Originally named after its towering oak tree forests, Oakland Township continues to preserve its natural beauty as a quiet, rural community with ample farmland. “Driving around there is always so beautiful; you’ve got all those rolling hills and great sunset views. It’s also got a small-town setting, and it’s community-oriented,” says Amanda Shingleton, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty and Butler County resident. Less than 2,800 people live amongst the town’s verdant landscapes, where there are abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation. “It’s a dream for outdoorsy people. We’ve got fishing at the Oneida Valley Reservoir, plenty of designated hunting locations and off-road racing near the edge of Oakland, which is sort of a hidden gem,” Shingleton says. While anglers gather at the Oneida Valley Reservoir, also known as Lake Oneida, hunters can head less than 5 miles south to State Game Land 164. Pennsylvania Route 68 winds through the countryside, and with a prime location in west-central Butler County, Oakland Township is less than 10 miles from the city center of Butler.
Rural Oakland connects easily to urban Butler via Route 68.
The trails around Alameda Park are perfect for walking your dog to Jade's Dog Park.
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Fishing in Lake Oneida and hunting at SGL 164
With access to Lake Oneida and Thorn Run Reservoir, Oakland Township is a popular destination for shore fishing. Largemouth bass, bluegill and crappie are the most common catches in both bodies of water. Rolling W Ranch offers a dirt racetrack in the northeastern corner of town, hosting short course off-road races throughout the year that are open to buggies, trucks, UTVs and rally cars. Along the town’s southern edge, Hiland Golf Course has an 18-hole championship course that’s open to the public. The township is also just west of State Game Land 164, where the Pennsylvania Game Commission allows hunting during established seasons. Native game in SGL 164 includes white-tailed deer and eastern wild turkeys, while raccoons and foxes provide opportunities for trapping.
Hiland Golf Course lines Oakland’s southern edge with its public 18‑hole layout.
The township lies just west of SGL 164, home to deer, wild turkeys, and furbearers.
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Oakland Township has rustic homes with spacious lots
Established homes line the township’s winding country roads. “It’s mostly older homes in the area, with some new builds popping up,” Shingleton says. There are a variety of architectural styles in the township, with most properties built throughout the mid-to-late-20th century. “Homes are getting renovated, and there’s a lot of new occupants. If you want land for less cost, it’s a nice spot to settle in,” Shingleton says. Homebuyers will find everything from traditional farmhouses, Cape Cod and ranch-style homes to whimsical Tudor-inspired brick cottages and Adirondack-style log cabins. Most properties have several acres of land; the township has a median lot size of over three acres. Home prices typically range from $150,000 for smaller cottages to $275,000 for bigger ranch-style homes, but farmhouses with larger lots can sell for $385,000 to $430,000. The township's overall CAP Index crime score is 1 out of 10, the lowest score possible and significantly lower than the national average of 4.
This older, brick cottage is unique among its neighbors in Oakland.
Ranch and cottage homes are among the most typical that you'll find in Oakland.
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Academic pathways at Butler Senior High School
Students can attend school within the Butler Area School District, which earns an overall grade of B-minus from Niche. Center Township Elementary School scores a B-plus, while Butler Intermediate High School receives a C-plus. Butler Senior High School earns a B and partners with Butler County Community College to offer two specialized pathways in health care and business. Pathways are available to students in 10th through 12th grade and allow high schoolers to earn college credit at a fraction of the cost of in-state tuition. Private school options include the Catholic Saint Wendelin School, which serves prekindergarten through eighth grade alongside St. Wendelin Church and the Saint Clare of Assisi Parish.
Center Township Elementary School is an award winning school in Butler PA.
Students at Butler Senior High benefit from strong college prep.
Butler Intermediate High School in Oakland receives an overall C‑plus.
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Local businesses include Barnhart’s Soft Serve
While shopping and dining are limited in Oakland Township, several small businesses serve the community. “It’s all about the local businesses. You get used to seeing the same people in the same places,” Shingleton says. Just across the street from Lake Oneida, Barnhart’s Soft Serve is a go-to spot for dessert. The ice cream parlor also has a walk-up window, an outdoor patio and a small menu of homemade comfort foods. Randy & Bob’s Auto Body has been a staple in Oakland Township for nearly 50 years, while Welter’s Meat Shop is known for its custom cuts of beef and pork.
There are more shops and restaurants in the neighboring Center Township and the city of Butler. Center Township is about a 9-mile drive away and is home to spots like the Clearview Mall, which offers chains such as Rural King, Boscov’s and Texas Roadhouse. Next to the mall is a Giant Eagle Supermarket, the closest grocery store to Oakland Township. Butler is about 8 miles southwest of the township, and the Butler Commons shopping plaza has Target, Walmart and Aldi.
A blackboard lists the daily specials at Barnhart’s Soft Serve in Oakland.
Oakland residents can shop at Aldi in Butler Commons, about 8 miles southwest.
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Oneida Valley Fire Department proudly serves Oakland and surrounding areas.
Annual community picnic at St. Wendelin Church
The Oneida Valley Volunteer Fire Company hosts several community events. Festivities at the fire station range from bingo fundraisers to monthly all-you-can-eat breakfasts. The Saint Clare of Assisi Parish brings residents together with events at St. Wendelin Church, including a picnic each August with food, lawn games and a car cruise.
Access to Pennsylvania Route 68 and U.S. Route 422
With no public transportation, residents depend on their cars to get around. Pennsylvania Route 68 winds through the southern half of Oakland Township and provides access to major thoroughfares such as U.S. Route 422. The township is about 50 miles northwest of Pittsburgh and a 60-mile drive from Pittsburgh International Airport. Residents are also less than 7 miles from Butler Memorial Hospital, which has a 24/7 emergency department.
The airport serving the region, Pittsburgh International, lies 60 miles from Oakland.
The 24/7 emergency department at Butler Memorial is under 7 miles from Oakland.
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Photography Contributed By
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Video By
Charlie Kennedy
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
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