Delaware’s historic Poconos recreation and modern development
Delaware is named for the rushing river that separates Pennsylvania from New Jersey and runs throughout the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. It’s the oldest township in Pike County, but proximity to the county seat of Milford and the major highways and recreation destinations of the Pocono Mountains has brought slow-flowing change to a region still dominated by verdant natural beauty and rolling hills. “I’m tempted to call Delaware poised for growth,” says Vernon Waltz, a Realtor with Realty Executives Exceptional Realtors who has specialized in Pike County for 18 years. “The state Route 739 corridor has had a lot of new business activity. There are private developments with pools and lakes that started as vacation communities but have been turning more full-time over the years. There are programs and nightlife in Milford to a certain extent, but you won’t be out late; you’ll be in bed by 9. It’s funny, over in New Jersey, it’s all go, go, go. In Pike County, it’s crickets. It’s just a very laidback lifestyle here.”
Four seasons in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Across 70,000 acres of the Delaware River Valley, there are countless ways to enjoy the outdoors in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. “You could bike all the way from Stroudsburg to Milford if you felt like it; those trails along the river are pretty flat,” Waltz says. Cross-country skiers also take to the river-hugging McDade Trail through snowy winters. The two tallest waterfalls in Pennsylvania, Dingmans Falls and Raymondskill Falls, are high points on steeper hiking trails within and just outside Delaware. Boaters can launch into the Delaware River from Dingmans Access downstream from the Dingmans Ferry Bridge. Waterfalls also cascade along Dingmans Creek, drawing visitors to the tranquil trails at George W. Childs Park. While many residents live in private communities with their own swimming lakes, they can also enjoy the lifeguard-protected beach at Akenac Park free of charge.
Lakefront homes and private amenities in resort-style communities
Forests canopy Delaware's winding back roads, hiding away the township’s many single-family housing developments. The Poconos’ reputation as a four-seasons recreation destination means that most private communities maintain resort-style amenities. Lakes for boating and swimming are in the center of many subdivisions, as are playgrounds and athletic courts. Wild Acres and Birchwood Lakes are the township’s largest gated neighborhoods. Buyers can find simple cabins and contemporary A-frames down the road from classic split-levels, ranch-style homes and Colonial Revivals. Outside woodsy developments laid out in suburban cul-de-sacs, diverse styles of homes settle along country roads or far back on acreage. Move-in-ready homes sell for around $100,000 to $580,000, depending on condition, square footage and property size. The highest priced homes tend to be newer construction, set along a private lakefront, on a remote acreage or some combination of the three.
Attending the Delaware Valley School District
Delaware is served by the Delaware Valley School District, which earns a B-plus from Niche. Dingman-Delaware Primary School serves prekindergarten through second grade and scores a B, while Dingman-Delaware Elementary School serves third through fifth grades and scores a B-plus. Dingman-Delaware Middle School and Delaware Valley High School also earn B-plus grades. High schoolers can earn dual enrollment credit through institutions like Keystone College.
Delaware’s developing commercial districts, dining in Milford
Route 739 has become a central commercial district for Delaware, anchored by the Delaware Plaza's Weis Markets. Figurines pack the shelves of Razor’s Edge Collectibles down the road. Nearby, SideStreet Bar & Grill pairs sports bar ambiance with pub grub staples. Locals drive about 30 minutes to reach walkable downtown Milford. Old-fashioned commercial buildings center the Pike County seat, inviting residents to browse sparkling stones at Hadley’s Earth Crystals, sip a latte at Cafe Wren or enjoy American fare on the Dimmick Inn’s wraparound porch.
Commuting to Milford, New Jersey and New York
Route 739 and U.S. Route 209 are Delaware’s main connections to Pike County’s tourism and employment hubs. Milford is about 15 miles away. Super commuters have a roughly 80-mile drive to New York City; some opt to drive to Port Jervis and take a roughly two-hour NJ Transit train ride to Secaucus Junction. Pike County has no hospitals, but residents can receive healthcare at Dingmans Medical Center for Infinite Health & Wellness. The Delaware Township Volunteer Ambulance Corp. provides emergency care on the way to Lehigh Valley Hospital – Pocono, nearly 30 miles away. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport is around 60 miles from home.
The Harvest Festival and other Delaware community events
Vendor booths and a pumpkin patch pop up at Akenac Park during Delaware’s autumnal Harvest Festival. While the apple pie contest only happens once yearly, locals can also head to the park to watch shows at the log cabin-like Dingmans Ferry Theatre throughout their performance season. A few houses of worship hold religious services throughout the township, including Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.
Flood zones along Dingmans Creek and the Delaware River
Homes and roadways along Dingmans Creek and the Delaware River may flood after unusually heavy rain. Buyers can consult maps to understand their potential risk and need for flood insurance.
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Written By
Julia Szymanski
