Crossing the state line into New Church, Virginia
New Church greets U.S. Route 13 drivers to Virginia’s Eastern Shore with a Virginia is for Lovers sign and an official state welcome center. The area is fairly rural, but not far from nature, shopping and entertainment in Chincoteague and Pocomoke City. “You’re close enough that you can get in on the action with a 5- to 20-minute drive, but you’re not going to have to deal with most of the traffic or most of the noise,” says Benjamin Clark, a Realtor with Dockside Properties who frequently sells in the area. New Church has many farms, as well as chemical, electrical and manufacturing companies. It's also close to NASA's Wallops Flight Facility, a rocket launch site with a visitor center in Wattsville.
Spread-out homes with spacious yards and privacy
Properties in the New Church area tend to offer large yards and more privacy. “You’re not going to have as much density [as nearby Captain’s Cove area], it’s much more spread out, and you’re mostly going to run into older housing,” Clark says. “There’s just not as much new development.” Prices range from $140,000 to around $650,000. In the last year, only eight homes sold.
Getting an education at Accomack County Public Schools
Accomack County Public Schools earns a B-minus overall rating on Niche. Students can attend C-rated Kegotank Elementary in Mappsville, then continue to C-plus-rated Arcadia Middle and B-minus-rated Arcadia High, which are both located in Oak Hall. Students at the high school can enroll in the Badger Technical Center, which offers Career and Technical programs, including automotive services technology, cosmetology and welding.
Assateague Island and the Chincoteague Pony Swim
There are no parks in the area, but Clarks says people either go to the school playgrounds or Chincoteague. The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge includes protected beaches and marshes and is famous for its ponies. “There’s a herd of ponies out on Assateague Island, and there are a couple of different stories on how they got there,” Clark says. “The more romantic story is that they are survivors from a Spanish shipwreck.” The ponies swim across the Assateague Channel every year during the Chincoteague Pony Swim, an event that includes a parade and brings thousands of tourists to the area.
Small shops and more options in Pocomoke City
Royal Farms Convenience Store has a hot food menu that includes fried chicken, and Dixieland, which sells gas, food and gifts, has been open since 1985. There are a handful of local restaurants, like Amarin Coffee Roastery and Bakery in Wattsville, and small businesses and a Food Lion run along U.S. Route 13. To the north, Pocomoke City has Walmart, some restaurants and the Mar-Va Theater Performing Arts Center. There are more shopping, dining and entertainment farther out toward Chincoteague Island. “Chincoteague is the big attraction and the big economic center around here,” Clark says.
Traveling on Lankford Highway and getting to Salisbury
Star Transit’s Silver Route runs toward Maryland through Chincoteague, New Church and Horntown. Most residents get around by car, sometimes traveling on U.S. Route 13, also known as Lankford Highway. “It’s the main highway running up and down the peninsula,” Clark says. The drive to Salisbury takes around 34 miles, which could take around 45 minutes in usual traffic. Salisbury Regional Airport and TidalHealth Peninsula Regional are about the same distance away. However, there are some medical centers closer by. Chincoteague is around 14 miles to the east, a drive that can take 15-20 minutes in usual traffic.
