A small city with a big taste for hotdogs and fireworks
Newcomers to New Castle, a small Rust Belt city in Northwestern Pennsylvania, often marvel at its culinary diversity. Here, diners can find Asian, Italian and Syrian restaurants, among others. “New Castle is a city of many cultures,” says April Boyd, a Realtor with Realty One who lives north of town in Hermitage. “You won’t find a lot of commercial chains. It’s mostly small businesses and mom-and-pop places.” Eastern Europeans and Middle Easterners came to New Castle in large numbers around the turn of the century, attracted by the city’s steel mills and other industries. Today, the area’s cultural traditions are celebrated at Lawrence County Heritage Days in Cascade Park in late August.
Greek immigrants also settled in New Castle and introduced the city to chili dogs, which were so beloved that New Castle is now known as the “hotdog capital of the world.” The city is also renowned for its fireworks industry. Two companies, Pyrotecnico and Zambelli Fireworks, are based in New Castle and have been featured in Presidential celebrations and Super Bowls. The city also has a Fireworks Festival in late July to celebrate its other epithet — “Fireworks Capital of America.”
Hotdogs and fireworks aside, New Castle is a good place to live, says Christopher Niles, a lifelong resident and real estate agent with Keller Williams–Pittsburgh North. “I lost the use of my legs from an accident several years ago, and people stepped up. If someone’s in need, the community has your back. I’m as active and ambitious today as I ever was.”
With an active downtown revitalization underway, events and festivals throughout the year, and homes from $50,000 to $500,000, New Castle is a town poised for new growth.
New Castle is a city located in Lawrence County Pennsylvania.
New Castle Pennsylvania is the fireworks capital of America.
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International restaurants and historic attractions
The arts and entertainment areas of New Castle are organized much like a wagon wheel. In the center is the historic downtown where the Shenango River and Neshannock Creek meet. Diners downtown can check out Le Resto, an upscale sushi and Asian fusion eatery housed in a restored bank building. Across the street, the Historic Warner Cascade Theatre Museum at The Riverplex tells the story of the first movie theater built by Warner Brothers in New Castle.
On Route 65, one of the main roads out of town, Pagley’s Pasta and More features classic Italian food, and Elham Restaurant and Bar serves traditional Syrian and Mediterranean dishes. Mary’s Restaurant and Bakery, a family-oriented business specializing in Lebanese food is a few blocks off Route 18 and a good place to have dinner before seeing a performance across the street at The New Castle Playhouse.
North of downtown, the Scottish Rite Cathedral, a banquet facility, auditorium and Masonic temple, is one of the city’s most iconic and historic buildings. In the North Hill Historic District, two mansions comprise the Arts and Education at the Hoyt, an arts center with galleries and studios in one and period furnishings reflecting the opulence of the Industrial Age in the other.
On Route 18 going north, hotdog lovers will find MP Coney Island, a restaurant that has served Greek-style dogs with a special chili sauce for over 100 years. Grocery stores like Giant Eagle Supermarket and Save A Lot are on the outskirts of town. At Union Square on U.S. 224, shoppers can visit a Lowe’s, a Walmart, and several chain and fast-food restaurants.
Stop in to Le Resto: Sushi and Asian Fusion Cuisine for the best sushi in New Castle.
You can't miss the Scottish Rite Cathedral up on the hill in New Castle.
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New Castle’s downtown revitalization
In 1950, New Castle had a population of nearly 50,000 when the steel industry began its decline. By 2000, the population had been cut in half. New Castle started its revitalization project in 2002 to improve roadways and infrastructure, purchase and convert vacant buildings into office space and market-rate apartments, and develop urban green spaces to make the downtown more inviting. These efforts can be seen in Zambelli Park, which features a fountain, a gazebo, and a fireworks sculpture that recognizes the Zambelli family who donated the property. The 113-year-old East Washington Street bridge, a major gateway into downtown, will be replaced. Developer Metrovitalization has also acquired the land next to Zambelli Park to build Preeminence 1, a mixed-use, 5-story building that blends retail, office and residential spaces.
