$133,996Average Value$79Average Price per Sq Ft3Homes For Sale
Quiet township with a long history of mining
There are towns across the country where time seems to stand still, and Shade Township is one of those places. The area was established in 1772 but was incorporated in 1816 and named after Shade Creek. The township’s two boroughs, Cairnbrook and Central City, have residential streets, but the rest of the area features state game lands, rolling farmland and views of Allegheny Mountain. Sandra Wojcik, president of the Shade-Central City Historical Society, lives in the township and runs the Shade-Central City Historical Museum to preserve the town’s history. “It’s one of the largest townships in Somerset County, and it was initially a lot of farms,” Wojick says. “Timbering was first, and then coal mining started. Deep mines were the majority, but mining has gone down. There are two or three mines still working.” Shade Township is highly residential with limited businesses. While residents have to drive to Johnstown or Somerset for groceries or to dine out, they get a quiet place to call home without traffic or noisy neighbors.
Central City sits in the center of Shade Township.
Memorials for our veterans are on display in Shade Township.
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Exploring the outdoors around Shade Township
Central City Park has three baseball diamonds, a paved basketball court and the Shade-Central City Historical Society Museum. Sports are a large part of daily life, as residents go to football games at Shade High School Stadium or sign up for events at Shade Sportsman Club, like the kid’s fish rodeo or the 3D shoot competition. Wojcik says churches are also active, with people joining church organizations and catching up with one another after services.
Lisa Cessna, an experienced Realtor with Bedford County Real Estate, points out Shade Township’s proximity to Somerset County tourist spots. “It’s a quiet community, but it’s near the Flight 93 National Memorial and Indian Lake,” Cessna says. Indian Lake features a marina on the south end for boating and fishing. The famous professional golfer Arnold Palmer designed his first nine-hole golf course there — The Peninsula Golf Club, which now has 18 holes and private memberships. Shade Township is on mountainous terrain, but the area has all four seasons with below-freezing temperatures and snowfall in the winter and humid summers.
Enjoy the slopes at Laurel Mountain State Park.
Quemahoning Reservoir serves as an idyllic park for fishing and kayaking in Belmont.
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Cottages and Cape Cods from the 1900s
Shade Township’s residential streets form a grid pattern, and the homes have similar National, ranch-style and colonial-style designs since most were built in the early 1900s for miners. The newest homes were built in the early 2000s. “We get a couple of new people a year,” Wojick says. “Younger people move in and work from home. Some homes need to be fixed up, but you can buy one for less than $100,000 and fix it up for about $70,000.” Homes that need significant repairs can sell for $30,000 to $100,000, while move-in ready options land in the $115,000 to $215,000 range.
Homes outside the borough often line streets like Rock Cut Road, but they’re spread out from one another and have spacious lots with acres of land. “You live on acres of land, and there are chipmunks and deer right in your backyard,” Wojick says. “My husband likes to fish, and my son and his wife like to hike.” Despite being in a rural area, many Shade Township homes have county water and sewage access, but some farther from the boroughs may use septic tanks, well water and propane heaters. The CAP Index gives Shade Township a 1 out of 10 crime score, which is lower than the national average of 4.
Average country homes with small lots welcome visitors to Shade Township.
Small affordable housing is common throughout Shade Township.
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Shade-Central City schools have small class sizes and a commitment to sports
The Shade-Central City School District has two schools and earns a C from Niche. Cairnbrook Elementary School gets a C-plus, while Shade Junior/Senior High School receives a C. The high school has a 10-to-1 student-teacher ratio, which is much lower than the national average of 17-to-1. Shade and Shanksville-Stonycreek formed an all-sports partnership in 2023 to prevent dismissing sports teams altogether due to lack of participation. Now, students from both school districts will have more opportunities to play sports.
Students prepare for a bright future at Shade Junior/Senior High School.
Students prepare for their academic future at Cairnbrook Elementary School.
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Local restaurants and family-owned businesses nearby
Central City features most of the township’s restaurants like Tap the Keg. VFW Post 7457 rotates its daily specials and features a staffed bar. The Alley Sports Bar is a biker bar on U.S. Route 30, also known as Lincoln Highway. Down the street, The Lincoln Cafe is a family-operated restaurant that sells homemade treats and Southern comfort food. Central City has a Dollar General, but the family-owned Duppstadt's Country Store on Route 30 has been helping residents stock up on essentials since 1904. The store sells game licenses, locally sourced products, like apple butter, and apparel. Many residents drive 15 minutes north to the BiLo grocery store in Windber to pick up fresh produce.
Shade Township residents visit the Windber Hotel Restaurant.
Tap the Keg is a fun place for food, drinks, and games in Shade Township.
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20-mile drives to Johnstown or Somerset
Driving is the primary way to get around town, as Shade Township has limited sidewalks and no available bus routes. Johnstown is 20 miles north, while Somerset is 20 miles south. Residents visit both cities for restaurants, shopping and medical services. The Somerset County Ambulance Association has a station on Route 30 and responds to medical emergencies in Shade Township. The Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber is the closest hospital and emergency room. There’s also the Central City Fire Department within the borough. The John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport, 19 miles north, offers free parking and flights to transportation hubs, like Chicago and Scranton.
Shade Township homes commonly have covered porches.
Route 160 leads Shade Township residents towards Somerset and Windber.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Shade Township, Shade sell after 81 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Shade Township, Shade over the last 12 months is $97,000, down 35% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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