and Erie without getting too rural.” Girard’s Hagen History Center campus encapsulates the area's lifestyle best. The buttercup-yellow Battles Estate has long been a colorful attraction and museum for agricultural history buffs, but a deeper golden color has drawn more visitors to the surrounding farmland. “They’ve been planting this field of more than a million sunflowers in Girard,” Remache says. “It’s beautiful; it’s become a little hot spot for Instagram selfies.”
Historic borough homes and living in the township’s countryside
The borough has grassy residential spaces close to Main Street and Rice Avenue, lined by sidewalks, mature trees and a mix of single-family homes. Older streets often feature Foursquares, National and Victorian houses built from the mid-1800s through the early 1900s. Subdivisions from the 1950s through the 1970s are characterized by ranch-style, split-level and Colonial Revival homes. The township has houses in crossroads villages, in scattered suburban subdivisions or on small acreages between farms and forests. Across both sections of Girard, single-family homes built before 1990 can sell for around $90,000 to $330,000, depending on the condition and property size. Houses built in the last few decades can go for around $220,000 to almost $600,000. Manufactured homes range from around $20,000 to $200,000.
Recreation from Lake Erie’s bluffs to the borough’s youth swim team
Hikers explore miles of forests to find the 90-foot overlook at Erie Bluffs State Park. Kayakers and anglers searching for steelhead trout head to the Elk Creek access point. Farther down the shore, a playground and picnic pavilions perch atop the bluffs at Lake Erie Community Park. “Presque Isle is where all of the tourists tend to go, especially because of its proximity to Waldameer and Erie,” Remache says. “They might stumble onto Girard’s parks, but they’re not advertised enough to out-of-town people for there to be big crowds.” Farther inland, golfers can hit the Over Lake Golf Course. Anglers cast into the pond at Girard Waterworks Park, while athletes hit the sports courts and outdoor swimming pool at Girard Borough Park. The Elk Creek Recreation and Leisure Board hosts programs at local parks and schools, including youth swim and soccer teams.
Students can earn college credits at Girard High
Girard is served by the Girard School District. Elk Valley Elementary School earns a B-plus from Niche, as does Rice Avenue Middle School. Girard High School scores a B-minus, and offers juniors and seniors the opportunity to take dual enrollment courses at institutions like Pennsylvania Western University, Edinboro.
Dan Rice Days and other seasonal events
A famous 19th-century performer named Dan Rice once lived in Girard alongside his circus animals. Since the 1960s, the borough has celebrated the ringmaster during the annual Dan Rice Days. For a few days each summer, residents can join a parade, listen to live music and browse food and craft vendor booths in downtown Girard. Locals bring lawn chairs to Lake Erie Community Park for the summertime Music in the Park concert series, and young anglers visit Water Works Park for the spring Kids’ Fishing Derby. Several churches hold services and community events, including Girard United Methodist Church, which serves a monthly free lunch.
Main Street restaurants and businesses in decorative storefronts
U.S. Route 20 becomes Main Street as it bisects Girard. In the borough’s sleepy downtown, Girard Dinor is a mainstay for homestyle breakfasts, lunches and pies. Specialty businesses operate in decorative Victorian commercial buildings, like the studio and gallery space Main Street Art. The Giant Eagle grocery store neighbors a Dollar Tree and fast-food restaurants farther down the road. The Warehouse Sale is hidden away in an unassuming industrial park. “The Warehouse Sale is a really cool overstock store,” Remache says. “They have random things you might not know you need. It’s always worth the trip, because you can find all kinds of things for a steal.”
Erie County highways and commuter hubs
Interstate 90, Route 20 and state Route 5 run through Girard, and all three lead about 20 miles to the city of Erie. People travel to Erie for emergency medical services at Saint Vincent Hospital or UPMC Hamot. Erie International Airport is a shorter drive, roughly 10 miles from home. Residents typically drive to get around, but Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority bus routes also serve the borough and connect to cities like Erie.
Snowstorms bury communities around Lake Erie
Due to its proximity to Lake Erie, Girard experiences heavy lake-effect snowstorms through long, freezing winters. Residents can expect upward of six feet of snow each year, which often impacts commute times until snowplows clear the roads.
Written By
Julia Szymanski
