Dickinson Township offers rural living close to Carlisle
Agricultural roots run deep in Dickinson Township. Established in 1785, the community was first home to Scotch-Irish farmers. Today, around 5,300 people live in the township, enjoying the slow pace, scenery and seclusion of country living, as well as outdoor adventures on South Mountain. “I describe it as farm suburban,” says Shannon Kincaid, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Homesale Realty, who’s lived in South Central Pennsylvania for more than two decades. “There’s recreation, there’s history, there’s country.” Kincaid adds that proximity to Carlisle is another draw. The college town, home to the private Dickinson College, is also a hub for warehouse and distribution center jobs.
A variety of single-family homes surrounded by nature
A network of country roads, rising and falling with hilly terrain, connects Dickinson Township's various residential pockets. With single-family homes built between the early 1900s and today, architecture is diverse, ranging from ranch-style homes and farmhouses with acreage and mountain views to field- and forest-hugged subdivisions of Colonial Revivals, neotraditional designs and custom new construction. Single-family home prices start at around $195,000 and can reach $800,000. Townhouses don’t go on the market often. Only two units were sold between September 2024 and August 2025, with prices ranging from around $45,000 for about 1,300 square feet to $250,000 for 1,800 square feet. Some properties, including the sought-after homes in the Callapatscink subdivision, are within earshot of trains passing through the township. With creeks and thousands of acres of woodland, flooding and wildfires are possible.
Year-round outdoor adventures on South Mountain
Nature is close by in Dickinson Township. Part of Michaux State Forest makes up much of the community’s southern half. The forest is home to Pine Grove Furnace State Park, where visitors can swim and paddle around Laurel Lake and hikers can traverse the popular Hammond’s Rocks Trail to reach a rock formation believed to be at least 530 million years old. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail also passes through the park. Cross-country skiing, ice fishing and the like are common activities in the winter months. Nearby, Kings Gap Environmental Educational Center, a 2,500-acre state park, features a historic mansion with scenic views of the mountainous landscape. The center has events year-round, from volunteer days to the monthly Music on the Mountain series from June through September. Stuart Park at Barnitz Mill is the township’s community-focused green space with a playground, rentable pavilion and walking paths. Yellow Breeches Creek flows through the park, offering shallow water for fishing and splashing around. The region offers various other activities, including hunting in State Game Lands No. 305, watching drag races at South Mountain Raceway and going for a round at Cumberland Golf Club, which features a public 18-hole course.
Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Kings Gap State Park
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The Appalachian Trail skirts Silver Spring Township along the Blue Mountain Ridge.
Small-town shops close to home and national retailers in Carlisle
A few mom-and-pop shops dot Dickinson Township. Appalachian Trail hikers often stop by Green Mountain General Store & Deli to grab a bite to eat and restock on supplies. Kings Gap General Store, known for its sandwiches and ice cream, has served the community since 1894. Big Hill Ciderworks offers wood-fired pizza, flights of cider and live music. More shopping and dining options, from national retailers and grocery chains to locally owned restaurants, are about 10 miles away in Carlisle. “Downtown Carlisle has a really fun vibe,” Kincaid says. “Dickinson College is right in the middle. There are lots of great coffee shops and breweries, a great pho place, little cider bars and it’s very walkable.” The borough has the closest full-service hospital, UPMC Carlisle. The R/C Carlisle Commons Movies 8 offers a modern moviegoing experience, while the Cumberland Drive-In Theatre provides a retro escape for a double feature under the stars.
Public and private school options in the Carlisle area
The Carlisle Area School District earns a B overall rating from Niche and has about 5,200 students across 10 schools and a virtual academy. Parents can submit a change of building request for kindergarten through eighth-grade students. Otherwise, students attend their assigned schools. North Dickinson Elementary serves Dickinson Township and receives a B rating. The school feeds into the B-rated Lamberton Middle. Carlisle Area High gets a B-plus. Its Carlisle Christmas Craft Show is a highly anticipated community event each November with more than 200 vendors and food prepared by CHS Culinary Arts students.
Several private schools are nearby in Carlisle, including Saint Patrick Catholic School, which Niche does not yet rate. Dickinson College, named after United States Founding Father John Dickinson, offers 46 undergraduate majors.
Travel internationally with a small airport feel from Harrisburg International Airport.
Dickinson Township is a car-dependent community
People typically drive around Dickinson Township and much of South Central Pennsylvania. Interstate 81 connects commuters to Harrisburg, a little over 30 miles away. Harrisburg International Airport offers the closest commercial flights, less than 40 miles away. Rabbit Transit provides bus service throughout the region, with the nearest park and ride directly west of the township. Road cyclists can enjoy scenic rides along the area’s country roads or pedal down a 2-mile standalone section of the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail.
Written By
DeeVa Payne
Photography Contributed By
Ali Rehan
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