Family farms and homes on quiet streets fill Monroe
Tucked between Tunkhannock and Dallas in Northeastern Pennsylvania, Monroe Township is a quiet area with more farmland than homes. “It’s very rural with not much around, unless people are driving 25 to 30 minutes to a nearby city,” says Ashley Brzoska, a Realtor with Endless Realty, based in nearby Tunkhannock. Brzoska says Monroe is the kind of place where some people have lived for generations. Businesses like Grassy Ridge Farms are often family-owned, giving locals access to farm-fresh fruit, flowers and produce. When residents want city amenities, like chain stores and restaurants, they can drive down State Route 309 to busy Wilkes-Barre or Scranton. It’s easy for people to stick to themselves among the patches of tall trees and rolling farms, but there are also places to catch up with friends, like the Kunkle Social Hall for chicken dinners. So while Monroe offers an escape from busy city life, residents still have ways to stay connected to their neighbors.
Bungalows and colonial homes rarely go on the market
Very few homes go on the market, but when they do, they often range between almost $140,000 and $240,000 for bungalows and colonial-inspired properties. Homes that sell for less than $100,000 need repairs, while full farms have sold for almost $3 million. Neighbors are spread out from each other, often because lots have at least an acre of land. Residences are clustered around the highway, but some are hidden behind patches of mature trees. Homes run on septic tanks and well water systems due to the rural setting.
Short trips down Route 309 to Wilkes-Barre amenities
State Routes 29 and 309 cut through the area. Route 29 leads nearly 10 miles up to Tunkhannock, while Route 309 flows around 17 miles down to Wilkes-Barre, which has the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital for medical emergencies. The Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport is a slightly farther drive, about 26 miles. Some of Monroe’s places of worship are along Route 309, like Beaumont Seventh-day Adventist Church and Bowman's Creek Free Methodist Church.
Kunkle Fire Company serves the community and cooks up breakfast
The Kunkle Fire Company responds to emergencies across Monroe and Dallas, and the volunteer firefighters host pancake breakfasts at The Kunkle Social Hall on the second Sunday of every month to raise money for equipment and give residents a place to hang out. The company also sells chicken dinners on the last Saturday of every month from April through October.
Enjoying the Susquehanna River or exploring Frances Slocum State Park
Seneca Trail County Park opens its gates on weekdays, allowing locals access to the creek and picnic tables under the trees. Drivers use the park as a rest stop on long trips, and locals visit to spot crayfish in the water. Riverside Park in Tunkhannock has a boat launch that provides access to the Susquehanna River. South of Monroe, Frances Slocum State Park also has boating and fishing on Frances Slocum Lake, though some park visitors prefer to swim in the public pool or walk the trails.
Heading to Tunkhannock for school
Homes in Monroe are zoned for the Tunkhannock Area School District, which gets a C-plus from Niche. Kindergartners through second graders attend Tunkhannock Area Primary Center, which is currently unrated by Niche. Tunkhannock Area Intermediate Center gets a C-plus and shares a building with Tunkhannock STEM Academy, which has a C rating. Receiving a B-minus, Tunkhannock Area High School serves eighth through 12th graders.
Fresh produce at Grassy Ridge Farms and lunch at Rocky Creek Cafe
Monroe has a Dollar General and Smith's Country Store for basic needs, but residents drive up to Tunkhannock to buy groceries from Weis Markets or Aldi. Grassy Ridge Farms has a self-serve stand that opens seasonally and is always stocked with fresh fruits and vegetables. There are occasionally fresh-cut flowers and preserves. The Rocky Creek Cafe in Monroe is a cozy restaurant that is popular for breakfast, though it also serves lunch and dinner. The Beaumont Inn is an upscale hotel built in 1948, and while visitors book the venue for weddings and special events, locals book dinner reservations at the inn. Residents can go to Wilkes-Barre for chain stores, like Target or Lowe's Home Improvement.
