Scenic Benton has a borough for shopping and dining
Benton, 17 miles from Bloomsburg, is a Columbia County, Pennsylvania township. The area is known for its scenery and the shopping and dining within its borough. “It is a beautiful rural area, very scenic,” says Susan Barchik, an associate broker with Century 21 Covered Bridges Realty Inc. Barchik has worked in the industry for 35 years. “It has farm fields and woods. Lots of wildlife, too. It’s a nice little town.” Within Benton Township is a borough of the same name. The borough has most of the housing, shopping and dining. The surrounding area is mainly farmland and forest.
Fishing and hiking near Benton
The Northern Columbia Community and Cultural Center is within Benton Borough and has a gym, library, a dance studio and other community spaces. The center also offers yearly programs for children, adults and seniors. Also within the Borough is the Benton Community Park, which has a playground, a baseball field, tennis courts and a basketball court. Along Red Rock Road, within Benton Township, is the Mill Race Golf & Camping Resort. The resort has an 18-hole golf course and fishing at Fishing Creek.
Ricketts Glen State Park, 10 miles away, has over 20 waterfalls and over 13,000 acres. Visitors may traverse 26 miles of hiking trails or picnic by Lake Jean, which has a few charcoal grills. Lake Jean’s beach is open from late May to mid-September for swimming. Boat rentals are also available during the summer, and boating is permitted on the lake year-round.
Single-family homes on farmland and manicured lots
Most homes are clustered along the gridded streets of Benton Borough, with manicured fronts and backyards. Some roads are lined with sidewalks, and homes are built close together. Farther out, residences have acres of farmland between them and are built back from winding roadways. Homes outside the borough rely on wells and septic systems for water and waste, while homes in the borough are part of the public sewer system. Property taxes between the borough and township may also vary. There are primarily single-family homes in the farmhouse and ranch styles. They range from $145,000 to $575,000. While most homes are built far from Fishing Creek, inclement weather may cause the creek to rise. “Fishing Creek does run through the town of Benton and the surrounding area,” says Barchik. “There is some flooding sometimes, I wouldn’t say it’s an environmental concern necessarily, but it is a possibility.”
Shopping and dining in Bloomsburg
In Benton Borough, Main Street is lined with antique shops such as Benton Antiques ETC. Store and Benton Coins & Jewelry. These shops have discount clothing, jewelry and houseware. Along Mill Street, Hoboken Sub Shop serves sandwiches and diner food. Also along Mill Street is Fritz Tastee Creme, an ice cream shop serving sundaes, soft serve and cones. Within Benton Township, a mile outside the borough, is the Country Fresh Market & Hardware. The store sells locally sourced groceries, hardware and gardening supplies. For more shopping and dining, residents head to Columbia Boulevard in Bloomsburg, which has several grocery stores, including a Weis Markets and a GIANT, as well as several chain restaurants and strip malls.
Events in Benton
Retherford’s Farm Market is on a family farm along Mill Street. The market is open from May through November and offers seasonal produce and experiences such as a corn maze and a train ride around the farm. The farm also sells antiques. In July, the Benton Area Rodeo has barrel racing, bull riding and steer wrestling at the Rodeo Grounds. The rodeo is entering its 40th year and hosts competitors from around the world.
Commuters use state Route 487
“People do commute, there’s a power plant in the Berwick area that is a popular employer,” says Barchik. “Bloomsburg has Bloomsburg University and a hospital that is part of the Geisinger system, which is a big healthcare system. People are known to travel to Danville, Hazleton, Williamsport and Wilkes-Barre for their jobs, as well.” Commuters use state Route 487 to head 30 minutes south to Bloomsburg. Continuing along this route, Berwick is 16 miles away from Benton, which also takes 30 minutes. Other areas of employment are 30 to 40 miles away and can be reached in under an hour.
The Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital is 17 miles south along state Route 487. The nearest airport is Williamsport Regional Airport, 38 miles north on state Route 239. Some houses of worship in the area are the Benton United Methodist Church in Benton Borough, Bible Baptist Church, and Hamline Church along Shickshinny Road.
Students attend Benton area schools
The Benton Area School District, which gets a B-minus from Niche, serves the area. Children attend the Benton Area Elementary School, which gets a B. Students continue to the Benton Area Middle School, which receives a C-plus, and the Benton Area High School, which gets a B-minus. The high school and middle school share a building. Students in grades 10 through 12 may get a head start in earning college credits through programs at universities throughout Pennsylvania.
Written By
Isabella Pontecorvo
