Douglass

Where open farmland and fields once stood in the agricultural community of New Hanover Township, residential subdivisions have started to take their place. While the community has seen an influx of new construction, it maintains a serene countryside setting with rolling hills and lush green spaces. “New Hanover Township has a lot of charm, and it has a great community feel,” says Deborah Singleton, a Realtor with Realty One Group Restore who was born and raised in Montgomery County. “The people really make the place, and it also offers a very convenient lifestyle.” Besides its rustic charm, the town offers proximity to nearby urban centers such as Allentown and Philadelphia. While new construction has brought a touch of modernity to the streets of New Hanover Township, the community has a rich history dating back to the early 18th century. The town is home to two of the first German congregations in Pennsylvania: the New Hanover Evangelical Lutheran Church and Falkner Swamp United Church of Christ. The congregations were formed by Germanic immigrants who settled in the area around 1720, and both remain active today. Homebuyers will find a variety of housing options in New Hanover, reflecting the township’s transformation from undeveloped farmland to suburban sprawl. “You have a mix of condensed housing and expansive properties,” Singleton says. “A lot of the new development will sit on one-third to a half-acre, but there’s still a lot of farmlands in the area ranging from four to 12-acre lots.” In the southern half of town, homes tend to sit closer together on sidewalk-lined streets. Homebuyers in this area will find a mix of traditional ranch-style, split-level and Colonial Revival houses built throughout the 20th century. There are also several new construction communities built around the early 2020s. Further north, bucolic farmhouses and custom-built homes sit on secluded lots surrounded by mature trees. Prices for single-family homes range from around $350,000 to $700,000. The township also has several townhouse communities, with units selling for about $385,000 to $430,000. New Hanover Township has an overall CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, significantly lower than the national average of 4. Students attend the Boyertown Area School District, which earns a B-minus from Niche and has an average student-teacher ratio of 16-to-1. Most kids in the township begin their education at New Hanover-Upper Frederick Elementary School before moving on to Boyertown Area Middle School East, both of which are rated a B-minus. Boyertown Area Senior High School earns a B, and its dual enrollment program allows teens to earn college credit from Montgomery County Community College and Harrisburg University of Science and Technology. Residents in New Hanover Township are primarily car-dependent. Pennsylvania Routes 73 and 663 intersect near the center of town, and Interstate 476 is about a 15-mile drive east. Also known as the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I-476 leads about 45 miles south to Philadelphia. The township is also about 25 miles south of Allentown, and Lehigh Valley International Airport is about a 35-mile drive away. New Hanover is primarily residential outside of its rolling hills, but there are several restaurants in the southern half of the township. Our Place Restaurant & Tavern has been serving up classic comfort foods for over 30 years, and the latest game is always on TV at its wood-paneled bar. Sunset Hill Brewing Company is known for its craft beers and rustic taproom, while Peppe’s Pizza & Grill is a go-to for homestyle Italian food. Residents can grab groceries at Freed’s Supermarket, a local grocer located in Gilbertsville. The township embraces its countryside setting with abundant green spaces. “It’s an area tailored to someone who enjoys being outdoors because there are so many parks scattered around,” Singleton says. “One of the most unique and popular is Swamp Creek Park, which locals call the airplane park because it’s where people can launch model airplanes.” In addition to serving as the home base for the Swamp Creek Radio Control Modelers, the park has a small playground and a paved walking trail. Further south is New Hanover Community Park, which has a disc golf course, a basketball court and a street hockey rink. Golf lovers can practice their swings at the public Bella Vista Golf Course, while membership at the Hickory Valley Golf Club comes with access to two 18-hole golf courses and a driving range. Hickory Park is a popular gathering spot with an outdoor pool, playground and several pavilions where the township hosts community events. Annual festivities include the Fall Frolic, which celebrates the start of the season with a petting zoo, live music and local vendors selling food and artisanal goods.