Monroe Township Cumberland is semirural suburban community
Located midway between Harrisburg and Carlisle, Monroe Township Cumberland is a mostly rural community in the heart of the Cumberland Valley. Shana Amsterdam, co-owner of Talking Breads farm bakery and mill, has found it to be a great place to open a bakery. “The township has been super great to work with, the neighbors are so supportive," she says. “We’ll see them walking here and biking here to get bread.” Most of the township’s land has been devoted to agriculture since its settlement in the 18th century. However, in recent years, a significant portion of that farmland has been replaced by modern subdivisions built by developers hoping to capitalize on Monroe Township's convenient location. “It’s 5 miles — maybe ten minutes — to the middle of Mechanicsburg or Carlisle or Dillsburg, and only 20 minutes to Harrisburg,” Amsterdam says.
Modern homes surrounded by farmland
While colonial farmhouses dot the Monroe Township countryside, most of the local housing inventory is found in the modern subdivisions that have sprung up, particularly in the northern half. Two-story New Traditional homes with large yards are easy to find, and often back up onto the farmlands that still dominate the local landscape. Smaller midcentury ranch-style homes in the area sell for between $270,000 and $400,000, while larger modern properties generally go for $450,000 to $720,000. The community has a CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, well below the national average of 4 out of 10.
Highly rated Cumberland Valley Schools
Highly rated Cumberland Valley School District serves all of Monroe Township and has an A grade on Niche. Monroe Elementary School has an A-minus, while both Eagle View Middle School and Cumberland Valley High have As. Cumberland Valley High partners with Harrisburg University of Science and Technology to offer college credit courses on campus.
Lots of scenic trails, including the AT
Monroe Township Park is located in the center of the community and features a playground, athletic fields and a disc golf course. There are also a number of popular hiking trails in the area. While the most famous of these is the Appalachian Trail, which passes just west of the community, smaller local tracks like White Rocks Trail offer beautiful scenery and opportunities for hiking and horseback riding — both popular pastimes in the area. There are also a number of waterways nearby. “There’s trout fishing at Yellow Breeches Creek,” Amsterdam says. “And we go tubing there in the summer, like every weekend.”
Home-grown meat and produce are easy to find, other retail is nearby
Monroe Township’s developed land is almost entirely rural or residential, so locals usually have to head out of the community to do their shopping. That said, the local Oak Grove Farms market in Monroe is open six days a week, year-round, so locals always have easy access to fresh local meat and produce. Talking Breads, located nearby, is known for its baked goods and sandwiches. Mechanicsburg and Carlisle, which are both just a few miles away, offer both big-box shopping and local restaurants.
Weekly flea markets and the Williams Grove Speedway
The Williams Grove Historical Steam Engine Association hosts the Williams Grove Farmers Flea Market most Sundays throughout the year, featuring more than 500 vendors during the peak season. Williams Grove Speedway holds races from March through October, often drawing thousands of spectators.
Easy Interstate commuting, especially on the north side
Interstate 76 passes just north of Monroe Township, connecting it to Harrisburg and eventually New York City. It’s a roughly 10-mile drive to the center of Carlisle, and about 15 miles to downtown Harrisburg. There isn’t regular public transportation in the area, so locals typically rely on cars to get around. As for flying, it’s about 24 miles to Harrisburg International Airport, which offers direct flights to over a dozen locations.
