Living in Cranberry Township, PA: A Local Guide

Name: Mike Pastor
Address: 5310 Perrysville Rd, Pittsburgh, PA, 15229, US
Telephone: 412-214-9494
Price range: $$
Rating: 5.0

Overview & Orientation

Cranberry Township is a township in southwestern Butler County, about 20 miles north of Downtown Pittsburgh, where I-79, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, US Route 19, and PA Route 228 meet. It covers about 23 square miles. Cranberry is known for its township-run parks and recreation system, including Graham Park, North Boundary Park, and Cranberry Highlands Golf Course, and for the Seneca Valley School District.

Where Cranberry Township Is

County: Butler County, at its southern edge along the Allegheny County line
Municipality type: Township, incorporated in 1804, governed by a Board of Supervisors
Size: About 22.8 square miles
ZIP code: 16066. Addresses use “Cranberry Township, PA.”
Bordering communities: Jackson, Forward, and Adams Townships and Seven Fields Borough in Butler County; Pine and Marshall Townships in Allegheny County; and New Sewickley Township in Beaver County

Typical Drive Times

Times are approximate. Traffic varies by time of day, especially near the Route 19 and Route 228 interchange.

Destination	About
Downtown Pittsburgh	25–35 minutes
Oakland	30–40 minutes
Pittsburgh International Airport	25–30 minutes
Wexford / McKnight Road area	10–20 minutes
Butler	25–30 minutes

A Brief History

Brothers Mathew and William Graham settled here in 1796, and the township was incorporated in 1804. Its name comes from the wild cranberries that once grew along the banks of Brush Creek. Drought and farming wiped them out by the 1880s.

For more than a century Cranberry was farmland. That changed with the highways. The Pennsylvania Turnpike was completed through the area in 1951, I-79 opened in 1966, and I-279 opened in 1989, bringing Downtown Pittsburgh within about a half-hour drive. A $44.3 million interchange project linking the major routes was finished in 2004. Read more on Cranberry’s history.

Notable Landmarks

Powell Farm: A 71-acre farm, about 150 years old, preserved by the township at 9600 Goehring Road
UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex: A major hockey and sports training facility
Westinghouse Electric Company: The company’s headquarters campus
Cranberry Township Municipal Center: 2525 Rochester Road, home to township offices, the police department, and the public library

Housing & Real Estate

Housing Stock

Because most of Cranberry’s growth came after the highways arrived, most of its housing dates from the second half of the 20th century onward.

Planned subdivisions: Single-family homes in subdivisions off the main roads
Newer construction: Newer single-family and townhome communities in some sections

Types of Homes

Single-family homes (the majority)
Townhomes and condominiums
Apartment communities

Prices and availability change daily, so the live feed is the place to check. See current homes for sale in Cranberry Township.

Schools

Public Schools

Cranberry is served by the Seneca Valley School District, (724) 452-6040. The district covers about 95 square miles of southern Butler County, including Cranberry, Jackson, Forward, and Lancaster Townships and the boroughs of Harmony, Evans City, Callery, Zelienople, and Seven Fields. See the district overview for school locations.

Elementary (K–4) in Cranberry: Haine Elementary, Rowan Elementary, and Ehrman Crest Elementary
Middle (5–8) in Cranberry: Haine Middle School and Ehrman Crest Middle School
Elsewhere in the district: Connoquenessing Valley Elementary (Zelienople) and Ryan Gloyer Middle School (Harmony)
High (9–12): Seneca Valley Intermediate High School and Seneca Valley Senior High School, on the district’s main campus in Harmony

School assignment depends on address. Confirm with the district.

Nearby Colleges & Universities

Butler County Community College (Butler, with a center in Cranberry)
La Roche University (McCandless)
Slippery Rock University (Slippery Rock)
University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, and other Oakland campuses

For school performance data, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Future Ready PA Index and the district’s own website. School assignments can change. Confirm directly with the district.

Getting Around

Major Roads

I-79: North–south interstate connecting to I-279 (Parkway North) for Downtown, and north toward Erie
Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76): The Cranberry interchange connects east toward Harrisburg and west toward Ohio
US Route 19 (Perry Highway): The main north–south commercial corridor
PA Route 228: The main east–west road, running toward Seven Fields and Mars

Public Transit

Most trips in Cranberry are by car. Cranberry is in Butler County, outside Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s regular service area. Check Butler Transit Authority for regional and commuter options.

Walkability & Bikeability

See Walk Score for Cranberry Township, PA for walking, transit, and bike ratings.

