Rural activities and scenery despite residential growth in Kingwood
Kingwood, a rural township in Hunterdon County, has changed a lot since farmers first arrived in the area in the 18th century. While it's still very much rural, it has also grown considerably with new homes, employers and businesses. Nevertheless, it has maintained plenty of farmland, nature preserves and community events that preserve the rural atmosphere all while still leaving room for growth. "Farmland preservation helps to promote local agriculture, protecting family farms and ensuring sources of local food. Kingwood Township has a long history of valuing these benefits of land preservation for its community," says Emily Dunn, Director of Stewardship and Digital Media for the Hunterdon Land Trust.
Delaware River access, plus miles of hiking, biking and equestrian tra
In addition to riding clubs, farmsteads and shooting ranges, hundreds of acres of parks and nature preserves sit in and around Kingwood, making it a prime spot for equestrians, hikers, mountain bikers and other nature lovers. Kingwood Township Park is the area's main community gathering space, often used for public events, barbecues and sports games. Seemingly endless miles of hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails meander through Kingwood, connecting Frenchtown Preserve's 150 acres with trails in Copper Creek Preserve and Horseshoe Bend Park. Down by the river, long-distance cyclists can travel the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail all the way to Trenton and New Brunswick. Some locals also visit the Frenchtown Roller Rink on rainy days. Boat ramps across the street offer access to paddlers looking to kayak the Delaware River.
Wide range for 18th century farmhouses and newly constructed estates
Quite a wide variety of housing styles, sizes and ages can be found throughout Kingwood. The median price for a single-family home is around $685,000, roughly in the middle of a wide price range that goes from $350,000 up to $1.5 million. Regardless of when they were built, most homes in Kingwood sit on large properties. Some estate properties reach up to 70 acres, but most parcels range from 3 to 10 acres. Homes that sit on the largest parcels often include new traditional homes from the 1990s onward. But some farmhouses are much older, including a few structures as old as the 1700s. The most common housing option found in Kingwood is for traditional and midcentury split-levels and ranch-style homes from the 20th century, most of which sit on one- to three-acre lots.
Parents are closely involved in events at Kingwood Township School
Kingwood's schools and rural community vibes go hand in hand. This is demonstrated by a two-step pipeline of schools that both maintain class sizes well below the national average of 17 students per teacher. Most kindergarteners begin at Kingwood Township School, which has a B-plus Niche rating and a very active PTA that allows parents to volunteer at dozens of events throughout the school year, including a fine arts festival, classroom parties and a holiday market. By ninth grade, students begin attending Delaware Valley High School, also rated B-plus. In addition to offering AP classes and dual enrollment credits with area colleges, like Johnson College, career and technical education courses are offered for culinary arts, healthcare, marketing and more.
Farm-to-table shopping and live music at Artie's Bar and Grill
Being a mostly rural community, Kingwood doesn't have a central commercial area. Residents head into nearby small towns like New Hope or Frenchtown for a night out. Frenchtown is also where locals go to shop for groceries from the Frenchtown Market IGA, although some prefer to get their apples, peaches and other produce from the Frenchtown Farmers Market, or from orchards and farmstands throughout the area. Several restaurants are also located in Kingwood. Tavern 519 is a newer establishment open since 2019, serving upscale bistro fare like short rib burgers. Artie's Bar and Grill has been a true meetup space since it opened decades ago, when all Kingwood had was farmland. Nowadays, the casual roadhouse is often bustling with customers, who come for chicken wings, craft beer and live music.
Volunteer opportunities and bring-your-own-horse happy hours
While school events are a big part of the community fabric, other events help bring residents together, like an annual town-wide garage sale every October. Most community events occur in Kingwood Township Park and are fully open to the public, like an annual town Christmas tree lighting ceremony in December. The Kingwood Environmental Commission occasionally hosts tree planting events in Kingwood Township Park. Some local businesses also attract residents with their free events. Frenchtown Riding Club offers a weekly happy hour where horseback riders sip refreshments and ride trails together. Drinks are complimentary, although BYOB is also accepted too, but attendees are expected to bring their own horse if they wish to ride for free.
New solar farms are creating shorter commutes
Kingwood's rural charms don't come without their challenges. The main challenge is proximity to critical amenities. The closest hospital is roughly 20 to 30 minutes away in Flemington, the closest airport is even further away in Trenton, and the only nearby fire stations are all located outside of Kingwood. Most major employers are a long drive away too, however, new solar farms throughout Hunterdon County have eased commutes for some. Still, the closest interstate highways are all at least a 30-minute drive away.
Finding alternative routes in floods and blizzards
Driving can also be difficult in inclement weather. Several small flood zones in Kingwood run along streams that feed into the Delaware River, which is also prone to flooding. While most of these do not affect residential areas, low water crossings can cut off driving routes during heavy rainstorms and blizzards.
