Laurens is an Oneonta exurb with abundant nature and rural living
The rural town of Laurens offers a slice of Appalachian living just ten miles outside the regional hub of Oneonta . More than 2,300 people live in villages and hamlets like Laurens, West Laurens and Mount Vision and work for the local school, small manufacturers or in retail jobs. Open countryside separates Laurens’ isolated sections, and state parks create opportunities for outdoor adventures. “Laurens is a very outdoorsy community,” says Shelby MacLeish, Assistant Director of the Otsego County Conservation Association, which plays a pivotal role in preserving Otsego County's parks and offering immersive environmental education programs. “Just two weeks ago, we had a mushroom walk at Gilbert Lake State Park. We like that area because it’s big and accessible to the public. It’s also mid-county, so people can get there easily.”
Golfing, baseball, hiking and camping are all possible in Laurens
Within the village of Laurens, residents can play baseball at the Laurens Rec Center or relax at Knapp Park’s gazebo and benches. Colonial Ridge Golf and its 18-hole course are open to the public, and it hosts around a dozen league competitions and several tournaments. Laurens is surrounded by several state parks that preserve near-unaltered wilderness for exploration. Milford State Forest’s 512 acres of wildlands are open for primitive camping and hunting while also featuring a snowmobile trail during the winter months. The Wilber Lake Recreation Area includes hiking and mountain biking trails, fishing ponds, beaver habitats and plenty of viewpoints for photographers to utilize. Gilbert Lake State Park preserves nearly 1,600 acres of Catskill wilderness for boating, hiking, skiing, disc golf, boating and more.
Homes in Laurens cluster in hamlets or dot rural roadways
Laurens’ homes are clustered within the town’s three communities or scattered along rural roads like State Routes 205 and 23. Residential streets in the village of Laurens have sidewalks, but the rest of the town’s roads tend to be narrow and lack sidewalks. Manufactured homes sell for $140,000 to $160,000, while ranch-style homes go for $150,000 to $350,000. Bungalows and Cape Cod-style houses sell for $400,000 to $450,000. The quiet town has a CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Laurens' small business scene includes a bar and butcher's shop
Though retail options are limited in rural Laurens, most businesses in the area are locally owned. Don’s Meat Market has long been a mainstay for deer hunters, transforming their quarries into ready-to-grill cuts of meat. Mandy’s Bar & Grill serves as the local bar and restaurant, serving burgers and fried fish with its beers. Dollar General is the closest supermarket, though Weaver’s Farm Market in neighboring Morris offers a vast selection of Amish groceries.
Diverse activities include engineering and music
Students can attend Laurens Central School, which receives a C-plus rating from Niche, from kindergarten through 12th grade. The school offers diverse extracurriculars, including competitive marching and jazz bands. Laurens also offers STEM courses like the Exposure to Engineering Program, which trains students in robotics, civil engineering, computer programming and other advanced technological fields.
Oneonta is a short drive down State Route 205
State Route 205 takes commuters to the regional hub of Oneonta and its A.O. Fox Hospital within a 10-mile drive. Laurens is also home to the Oneonta Municipal Airport, a low-traffic airport that offers flying lessons.
![Jacob Adelhoch]()
Written By
Jacob Adelhoch
