Bradford
Around Bradford
Photo: Pubdog (talk) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Pennsylvania · 39k people
Bradford
Small town, big outdoors.
GoldBlueForest Green
Welcome to Bradford, where the hills are steep and the coffee is strong. Whether you're here for the outdoors or the local history, you'll find a friendly community that knows how to enjoy all four seasons.
Clubs for Bradford
No clubs for Bradford yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Bradford. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Bradford. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Kinzua Bridge State Park Historic railroad viaduct with skywalk
- Allegheny National Forest 500,000 acres of woods, trails, and lakes
- Zippo/Case Museum Home of the iconic lighter and knife brands
- Penn Brad Oil Museum Tells the story of the region's oil boom
- Crook Farm 19th-century farmstead with living history
- University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Local four-year college, hosts events
- Outdoors Hiking in Allegheny National Forest
- Outdoors Fishing in the Allegheny River
- With kids Visit the Kinzua Bridge Skywalk
- With kids Explore the Zippo/Case Museum
- Evenings Bradford Creative and Performing Arts Center
- Evenings Pitt-Bradford athletic events
- Locals love Hunting camps
- Locals love Fishing lodges
Through the year
- McKean County Fair August August in Smethport
- Cameron County Fair August August in Emporium
- Bradford Blue Sox season June–August Summer baseball at Pitt-Bradford
- Zippo/Case Collectors Swap Meet Spring Annual gathering at the museum
- Pitt-Bradford Homecoming Fall Campus celebration with sports and alumni
Bradford has cold, snowy winters and mild summers. The best time to be out is late spring through fall, especially for hiking and fishing. Winter is for snowmobilers, spring is muddy, and fall brings brilliant foliage. Best: Late spring through fall for hiking and fishing
Talk like a local
- “The Kinzua”
- Kinzua Bridge or the state park
- “The Allegheny”
- Allegheny National Forest
- “Deer camp”
- Hunting cabin or camp
- “The Zippo”
- Zippo/Case Museum
Getaways
- Olean, NY 22 km away
- Warren, PA 43 km away
- Jamestown, NY 51 km away
- St. Marys, PA 59 km away
Local flavour
Teams
- Pitt-Bradford Panthers NCAA Division III
- Bradford Blue Sox New York Collegiate Baseball League
- Bradford Rattlers NA3HL
Eat and drink
- Pierogies Eastern European staple, often served with onions and sour cream
- Haluski Cabbage and noodles, a hearty Pennsylvania classic
- Venison Deer meat, often in stews or jerky
- Maple syrup Local producers in the hills
Where people go
- Hunting camps Rural tradition of seasonal cabins
- Fishing lodges Allegheny River and streams
- Snowmobile trails Winter recreation in the national forest
- Small-town diners Local gathering spots
- Historic oil derricks Remnants of the oil boom era
Heritage and traditions
Bradford is proud of its deep roots in the Pennsylvania oil boom and its legacy as the home of Zippo lighters, along with its rugged outdoor lifestyle in the Allegheny National Forest.
This time of year in Bradford
- Deer hunting season Fall A major tradition with many locals participating.
- Fall foliage Autumn Visitors come for the colors.
- Kane Autumn Leaf Festival October Celebrates fall foliage with parades, crafts, and food.
Say it like a local: “pop” — soda
Festivals
- Kane Autumn Leaf Festival October Celebrates fall foliage with parades, crafts, and food.
- Coudersport Ice Mine Festival July Tours of the natural ice mine and local food.
- Smethport Old Home Week August A week of events for former residents and family reunions.
- Bradford First Friday Monthly Monthly downtown event with live music and art.
Landmarks with a story
- McKean County Courthouse 19th-century courthouse in Smethport.
- Cameron County Courthouse 19th-century courthouse in Emporium.
- Potter County Courthouse 19th-century courthouse in Coudersport.
- Kane Historic District Victorian-era homes and commercial buildings.
- Smethport Mansion District Grand homes from the oil era.
- Coudersport Ice Mine Natural cave that produces ice in summer.
Food traditions
- Pierogies Eastern European dumplings, a staple from Polish and Slovak heritage.
- Haluski Cabbage and noodle dish, often served with kielbasa.
- Venison Deer meat from hunting, a fall and winter favorite.
- Maple syrup Springtime product from local sugar maples, used on pancakes and in baking.
- Hunter's stew Game meat and vegetable stew, cooked at hunting camps.
Music and arts
- Bradford Area Community Band A long-standing amateur band performing concerts throughout the year.
- Bradford Creative and Performing Arts Center Hosts national touring acts and local performances.
- Craftsmanship of Zippo lighters and Case knives The design and manufacturing are a local art form.
A little history
- 1870s-1880s Oil boom in Bradford
- 1932 Zippo founded by George Blaisdell
- 1882 Kinzua Bridge built
- 1923 Allegheny National Forest established
- late 1800s Lumber era of white pine and hemlock
Rivalries
- Bradford High School vs Kane High School Football rivalry
- Pitt-Bradford vs Penn State Behrend Conference basketball games
- Bradford Blue Sox vs Olean Oilers Summer baseball local clash
- Bradford vs Smethport in basketball County high school games
- Game day High school football
- Game day Deer hunting as a sport
- Outdoors Camping in the Allegheny National Forest
- Outdoors Cross-country skiing
- With kids Sledding at a local hill
- With kids Visiting the Coudersport Ice Mine
Locals speak with a Northern Appalachian accent, using terms like 'crick' for creek and 'pop' for soda. You might hear 'youse' or 'you guys'.
Only here
- Home of Zippo lighters; the factory and museum are here.
- Coudersport Ice Mine, a natural phenomenon where ice forms in summer.
- Kinzua Bridge, once the highest and longest railroad bridge in the world.
- The 'Pennsylvania Wilds' designation, a large forested region for outdoor recreation.
New here? A few tips
- Prepare for cold, snowy winters; invest in good winter gear and learn to drive on snow.
- Get a hunting license if you plan to hunt, and wear orange during hunting season.
- Try the local diners and pierogies.
- Visit the Zippo/Case Museum to understand the region's pride.
- Be prepared for limited services in small towns; plan ahead for groceries and gas.
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Nearby
Every areaOleanNew YorkWhere the hills meet the river and every season feels like home.WarrenPennsylvaniaWhere the wild forest meets the river's calm.JamestownNew YorkWhere the grapes grow and laughter livesSt. MarysPennsylvaniaWhere the elk roam and the forest whispers.WellsvilleNew YorkWhere the hills are sweet with maple and the nights are quiet.WarsawNew YorkRolling hills, close-knit towns.BuffaloNew YorkWhere wings were born and winters are sharedOil CityPennsylvaniaRiver town with a deep history and warm community
Bradford, PA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.