Mifflinburg is a well-preserved buggy-making town
Mifflinburg was once known as “Buggy Town.” Horse-drawn buggy and carriage manufacturing bolstered the economy from the mid-19th to the early-20th centuries, and historic homes downtown showcase this prosperity. Buggies still drive on the rural outskirts, where there’s a significant Mennonite population. Many speak Pennsylvania German, nodding to the immigrants who first settled here. The Union County borough is proud of its history, which is preserved in cultural events and architecture. “It’s a quiet, quaint town that’s close enough to everything, while also being far away enough from everything,” says Lewisburg-based Realtor with eXp Realty Lewisburg, Tracy Miloro. “Many locals stick around, either coming back or staying.” Plus, Mifflinburg is in the scenic Susquehanna River Valley of the Allegheny Mountains, offering nearby outdoor excursions.
Historic homes downtown, with farmland on the outskirts
In Mifflinburg’s core, late-19th-century and early-20th-century homes line hilly, gridded streets with sidewalks. Bungalows, American Foursquares, Colonial Revivals and farmhouses are common. Away from downtown, farmland and fields spread out rolling hills. Ranch-style homes, Cape Cods and Colonial Revivals rest here.
Homes needing significant repairs can cost under $100,000. Historic houses needing updates and ranch-style homes typically range from $150,000 to $250,000, while Colonial Revivals, Cape Cods and maintained historic properties can cost $260,000 to $560,000. Townhouses can run from $300,000 to $330,000.
Manufacturing and German heritage preserved in museums and markets
The Mifflinburg Historic District features over 230 buildings. The Elias Center for Performing Arts sits within Mifflinburg’s first church. Today, it hosts plays and kids' events, like the Annual Mifflinburg Halloween Parade and Costume Judging Contest. The Mifflinburg Buggy Museum showcases the area’s manufacturing heritage on the original industrial site, with a restored buggy factory and the first buggy maker's family home.
History is also preserved through events. Mifflinburg Oktoberfest grants an authentic experience, with German music, beer and food. Folks compete in key tossing and mug lifting games, and designated drivers drink complimentary birch beer. Christkindl Market of Mifflinburg brings pine-decorated booths selling homemade items, jewelry, toys and German foods downtown. “It feels like you’re in Germany walking through a Christmas market,” Miloro says.
Historic downtown shops offer coffee, antiques and handmade goods
The primary commercial corridor is two-lane Chestnut Street, where vintage streetlamps and trees dot sidewalks, and shops and restaurants sit within historic Colonial Revival, Italianate and Federal-style buildings. IV Coffee Co. pours classic roasts, creative coffees, energy drinks and more. Nearby Country Pickers is both an antique shop and a restaurant. Over 50 vendors sell everything from hand-stitched pillows to vintage furniture, and its small café serves American classics. Nearby Artisan Corner Co-op, open Fridays and Saturdays, sells various handmade items. Nearby Rusty Rail Brewing Company’s first floor features an extensive tap room and draft list. The Game Room, on the second level, features shuffleboard, pool tables, video games and more. It also holds events and offers lodging for overnight parties.
Dollar General, Weis Markets and Wenger’s Grocery Outlet, a local discount grocery store, supply essentials. Plus, Miloro notes that nearby farmers sell produce. “They sell stuff at the end of their driveways,” she says. “You’ll be driving along and see a stand for pumpkins around Halloween.”
Local parks host community events and scenic spots in nearby mountains
Harry F. Haney Memorial Park features the Mifflinburg Dog Park, a playground and picnic pavilion. Mifflinburg Community Park has the Mifflinburg Community Pool, basketball and baseball facilities and a playground. It hosts events, including Music in the Park, a free summer concert series. During the Mifflinburg Fourth of July Celebration, racers run in the 5k, pets parade, performers play music and fireworks boom. The Blueberry Festival brings creative blueberry dishes and bluegrass music. The Buffalo Valley Rail Trail, a 10-mile trek from Mifflinburg to Lewisburg, also passes the park. Nearby Koons Trail runs along Buffalo Creek, where wildflowers grow. Its entrance is near the historic Hassenplug Covered Bridge, Pennsylvania’s oldest.
The Susquehanna Valley offers many outdoor spaces to explore. Penns Creek provides fishing, canoeing and swimming, while Pine Valley Campground has spots to park RVs. Miloro notes that Raymond B. Winter State Park, about 15 miles away, is popular for various activities. “They have Halfway Dam, where there’s a sandy beach and people can swim,” she says. “They also have a playset for kids, lots of hiking—people even get married there.”
Students attend Mifflinburg Area schools
Mifflinburg Area School District gets a B from Niche. Mifflinburg Elementary, serving kindergarten to second graders, earns an A-minus. Mifflinburg Area Intermediate, for third to fifth graders, and Mifflinburg Area Middle get B’s. With an active Future Farmers of America program, Mifflinburg Area High receives a B-minus. The district also offers the Mifflinburg eLearning Academy.
Millmont, Lewisburg and State College are easy to reach
On weekdays, RabbitTransit provides bus routes from Millmont to Lewisburg, stopping in Mifflinburg. Pennsylvania state Route 45 can also lead to those towns, both less than 10 miles away, and toward State College, about 45 miles west. Williamsport, with Williamsport Regional Airport, is about 30 miles north, and Harrisburg, with Harrisburg International Airport, is about 55 miles south. WellSpan Evangelical Community Hospital is in Lewisburg.
![Adreanna DeMarino]()
Written By
Adreanna DeMarino
