St. Marys

Understand

St. Marys was founded by Bavarian Catholic immigrants in 1842, and today it still retains the early settlers' work ethic, industrial nature, and religious devotion.

The settlers intended to take up farming as their primary industry, but the terrain was found to be unsuitable to widespread agriculture. There were other resources to which they could turn, however. First among these was logging, facilitated by powerful new steam engines, and the corresponding lumbering industry.

Brickmaking was popular for a while, as was brewing. Around the turn of the 20th century, carbon and powdered metal became an important part of the borough's economy. St.Marys was also the site of an early light bulb manufacturing company, the Novelty Incandescent Lamp Company; through a series of mergers and name changes that company became Sylvania, which sadly closed in October of 2019.

In 1992, St.Marys absorbed the surrounding township of Benzinger and incorporated as a city, leading to the slogan "Pennsylvania's Newest City". Most of the "city" limits remains wild, with business and residences found primarily within the former borough limits.

Today, powdered metal, carbon, and beer are the cornerstones of the St.Marys economy, but like many old industrial areas, the city is shifting toward more service-oriented businesses.

Visitor information

Get in

By car

St. Marys lies at the intersection of Pennsylvania Routes 255 and 120. U.S. Route 219, the Buffalo-Pittsburgh Highway, is the main route into and out of Elk County. To get from U.S. 219 to St. Marys, there are three options. From the north, take Route 255 in Johnsonburg and travel nine miles southeast to St. Marys. From the south, take Route 255 in DuBois and travel 30 miles northeast to St. Marys. U.S. 219 also passes through Ridgway, ten miles west of St. Marys; the two towns are connected by Route 120.

From the east or west, you will probably be coming in on I-80; take exit 101 (Route 255) in DuBois, or take exit 111 (Route 153) north where it connects with Route 255.

By bus

Fullington Trailways stops in St. Marys (at the corner of 4th and Depot) on its Buffalo–DuBois route.

By plane

Get around

By car

Getting around St. Marys is straightforward and confusing at the same time. As far as major routes go, it couldn't be simpler; Route 255 comes in from the northwest (Johnsonburg) and leaves to the south (DuBois); Route 120 comes in from the west (Ridgway) and leaves to the east (Emporium). Where it gets tricky, however, is at the intersection in the middle of downtown where those two routes meet. It's a triangular plot of land called the Diamond, and in addition to the two state routes, the railroad tracks, Elk Creek, and multiple local roads all pass through.

Staying on Route 255 southbound is the only straightforward path through the Diamond. For anything else, take along a local for your first few attempts. If that's not practical, then watch the signs and surrounding vehicles carefully and be prepared to go around the block and try again if you miss.

The central business district is anchored by the Diamond, extending south on South St. Marys Street (Route 255), southeast on South Michael Street, and east on Brusselles Street (Route 120). Businesses in the downtown area are primarily locally owned. The major commercial strip is farther south on Route 255, along a section known as Million Dollar Highway; this is where you'll find the chain restaurants, hotels, and shops. A Wal-Mart lies just south of the city limits on Million Dollar Highway, marking the southern end of the commercial strip.

Beyond the major streets, you'll want a map to get around; the terrain combined with the odd angles at intersections mean there are few right angles and a lot of dead-ends. Almost everything a traveler needs can be found on the major roadways (including North and South Michael Street).

Go next

St. Marys sits within easy driving distance of countless state parks, woodlands, waterways, and mountains.

Nearby boroughs, all about 10-15 minutes away:

• Ridgway to the west; a small riverside community, Elk County seat, and, in many ways, St. Marys' smaller sibling.
• Johnsonburg to the northwest; known simply as "Burg" to other Elk County residents, this is an industrial community dominated by the Domtar paper processing plant.
• Emporium to the east.

Heading south, you'll pass through numerous small villages and hamlets before reaching the city of Dubois, about 40 minutes south of St. Marys. Dubois is somewhat larger and more urbanized than St. Marys, with a decent-sized mall anchoring a sizable commercial strip. This is where St. Marys residents head when they want to shop someplace other than Wal-Mart.

For larger cities, Erie is 90 minutes northwest, Buffalo is two hours north, and Pittsburgh, the "big city" to locals, is about 2½ hours southwest.

The Clarion River, of which St. Marys' Elk Creek is a tributary, flows through Johnsonburg and Ridgway and provides fishing and boating opportunities. It also runs through the Allegheny National Forest, which extends from west of Ridgway north to the New York border and is a large expanse of wilderness dotted with small communities. Canoeing, hiking, skiing (water and cross-country), boating, swimming, and, of course, hunting are all available within its borders.

North of St. Marys, the East Branch of the Clarion River flows from within Elk State Forest, where the East Branch Dam forms a 1,370-acre lake with camping, picnicking, and boat launch facilities. Downstream of the dam, closer to Johnsonburg, is Bendigo State Park with similar outdoors activities.

There is a herd of elk in the area, sometimes visible from St. Marys but more often farther south near Benezette. It's one of the few herds found east of the Mississippi River.