Nearly a century before the invention of the automobile, Mechanicsburg made a name for itself, building and fixing ox-drawn wagons that transported water, firewood and farm crops throughout the Cumberland Valley.
Mechanicsburg has since developed into a suburban community with a historic Main Street corridor surrounded by a mix of old and new neighborhoods about 10 miles west of downtown Harrisburg. “There are tons of businesses in the town itself. Then on the outskirts, you’ll find new construction with townhomes and high-end single-family properties,” says Jim Bedorf, a local real estate expert on the Bedorf-Prince Team of Coldwell Banker Realty. “It’s desirable because you’re close to Harrisburg without being in the city. And it’s affordable with low taxes compared to other parts of the country.”
Main Street living and expanding subdivisions
Mechanicsburg is one of the more affordable places to live in Cumberland County, the suburban and rural area spanning 550 square miles west of the state capital. With the average home value at about $260,000, the benchmark is about $50,000 below the countywide average.
The advent of the Cumberland Valley Railroad transformed Mechanicsville a few years after its establishment in the early 1800s. Within the footprint of the railroad tracks and the old town quarter, colonial-style rowhomes with red brick and white vinyl exteriors on narrow streets. Typically older and requiring renovations, these homes tend to sell at lower prices, generally ranging from $150,000 to $250,000. In some parts of the Main Street area, however, new builds and well-maintained historical properties can command sales upward of $300,000.
The development of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and the opening of a massive US Navy supply depot just outside the town in the 1940s drove even more growth. Drive around the residential streets farther away from town, and you’ll find Ranch-style homes, other traditional midcentury suburban houses and large contemporary subdivisions with wide streets and ornamental landscaping. For new construction and homes expanding to 2,000 square feet or more, prices can rise to $500,000.
Historic single homes line the streets of Mechanicsburg.
Drive around Mechanicsburg and notice the great diversity of architecture.
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High-ranking schools and renowned music programs
Niche.com ranks the Mechanicsburg Area School District highly and gives it an A- based on student achievement, teacher quality and high school graduation rates. “The school district is good,” Bedorf says. “It’s not too big, so there are opportunities for kids to participate in many events and sports.”
After completing the public Kindergarten Academy in the neighborhood, students can advance to Broad Street Elementary. Niche gives the grade school a B-plus rating. From there, students can advance to Mechanicsburg Middle School and Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School. Niche gives the middle school a B and the high school an A-minus. In high school, students can participate in numerous clubs and activities. Among the clubs and activities, the school marching band is highly decorated with awards from regional competitions and supported by the Mechanicsburg Music Alliance, a community non-profit that also shares resources with the school chorus, orchestra and jazz ensemble.
Younger students attend the Kindergarten Academy.
The Wildcats play at the John H. Frederick Field in Mechanicsburg.
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Neighborhood parks, high school football at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Park
In the community’s more residential sections, small neighborhood parks with playgrounds and baseball fields provide a place for residents to walk their dogs or let their children outside with friends from up the street. Outside the town, about two or three miles north, people can take out a kayak or stroll along Conodoguinet Creek, a meandering creek that spills out to the Susquehanna River.
Located at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Park, the small high school stadium is part of a large public complex with a community pool, hard surface courts, picnic shelters and playgrounds. In the fall, the park also sees large crowds gather at John H. Frederick Field when the high school’s Wildcats football team play at home.
Watch the Wildcats play under the lights at the John H. Frederick Field in Mechanicsburg.
Enjoy some baseball or head to the water park at Soldiers Sailors Park in Mechanicsburg.
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Vintage pizzerias and ice cream fountains
After a football game or an afternoon at the park, folks can gather with friends and neighbors for dinner at JoJo’s Pizza and Pasta on Main Street, a gourmet but convivial eatery with wooden chairs and round tables, exposed brick walls and a dark parlor green ceiling. Other popular dining destinations on Main Street include Diener’s Restaurant, a breakfast diner inside an old townhouse, and Eckels Ice Cream Fountain, which resembles an old drug store and serves floats, sundaes and banana splits. The corridor also features art galleries and boutiques, such as the Bewitching Moon, a gift shop that sells crystals, herbs, incense and other metaphysical items. If you’re open to it, you can also book appointments there for tarot card readings and other illuminating experiences.
Visit Eckels Ice Cream Fountain in Mechanicsburg, a local favorite.
After a long day, unwind with friends at Jojo's in Mechanicsburg.
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East access to downtown Harrisburg 10 miles away
Living close to the state capital, residents can drive to office jobs downtown by taking the Route 11 Harrisburg Expressway. Regional travel is also convenient from here, as Interstates 76, 81 and 83 course around the city. Public transit patrons can also take the bus to the city from Mechanicsburg, as the Capital Area Transit system (CAT) runs several weekday commuter bus routes to the suburb.
Written By
Sally Stimpson
Photography Contributed By
Danny Lambert
Video By
Logan Cox
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
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GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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