Rural life centered around outdoor activities in Pharsalia
Located in between the cities of Binghamton, Syracuse and Ithaca, Pharsalia is a sprawling piece of rural Central New York. “There’s not much within the township,” says Donna Standish, local real estate agent at Yaman Real Estate. “But McDonough and Pharsalia are big hunting areas as far as land. There’s a lot of state land.” Residents may have to drive several miles to the nearest grocery store or restaurant. But they gather at the volunteer fire station for community events and a weekly farmers market, and spend most of their free time out snowmobiling, hiking, hunting or fishing over the thousands of acres of state forests and game land.
Pharsalia has hunting land and rural escapes
Most real estate sales here are for land. “I deal with a lot of investors. Downstate individuals are constantly looking in our area for hunting land, recreation land,” Standish says. She notes that some buyers in this area build homes on their land, while others only drill a well for a camper hookup or have hunting sites with minimal amenities. House sales are less common. Traditional-style and manufactured homes have recently sold between $100,000 and $130,000, though estimated home values in the area can reach as high as $340,000. Pharsalia’s CAP Index Crime Score is a 1, below the national average of 4.
Snowmobile, hunt and hike in Pharsalia’s state land
Covering about 4,700 acres, the Pharsalia Wildlife Management Area has dense woods, ponds and trails used by hikers and hunters. Bordering the wildlife management area is the Pharsalia Woods State Forest. In the winter, locals enjoy snowmobiling on the forest’s section of the New York State Snowmobile Corridor Trail. The 580-mile Finger Lakes Trail also crosses through here, and it’s suitable for hiking during the warmer months and snowshoeing and cross-country skiing during the snowy winters. Anglers can throw out a line, and birdwatchers spot species like the sandhill crane at Round Pond and other bodies of water in Pharsalia Woods. Another spot favored by locals is the Berry Hill Fire Tower. Visitors climb up the 59-foot tower to take in sweeping views of the rural landscape.
Pre-K through 12th grade under one roof
Students in Pharsalia may attend the Ostelic Valley Central School. This institution serves pre-K through 12th grade in one building and has an overall C rating from Niche. The school integrates arts education throughout the grade levels, offering theater programs and workshops, visits from artists and artists, and creative writing instruction. The school also has opportunities for community service, several clubs, and junior varsity and varsity athletic teams.
Necessities are a few miles east in Norwich
The town's hamlet of East Pharsalia has the area’s post office and fire department. For shopping and dining, locals can drive about 15 miles east to Norwich. Norwich has an Aldi and Walmart for necessities, and it’s also home to the UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital. Ray’s Kitchen in Norwich has burgers and salads, while Magro’s has pizza and calzones to-go, and Bohemian Moon has American comfort foods in a contemporary setting. The city of Cortland, about 25 miles west of Pharsalia, also has a variety of businesses.
The firehouse and town park host community events
The Pharsalia Firehouse hosts the Pharsalia Farmers Market on Wednesday nights. The community comes out to purchase fresh-baked pies, local produce, and handmade items like jewelry and soaps. The town also puts on other events like a community picnic in July and an Easter egg hunt at the firehouse in the Spring.
Traveling across Central New York from Pharsalia
Pharsalia is car-dependent. The town is 50 miles east of Ithaca, 50 miles south of Syracuse and 40 miles north of Binghamton. For travelers, all three of these cities have commercial airports. State Route 23 goes through Pharsalia and connects drivers to other major highways across the state.
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Faith Wakefield
