Vernon Township’s quiet streets link Meadville and Conneaut Lake
Farm fields and public land surround Vernon Township, nicknamed the Golden Link of Crawford County for how it connects Meadville and Conneaut Lake. “Vernon is really a suburb of the City of Meadville. It’s where the majority of shopping is located, even though we’ve lost a lot of local staples,” says Kristin Horner, a local and Realtor with Re/Max Hometown Realty, who has over 9 years of experience. The township is also home to an expansive trail that connects communities across the county. “In Crawford County, in general, you have fun areas, small-town living and a lot of lakes.”
Homes vary from investment properties to multiacre estates
Many single-family homes have properties spanning from about half an acre to nearly 13 acres. The larger properties are often in Vernon Township’s western region. Architecture includes ranch-style homes, Colonial Revivals and New Traditionals with Craftsman influences. Most are priced from about $10,000 to $350,000, with age, size and condition impacting the price. Newer, larger homes on multiple acres can sell for up to $860,000. Manufactured and mobile homes in the area have a price range of nearly $30,000 to $160,000. Traditional-influenced condos range from around $190,000 to $260,000.
The CAP Index Crime Score in Vernon Township is a 2 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4.
A playground, trails and water recreation at Conneaut Lake
Roche Park stretches across woods near Perry Highway. A paved trail loops around its baseball fields, picnic pavilions and a tree-house-themed playground. Ernst Trail, a bike-friendly path totaling about 12 miles, connects Conneaut Lake to downtown Meadville. The lake is accessible from a boat launch near state Route 618 and Fireman’s Beach, a sandy area on the lake’s southern shoreline. “Conneaut Lake is touristy. It has year-round fishing, and is only about 45 [miles] from Lake Erie, so many fishermen who can’t rent up there end up in our neck of the woods,” Horner says.
From Italian cuisine and barbecue to shopping at national chains
Local restaurants include Timber Creek Tap & Table, which serves wood-fired pizza and elevated American pub fare in a rustic dining room with exposed wood beams. The restaurant is on U.S. Route 19 near Fat Eddy’s, a barbecue restaurant, and The Movies, a theater that shows the latest blockbuster releases. An Aldi, Walmart and fast-food restaurants are on Conneaut Road. The Park Avenue Plaza shopping center is home to national chains, including Dunham’s Sports and Harbor Freight.
Crawford Central Schools and a career and technical center
Vernon Township is in the attendance zone of Crawford Central School District, which offers school choice and interdistrict transfers. Kindergarten through sixth grade students may attend West End Elementary, which receives a B-minus from Niche. Meadville Area Middle School serves grades 7 and 8 and earns a C. Meadville Area Senior High School gets a C-plus. Ninth graders can apply for the Crawford County Career and Technical Center, which offers courses in pathways such as cosmetology.
A route to Meadville and I-79 connects to Erie and Pittsburgh
U.S. Route 19 connects Vernon Township to Meadville, home to the Meadville Medical Center, about 5 miles away. Port Meadville Airport is in the area, and it has corporate flight departments and a medivac helicopter service. Crawford Area Transportation Authority’s (CATA) green bus route connects the township to Meadville’s downtown. Interstate 79 runs through Vernon Township, leading to Erie, nearly 40 miles north, and Pittsburgh, just over 90 miles south. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is around a 100-mile drive west, and Pittsburgh International Airport is a similar distance south.
