Caernarvon Township blends agriculture with village history
Rolling hills, sprawling farms and roadside produce stands are part of everyday life in Caernarvon Township, an agricultural community in Lancaster County. “This is where you go if you want to see Amish and Mennonite farms at work,” says Wendy Stauffer, a Realtor with Kingsway Realty who has been selling homes in the region for more than 30 years. In the middle of the township, the tiny historic village of Churchtown is home to a number of Gothic Revival homes and houses of worship, including Bangor Episcopal Church, first founded in 1722. Caernarvon Township in Lancaster County borders a township of the same name in next-door Berks County, where the village of Morgantown has stores, restaurants and other essentials — a rarity in agricultural Amish Country.
Historic homes in Churchtown and midcentury houses on rural backroads
Main Street in Churchtown is lined with Gothic Revival and Colonial Revival houses that date back to the late 1800s and early 1900s. Many of the homes are made of stone, while others have traditional siding. Homes on both sides of Main Street face the rolling hills of Lancaster County. Only two homes in Churchtown have sold in recent years: one for $240,000, the other for $315,000. Outside of town, midcentury ranch-style, split-level and bi-level homes are common on backroads curving through the sprawling farmland and countryside. These range from around $315,000 to $450,000. Larger upscale homes, farmhouses and acreage properties tucked away in the woods tend to sell for $500,000 to $910,000. The township also has some manufactured homes ranging from $40,000 to $190,000.
Roadside produce stands, more businesses in Morgantown and New Holland
Many local farms sell their products to the public. “You have lots of greenhouses and produce stands, and many of these farms sell their fruits and vegetables to grocery stores all over the county,” Stauffer says. Produce stands can be found along Main Street, including Hoover’s Farm Market of Goodville, Zeiset Farms and Legacy Acres, each open every day but Sunday. Locals are also just a few minutes from Morgantown and New Holland, where there are several restaurants and retailers. New Holland also has a hospital operated by WellSpan Health, a regional health care provider.
Public green space and events at Historic Poole Forge
Poole Forge has a scenic 26-acre space open to the public. The historic property was used for ironmaking in the 1700s. Today, there's a mansion with gardens, a playground, a picnic pavilion and nature trails. Lancaster County has the most covered bridges in Pennsylvania, and one of them is at the historic forge. Locals also visit for free events, including Poole Forge Day, which features hay rides, chainsaw carving, live music and other fun activities.
Block schedule at Garden Spot Middle and High Schools
Public elementary students travel 4 miles to East Earl for Blue Ball Elementary School, which receives a B-minus grade from Niche. They’ll head to New Holland to attend Garden Spot Middle School, graded a C-plus, and Garden Spot High School, graded B. The middle school and high school both use block scheduling, with fewer but longer classes than a traditional school schedule.
Getting to nearby towns and larger cities
Locals typically take Main Street (state Route 23) to get from one end of the township to the other, whether to hop on U.S. 322 in New Holland or Interstate 76 in Morgantown. Commuters can drive 20 miles to Reading, 20 miles to Pottstown or 25 miles to Lancaster. Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Allentown are all about 50 to 60 miles away, each with an international airport.
Written By
Nicolas Stuart
