Reading Township offers space for farming and outdoor hobbies
More than 10 miles from the nearest city lights, Reading Township offers quiet country living between U.S. Routes 15 and 30 in rural Adams County. The small enclave, home to Apple Valley Creamery and many farms, runs on agriculture. The community’s wealth of pastures is not just a draw for farmers, but homebuyers too. “It’s a great place for younger people who want to have chicken and goats on a farmette,” says Petula Yingling, an Adams County native and Realtor with Keller Williams Keystone Realty. She adds that residents here enjoy a slower pace of life, with several state parks and cities within driving distance. “We’re about 30 minutes from Gettysburg and York , and about 45 minutes from Harrisburg . The convenience of that is nice for folks,” Yingling says.
A variety of single-family homes from the 1800s through today
Homebuyers searching in Reading Township are often looking for land. “In Reading Township, you can pretty much go anywhere from a quarter acre on up to 100 acres,” Yingling says. Many single-family homes are along two-lane roads and have pastures surrounding them on all sides. Architecture varies from farmhouses and ranch-style homes to bi-levels and neotraditional designs. Hampton, a small village within the township, features Victorian-era Colonial Revivals and new construction. Some of the village’s subdivisions feature wide streets that end in cul-de-sacs. Properties typically cost between $150,000 and $550,000. However, newly built homes can exceed $700,000. Several creeks run through the township. Properties along these waterways may rest in or near flood hazard areas, according to flood maps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Outdoor recreation from Conewago Creek to Gifford Pinchot State Park
Whether exploring their own properties or visiting public green spaces, Reading Township residents are often outside. Kayaking and trout fishing along Conewago Creek and hunting in State Game Lands No. 249 are common pastimes. Residents can join the family-friendly East Berlin Fish & Game Club to access the organization’s nearly 100-acre property, which includes an indoor archery range. The Bermudian Springs Youth Baseball team has two fields next to the firehouse in Hampton for practices and games. Nearby, East Berlin Community Park features a skate park, soccer field, playground and basketball court. Gifford Pinchot State Park, home to Pinchot Lake, is about 15 miles away for hiking, water sports and disc golf. Yingling says Roundtop Mountain Resort is a popular destination for skiing, snowboarding and paintball.
Hampton offers coffee, pizza and ice cream spots
Most shops and restaurants in Reading Township are in Hampton, where state Route 94 intersects Hunterstown Hampton and Stoney Point roads. Here, residents can grab a breakfast at Three Arrows Coffee and New Horizon Cafe, pick up a New York-style pie from Little Italy IV Italian Pizza & Restaurant and stop by Emingee's Ice Cream and Italian Ice for dessert. Yingling says name-brand and department store shopping is done in Hanover and York. Both cities have malls, shopping centers filled with national retailers and grocery store chains.
Three public schools serve all of Reading Township
The Bermudian Springs School District receives a B-minus overall rating from Niche and serves seven communities, including Reading Township. All three of the district’s schools sit north of the township along state Route 94. Bermudian Springs Elementary and Bermudian Springs Middle earn B-minuses, while Bermudian Springs High gets a C-plus. The middle school is a newly built facility, completed in 2021.
Residents typically drive around South Central Pennsylvania
Reading Township, like much of Adams County, is car-dependent, with country roads sometimes used as scenic bike routes for cyclists. State Route 94, the main highway crossing through the township, connects commuters to Hanover, about 14 miles south. U.S. Route 15 is nearby to reach Harrisburg, home to Harrisburg International Airport, which is less than 40 miles away. Three full-service hospitals are within 20 miles: UPMC Hanover, UPMC Memorial and WellSpan York Hospital. Drivers should note that after snowfall, it’s illegal to park on residential streets that are snow emergency routes.
