Creeks and nature trails wind through quiet hamlets in Stark
The town of Stark is a collection of small hamlets in Herkimer County, about 30 miles southeast of Utica . “It’s a very quiet community,” says Deb Miller, secretary to the superintendent of Owen D. Young Central School District, who grew up in the area. “It’s rural. It’s not a city vibe whatsoever." Many of the town’s 700 residents live in hamlets like Starkville or Van Hornesville, home to the local school. Elsewhere in the area, creeks wind through fields and forests, and scenic waterfalls sit alongside the town’s many hiking trails. "It’s peaceful, quiet, and it’s a beautiful area,” Miller says.
Homes dating to the 1800s are surrounded by woods and cornfields
Stark’s property blend consists mainly of Colonial Revivals, Foursquares, Cape Cods and National-style houses dating from the 1800s to the early 1900s. Cornfields, forests and meadows line the narrow country roads, and cattle crossings and horse-and-buggy traffic are common sights. Many homes sit on multiacre lots with long driveways, sprawling yards, ponds and wooded areas. Some have attached garages, which come in handy during the region’s snowy winters. The median home sale price is $90,000 — less than half Utica’s current median of $205,000. However, sales in Stark are infrequent. A Federal-style home built in 1800 recently sold for $90,000, a Colonial Revival went for $335,000, and a Tudor-style farmhouse on 130 acres sold for $465,000. Stark has a CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, well below the national average of 4.
Small class sizes distinguish Owen D. Young Central School
Owen D. Young Central School serves prekindergarten through 12th grade and receives a C-minus from Niche. Class sizes are small, with a student-teacher ratio of 6-to-1. In May 2025, the district took home several awards at the statewide Future Farmers of America Convention. “We have a new teacher who’s really pushing the FFA to be bigger and better,” Miller says. Owen D. Young Central is also next to the Van Hornesville Community Center.
Wooded hiking trails and waterfalls throughout Stark
The Robert B. Woodruff Outdoor Learning Center spans 50-plus acres in the Otsquago Creek gorge, featuring wooded trails, waterfalls and a small cave. Cross-country skiers and snowshoers take over the trails in winter. Hiking trails and campsites can be found throughout Ohisa State Forest, which offers plenty of room for hunting and trapping. Deer and wild turkeys roam the woods, lakes and meadows at Otsquago State Forest, a popular bird-watching spot. Landslide risk is relatively high, so trails might be closed during periods of heavy rainfall.
Locals drive to supermarkets and restaurants in Herkimer
For shopping, most residents make the 25-mile drive to Herkimer , a larger city with a Walmart Supercenter, a Hannaford supermarket and chain restaurants. Pubs and pizza joints cluster around West State Street, Herkimer’s main drag, where Crazy Otto’s Empire Diner has hearty homestyle breakfasts and memorabilia-lined walls. More restaurants and retail can be found in Utica, about 30 miles from Stark.
Route 80 connects to I-90 with nearby hospitals and airport access
New York State Route 80 is the primary artery connecting to Interstate 90, also known as the New York Thruway. A bridge rehabilitation project is underway on the interstate near Herkimer. Commuters can expect slowdowns and stoppages on the thruway and state Route 5S until the project’s completion, slated for fall 2026. Syracuse Hancock International Airport is 80 miles away. Medical care is available at Little Falls Hospital, about 13 miles away, or at Wynn Hospital in Utica.
