Meadville: Home to Allegheny College and Pennsylvania's oldest market house in continual use.
Meadville is located less than an hour south of Erie, a little over an hour north of Pittsburgh and a couple hours east of Cleveland, Ohio
Meadville: Home to Allegheny College and Pennsylvania's oldest market house in continual use.
Meadville is located less than an hour south of Erie, a little over an hour north of Pittsburgh and a couple hours east of Cleveland, Ohio. With its stately mansions, rich architectural heritage, lively downtown district, and abundance of landmarks with cultural and historical significance, the town is one that current and former residents are proud to call their own including Pittsburgh Steelers coach Randy Fichtner, actress Sharon Stone, and former Pennsylvania Governor Raymond P. Shafer.
The cost of living here can't be beat, and for those wishing to trade the hustle and bustle of the metropolis for small town vibe and accessibility, Meadville is a great value.
With summer months being hot and winter months being cold, you would be wise to avoid moving or looking for your new place in these months. April, May, September and October however are good months to explore what Meadville has to offer.
When you've found a couple places you'd like to call home, make sure you bring all the proper documents with you to the viewings in case you want to get the spot right then and there. Things to bring along with you are copies of your ID, bank statements, letters of reference, rental history and a blank check -- don't think they won't ask you for that deposit!
Due to the general low cost of living, Meadville can be a great value for those seeking attractive rental housing. The town has many attractive options for apartment living
Hunters Ridge: This area offers one, two and three-bedroom units for lease in a park-like setting. Roselawn Memorial Park is also in this area, giving you another option for green space.
Parkside Commons: This is another popular apartment community, conveniently located in the heart of downtown Meadville. The 56 private residential units consist of one-bedroom loft condos for rent, as well as standard one and two bedroom apartments. Halcyon Park is nearby and after you work up a sweat running around it, you can relax and have a meal at Elios Family Restaurant.
Northgate: A farther distance out of the city center is the Northgate community: a complex of luxurious ranch houses, townhouses, and apartments for rent against the backdrop of country living. Townhouses for rent here consist of three bedroom units, while their three bedroom houses for rent are perfect for families.
As a town proud of its heritage, Meadville has made preservation of many of its historical buildings and original architecture a priority. Subsequently, many structures have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Meadville Downtown Historic District, the Baldwin-Reynolds House, Bentley Hall, Independent Congregational Church and Ruter Hall, among others. Terrace Street is also a popular area for touring the town's historic row of mansions.
Upon first glance, Meadville feels like a typical northwestern Pennsylvania town. But upon further inspection, one finds a plethora of hidden treasures within the confines of the town proper. Stores in Meadville tend be geographically dispersed with little to no advertising, so much of the knowledge regarding local haunts is acquired through word of mouth. The general consensus among residents is that after taking time to get acquainted with the town, one finds that there is actually quite a big going on.
The Meadville Market House is a great city market and nexus of activity for the town. Open year round, the Market House is a local source of a variety of products, including fresh baked goods, candies, homemade pasta, coffees and more. When in season, the local farmers market can also be found here.
Film fans can catch the latest Hollywood flick at The Movies at Meadville, the town's Cineplex. The Plaza Bowling Lanes is the local joint for hitting some pins and Meadville Area Recreation Complex (or MARC) has outdoor tennis courts, baseball and soccer fields, sand court volleyball facilities, aquatic facilities, a skate park, as well as an ice skating rink operating from August through March.
There are numerous local events that keep local residents and visitors entertained year-round. Parades are a popular activity in Meadville, with the flagship event being the yearly Meadville Memorial Day Parade. Sponsored by Meadville Area Memorial Day Committee, the parade is held to celebrate the service of local and national veterans. The Meadville Halloween Parade, sponsored by the Crawford Area Young Chamber of Commerce, is another event especially popular amongst the younger residents. Other notable events include The Thurston Classic a hot air balloon event running 25 years strong, and the Thunder in the City Classic Car and Bike Show, sponsored by Crawford County Area Chamber of Commerce.
One soon finds that the selection of independently owned restaurants is a key attribute of Meadville that makes it enjoyable for residents and visitors alike. Nowhere is small-town charm more evident than in the amazing local restaurants and delicacies. The Creative Crust is a popular bakery for picking up a fresh loaf of bread, cookie or slice of pizza. Reginella's is a popular Italian restaurant, and Grace Asian serves a winning combination of great Thai, Japanese, and Chinese, and Indian cuisine. The Whole Darn Thing services inexpensive submarine sandwiches, and The Market House Grill specializes in breakfast and lunch specials.
Worth mentioning on its own is Hank's Frozen Custard highly praised and touted as one of the best ice cream places in the country. In continuous operation for 50 years, the machinery and custard-making process has not changed for the half-century since its inception. A local Meadville favorite, Hank's Frozen Custard is a prime example of how small-town establishments can hold their own against corporate franchises.
Bars are plentiful in downtown Meadville and are popular with students on weekends. Voodoo Brewery is a popular establishment for handcrafted, award-winning artisan beer. For those looking for an alternative to this busy microbrewery, bars such as Mickey's and Penny Bar host great karaoke nights that are also popular with locals.
The CATA (Crawford Area Transportation Authority) Loop is a commonly used for getting around town. It's free of charge for Allegheny students, and $1 per one-way for others. Greyhound Bus Service is available for longer trips to destinations further out, and can be found at Water Street terminal.
Meadville is only an hour or two from various large cities, should one require amenities or services not available in the small town. The state's fourth largest city of Erie is only half-hour away, and has everything one would expect from a bigger city: movie theaters, nightclubs, banks, shopping malls and so forth.
