Conewago Township offers a suburban lifestyle in a rural landscape
Resting along the south branch of its namesake creek, Conewago Township is a growing, family-friendly suburb of Hanover, a few miles north of the Maryland state line. Farms surround the subdivisions that dot this Adams County enclave, home to about 7,900 people. “When you’re in Littlestown or Gettysburg, the houses are close together. Once you get to Conewago Township, things are more spread out,” says Carolyn Boyle , a South Central Pennsylvania native and Realtor with Re/Max Quality Service, Inc. She says the township appeals to those who love the outdoors and offers two different lifestyles. “It’s personal preference. Conewago has some walking neighborhoods, but it also has some outskirts.” Proximity to Hanover, Maryland, and Codorus State Park are also draws.
Conewago Township features the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the oldest Catholic church made of stone in the United States. Built in 1767, the house of worship sits atop a small hill overlooking Conewago Enterprises, Inc., a large regional employer in the construction industry.
A variety of single-family homes from the late 1800s through today
Single-family homes in Conewago Township are mostly grouped in subdivisions with wide sidewalk-lined streets that end in cul-de-sacs. The Brushtown area features Colonial Revivals, New Traditional and ranch-style homes, while the Edgegrove area has similar styles and bi-levels. Both offer neotraditional townhouses. Cape Cods, farmhouses and custom builds rest on larger lots along the township’s two-lane country roads. Most homes cost between $180,000 and $590,000. However, new construction starts around $470,000 and can exceed $700,000. Townhouses range from $160,000 to $420,000. A few creeks run through the township. Properties near these waterways may rest in flood hazard areas, according to FEMA flood maps.
Public and private education options in Conewago Township
The Conewago Valley School District earns a B-plus overall rating from Niche. The district has five traditional schools, an online academy and a partnership with Adams County Technical Institute, which provides career and technical education. Conewago Township Elementary offers kindergarten through third grade, while Conewago Valley Intermediate has fourth through sixth grade. Students move on to New Oxford Middle for seventh and eighth grade before attending New Oxford High. All four schools get a B rating. The high school’s athletic department offers various sports teams, from bowling and baseball to soccer and swimming. Saint Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School – Conewago Campus is a private option within the township that Niche does not yet rate.
Parks and recreation in Adams and York counties
Sports are popular in Conewago Township, with local clubs utilizing public and private parks. The Conewago Valley Soccer Club plays at Plum Creek Community Park, which the township is turning into a more comprehensive green space with a trail system and an amphitheater, among other things. Baseball is the big to-do at the Brushtown Athletic Association’s grounds off Hanover Road. More parks are nearby in Mcsherrystown , including North Street Dog Park, which offers two fenced areas for pups to socialize and play. Horse lovers have several equestrian facilities to choose from, such as Legato Farm and Equestrian Center, where riders can enjoy lessons, clinics and camps. The 18-hole course at Flatbush Golf Course is open to the public. Activities like hiking, camping and hunting draw visitors to the lake-anchored Codorus State Park, around 9 miles east, while American Civil War history is the focus at Gettysburg National Military Park, less than 15 miles west.
Hanover offers shopping and dining options nearby
A few businesses are sprinkled throughout Conewago Township, including Food Lion, Dollar General and Half Pint Creamery, which is a family-owned ice cream shop in a historic schoolhouse from the late 1800s. But residents typically shop and dine in Hanover , where national retailers and name-brand stores line state Route 94 and Eisenhower Drive. North Hanover Mall is around 5 miles away and features over a dozen stores. Hanover also offers a range of local restaurants, bars and boutiques downtown. “Downtown you can eat, you can drink and you can see the arts,” Boyle says.
Commuting around South Central Pennsylvania
Conewago Township is a car-dependent community with several highways nearby, including U.S. Route 30 and U.S. Route 15. The capital city of Harrisburg , which offers commercial flights out of Harrisburg International Airport, is around 55 miles away. Baltimore is a little over 50 miles southeast. UPMC Hanover, the closest full-service hospital, is about a 5-mile drive from the township in Hanover. Residents can catch a ride with Rabbit Transit, which serves York and Adams counties, at the Food Lion along Centennial Road.
