Bethlehem: Farms and parks dotting Central New Jersey
The 579 Trail connects Central New Jersey farms, wineries and restaurants found along Hunterdon County’s Route 579, which passes through Bethlehem Township. It’s fitting that Bethlehem is along this trail, as it’s been an agricultural community since the 1700s and is still home to family-run dairy and beef farms. While many of those families have lived in the township for generations, others have newly arrived from larger cities. In particular, many New Yorkers have headed 60 miles west on Interstate 76 in the past five years to seek a quieter lifestyle. Mary Malone, a local Realtor and a Hunterdon County resident, says that’s the appeal of townships across the county. “There’s not a lot of foot traffic, because it’s farmland,” says Malone, team lead of the Luxe Service Group at Coldwell Banker Realty. “Which is why people love it.” The spacious township is covered with mountains, a forested valley and about 500 homes; its parks and farms provide much of the recreation and entertainment for its 3,900 residents.
Generous acreage found in the countryside and in subdivisions
A mix of small subdivisions and isolated estates are scattered around the township. The median lot size is more than 3 acres, and some ranch homes and farmhouses sit on more than 5. Even within housing developments, Colonial Revivals and new traditional homes often sit on acre-plus lots surrounded by trees. Prices generally range from about $300,000 to $600,000, though homes larger than 2,500 square feet can cost between $575,000 and $900,000.
Flood zones surround some creeks in Bethlehem, and a few houses are in those flood zones. While there are potential flood risks, the township’s CAP Index Crime Score is 1 out of 10, much lower than the U.S. average of 4.
Local parks feature events, trails and boating
Farmland surrounds the baseball fields and playground at Heritage Park. Not only does it serve as the township’s primary recreation spot, but it’s an events space too. The township hosts weekly farmers markets and annual Christmas tree-lighting ceremonies at the park. The latter event features a wrestling match between Santa Claus and the Grinch.
Bethlehem also has several nature preserves for hiking and hunting. For example, Tower Hill Reserve & Jugtown Mountain Preserve consist of nearly 700 acres of connected forest, trails and hills on what used to be a farm and a mine. About a mile from Bethlehem, Spruce Run Recreation Area covers some of the land north of Spruce Run Reservoir. People can camp or hike in the recreation area, where a ramp helps boaters hit the water.
Finding farm-fresh food and cider along the 579 Trail
Stops along the 570 Trail in the township include Central Valley Farm, a family-owned farm since the 1940s. It sells cheese and ground beef at New York City’s biggest farmers markets, but locals can pick them up at Central Valley’s Bethlehem farmstand. The 579 Trail also includes nearby Ironbound Farm, where people gather on the weekends for hard cider, farm-to-table entrees and live music. Shopping runs require a drive to Phillipsburg, a town 4 miles west of Bethlehem with a Target, Aldi, Lowe’s and other nationally known retailers.
Two schools, one PTA in Bethlehem
The township is home to two public schools: Thomas Conley Elementary School, graded a B-minus by Niche, and Ethel Hoppock Middle School, which gets a B-plus. The schools share the Bethlehem Township PTA, which supports events like trunk-or-treating in October and a hot cocoa bar in December. The township sends students to North Hunterdon High School in Annandale, about 5 miles southeast of Bethlehem.
I-76 routes to New York
People typically drive to get around the spread-out community. Interstate 78 passes through the township, and some people use it to commute to the New York City area. The drive takes one to two hours. It’s about 25 miles to Lehigh Valley International Airport, which offers direct flights to cities up and down the East Coast.
