Yorkshire balances access to jobs and recreation
Along the northern edge of Cattauragus County, Yorkshire offers homes on large lots and short commutes to busier cities and outdoor destinations. “If you’re looking for rural and affordable housing with a small-town feeling, it’s a good option,” says Melissa Frank, broker and owner of Metro Kirsch Real Estate, who has been in real estate since 2004. “I think people with Springville or Arcade jobs might live in Yorkshire.” While residents are close to job options, they’re also close to fishing spots, a lake and the city of Buffalo, less than an hour away. Small businesses and locally owned restaurants are spread out along U.S. Route 16, from barbecue spots to a drive-in theater. Yorkshire is best suited to people who want to feel like they’re in the country without having to deal with hours-long commutes to bigger cities.
Clusters of homes in Yorkshire, Delevan; sprawling rural lots
Most of Yorkshire’s homes are clustered together in the villages of Yorkshire and Delevan, but there are also properties in the town’s more rural outskirts with sprawling lots that stretch across rolling hills. National and colonial-style homes with at least 2 acres have sold for $270,000 to $425,000, while ranch-style houses and cabins have sold for $170,000 to $240,000. Anything that goes for less than $170,000 is usually a manufactured home or a property that needs renovations. Trees usually dot backyards in the villages or create a privacy barrier between a home and the street. In the outskirts, homes might be surrounded by woods. Residents in the heart of the villages can access public water, but many homes throughout town run on well water systems and septic tanks.
Route 16 leads to businesses, churches and jobs
Route 16 runs through the village of Yorkshire and Delevan and leads about 40 miles up to Buffalo and the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, a drive that usually takes less than an hour. Some people commute to nearby Springville to work or receive emergency medical care at the Bertrand Chaffee Hospital. Frank says Arcade has industry jobs with companies like Prestolite Electric Inc. and Pioneer Credit Recovery, Inc. There are churches close to Route 16, including Delevan Baptist Church and Yorkshire Free Methodist Church. The town of Yorkshire has full-time employees who maintain the highway year-round, but they’re especially busy when winter brings heavy snowfall.
Pioneer High made history with flag football
Pioneer Central School District serves all of Yorkshire and receives a B from Niche. Kids usually start at Delevan Elementary School, which gets a B-minus and neighbors the Delevan-Yorkshire Public Library. Athletic fields separate Pioneer Middle School and Pioneer High School, both with B ratings. Flag football is a new sport to public schools in Western New York, and Pioneer High flag football team made school history by winning the state title in 2025. It was the first state win in the school’s 60-year history.
Fishing along Cattaraugus Creek or visiting Lime Lake
Yorkshire is surrounded by outdoor recreation. The Springville Sardinia Highway has parking spots along the road for anglers to use before they cast lines into the Cattaraugus Creek. “Yorkshire is close to Lime Lake,” Frank says. “That’s in the town of Machias, which borders Yorkshire. There’s good recreation, cottage and lake homes and things like boating and fishing.” Visitors can launch kayaks onto Lime Lake to fish or float along the water. Closer to home, Route 16 Pickleball has indoor courts for rent. The Delevan Twin Drive-In Theatre opens around May and shows newly released movies through September. Every July, the town organizes a nearly monthlong recreation program full of almost daily events for young kids.
Barbecue at Krolick's and seafood dishes at Roadside Bar & Grill
Residents can drive into Springville or Arcade for shops and restaurants, but Yorkshire has a selection of locally owned restaurants as well. Krolick's BBQ is one of the most popular for its sandwiches, mac and cheese and burgers. The smoked dishes are served from an outdoor trailer, and people can enjoy their meals at red picnic tables. Delevan has the Roadside Bar & Grill, a cozy diner that serves seafood and sandwiches for lunch and dinner. When it comes to shopping, there are small businesses like Co-Op Yesterday & Today Antique Shop and Hanna’s Little Gift Shop. The Save A Lot in Yorkshire sells grocery items, but there’s also Arcade’s Tops Friendly Markets nearby.
