Major employers and a downtown district are near Hemlock
Hemlock is a rural and suburban township on the northwestern edge of Bloomsburg, the seat of Columbia County. “Most of our identity revolves around being close to that town because it’s where people work, go to school and go out to eat,” says Eric Stahley, a lifelong Hemlock resident and the township’s manager. Less than 5 miles from Hemlock, Bloomsburg has a vibrant downtown district and several major employers, including a Commonwealth University campus. Within the township, acres of farmland surround winding roads, and there’s a shopping corridor with big-box stores. “We all enjoy living on really quiet and private properties while also being close to everything we need,” Stahley says.
Hemlock median house price is higher than Bloomsburg’s
Homes built between the early 1900s and 2020s dot Hemlock’s hilly roads. Colonial Revivals, Cape Cod cottages and New Traditional houses are all common. Some homes sit on modest lots shaded by oak trees, while other properties are working farms with soybean crops and cattle. The median single-family house price is around $352,000, which is higher than Bloomsburg’s $238,000 median. “We’ve got houses on 10 or more acres and some new-build houses, so those factors usually drive prices up,” Stahley says.
Big-box stores and chain restaurants sit along state Route 42
State Route 42 is a commercial corridor lined with strip malls at the center of Hemlock. Buckhorn Plaza has a Walmart Supercenter, Lowe’s and Marshalls. The former Columbia Mall is also along the street, though it was renamed Columbia Colonnade when most of its stores closed in the 2010s. Now, Planet Fitness, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet and Durham’s Sports anchor the shopping center. “It’s basically a dead mall, but we’re slowly starting to see some new development,” Stahley says. Aldi and fast-food places like Wendy’s and Starbucks have been built around the Colonnade's parking lot within the last 5 years. “We’re always hopeful that someone will buy the entire mall and really bring it back to life,” Stahley says. The area also has a few rural storefronts, like Moore’s Produce and Olde Farmhouse Antique Country Store. Pubs, coffee shops and pizzerias fill Italianate-style storefronts in downtown Bloomsburg, where annual events include a Christmas tree lighting and the Renaissance Jamboree every April.
Locals are often farmers, or they work in Bloomsburg
Though farming is a big industry here, some Hemlock locals commute to Bloomsburg’s major employers. “People in town joke that everyone here is a farmer, a teacher or a doctor,” Stahley says. Over 500 people work at Commonwealth University’s Bloomsburg campus, which offers majors like business and nursing. Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital has around 1,000 employees and the closest emergency room.
Kids go to public school in Bloomsburg
The Bloomsburg Area School District serves Hemlock. Kids can go to Bloomsburg Memorial Elementary, which Niche grades a B, and Bloomsburg Area Middle, which earns a B-minus. Students may continue to B-rated Bloomsburg Area High, where Advanced Placement classes include calculus, psychology and biology. C-plus-rated Columbia County Christian School educates students from kindergarten to 12th grade.
Hemlock has hiking trails, hunting land and a golf course
Several campsites and rural recreation spaces are in the area. Hemlock, oak and pine trees surround the short hiking trail at the 59-acre Jakey Hollow Natural Area, also a hunting ground for white-tailed deer. Locals can visit the Stonehouse Berry Patch to pick strawberries and raspberries between April and June. Horses trot around the Eos Therapeutic Riding Center, an emotional support equestrian center for veterans and children with mental and physical disabilities. The Links at Hemlock Creek is a public 18-hole golf course with a rolling terrain set against a rocky stream. Bloomsburg Town Park has a playground, a hiking trail and fishing spots along the Susquehanna River.
Interstate 80 is easily accessible
Hemlock is a car-dependent community with asphalt and gravel roads. State Route 42 and state Route 44 lead directly to Bloomsburg. Interstate 80 stretches across the southern part of town. It eventually connects with Interstate 81 to reach Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport, about 55 miles east. The Buckhorn Community Fire Company and the Hemlock Township Police Department provide the area with emergency services. “The fire company is volunteer-based, and the police department only has three officers,” Stahley says. “But not much happens here, so that’s really all we need.”
