Potter Township combines rural, outdoorsy living with nearby events and entertainment options, just 12 miles from State College. “Moral of the story out there is you can have a house and camp out in the woods but be close to Penn State events without being in the city,” says Chris Bickford, a local Realtor at Keller Williams Advantage Realty. Bordered by the ridges and mountains of the Appalachian Ridge and Valley Province, the township has rolling hills of greenery and flat stretches of farmland, some of which are being developed. This growth is more an expansion of the State College area, explains Bickford, who has sold and parceled several plots for development in the area. While the township is not connected with the State College zip code, there’s not much space in State College, so people are expanding elsewhere. However, some farms will remain untouched. “A lot of that farmland, some of the farmers have put that into Farmland Preservation,” says Bickford, referring to a program in Pennsylvania that ensures farmland will remain farmland even if the property is sold. “Not a lot is gonna happen with it.” The township’s CAP Index crime score is 1 out of 10, well below the national average of 4.
Older homes in Potter are found on farms or along main roads in Centre Hall.
Seemingly endless fields dominate the landscape of Potter.
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Flat terrain for farmland
Homes are spaced far apart along winding roadways stemming from the gridded streets of Centre Hall Borough within the township. The flat terrain between Mount Nittany and the ridges and dips of the Appalachians creates a plateau for long stretches of cornfields. Split-level, national and ranch are popular housing styles in the area. Housing prices are determined based on size. Residences with three to seven bedrooms and at least two bathrooms range from $400,000 to $850,000, while homes featuring three or fewer bedrooms and two or fewer bathrooms range from $200,000 to $375,000.
Nicer homes in Potter often set on very large lots with sweeping views.
Traditional ranch homes are popular in Potter and the average sized home is 1,930 square feet.
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Hiking trails on Mount Nittany
Mount Nittany has 20 miles of trails and hosts hikes through the Mount Nittany Conservancy, which helps maintain trails and wildlife on the mountain. The ridges bordering the southern end of the township contain a collection of trailheads and campgrounds. Tussey Mountain Ski and Recreation, 6 miles away, offers skiing, snowboarding and tubing during the winter and miniature golf, mountain biking and go-karting in the summer. Within the township, residents can fish or relax on the waters of Colyer Lake. Penn’s Cave and Wildlife Park, 10 miles away, offers a historic water-filled cave first explored by Seneca Indians and other Iroquois tribes. Today, visitors take boat tours within the underground cavern and visit the attached wildlife park. “One of the most important features of Penn’s Cave is its water,” says Jeanine Watson, the executive business director of Penn’s Cave & Wildlife Park. “On average, approximately 8 to 11 million gallons of water a day flow through the cavern out onto the manmade Lake Nitanee, forming the headwaters of Penn’s Creek.”
Mount Nittany Trailhead is a popular spot for locals to hike.
Poe Lake in Poe Valley State Park is a destination for local fishermen.
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Oldest State Fair in Centre County
While Potter Township may seem quiet, events and activities are constantly popping up in and around the neighborhood. Grange Fair, the oldest state fair in Centre County and the only tenting fair in the nation, runs for over a week at local Grange Park in August. The park becomes a campground for tents and RVs; attendees can listen to free concerts and watch equine competitions while snacking on candy apples, bacon-covered mac and cheese, hot wings and other locally made fair food. For year-round events, residents visit the Centre Hall Public Library for Lego building hours, storytimes, book clubs and other family-friendly gatherings. Religious services are held at Egg Hill Church, Trinity United Church of Christ, Calvary Bible Church and others in the area.
Shopping and dining in downtown State College
Shopping and dining are found in downtown State College and along Atherton Street. Groceries are also available in in State College, at Wegmans and Weis Market. There are a few restaurants in Centre Hall, a small borough within Potter Township, the most popular being Brothers Pizza & Italian Restaurant, which serves classic Italian food alongside American diner fare. Hidden among Potter Township's rolling hills is Seven Mountains Wine Cellars, part of the Central Pennsylvania Tasting Trail , which features breweries and wineries stretching from State College to Philipsburg. The trail takes participants through Centre County’s locally owned tasting rooms.
Potter offers limited dining options, but residents enjoy the many restaurants of State College.
Seven mountains Wine Cellars is a highlight for residents and visitors alike.
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Career readiness from elementary through high school
The Penns Valley Area School District receives a B from Niche and serves the Potter area. Children may attend Centre Hall Elementary School and Penns Valley Intermediate School. Both Centre Hall Elementary and Penns Valley Intermediate receive a B-plus. Students can advance to Penns Valley Junior/Senior High School, which receives a B-minus. The school district has a K-12 Counseling Program to ensure a smooth transition from high school to the workforce or another educational institution. As part of the program, high school seniors must research, apply and attend a mock interview for a career of their choosing.
Penns Valley Area Elementary/Intermediate School is where Potter students begin their education.
Penns Valley Area Junior/Senior High School serves middle and high schoolers in the area.
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Commuters use U.S. 322 and State Route 45
Potter Township is car-dependent, with state routes such as U.S. 322 and Pennsylvania Route 45 leading 7 miles west into Boalsburg and, a few miles farther, State College, which is home to Mount Nittany Medical Center and State College Regional Airport.
Highway 322 connects Potter with State College & Lewistown.
Route 144 through Centre Hall in potter has a dense mix of businesses & older homes.
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Written By
Isabella Pontecorvo
Photography Contributed By
Ed Messenger
Video By
Edward Pokoj
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Erin Calandra-Witmer,
an experienced agent in this area.
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