Coraopolis, PA

The Borough of Coraopolis formed during the steel era. In the 1890s, when the Neville Island and Coraopolis Railway Company established railways for electric street cars, the community began to boom. When the steel industry collapsed, moving businesses out of the area, this community continued to move forward, growing as new businesses moved in.

Residents and Pittsburgh locals take in the history and culture of the region by traveling 10 to 15 minutes into the city or the North Shore to visit the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh.

While visiting the Carnegie Museums, art lovers enjoy an extensive collection exhibited at the Andy Warhol Museum and the Mattress Factory Art Museum.

While the Borough of Coraopolis does not house a plentiful variety of restaurants and bars, this community does have a few hidden gems.

Locals frequent Mario’s Family Italian Restaurant for some of the best Italian cuisine in the Pittsburgh area. This family favorite serves up something for everyone, with Northern-Italian meals including several pasta dishes and seafood options. When visit for a sit-down dinner or picking up a to-go order, make a point to order the chicken Parmesan with garlic rolls.

Whether you live in the Borough of Coraopolis or pass through on the way to the Pittsburgh International Airport, drop in Bar Symon for a bite to eat. Iron Chef Michael Symon serves fresh ingredients right to your table in its airport location, allowing travelers to enjoy a plump, moist burger with rosemary fries. After tasting Parmesan-rosemary fries, patrons return for more. If you are not a Pittsburgh native, make it a point to try the pierogi.

At first glance, Schmidt’s Tavern gives the appearance of an average, everyday bar. However, when you stop in this little hole in the wall, you find plentiful portions of mom-and-pop-style bar foods. You cannot go wrong with the homemade Wedding Soup or a bowl of French onion soup. The fish sandwich ranks as the best in the area with its thin crispy breading and flaky fish. Locals frequent this tavern for the massive burgers with homemade chips and a reasonably priced beer.

At night, the locals mix things up by staying in the neighborhood or traveling to nearby communities for entertainment. College students travel 15 minutes to South Side Works for a wide selection of bars, clubs and cafes. When traveling to South Side for drinking with friends, you cannot forget to stop the legendary Jack’s Rose Bar. As one of the oldest bars on Carson Street, this former dive bar has earned a popular reputation for the best shots and cheapest beers in the ‘Burgh, attracting a diverse array of patrons.

For family fun, locals take a short 5- to 10-minute drive over the bridge to Neville Island to Paradise Island Bowl for a fun night of bowling and arcade games.

Getting around Coraopolis proves easy by foot, car, bicycle and public transportation in this central location thanks to the surrounding streets and interstates. Hopping on Interstate 51 to get to town, or connecting to Interstate 79 allows you to select which parking lot or parking garage you to park in for the day. The cost of parking varies between venues, ranging anywhere from $4 to $15 for the day.

If commuting via public transportation makes for a more viable option, you can hop on a PAT bus to get downtown for a few dollars. Once in downtown Pittsburgh you may ride the buses from point A to point B at no additional charge. You can also choose to jump on the T to get around the city.

While the Borough of Coraopolis and city of Pittsburgh remain busy areas, you see many taxis around. To commute via taxi, one must call the cab company and schedule a pickup. If you can't call, open the Uber application on your smartphone to arrange a private car ride.

For out-of-town trips, you can hop on a Greyhound bus or head over to the Pittsburgh International Airport.

Coraopolis houses a couple of community parks for residents and families to enjoy. Residents love hiking the trails at Montour Trail. When it comes to sporting events and other outdoor activities, residents head over to the RMU Sports Center in Neville Island. Despite the low number of community parks, Coraopolis hosts a variety of activities and events year-round including sporting events, food festivals, music festivals and more.

The cost of living in Coraopolis costs approximately 15.4 percent less than the Pennsylvania average, making this village-like town the perfect place to live. You can expect to pay around $876 for a one-bedroom apartment.

Getting around Coraopolis costs a little less than the rest of the Pittsburgh area with gas prices running around 9 percent lower than the city average.

Coraopolis provides residents convenient access to various shopping locations. Locals frequently travel 10 to 15 minutes southwest to The Mall at Robinson or 15 minutes north to Ross Park Mall to shop somewhere other than K-Mart.

For those who favor small, boutique shopping, residents hop in their car to head over to Lawrenceville. This diverse little community houses a wide selection of specialty shops and boutiques. When in historic Lawrenceville, stop by Pavement for a shopping experience that feels more like a visit with friends. Pavement embodies an upscale boutique marketing local, indie and eco-designs to locals as well as top American-made brands. Owners hand-pick items to shelve with the shoppers in mind.

If you cannot find what you are looking for in Pavement, head over to the Mid-Atlantic Mercantile for an upscale shop selling independent designs. This charming little shop provides fashion for men and women, plus lifestyle accessories for a polished look.

When it comes to grocery shopping, locals frequent the local Giant Eagle and the Coraopolis Cash Market for basic groceries. For specialty groceries, residents head to the Strip District to find foods from all around the world.