Valencia

For those who call Valencia home, the tiny borough about 25 miles north of Pittsburgh is a bucolic paradise. For those living outside of its 218 or so acres, the small town is just the same – a pastoral refuge from city life. From 1903 to 2005, the small town served as a respite for inner city children to escape the putrid air of urban neighborhoods and to experience the idyllic countryside life. In 1902, the Kingsley Association, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit that provides social and education opportunities for inner-city children, purchased 65 acres in Valencia to create “a fresh-air farm”. At its peak, the plot hosted 250 guests during its summer season.

Pictured Freedom Farms, Valencia

Valencia

While Valencia primarily housed minors and steelworkers – as well as rail workers who operated the stop Valencia hosted on the Pittsburgh, Mars, and Butler railways – today it is a diverse, though small, community of nearly 1000 residents.

Only 25 miles north of Pittsburgh, Valencia is an excellent home for commuters looking for a relaxed, friendly atmosphere with easy access to more metropolitan areas. The region celebrates its agricultural heritage and its pastoral present, offering several nature-based commercial and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

With charming flower shops and conservancy centers, quaint apple orchards and popular farmers markets, Valencia is still a breath of fresh air and a sanctuary for anyone hoping to get a little lost in nature.

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