Orwigsburg is a sleepy borough with a cute downtown near Pottsville
Orwigsburg’s unique name and peaceful vibe have remained largely unchanged since its founding in 1796. The little borough is in the southernmost portion of Schuylkill County, about 9 miles from Pottsville. “Orwigsburg is a cute little town with restaurants and a quaint downtown area,” says Linda Springer, a Realtor at Mullen Realty Associates who lives in Orwigsburg and has sold homes in the area for 24 years. “The restaurants are small, but they’re all good. It has a very tiny hometown feel.” Orwigsburg is known for its affordability, relatively easy commute to Interstate 78 and — perhaps most of all — that enduringly quiet atmosphere.
Historic fixer-uppers starting at around $100,000
Near the heart of Orwigsburg, Victorians and colonials often date to the late 1800s or early 1900s. The number of hi-ranches and Cape Cods, often from the 1950s onward, increases in the area’s outskirts. Fixer-uppers can dip as low as $100,000 if they need major work. Homes that sell for between $230,000 and $250,000 may need smaller updates or cosmetic changes, but most of Orwigsburg’s homes max out at about $450,000. A few large New Traditional homes toward the area’s southern edge sell for around $620,000. Springer also says Orwigsburg stands out in Schuylkill by featuring three townhouse communities. Townhouses in these developments typically cost between $95,000 and $300,000.
Career academies at Blue Mountain High
The Blue Mountain School District earns a B from Niche. Children can attend the B-rated Blue Mountain East Elementary School, and later Blue Mountain Middle School, which has a B-minus. Blue Mountain High School receives a B and allows students to choose one of five career academies, with options like business, art and communication and health and science. Students aren’t locked into their choice, so they can change the academy they’re enrolled in at the beginning of every semester.
Orwigsburg constantly hosts parades and festivals
Orwigsburg is a sleepy town, but that doesn’t mean residents don’t know how to party. “They have all kinds of parades,” Springer says, adding that there’s one for Halloween and Memorial Day, plus a tree lighting ceremony around the holidays. Residents put on their dancing shoes for Summer Salsa Night at the M&T Bank parking lot, which celebrates every meaning of the word — including both salsa dancing and a salsa-making contest. In September, Heritage Day that draws people together to enjoy local vendors, live music and plenty of food.
Easy access to Route 443, Route 61 and Geisinger St. Luke’s Hospital
State Route 443 runs through the heart of Orwigsburg, known at various points as West Market Street, East Market Street and North Washington Street. It also takes only a few minutes to reach Centre Turnpike, also known as state Route 61; Geisinger St. Luke’s Hospital sits just off this major road, only about 2 miles from Orwigsburg. Route 61 also connects the borough to other towns, like nearby Pottsville, and to I-78. Snyder says that the relatively easy access to I-78 is a big plus for many homebuyers.
Restaurants along Market Street and family-owned farm stands
Many of the shops and restaurants in Orwigsburg’s short, walkable downtown, which stretches along West and East Market Street, are located in quaint historic buildings. Morning commuters look for Market Square Coffee House’s green, yellow and red exterior to order a dose of caffeine. When the weather is nice, people sip craft beer on The Brickhouse’s patio, though they can also slide into air-conditioned booths inside. Cravings for Italian can be satisfied at DiMaio’s Mustard Seed, which is known for its chicken parmesan, or by picking up a pizza at Valenti’s Pizza. Boyer’s Food Market has groceries in town, but for the best fresh produce, many residents drive just outside town for family-owned farm stands like Harding’s Farm Market and Stein’s Farm Market. The stands dot along Route 443 and often have seasonal treats like apple cider slushies.
Athletic fields at Orwigsburg Memorial Complex, tennis and golf clubs
The Orwigsburg Memorial Complex fills up on the weekends and evenings after school, hosting local baseball, soccer and football games and practices on its fields. The complex also has a playground and connects to Albright’s Woods Park, which Snyder says has shaded trails that draw joggers and dog walkers. Anglers cast their lines in the small pond at Fisher’s Dam, while other visitors can sit and read on one of the many benches circling the water. Just outside Orwigsburg, Schuylkill Racquet Club & Fitness Center has indoor tennis and basketball courts, plus classes and fitness programs for anyone who signs up. The nearby Schuylkill Country Club allows members to access its 18-hole championship golf course, pool and pickleball courts.
A chance of flooding around Mahannon Creek
Heavy rains can occasionally cause Mahannon Creek to flood. In 2021, one such event flooded several houses on Market Street, but it was a rare event for its severity; people who lived there for decades had never seen the creek flood so severely.
Written By
Christina Norwood