Things to Do

Parks

Cranberry runs its own parks and facilities:

UPMC Passavant Sportsplex at Graham Park260 Graham Park Drive. Baseball, soccer, and football/lacrosse campuses, including a Miracle League field, plus pickleball courts, fitness stations, a playground, trails, and a fishing pond.

Community Park111 Ernie Mashuda Drive, off Route 19. Baseball and softball fields, a football field, lighted tennis courts, pickleball and basketball courts, volleyball, an amphitheater, a nature trail, a playground, and the Rotary Dog Park.

North Boundary Park1171 North Boundary Road. The township waterpark, a championship disc golf course, a nature trail, playgrounds, shelters, and ballfields.

Cranberry Highlands Golf Course5601 Freshcorn Road. A township-owned 18-hole, par-70 course with a clubhouse, driving range, and lessons.

Powell Farm9600 Goehring Road. A 71-acre preserved working farm.

Annual Events

Community Days (July): A multi-day festival at Community Park organized by the Cranberry Community Chest, with a carnival midway, food from local service clubs, a 5K, music, and fireworks
Cranfest (April)
Camp Cranberry (summer): The township’s summer day camp

The township also runs year-round recreation classes. See cranberrytownship.org for current dates.

Shopping & Dining

Route 19 and Route 228 are lined with shopping centers, grocery stores, national retailers, and restaurants. That means most daily errands are a short drive from any part of the township.

Library

The Cranberry Public Library is inside the Municipal Center at 2525 Rochester Road, Suite 300, (724) 776-9100.

Local Services & Resources

Cranberry Township Municipal Center

2525 Rochester Road, Suite 400, Cranberry Township, PA 16066
Customer Service: (724) 776-4806
Hours: Monday–Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed Saturdays Memorial Day to Labor Day)
Website: cranberrytownship.org
Board of Supervisors: See the township’s Board of Supervisors page

Utilities & Public Works

Water and sewer: Billed through the township. Call Customer Service at (724) 776-4806 with questions, including deduct meters for pools.
Trash, recycling, leaves, and snow: Start with Customer Service at (724) 776-4806 or the township website
Alerts: Sign up for Cranberry Connect for neighborhood-level text notifications

Emergency Services

Emergencies: Call 911
Cranberry Township Police: 2525 Rochester Road, (724) 776-5180
Fire: Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Company
EMS: Cranberry Township Emergency Medical Services, which also serves Seven Fields and part of New Sewickley Township

See the township’s public safety page for more.

Hospitals Nearby

UPMC Passavant–Cranberry (in Cranberry Township)
UPMC Passavant–McCandless
AHN Wexford Hospital (Pine Township)

Permits & Zoning

Planning a renovation, addition, deck, fence, or pool? Start with the Municipal Center’s Customer Service desk at (724) 776-4806 for permits, codes, and zoning questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Cranberry Township, PA in?

Cranberry Township is in Butler County, at its southern edge. It borders Pine and Marshall Townships in Allegheny County and New Sewickley Township in Beaver County.

What school district serves Cranberry Township?

The Seneca Valley School District. Haine, Rowan, and Ehrman Crest elementary schools and Haine and Ehrman Crest middle schools are in Cranberry. High school students attend Seneca Valley’s main campus.

How long is the drive from Cranberry Township to Downtown Pittsburgh?

About 25 to 35 minutes, by I-79 and I-279. Traffic varies by time of day.

How far is Cranberry Township from Pittsburgh International Airport?

About 25 to 30 minutes by car, depending on traffic.

How did Cranberry Township get its name?

From the wild cranberries that once grew along Brush Creek. They disappeared by the 1880s because of drought and farming.

What parks are in Cranberry Township?

The township runs Graham Park (the UPMC Passavant Sportsplex), Community Park with the Rotary Dog Park, North Boundary Park with the township waterpark and a disc golf course, Cranberry Highlands Golf Course, and Powell Farm.

Is there a hospital in Cranberry Township?

Yes. UPMC Passavant–Cranberry is in the township.

Where is the Cranberry Township municipal building?

The Municipal Center is at 2525 Rochester Road, Cranberry Township, PA 16066. Customer Service is (724) 776-4806. The police department and the public library are in the same building.

Thinking About a Move to Cranberry Township?

Whether you are buying in Cranberry or selling a home here, we’re happy to answer questions. No pressure. Just local knowledge. Start with the current Cranberry Township listings, or reach out to our team.

Mike Pastor Group | Realty ONE Group Landmark
412-214-9494 | pittsburghhometeam.com