District Township has family farms in the wooded countryside
Family farms rest on hilltops in the rural countryside of Berks County, removed from busy cities in the deep woods of Eastern Pennsylvania. With acres of land and grazing fields, District Township offers a peaceful reprieve out in nature. "This is definitely 'the sticks.' People from the city get nervous because there are no stoplights," says Jen Sauerwald, lifelong native and secretary of District Township. "I've lived up on this hill since the early '90s. Not a lot changes. People move up here for peace and quiet in the woods. Many people like the solitude, but those of us who get together - we like to bug each other."
Places of worship adorn District Township where residents can find community.
Rural District Township is host to hundreds of acres of farmland.
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Contemporary homes and acres of farmland
Country roads wind through the landscape, passing fields of agriculture and classic red barns. District Township features architectural styles from the 20th century, including contemporary and ranch-style homes, ranging from $110,000 to $510,000. Home sizes are typically between 900 and 2,400 square feet on spacious lots up to 7 acres. Manufactured houses cost between $110,000 and $180,000.
Some properties in Berks County may be susceiptible to flash flooding due to heavy rainfall and stormwater issues.
Some District Township homes are surrounded by old growth trees.
Some Contemporary homes in District Township homes both stone and wood siding.
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Mineral springs and a community pool
There is a limited number of city-maintained parks and public green spaces here. On Weil Road, Berks County Park is a modest green space with a baseball diamond and a tennis court. Nearby Bally offers more recreational facilities, including the Bally Community Park, which features a public swimming pool, a paved trail, and playgrounds. There is an area known as Natural Springs, a pristine source of mineral-filtered water. Hunting is a very popular activity due to the dense woodlands. "You're talking to a hunter. People who have enough property tend to hunt. There is state game land up here, and people can trap on private property," Sauerwald says. "We have all the wildlife you can imagine. There was a bear spotted last week."
Berks Community Park hosts baseball games in Washington Township.
The beautifully-kept tennis court at Berks County Park doubles as twin pickleball courts.
The brand new Reading Skatepark is a short ways from Penn's Common and draws bikers and skaters.
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Neighboring Bally has a homemade ice cream shop and homey taverns
Bally is a town center with retail establishments and locally owned restaurants about 6 miles east. The Main Street center is primarily residential, with unassuming eateries tucked between American foursquare and traditional architecture. One of these is the Bally Hotel, a tavern that serves Philly cheesesteaks and hosts occasional live music. Alfredo's Pizza serves Italian dishes paired with wine. One of the area's most famous businesses is Longacre's Modern Dairy, a longstanding dairy facility with a renowned dessert shop, where customers can purchase raw milk in glass bottles and enjoy homemade ice cream. The nearest supermarket is Great Valu Food Store in Mertztown, and Walmart Supercenter is approximately 10 miles south. "Bally has good restaurants, and a lot of people go to the Lehigh Valley and Reading for shopping," Sauerwald says.
The Great Valu Food Store is a routine stop for District Township residents.
The Peanut Bar in Downtown Reading serves American favorites in a relaxed setting.
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Three schools serving all grade levels
Because the Brandywine Heights Area School District features an elementary, middle and high school. "Brandywine is a small school district, so it's a draw to get out of the big city schools," Sauerwald says. Brandywine Heights Elementary School serves kindergarten to third-grade students and earns a B-plus grade from Niche. Centered around a community of parents, the Bullet Academy offers early childhood programs that enable students to socialize and stay active. Brandywine Heights Intermediate & Middle School has a B-minus grade, serving grades four through eight. Brandywine Heights High School receives a B. It offers dual enrollment classes and a career center with courses related to homeland security and architectural design.
Younger District Township residents enroll at Brandywine Heights Elementary.
Brandywine Heights High School provides education in the neighborhood of Longswamp.
Brandywine Intermediate School serves grades 4-8.
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Reading and the Allentown Airport are easy day trips
Public transportation is not reliable in District Township, and most residents rely on automobiles to get around. The lack of highways in the immediate area makes traffic practically nonexistent. Most residents use two-lane roads to get around, such as Oysterdale Road and Huff's Church Road. The nearest emergency room is at Lehigh Valley Hospital in the nearby town of Macungie, a 20-minute drive away. Reading is approximately 20 miles southwest, and Philadelphia is around 60 miles southeast. There are several small towns within a 15-minute drive. The Lehigh Valley International Airport is in Allentown, roughly 25 miles north.
Written By
Jackson Hardy
Photography Contributed By
Lucas Dyke
Video By
Maurice Boone
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