Smithville offers rural living with farms, forests and hills
Smithville is a spacious Chenango County community surrounded by dairy farms, apple orchards and hardwood forests. "It's a rural community that's very laidback and mostly farmland," says local Realtor Weslie "Wally" VanVoorhis with Exit Realty Front and Center. "Think West Virginia, but take out the 'West.'" Settled in 1797, the community now has a population of over 1,200 residents. Even with its seclusion, Smithville isn't too far from amenities. "Everything is about a 20 to 30-minute drive, like Binghamton and Cortland. It's also only about an hour's drive to Syracuse and Ithaca," VanVoorhis says. In addition to the farms and orchards that drive Smithville's economy, VanVoorhis also mentions that Raymond Corporation in nearby Greene is a major employer. Parks and state forests are also within reach, allowing residents to enjoy the rolling hills and pond-spotted forests of Upstate New York.
Smithville Flats has older homes with varied architecture
Homes are spread among farms, crop fields and oak and maple woods. There is a cluster of established homes in the Smithville Flats area. These include farmhouse-style, Victorian-style, saltbox and Colonial homes. From there, homes are spread out, mixing in split-level, manufactured and ranch-style homes. "Back in the day, when someone wanted land, they would take the whole house and move it out to their plot," VanVoorhis says. "So in Smithville Flats, you'll find a mix of 19th and 20th century homes, and some of those older homes are well kept." VanVoorhis also mentions the importance of land here. There is limited new construction, but the acreages for sale offer the chance for contemporary construction. "Any new home has to be built on two acres or larger; there are also 100-acre-plus farms available." Prices for homes in Smithville range between $50,000 and $350,000, depending on acreage.
Greene Schools offer pool access and a mix of ratings
Greene Central School District serves around 940 students and earns an overall C-plus rating from Niche. Pre-kindergarten through second grade attend B-minus-rated Greene Primary, and third through fifth grade attend C-plus-rated Greene Intermediate. Greene Middle has a C-plus, and Green High scores a B. The high school is also home to the Greene Community Pool, which has seasonal open swim hours and year-round water aerobics and lap swim hours.
Locals enjoy lakes, trails and hunting across all four seasons
Outdoor recreation during all four seasons is a hallmark of this area, according to VanVoorhis. "There are lakes, hunting, fishing, horseback riding and ATV riding," he says. Locals can do any of these at the surrounding state forests. One of the most popular is Triangle State Forest, which has camping and winter activities like snowmobiling and cross-country skiing." Another option is Long Pond State Forest, which is popular for boating, paddling and fishing. In Smithville Flats, a community park has a ballfield, playground and walking loop. Smithville is also about an hour's drive from the Finger Lakes, such as the scenic Skaneateles Lake.
Crafts, groceries and subs at Smithfield General Store
Smithville Flats is the area's modest commercial hub. There are a few municipal buildings, churches and a Dollar General. Smithfield General Store is a charming country store offering local crafts, goods, gifts and basic groceries. The general store also has a deli offering subs, salads and freshly-baked pie. Right across the street, Seebers Tavern is the local watering hole offering beers, pool and an old-school jukebox. There are more dining and retail options in nearby towns like Cortland, which has local restaurants and an ALDI, and Binghamton, which has big box stores like Walmart, Target and Sam's Club.
Highways connect Smithville to hospitals and nearby cities
New York State Routes 41, 12 and 206 surround Smithville, bringing residents to nearby communities like Greene, 8 miles away, and Whitney Point, around 20 miles away. Residents may access Interstate 81, which connects to Cortland, 35 miles away, with the nearest hospital, Guthrie Cortland Medical Center. The closest airports are Ithaca Tompkins International, 45 miles away, and Syracuse Hancock International, 75 miles away. Smithville has a CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
