Fairview Today

Welcome to Fairview Township, primarily a residential community (the 4th largest municipality in Erie County) located in the north central portion of Erie County, extending from the scenic shores of Lake Erie to the gentle hills south and aptly named for its “fairest view”. The Township is bordered by Millcreek Township to the East, McKean Township and Franklin Townships to the South, and Girard Township to the West. This location fronting Lake Erie along with the many waterways draws many fisherman and visitors.   View A Map

Transportation

The highway system in Fairview Township plays a vital role in the economic stability allowing residents easy access to employment, commercial and residential districts and recreation areas. The interstate roadway systems provide easy travel to major urban centers within a few hours driving distance - Cleveland, Ohio (approximately 60 miles to the west on I-90); Pittsburgh, PA (approximately 140 miles to the south on I-79) and Buffalo, NY (approximately 100 miles to the east on I-90). Shopping and eating establishments are very convenient with the Millcreek Mall and various shopping plazas scattered throughout the area. It has the small town quality of life with close proximity to major urban areas.

Population And Housing

Fairview Township has inclusive zoning ordinances protecting the landowner, resulting in overall development that has shaped it into a prime area for families and businesses to locate. The unique makeup of the Township consists of well-planned neighborhoods in subdivisions or rural settings, larger estate plots, farming, some commercial entities and an increasing industrial base with the development of the Fairview Business Park at the intersection of I-90 and Route 98 (Avonia Road).

Some vital statistics about the Township are:

• Population: 10,140 (2000 Census)
• Area: 28.36 sq. miles
• 74.45 miles of Township roads
• 37.79 miles of State roads

Education

Fairview School District provides quality education in Fairview Township. Three (3) schools are positioned on the same rolling campus - Fairview Elementary School (grades K-4); Fairview Middle School (grades 5-8) and Fairview High School (grades 9-12). www.fairviewschools.org The Fairview School District students excel academically, musically and athletically and have rated repeatedly as one of the best of its size throughout Pennsylvania.

Higher education choices are varied and abundant in the area. Colleges/universities include Edinboro State University, Edinboro, PA; Gannon College, Erie, PA; Penn State Behrend, Erie, PA; Mercyhurst College, Erie, PA; and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), Erie, PA. Vocational, business, industrial, technical and trade schools, including Tri-State Business Institute in the Township, 5757 West Ridge Road (a/k/a West 26th Street) are throughout the region.

Fairview Branch of the Erie County Library system new complex is situated at the intersection of Manchester Road and Route 5 (a/k/a West Lake Road).

Parks And Recreation

Parks and recreation has gained much momentum in recent years with the addition of Pleasant Ridge Park development, the purchase of Avonia Beach Park with direct access to Lake Erie under development and Fairview Central Park. Other parks in the Township are Struchen Flats, Buseck Park and Fairview Flag Park.

Fairview Parks and Recreation Authority provides many programs throughout the year with something for everyone. A schedule of current programs is listed on the webpage.

Chris Batchelor Memorial Tennis Court is a first-rate feature located on Fairview School District campus that is open to the area residents when not used for lessons or school instruction.

Several public and private golf courses are located in the Township with beautiful venues.

Churches

A variety of church denominations are prevalent throughout the Township and neighboring municipalities to select a house of worship.

Variety Of Land Uses

Fairview Business Park at the convenient intersection of I-90 and Avonia Road (a/k/a Route 98) is 75% complete with several existing businesses and the remaining 25% plots waiting to be developed. The Township offers two (2) tax abatement program for industrial uses within the park.

About 1/3 of our residentially zoned land is used agriculturally with Fairview Evergreen Nursery, one of the largest wholesalers in the nation, family-owned and headquartered in Fairview. Family farms, large and small, grace the gentle-rolling hills.

About 2/3 of the Township is residential.