Sewickley Township offers a slower pace and scenic surroundings
Sewickley Township is known for its homey, small-town vibe. Founded in 1835, the township takes its name from the nearby Big Sewickley Creek and got its start during the heyday of the coal mining industry. Once the mines closed in the mid-1900s, residents found the township to be a tranquil escape from larger communities like North Huntingdon, which had already started to hasten residential development. Now, more than a century later, residents take pride in maintaining front gardens of flowering hostas that thrive in the shade of old oak trees, and the rural surroundings contribute to a peaceful, slow-paced lifestyle. As a bedroom community about 35 miles from downtown Pittsburgh, Sewickley has few employment opportunities close to home besides farming, and most residents venture outside of the township for work.
Ranch-styles sit on half-acre lots; larger parcels sit further away
With no sidewalks and several miles between homes in the more secluded areas, the township is best navigated by car. Half-acre lots are the norm, and buyers can find three-bedroom ranch-styles for between around $200,000 and $250,000. Eric LeBlanc, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty who has sold numerous homes in the township, says land is the determining factor for prices, and although there are plenty of undeveloped parcels available for building, “home sales usually outrank land sales, and most buyers are looking for something more established here.” Heading south away from Herminie, lot sizes expand, and 50-acre properties top out around $650,000.
Public schoolers can attend Yough district schools
Zoned for the Yough School District, students living in Sewickley Township can attend HW Good Elementary School, which earns a B from Niche. Students can also attend Yough Intermediate Middle School and Yough Senior High School, both earning B-minus grades. High schoolers can help produce a local news show by joining the Yough Broadcasting Network.
Outdoor spaces include parks, fishing lakes and rivers
In the heart of Herminie, the outdoor pool at Crabapple Community Park is a popular summer stop. Afternoon picnics or fishing trips on the banks of Crabapple Lake come with a songbird soundtrack, and there are plenty of benches where residents rest between laps around the park’s paved walking trails. There’s also a compact, classic playground on a small patch of grass beside the pool. The adjacent Sewickley Township Athletic Complex includes multiple baseball and soccer fields, and residents gather at the bleachers to cheer on young athletes during weekend games. LeBlanc says the Youghiogheny River, just west, is an extremely popular location for trout fishing, boating and kayaking. The riverside also offers access to the Great Allegheny Passage trail, a 150-mile regional hiking and biking trail stretching from Pittsburgh to Maryland.
Groceries in North Huntingdon, local dining close to home
Sewickley Township residents have limited shopping and dining options close to home, and Realtor LeBlanc says most people make the trip up to North Huntingdon Square for groceries and home goods. Target, Kohl’s and Giant Eagle Supermarket are all located here, along with a host of casual restaurants. In Herminie, diners frequent mainstays such as Zala’s Café, which serves an eclectic menu of barbecue, pizza and cocktails. Herminie Diner is a local breakfast and lunch joint with daily homemade specials like sausage gravy and cinnamon rolls. At the family-owned Greenhouse Winery, wine tasting comes with live performances, which feature everything from jazz to comedy.
Sewickley Township Community Fair brings food and entertainment
In the summer, neighbors gather for the annual Sewickley Township Community Fair, a six-day experience with truck pulls, live music and fried fair food. The fair has been a mainstay event for the township since the 1930s, celebrating the community's agricultural roots with local produce and livestock competitions. “There’s also a Renaissance Festival in West Newton that’s a pretty big draw each year,” says Realtor LeBlanc. For more than 20 years, the Pittsburgh Renaissance Fair has brought the 16th century to life with jousting matches, roasted turkey legs and period-accurate performers.