There are many classic buildings in downtown New Castle like the Stritmaters Building.
The Zambelli name is known for fireworks around the world but they call New Castle home.
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Historic homes with a lower-cost price tag
Most homes were built in the city’s heyday during the first part of the 20th century. Homebuyers will find Craftsman-style bungalows with built-in cabinetry, charming colonial styles with front porches, and four squares with third-floor bonus rooms — some restored and others needing repair and maintenance. Many homes in the North Hill Historic District of the city, where New Castle’s elite lived, are late-Victorian and turn-of-the-century mansions. About 10% of homes have been converted to multi-family properties. Midcentury ranches and Cape Cods are often found on the city’s outskirts. “If you compare New Castle to larger cities, our home prices are way lower,” Niles says. The average home price in New Castle is $150,000, well below the national average of $550,000.
“New Castle has many opportunities for investors,” Boyd says. “You can buy a house for $40,000 that’s livable, and there are many options. Duplex and multi-unit homes are available, and many buyers are acquiring the bigger, older homes on North Hill and rehabbing them.”
You can find classic mansions in the North Hills historic district of New Castle.
Rows of Bungalows line the streets of New Castle.
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New Castle crime and climate numbers
According to the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System, violent and property crimes in New Castle City increased by over 50% in 2022 after a relatively stable three-year period. Though FBI crime data has gaps, available information confirms a peak in 2022.
New Castle’s humid continental climate translates into humid summers and cold winters with temperatures starting as low as 0 degrees and climbing to as high as 90. The city typically gets 161 days of sunshine and 35 inches of snow annually.
Cascade, Pearson and other city parks
New Castle has several small city parks, including Park Avenue Playground, which features a basketball court, a tennis court, jungle gyms and swings. Riverwalk Park borders Washington Street and Neshannock Creek and is a focal point for downtown events like summer concerts. The New Castle Sportsplex on the south side of town offers several baseball fields and a roller hockey rink. Next to it is Cascade Park, a large city green space that has changed greatly over the years. Today, it features waterfalls, hiking trails, streams for fishing, an off-leash dog park and a Victorian-era dance pavilion. The city holds its annual Italian Festival there in June and its drive-through “Cascade of Lights” display during the holidays. Pearson Park, another local favorite, is north of the city and offers tennis and pickleball courts, a basketball court and a community swimming pool. Visitors can also hike the park’s scenic trail, attend concerts at the gazebo and enjoy indoor sports events at the Hutchinson Community Center. Hockey players and ice skaters will find the Hess Ice Rink, Lawrence County’s only dedicated ice-skating facility, nearby.
Enjoy a walk around the trails of Cascade Park in New Castle.
Take your best friend for a walk around Pearson Park in New Castle.
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Public schools and colleges in New Castle
New Castle Area School District serves the city and receives an overall C from Niche. Approximately 3,000 students attend the district’s four schools, including the K-2 Harry W. Lockley Early Learning Center, the 3-5 George Washington Intermediate School, New Castle Junior High and New Castle Senior High. High school students can also attend the Lawrence County Career and Technical Center for workforce-ready training.
UPMC Jameson is a 146-bed acute-care hospital in New Castle, and its School of Nursing offers students a path to becoming registered nurses. Butler County Community College at Lawrence Cross in nearby Union Township offers 20 associate’s degree programs, from accounting to social work.
The New Castle School District is home to the Hurricanes.
UPMC Jameson is a key part of the New Castle community.
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Public transportation resources for New Castle residents
New Castle Area Transit Authority provides bus service to the city and surrounding communities, including Pittsburgh. Drivers have many options when traveling to neighboring cities. Youngstown, Ohio, sits 20 miles west, and Pittsburgh is 55 miles south. Routes 422, 224 and 18 come through New Castle, and Interstates 376, 76 and 79 are nearby. New Castle’s small municipal airport is in Union Township 5 miles outside the city.
Written By
Christopher Kopczynski
Photography Contributed By
Alan Battles
Video By
Bridgette Cyr
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