Harford’s solitude in Central New York
The town of Harford has beautiful scenery with rolling hills, farmland and country roads that weave through Central New York. Residents here enjoy solitude and scenery, as well as easy access to several state parks, Greek Peak Mountain Resort and the Finger Lakes. And although this area is a largely rural, agricultural community, Ithaca is just a 30-minute drive away, while Syracuse is just an hour away.
Secluded properties on acres of land in Harford
Houses don’t come up for sale too often around here, but home values typically hover between $150,000 and $250,000. Homes commonly include farmhouses, traditional styles and ranch styles. There are also some clusters of mobile homes off state Route 221, and Creamery Hills Apartments is a small, 55-plus community in town.
Many homes are tucked away in the woods with acres of space, and land sales are also common. Donna Standish, a real estate agent at Yaman Real Estate, says some buyers in the region are looking for hunting and recreation properties that don’t serve as their primary residence. “Some of the [pieces of] land have hunting cabins. That’s very common. I’ve sold a few [pieces of] hunting land with cabins that are not totally finished. They might have a water system in a tank,” she says. “Sometimes people will go above and beyond, who want land and do want a second home out of the city.” Properties bordering state forests, like those in Harford, can be particularly appealing for hunting because of the ample space and privacy. Harford’s CAP Index Crime Score is a 1, much lower than the national average of 4.
State Parks and nearby Greek Peak have year-round recreation
Several expansive state forests go through Harford. One of these is the James Kennedy State Forest, covering more than 4,500 acres of forests and trails. Part of the 580-mile Finger Lakes Trail goes through here, and there are many more miles of snowmobiling and skiing trails throughout. Fishing and hunting is also permitted. Griggs Gulf State Forest also goes through Harford, offering more scenic views and solitude. This forest has trails along bubbling creeks and through the area’s rolling hills and open meadows. For even more recreation, Greek Peak Mountain Resort has dozens of ski trails and a waterpark 10 miles away, and Cayuga Lake, one of the Finger Lakes, is less than 20 miles away.
Students attend the Dryden Central School District
While some students on the eastern side of Harford attend schools in the Marathon Central School District, most of the town is served by the Dryden Central School District. Students may begin at Dryden Elementary School, which has a C-plus rating from Niche, and continue to C-rated Dryden Middle School and B-rated Dryden High School. Students at Dryden High can apply to take courses in partnership with the Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga BOCES Career and Tech Center. Pathways include cosmetology, welding, exercise & health sciences, and animal science.
Necessities in Harford and more nearby in Dryden
Harford has basic facilities, including a volunteer fire department, post office and Harmony United Methodist Church. “Harford is a very small town, same as Lapeer,” Standish says. Although it’s small, the town’s fire department hosts fundraising events like pancake breakfasts, and the fire station is also used for community events like trunk-or-treat around Halloween. Additionally, Daisy Hollow Farm sells its goods in Harford, including wool, eggs, chicken and soap.
The town of Dryden is about 6 miles away. The small downtown has a library and bank; small businesses like Protagonist Books & Coffee and Connected Stitches Yarn & Fiber Shop; hangout spots like The Corner Brew. The Dryden Hotel, a restaurant, is also downtown serves brunch favorites like waffles with whipped cream and dinner staples including pizza and wings. Dryden also has grocers, including Dryden Food Market.
Getting around by car in Harford
State Route 38 goes through Harford and connects drivers to other major roads around the region. Ithaca, home to Cornell University and Ithaca Tompkins International Airport, is about 15 miles west of Harford. Cortland, home to Guthrie Cortland Medical Center, is also about 15 miles away, while Syracuse is about 50 miles north.
This area receives an average of 65 inches of snow annually, and Cortland County is responsible for plowing after storms. “We’ve actually had lighter winters than historically. When I was younger, our winters were heavy winters with lots of snow. We don’t really get that anymore. We’ll get a storm, but they plow and get rid of it,” Standish says.
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Written By
Faith Wakefield
