Washington County living in West Bethlehem’s quiet countryside
West Bethlehem is a rural township that rolls along forested hills on the border of Washington and Greene counties. Thick woods, white-tailed deer and country roads are likely to be closer than your neighbors, unless you’re living next to the small-town residential blocks and businesses in the borough of Marianna. Hunting, fishing and enjoying the quiet countryside is easy in West Bethlehem Township, more than 20 minutes from the busier city of Washington and the borough of Waynesburg. But when it’s time to leave Washington County’s quiet countryside behind, you can also head west to Interstate 79 for an hour’s drive to Pittsburgh.
Buyers can choose from varied home styles and acreage sizes
Along woodsy back roads, you’ll see all kinds of single-family homes in West Bethlehem: National farmhouses from the early 1900s, ranch-style homes from the midcentury and New Traditional homes built since the early 2000s. Buyers often care less about finding the right home than they do about finding the right piece of land. You can find properties ranging from a few acres to a few dozen acres. Just outside the borough of Marianna, there are also older houses on a handful of densely-plotted blocks developed near a former coal mine. Move-in-ready homes can sell from the lower $100,000s to the upper $300,000s.
West Bethlehem Township’s average home value is in the lower $200,000s. That’s less than the neighboring townships of Amwell and North Bethlehem. It’s also lower than the city of Pittsburgh's average value.
Spots to fish, hunt or meet up with neighbors in the township
If you’re not setting off onto your own property to find fishing holes, hunting grounds or somewhere to get lost in the woods, you might head to one of West Bethlehem Township’s public and private recreation areas. Marianna’s small businesses also offer ways to get active or hang out with neighbors indoors. You might like:
- Marianna Field and Stream Club, a place to practice or compete on the shooting range
- Marianna Dam, one of the spots where trout fishers cast into Ten Mile Creek
- State Game Lands Number 297, a more than 600-acre space to hunt in North and East Bethlehem townships
- Marianna Lyceum, a private club where members bowl and compete in friendly cook-offs
- West Bethlehem Township Park, home to a playground and baseball diamond
Country living appeals to retirees and space seekers
People living in West Bethlehem Township appreciate the peace of rural Washington County, whether they’re retirees or families looking for space. “I worked with a buyer who was retiring after working with U.S. Steel,” says Rob Hako, a Realtor at Howard Hanna Mid Mon Valley Office who’s served the region for over 25 years. “He liked archery hunting and wanted to get out of the limelight. He was feeling kind of jammed in Donora and wanted to get out in the country and have privacy.”
Commutes to southwestern PA hubs with mountain views
People in West Bethlehem Township need cars to get around. Whether you’re driving to large employers like hospitals or the more scattered energy and manufacturing centers of Washington and Greene counties, it’s sure to be a scenic commute. “I always call it God’s country, it’s so beautiful. I was driving to a closing in Waynesburg, and it’s just mountainous, with a lot of nice views and not a lot of houses,” Hako says. Waynesburg, the Greene County seat, and Washington, the Washington County seat, are each about 15 miles away. Downtown Pittsburgh is a roughly 45-mile drive.
Attending the Bethlehem-Center School District
West Bethlehem Township is served by the Bethlehem-Center School District. Kids can attend schools like Bethlehem-Center Junior/Senior High School. High schoolers can also sign up for vocational training programs through the Mon Valley Career & Technology Center.
Small local businesses and big-box shopping in Washington
Business life in West Bethlehem Township is sparse, but you’ll find a handful of casual restaurants and hangout spots clustered near Marianna. You can stop into:
- The Pizza Company, a carryout Italian staple
- The Lamphouse Tavern, a classic bar for drinks, pub grub and pool
- American Legion Post 744, a place for Marianna’s veterans to relax and socialize
For big-box shopping and groceries, you’ll drive about 25 minutes to strip malls near Washington.
![Julia Szymanski]()
Written By
Julia Szymanski
