St. Marys, PA

1 Apartments for Rent

St. Marys is the home of the historic Straub Brewery, the smallest pre-Prohibition brewery still making beer today.

A tough little city in upstate Pennsylvania, St. Marys is a welcoming town with a long history. Located in the wilderness of northern Pennsylvania, it is surrounded by some of the best fishing, hunting, and wilderness in the state. What it lacks in amenities and international flavor, it makes up for with a tight sense of community.

Moving to St. Marys

There's really no way you can make it in St. Marys without a car or truck. Sure, there is public transportation in the form of bus routes provided by Area Transit Authority, but it's far from comprehensive and not the best to count on, especially in the winter. Likewise, you can walk or bike around town if you need to, but the city is spread out, making it pretty inconvenient. Come winter, you won't want to be walking or biking around the city, especially if you are in areas without sidewalks.

You'll be somewhat limited looking for rental apartments in St. Marys, and you'll need to get an early start on your rental housing search. The majority of the units in the city are owner-occupied, so you'll already be starting off on the back foot with limited availability. You'll be limited on where you can look, as well -- there aren't any rental units out in the rural area. You'll want to start in the middle of town and look at the rental apartments in buildings and complexes like Elk Towers or Townview Apartments. The center of town will also be the only area where you are likely to find a spot within any sort of waking distance to businesses.

Make sure to pack plenty of warm clothing, and take a good look at the weatherproofing around the housing units you look at. Winter in St. Marys can get pretty bitter and breezy, and some heavy snows can fall. If you can find a house or 2 bedroom apartment with all bills paid, that's even better -- it beats having to look at high heating bills. Also make sure you've got a snow shovel socked away from there, or get a place where the landlord cleans up in the winter.

The good news is that you won't need to save up much of a security deposit if you're looking for a house to rent in St. Marys, even if the deposit needed is two or three months -- rents here are below average for the state. You'll still need a good set of references and a full set of paperwork, as the limited availability means you'll need a step up on the competition.

Living in St. Marys

If you're fond of outdoor activities, there aren't too many places better for you than St. Marys. Close by is the Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania's only national forest and home to off-road and snowmobile trails, camping, and much more. The upper half of the city contains two State Game Lands -- home to hiking and camping, along with hunting, trout fishing, and boating. For the big game hunter, it's paradise, as it's one of the few places you can hunt wild elk east of the Mississippi River. If you're hunting something even more elusive, like a hole-in-one, head on down to St. Marys Country Club.

For the foodies in all of us, St. Marys has St. Mary's Corner Restaurant and Merlin's, which both provide quality fare. For international flavor, the highly-rated Green Jade serves Chinese fare.

The town itself was founded by Bavarian Catholics, hence the name, and it still hangs on to its history and culture. Every fall, the Bavarian Fall Fest brings out vendors, crafters, and entertainment that celebrates the German heritage of the area. If you care more about the history of the area, check out the numerous local buildings that have been standing for decades, such as Decker's Chapel -- a one-room church often considered the smallest church in the United States.

St. Mary's might be a small town, but the residents have made a big push for community involvement in the arts. The Elk County Council of the Arts, based in nearby Ridgway, has a gallery and gift shop that showcases local artists, and it hosts the yearly Summers End Festival. It also puts on classes and offers bus trips throughout the year, covering everything from pottery to theater.