Milford is a rural town deeply immersed in nature
The town of Milford’s vast farmlands, state forests and scattered hamlets serve as a rural buffer between Cooperstown and Oneonta . Around 3,000 people live in hamlets like Milford, Milford Center and Colliersville, and most of them commute to the nearby regional hubs for employment. When they’re not working, Milford’s residents have plenty of venues for outdoor activities. “Goodyear Lake is a big draw,” says Shelby MacLeish, Assistant Director of the Otsego County Conservation Association. “It has year-round activities, whether it’s ice fishing in the winter or swimming and boating in the summer.”
State parks and local waterways offer plenty of outdoor activities
The 423-acre Susquehanna State Forest connects hikers to the East Coast's longest river. “It’s great for providing access to the Susquehanna River,” MacLeish says. “There are people that camp there, and they’re in the process of building a lean-to for more running access.” Anglers can depart from the park’s Crumhorn Boat Launch to fish for smallmouth bass, chain pickerel and other species. The neighboring Hooker Mountain State Forest offers 800 acres of untamed wilderness for primitive camping and fishing along the Cherry Valley and Elk Creeks. Milford State Forest and Arnold Lake State Forest each include snowmobile trails, while Arnold Lake is also a go-to for skiers and snowshoers. “Milford State Forest right now doesn’t have any trails that are marked. We are in the process of working with the foresters of Milford State Forest to work on trails, but it’s more of a primitive site,” MacLeish says. At Milford’s southern end, the manmade Goodyear Lake is open for fishing year-round, including to ice-fishers looking to snag panfish and walleye. “OCCA works with Goodyear Lake to mediate invasive species like water chestnuts during the summer,” MacLeish says. “We have pools for renovation species during the summer months. We also do guided paddles from the Susquehanna into the Goodyear Lake area.”
Victorian and 21st-century homes mix along rural and village roads
Milford’s communities and backroads offer diverse housing options, with properties varying in date of construction, style and condition. Original-quality homes built from the 1870s to the 1890s sell for $120,000 to $190,000. Most renovated and newer properties built from the 1910s to the 2000s go for $190,000 to $500,000. Houses in villages like Milford tend to have small front lawns and sidewalk access. Those along the town’s forested, rural lanes often have larger yards, no sidewalks and gravel driveways. The rural town has a CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Local businesses offer local brews and brunch fare
Though the town lacks a central retail district, small businesses are scattered throughout Milford’s hamlets. In the village of Milford, the Cooperstown Brewing Company has created British-style ales since the 1990s. The Elm Inn, built in 1883, serves pastries and sandwiches in a vintage dining room, while Jackie’s Restaurant offers its own set of brunchtime classics down South Main Street. Cooperstown Junction has a Dollar General, but nearby Oneonta includes bigger retailers like Price Chopper, Aldi and Hannaford.
Milford Central School offers athletics and career programs
Students can attend the Milford Central School, which receives a C-plus rating from Niche, from kindergarten through 12th grade. The school offers competitive soccer teams and a Brilliant Pathways career mentoring program.
Oneonta and Cooperstown are short drives away
Oneonta and its A.O. Fox Hospital are a 10-mile drive down State Route 28 and Interstate 88. Milford is also 15 miles down Route 28 from Cooperstown and the outdoor recreation destination of Otsego Lake.
![Jacob Adelhoch]()
Written By
Jacob Adelhoch
