Ranging across the hills and valleys between Erie and Pittsburgh, Venango Township and the adjoining borough of Eau Claire are far beyond Western Pennsylvania urban hubs and their creeping suburban sprawl. “It’s pretty much the same people sticking around, except for the Pittsburghers moving up. You’ll never take the country out of me. A lot of people around here feel that way,” says Rich Meals, owner of Riverview Sportsman Supply who has lived in Venango Township and nearby Clintonville for 55 years. “Lots of us have 500 acres, so we set up our own situations, but we do a lot together. It’s pretty tight knit.” Just north of State Game Lands 95 and dozens of miles from the commercial and city life in Butler or Grove City, Venango Township immerses residents in the rural fields and forests of Butler County.
Homes sit on large lots ringed by farms and trees in Venango Township.
Roadside equipment pays homage to the steam era near Venango Township.
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Single-family homes in neighborhoods and on acreages
While going long stretches without seeing a single house is common through much of Venango Township, a diverse blend of single-family homes built from the prewar era through the 1990s collect at the intersections of country roads and on the few residential blocks making up Eau Claire borough. Workers cottages, Minimal Traditional homes, ranch-style and manufactured homes well within view of the nearest neighbors sell for $50,000 to $185,000 depending on renovation levels and whether the property is closer to a third of an acre or five acres in size.
When lot sizes increase, housing preferences take a back seat to desired land size and type. Double-digit acreages sell for $75,000 to $275,000 depending on property size and the state of any existing housing. Once acreage crests 100, prices range from $275,000 to upward of $2 million for vast, production-ready farmland with existing homes and farm infrastructure. For any desired lot size and home style, potential buyers can find a property that’s hilly or flat, dominated by fields or deeply forested. Venango Township has a CAP Index crime score of 1 out of 10 compared to the national average of 4.
Many Venango Township homes blend multiple architectural influences.
Classic ranch homes remain popular across Venango Township.
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Eau Claire Ballfield and State Game Lands Number 95
At Eau Claire Memorial Park, kids can hit the playground or run the bases during Monteau Youth Baseball and Softball games. While many hunters erect tree stands on their own properties, others may head 10 miles away to State Game Lands Number 95 during deer or turkey season and to spot stocked pheasants. Across nearly 10,000 acres of designated public lands, topography ranges from forested valleys to wetlands, inviting recreationists to hike through the woods or fish and boat on connected lakes and streams.
Venango Township residents gather at Eau Claire Area Community Park to relax and play.
The Eau Claire ballfield hosts local rivalries on summer evenings.
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Shopping and dining at small markets, Grove City
Beyond a few scattered businesses along Oneida Valley Road and McBride’s Pizza Shop in nearby Boyers, Venango Township’s shopping and dining scene is limited. “We have a Dollar General, they’re putting those up every four miles. There’s the little Oneida Valley Grocery, they have a lot of what you need, but not everything depending on how you eat,” Meals says. “You’re probably going to Grove City for more of the restaurants and shopping.” While billboards ensure the more distant Grove City Outlets remain a magnet for major retail shopping, a commercial strip along Route 58 houses essentials like County Market, Walmart and Tractor Supply 17 miles away. Both of the township’s houses of worship, Bethel Methodist Church and East Unity Presbyterian Church, hold services in small, red-painted chapels.
Venango Township residents stop at Oneida Grocery for fresh produce and essentials.
Walmart in Grove City offers big-box shopping for Venango Township residents.
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Vo-ag at Moniteau School District
Dassa McKinney Elementary School serves kindergarten through sixth grade and earns a B-minus from Niche. Moniteau Junior-Senior High School serves seventh through 12th grades and earns a C. High schoolers can opt into vocational agricultural education, called the vo-ag program, and gain experience with industry necessities from animal science to equipment and land maintenance, also participating in the school’s Future Farmers of America program.
Dassa McKinney Elementary serves Venango Township students in West Sunbury.
Moniteau Junior–Senior High serves Venango Township students in West Sunbury.
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Fundraising at VFW Post 7840
While the local VFW is a popular hangout for dedicated regulars, Post 7840 invites the community to attend regular dinners and events to raise funds throughout the year. Holidays like Halloween might spark a costume party, while the warmer months bring on potluck cookouts and competitive cornhole tournaments.
Driving to Slippery Rock, Grove City and Butler
Venango Township’s rural nature means owning a personal vehicle is a must. Grove City and Slippery Rock are 13 to 16 miles away for those commuting to those commercial and university hubs, while Butler is 22 miles to the south. AHN Grove City Hospital and Butler Memorial Hospital are equally far away. Heading north to Interstate 80 provides a 57-mile drive over the state line to Youngstown. Pittsburgh is more distant, sitting 65 miles south.
Photography Contributed By
Joe Pulcinella
Video By
Alex Jacobsen
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
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an experienced agent in this area.
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All possible buyers must be accompanied by a real estate agent and make an appointment a minimum of 24 hours in advance. Large tract suitable for hunting and possible seasonal dwelling. 125 acres with 2 ponds and large hunting stand. Under 2 hours from Erie and Pittsburgh and 30 minutes from the Ohio line.
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