Kittanning

The tiny town atmosphere of East Franklin fosters community, while the countryside is great to explore. With a population of 4,000 and 1,600 households, outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, and swimming are popular with residents. “I love the quiet life,” says Larry Richardson, a zoning officer who has lived in East Franklin for over 40 years. “It’s much busier than it was 20 years ago, but that’s just how things go. It’s still slow living. I like to sit on my patio, not hearing any traffic go by. We’re a great township, very well-run and financially sound. I didn’t realize how much work went into that before I started working for the township.” The East Franklin Township maintains the roads, the local playgrounds and the frisbee course. The 32-square-mile community is also home to the Allegheny River Lock and Dam No. 7, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. The CAP Index crime score for the area is 2 out of 10. In east Armstrong County, East Franklin follows the Allegheny River's western bends. This township lies off Route 422, 21 miles east of Butler County and 45 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. The area’s mix of old and new homes includes split levels, ranch-style houses and bungalows set on winding rural roads. Without HOAs, architectural styles are mostly minimal traditional, new construction and national folk with vinyl siding, brick siding, and front porches. “We have a lot of country land, so there’s plenty of space for people who like their privacy to build a home,” says Richardson. “Like where I live, the homes aren’t close together, so I only know a couple of my neighbors, but I like it that way.” The list price range is $63,000 to $691,000. The average house size is 1,550 square feet, with the median lots measuring 23,522 square feet. Nearly 80% of the residents are homeowners. But, Sandy Bracken, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway, East Franklin is the highest-taxed part of Armstrong County. Tax issues aside, she says that it is a “friendly, welcoming community with plenty of shopping and plenty to do.” Events near the community include the Fort Armstrong Folk Festival, Hickory Apple Fest and the Peanut Butter Festival. The township’s two shopping centers are Franklin Village Mall and Hilltop Plaza. These are where residents run most of their errands and shop daily due to Aldi, Walmart Supercenter, Shop ‘n Save and Tractor Supply Co. Several fast-food restaurants, including Rachel's Roadhouse, are in these plazas. A community favorite, this casual restaurant serves classic American food for lunch and dinner in a warm, welcoming atmosphere. The Oak Wood Tavern features burgers, wings and daily specials as well as daily happy hours. After a hearty meal, folks can head to Polly's Ice Cream for red, white and blue sundaes or ice cream sodas. East Franklin kids can attend kindergarten through 6th grade at West Hills Primary and West Hills Intermediate, both rated with B-minuses on Niche. “My wife and I built our home in East Franklin based on where we worked at the time and where our children would go to school,” Richardson says. “They just renovated West Hills, and it’s like a little campus now.” Teens then head to Armstrong Junior/Senior High, rated with a C on Niche. The average GPA at the school is 3.67. There are also three colleges in the area, including Indiana University of Pennsylvania at Northpointe. Butler Township Park on South Duffy Road has 96.43 acres. A dek hockey rink, pickle ball courts, playground, basketball court, and volleyball/badminton net are some of the park's amenities. Like many Western Pennsylvania communities, fishing and hunting are common hobbies in East Franklin and many hunt on their own property. Riding around on ATVs, side-by-sides and snowmobiles is another common activity seen in the area. “People usually ride around the woods,” Richardson says. “There are poker runs out in the country, usually organized by a nonprofit like the fire department. You pay to participate and ride around to different checkpoints. I believe there are prizes, but it really just makes for a nice day of riding.” Route 422 provides residents with access to Butler, Pa., while Route 28 gets people to Pittsburgh.

Rayburn Township, where the Allegheny River meanders along its western side, lies tucked away in the middle of Armstrong County. Imagine waking up to the gentle murmur of Cowanshannock Creek winding through the Pittsburgh suburb before it drains into the mighty Allegheny River. Although Kittanning was surrounded by factories, mines and mills in the early 20th century, like many areas in the Western Pennsylvania region, many of the big companies the town was established around had closed by the 1950s. Rather than industrial giants, local eateries and businesses, like a 911 call center, glass factory and Penn State Extension Office, dot the community's streets. A disadvantage to living in the township is the tax prices — the area is one of the highest-taxed communities in Western Pennsylvania. “Taxes are high,” says Sandy Bracken, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway. “People who want to live here, live here.” According to Kody Flanders of Hometown Properties Inc., most neighbors know each other and the residents love to take advantage of all of the outdoor activities the river has to offer, including boating, fishing and hunting. “It has the best of both worlds,” Flanders says. “The big appeal is that it is very rural, has a country laid-back feel, but is only 45 minutes from Pittsburgh. It’s not stranded from civilization. People can take advantage of what the city has to offer.” Rayburn is home to Buttermilk Falls, one of the most popular spots to hike to in Armstrong County. “I used to go to Buttermilk Falls in high school,” says Larry Richardson, a zoning officer in the neighboring township of East Franklin. “It’s so much fun. Definitely a country setting. There are rocks where people lay out in the sun and there’s the waterfall and a swimming hole. When I bought my daughter a quad, we rode over there. People ride those a lot through the woods.” Located less than 2 miles down the Cowanshannock Trail in the lush woods of Rayburn, Buttermilk Falls is a peaceful outdoor space. Bracken says on any given day, Buttermilk Falls is buzzing with activity. The Cowanshannock River forests are home to both recognized and unidentified paths. Moreover, a public green space known as Riverfront Park is situated on the banks of the river and next to the pedestrian-friendly bridge. This little property is popular for fishing, neighborhood get-togethers and relaxing while admiring the amazing river views. Travelers often get here either before or after completing the 36 miles of the paved Armstrong Trail, which traces the river through beautiful deep riverbank forests and south Kittanning, Manorville and Ford City. And the township is anchored by the Allegheny River, which, Bracken says, is always brimming with various water-related activities like boating and fishing. Local students can attend school on a newly renovated campus shared by West Hills Primary and West Hills Intermediate — both rated by Niche with a B-minus. They can then advance to Armstrong Junior/Senior High, which is rated by Niche with a C overall and a B for its teachers, clubs and activities. There are nearly 20 boys' and girls' team sports offered yearly for students. There are eight local colleges and universities near the community, including Indiana University of Pennsylvania at Northpointe. Taking in a meal out on the town could mean riverfront dining in nearby Kittanning and Wick City, with options including Vocelli Pizza, A Mano Eatery and Old House of Hunan. Another riverfront stop, Allegheny Mariner, offers fine dining and live music, and patrons can boat up to the restaurant. Set near the Kittanning Citizen Bridge near the river, Oak Wood Tavern offers cold beers while a DJ spins some tunes or locals try to channel their inner Taylor Swift during karaoke. Folks can find all kinds of shopping options in Hilltop Plaza and Franklin Village Mall, both located off Westgate Drive. Town & Country Transit is the public transportation provider for the greater Kittanning area with fixed route service, shared ride service to all Armstrong County residents and rural transportation for persons with disabilities. Thanks to Route 28, which is located five miles down Route 422, drivers can reach Pittsburgh, a 41-mile trip, in around one hour. A half-hour's journey west on Route 422 takes many locals to Butler County, where they travel to work. There are three airports within 60 miles of the community: Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, DuBois Regional Airport and Pittsburgh International Airport.