Earl Township farmland surrounds the borough of New Holland
Earl Township can sometimes be confused with a township of the same name in Berks County, about 40 miles away. The township in Lancaster County was founded in 1729 and was split in the 1800s to form East Earl Township and West Earl Township. “All three townships are very rural, but East and West are just a little more built up,” says Amanda Martin, Earl Township’s secretary treasurer. Though Earl Township is dominated by Amish and Mennonite farmland, this highly agricultural community also surrounds the borough of New Holland , allowing residents to experience the quiet countryside while just a short drive from retailers and restaurants.
From suburban subdivisions to multi-million-dollar farms
Subdivisions with manufactured homes, townhouses and single-family homes border New Holland’s south side. Despite being surrounded by farmland, these subdivisions have a suburban feel, with homes on leafy lots of an acre or less. Manufactured homes range from around $40,000 to $190,000. Townhouses from the early 2000s feature attached garages and sell for around $315,000 to $330,000. Single-family homes include ranch-style, split-level and New Traditional houses ranging from $370,000 to $490,000. Similar houses can be found in the country with the same price range, while those in the wooded foothills of Welsh Mountain sell for around $400,000 to $575,000. Some larger houses and homes on actual farmland can range anywhere from $1 million to $3.3 million.
Farm stands and discount groceries, more businesses in New Holland
The township has several businesses along Division Highway. Glenwood Foods sells discounted groceries, while Village Farms is one of the many roadside stands offering locally grown produce and homemade goods. “There are a lot of farm stands around here. I couldn’t tell you how many. But that’s what I love about this area. I can get homemade yogurt, homemade cheese, fresh veggies, butter — anything you can think of,” Martin says. La Borimex serves as a Mexican restaurant and grocery store. Dutch Country Soft Pretzels is a local favorite, known for its many variations of soft pretzels, including pretzel wraps and pretzel dogs, along with its homemade dipping mustard. Locals also frequently visit New Holland to dine out or shop at big box retailers like Yoder’s Country Market. East Earl Township next door is home to Shady Maple Smorgasbord, the largest buffet in the United States, and Shady Maple Market, Lancaster County’s largest grocery store.
Recreation and events at Community Memorial Park
Earl Township doesn’t have any parks, but Community Memorial Park in New Holland offers plenty of outdoor activities. It features a wooden castle-like playground, pickleball and tennis courts and a baseball field. It’s also home to a community swimming pool, which features a general swimming area, diving boards and a kiddie pool. Locals gather at the park for community events as well. “They have a lot going on, especially in the summer,” Martin says, “Pretty much every weekend, they have a band playing at the park.” That event is called Entertainment in the Park. Other celebrations include an arts and craft show, which features dozens of vendors, and the Fiddlers Picnic, a Labor Day tradition with food and live fiddle performances.
Block scheduling at Garden Spot Middle and Garden Spot High
Students may attend Blue Ball Elementary School or New Holland Elementary School, each of which receives a B-minus grade from Niche. Students from both schools go on to C-plus-graded Garden Spot Middle School and B-graded Garden Spot High School. The middle and high schools operate on a block schedule, where students have fewer classes with extended time periods, compared to a traditional school schedule.
Locals drive and take the bus to Lancaster
Locals have access to State Route 23, U.S. 322 and U.S. 222. Red Rose Transit Authority runs a bus route along State Route 23 to Lancaster. Lancaster is about a 15-mile drive, and Reading is about 25 miles away. Philadelphia, Allentown and Harrisburg are all within 50 to 60 miles, each having an international airport.
Written By
Nicolas Stuart
