Historic Mercersburg blends Buchanan pride with outdoor access
The small borough of Mercersburg may be home to only about 1,500 residents, but what the south-central Pennsylvanian town lacks in population, it makes up for in history. “It was James Buchanan’s birthplace, so they play off that characterization a lot,” says Jeremy Burkholder, a local Realtor with JAK Real Estate. Buchanan’s presence can be seen in the borough’s school names, downtown restaurants and roadways, but Mercersburg's past began long before the 15th president was born. Originally, the land was occupied by the Massawomeck Indigenous Peoples, the sixth tribe to join the Iroquois Nation. Later, in the late 18th century, the area was commonly known as Black Town or Little Africa, due to the influx of escaped slaves who used the Underground Railroad to settle in the rural Mercersburg community. However, after the Fugitive Slave Act, the freed Black community began moving to Philadelphia. Today, less than 5% of the population identifies as African American, and the borough’s historic downtown strip focuses on Buchanan’s legacy instead.
In addition to maintaining its 18th- and 19th-century heritage, Mercersburg is home to Mercersburg Academy, an esteemed private high school with both day school and boarding options. Another local attraction, Whitetail Resort, provides skiing and golf about 7 miles south of town. “Mercersburg is also just 15 miles south of Fort Louden, where Cowans Gap State Park attracts an outdoor crowd for camping and hunting.” State Route 16, or Buchanan Trail, cuts north-west through the borough and connects residents to the surrounding towns of Hagerstown, about 20 miles south, and Harrisburg, about 70 miles northeast.
Whitetail Resort has winter fun, and a local park hosts an annual fair
Outdoor enthusiasts can spend their winter free time at Whitetail Resort, located about 7 miles south of Mercersburg in the Bear Pond Mountain Range of the Appalachian Mountains. The resort offers 120 acres of skiable terrain, with the highest slope at 1,800 feet. Additionally, the resort’s 23 trails are lighted, allowing for nighttime skiing and snowboarding. Typically, Mercersburg receives about 24 inches of annual snowfall. “We haven’t gotten that much snow up here in the last couple of years,” Burkholder notes. “But Whitetail makes its own snow.” In the summertime, Whitetail Golf Resort has a public 18-hole golf course with Tuscarora Mountain views, as well as a staffed pro shop offering lessons and club repairs.
Closer to home, Mercersburg Lions Community Park has baseball fields and a brand-new playground that opened in May 2025. The park hosts the Annual Community Fair, which will celebrate its 50th year in August 2025. The week-long event features live performances from local orchestras, tribute bands and a talent contest that is open to the community. Other events include bingo, a car show and a fireworks finale. Also located in town, Johnston Run Recreation Trail is an unpaved .33-mile pathway used for short dog walks or inclined jogs.
Historic restaurants, inns and establishments line Main Street
Mercersburg’s historic downtown strip draws in a dinner crowd, as trendy eateries and establishments housed in Federal-style buildings line the pedestrian-friendly Main Street. James Buchanan Hotel features the popular James Buchanan Restaurant, where guests and locals alike can dine on American fare in the enclosed patio. The Inn at Lane House, named for Harriet Lane, America's first recognized First Lady, is a bed-and-breakfast where guests can admire vintage decor and antique furniture during their stay. Stoner’s Mansion House is another boutique hotel that hosts live music, and the hotel’s restaurant serves hearty, tavern-style food alongside a full bar. Also in this historic Main Street area, The Fendrick Library is a free public-use library in a stone Georgian-style house built in 1788. For groceries and other errands, the north side of town has a Food Lion, as well as takeout spots and fast-food eateries.
A mix of renters and owners reside in cottages and Colonial-styles
The housing market in Mercersburg consists of about 47% renters and 53% homeowners. Part of the high rental ratio may reflect Mercersburg Academy’s population of day students who live off-campus. “That ratio can also account for second homeowners who want to live part-time near Whitetail Resort or Cowans Gap State Park and then rent their home during the off seasons,” Burkholder adds. Investors looking for opportunities to renovate can find historic Gothic Revival styles from the late 1800s and ranch-style cottages built later in the 1950s for around $130,000 to $250,000. Larger Colonials that maintain their original 1800s charm with more recent updates, as well as ranch-style and raised ranch-style homes that are move-in ready, can cost from $225,000 to $370,000. In the historic downtown district, Georgian Revivals and Neoclassical carriage homes with more than 4,000 square feet of space can range between $460,000 to upwards of $1.2 million for a completely refurbished home.
Students can attend Tuscarora schools or Mercersburg Academy
Students living in Mercersburg are part of the Tuscarora School District, which is named after an Iroquois tribe that briefly lived on the west side of the county. Learners can begin at Mercersburg Elementary School, which receives a B-minus rating from Niche, before progressing to James Buchanan Middle School and James Buchanan High School, both of which hold a C-plus.
Just east of Mercersburg's historic downtown, Mercersburg Academy is a preparatory school that was established in 1863 and holds a distinguished reputation. Niche gives the academy an A-plus rating and ranks it as the No. 1 private high school in Pennsylvania. The school boasts several notable alumni, including Medal of Honor recipients, Academy Award winners like actor and producer Benecio del Toro and gold-medal Olympians. The 300-acre campus features Gothic Revival architecture and state-of-the-art facilities, as well as historic sites like James Buchanan’s former cabin home.
State Route 16 serves the car-dependent, low-crime community
State Route 16, or Buchanan Trail, serves as Mercersburg's main thoroughfare. The route connects residents to U.S. Route 522, about 10 miles west, and to Interstate 81, about 10 miles east. Once on the interstate, Harrisburg International Airport is a 70-mile drive northeast, and Dulles International Airport is a 70-mile drive south. The community is car-dependent, as no public bus or train offers service to the area.
According to data provided to the FBI, Mercersburg reports a significantly lower crime rate than the state and national averages. However, there were spikes in crimes related to burglary and theft in 2023, which is the most recent year that crime data was submitted.
Written By
Mary Beth Greene
