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Bradford is a small rural community located within the Allegheny National Forest
in north-central Pennsylvania.
Bordered on the west by the Kinzua Reservoir Recreation Area and to the
north by the largest state park in the state of New York, it offers a vast
wilderness for outdoor recreational activities, from hunting for deer and bear
to fishing for record-setting walleye and muskellunge. Boating, hiking, cross-country and
downhill skiing, and snowmobile opportunities abound. The largest downhill ski resort between
the Catskills and the upper Midwest is located just 25 miles to the north in
Ellicottville, NY. Two quality
18-hole golf courses are but a few minutes from the downtown area. A public park with
tennis courts, baseball diamonds, swimming pool and ice skating rink is located
within the community boundaries. There are also
numerous other parks located throughout the town, with one featuring a skate
board section.
With a
population of approximately 22,000, the area consists of the city of Bradford
and its surrounding townships.
Leading employers are Zippo Manufacturing, Bradford Regional Medical
Center, Bradford Area School District, Beacon Light Behavioral Health Systems,
Case Knives, University of Pittsburgh, KOA Spear Electronics, Georgia Pacific
and American Refining Group. While
these mainstays are supported by a variety of light business and industry
ventures, there has not been any significant industrial expansion in recent
years. Demographics would show that
there exists a high incidence of low-income, single-parent families; there are
high numbers of students on the free/reduced price lunch program within the
local school system. As somewhat of
a contradiction, the community continues to strongly support a variety of
programs, including, but not limited to,
$34 million in school district renovations, nearly $40 million in a
series of ongoing expansions of the medical center, a multimillion dollar
building program and sustainable scholarships at the University of Pittsburgh,
$5 million for the expansion of our local YMCA, and more than $325,000 pledged
annually to a variety of United Way
programs. The current $55 million reconstruction of the US Route 219 bypass will
cornerstone a series of community redevelopment programs for neighborhood
improvements. We are also fortunate to have one of the best
community water systems in the state.
Educationally, the community supports a modern, technologically updated
comprehensive school system. The
local University of Pittsburgh campus has nearly 2,000 students studying in more
than 40 baccalaureate areas and several associate and graduate degree
programs. Its growing programs and academic offerings are
available to local citizens through a wide variety of cultural events held in
its unparalleled and state-of-the-art facilities. Additionally, Atlantic 10 member St.
Bonaventure University is located only 15 miles to the northeast with a full
schedule of undergraduate and graduate programs. A large, modern public library is
available in the community, and an active performing and creative arts group
presents traveling Broadway and musical programs throughout the year. Less than an hour to the west, The
Chautauqua Lake/Institution offers a wide variety of both educational and
cultural events in an early twentieth century setting and a step back in time
not quickly forgotten. The Buffalo,
New York /Niagara Falls, Canada areas are about 90 minutes to the north; Erie,
Pennsylvania is 90 minutes to the west, and Pittsburgh is about 3 hours to the
south. |
