Lower Yoder

Characterized by winding county roads, rolling farmland and good old Pennsylvania woods, St. Clair Township offers remote rural living, perfect for outdoorsy folks or anyone who can appreciate uninterrupted peace and quiet. “A lot of privacy and elbow room out there,” says local Realtor Ron Davies, the president and broker of Davies Real Estate. Davies grew up in Johnstown, the city next door, and lives in Ligonier, a borough south of St. Clair. “It’s mostly residential, but there’s a lot of agriculture, too. Some homes on a little over an acre of land are grouped together along Route 711. I would say the majority of houses here are on more than three acres, so people aren’t necessarily waving to their neighbors every morning. That kind of quiet, you know?” Ranch-style homes and cozy bungalows dominate the architectural profile of this township. And, thanks to its hilly terrain, split-level and raised ranch-style residences are also common. These no-frills builds typically utilize Minimal Traditional architecture's simplistic designs, giving many properties a farmhouse feel. There are actually some farmhouses in St. Clair that were built before 1900, but original construction dates vary across the township. Many homes date back to the early 20th century, others are midcentury and some came to the neighborhood in the ‘80s. “In terms of acreage price per unit, St. Clair Township is more affordable than, say, Ligonier or Cook Township,” Davies says. List prices in St. Clair range between $130,000 and $215,000. The median list price of $152,000 is about the cost of a three-bedroom, two-bathroom, single-story home. And, as Davies said, most properties sit on a little more than an acre of land. There aren’t any public parks in St. Clair Township, but there is plenty of game land for hunting, hiking and fishing. “The game’s primarily deer, probably some pheasant,” Davies says. “Grouse is hard to find these days.” State Game Lands 42 sprawls along the township’s northeast, south of the scenic Conemaugh River, which forms the border between Westmoreland County and Indiana County. “From what I understand, they’ve cleaned up that river tremendously,” Davie says. “When I was growing up, 50-something years ago, no one would touch it with a 10-foot pole. It was orange from the steel mill. That’s since closed. Now, people kayak and canoe down it.” Folks can also head to Laurel Ridge State Park, where they can embark on the 70-mile-long Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail. Ideal Market in Seward is the closest grocery store, about 6 miles from St. Clair. As for local flavor, Bigginz is on the west side of the township, offering an expansive menu of classic American fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Residents can rely on this local eatery year-round for everything from hot cakes and eggs to Philly cheesesteaks and fried chicken buckets. Their ice cream is popular, too. “St. Clair benefits from being in Ligonier’s school district, which is a good system,” Davies says. As luck would have it, Laurel Valley Elementary is right in the township, making for convenient bus rides and drop-offs. This school is rated with a C-plus on Niche, as is Ligonier Valley Middle, which is about 17 miles from the heart of the township. Ligonier Valley High is just north of Ligonier. This high school has a B-plus rating on Niche and is home to a senior internship program, allowing 12th graders to intern at local businesses that correspond with their career-based interests. It's an excellent opportunity for students to get a shoe in the door or simply find out what suits them and even what doesn't. Like most rural areas, this is a car-dependent community. “The majority of people commute outside of a 10-mile radius for work,” Davies says. “There’s really no major employment in St. Clair Township or even around Ligonier for that matter.” Pennsylvania State Route 711 is St. Clair’s main thoroughfare, connecting residents to Route 30 due south and Route 22 via PA State Route 56 due north.