borough in Pennsylvania
Honey bee forage in West Elizabeth, Pennsylvania
Estimated forage here is better than about 70% of sites in Pennsylvania. Against other Pennsylvania sites it stands out most in spring (92nd percentile) and lowest in summer (43rd). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 2.4 mi S, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 1.7 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 3.2 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in West Elizabeth?
- First forage: Feb 16 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jun 30, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of West Elizabeth, from what grows within flight range (about 3.7 miles) and when it blooms here. Dates are the model's estimate for a typical year; the spring index for this spot falls on Apr 25.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Alfalfa: about 15 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.4 mi S, blooms early Jun – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.7 mi S, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
From USDA's crop maps for 2021–2025; fields rotate, so a crop counts by how often it was grown. Listing a field says nothing about its owner.
The land and water around West Elizabeth
Mostly: South-Central Interior Mesophytic Forest; Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.11 mi SE; pond, lake or river 0.11 mi SE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 54% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How West Elizabeth ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 64th | 84th | 54th | 51st |
| Pennsylvania | 70th | 92nd | 43rd | 49th |
| Western Allegheny Plateau | 43rd | 28th | 62nd | 79th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 45% of the land here is scored with national averages for its vegetation type rather than measured plant cover, so the wild-plant part of this estimate is rougher than the crop part.
The national forage map around West Elizabeth: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Elizabeth 0 mi · Blaine Hill 1 mi · Elrama 2 mi · Lincoln 2 mi · Jefferson Hills 3 mi · Bunola 4 mi
All towns in Pennsylvania · National map · How the scoring works
An estimate from public maps (USDA crop maps 2021–2025 averaged, LANDFIRE vegetation), not a survey of the ground. Maps can't see garden plantings, understory density, other beekeepers' hives, or this year's weather. The point is the Census Bureau's published center of West Elizabeth (40.2706, -79.8962); a yard a mile or two away can differ, so check your own spot. The FEMA flood map was not checked for this page. Benchmark 2026.5, built 2026-10-19. How this works · All sources.