Explore Beaver County.

Getting to know Beaver County

Beaver County sits just northwest of Pittsburgh, where the Ohio River bends north and the Beaver River flows in to meet it. Interstate 376 runs through the middle of Beaver County, so most river towns are a short drive from the city or the airport.

The borough of Beaver is the county seat, built on the site of Fort McIntosh, a Revolutionary War-era outpost on the Ohio. Today Beaver County blends old mill towns, quiet farm country and plenty of parkland.

River towns in Beaver County

• Beaver – the county seat, with a tree-lined main street of shops and restaurants above the Ohio River.
• Ambridge – named for the American Bridge Company and home to Old Economy Village, the historic settlement of the Harmony Society.
• Beaver Falls – a college town on the Beaver River, home to Geneva College and famous as Joe Namath’s hometown.
• Aliquippa – a former Beaver County steel town with a proud high school football tradition.
• Rochester, Monaca and Bridgewater – neighboring boroughs clustered where the Beaver River meets the Ohio.

Parks and the outdoors in Beaver County

Raccoon Creek State Park, in the southern part of Beaver County, offers a lake for swimming and boating, miles of hiking trails, camping and a well-loved wildflower reserve. Bradys Run Park, a large county park, adds ball fields, trails, a lake and an ice arena.

The rivers are a big part of life in Beaver County. Boat launches along the Ohio and Beaver rivers, plus smaller streams like Raccoon Creek and Little Beaver Creek, give paddlers and anglers lots of options. Check current conditions before heading out on the water.

Industry and heritage

Steel, glass and bridge building shaped Beaver County for more than a century. Shippingport is known as the site of the first full-scale nuclear power plant in the country built to generate electricity for civilian use. Old Economy Village in Ambridge preserves an earlier chapter of Beaver County history, with restored buildings, gardens and programs. Check the site for current hours and events.

Tips for a day in Beaver County

• Start in the town of Beaver for coffee and a walk, then head to Raccoon Creek or Bradys Run for the afternoon.
• Use the town filter above to find local shops and food near your stops.
• Small businesses in Beaver County may keep limited hours, so check before you drive out.
• Pair a history stop in Ambridge with lunch in a nearby river town.

From river views to state park trails, Beaver County packs a lot into a short drive from Pittsburgh.

Make a day of it.

Make a day of it in Beaver →

Start with the YinzMart places above. For visitor information, lodging and additional trip ideas, visit the county’s official tourism resource.

Hours, admission, accessibility and seasonal availability can change. Confirm details directly before you go.

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