Susquehanna Township is a suburban locality next to Harrisburg
Susquehanna Township in Dauphin County is a suburban community that borders Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s capital city. Despite its proximity to Harrisburg, the township operates as an independent locality and has a separate school district. The township’s namesake—the Susquehanna River—flows along the community’s western boundary. In the shadow of Blue Mountain, the township is expanding up its slope, replacing old farmland with modern residential developments. “Susquehanna Township has been there a long time, but it’s starting to update,” says Realtor Roshan Khadka with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, who has been selling homes in the Harrisburg area for nearly a decade. “There’s a lot of new construction happening.” The township is home to several notable unincorporated communities, including Rockville and Progress's residential hubs and Beaufort Farms, a historic agricultural development.
Mix of classic styles and new construction across the township
In the southern portion of Susquehanna Township closest to downtown Harrisburg, turnkey single-family homes include a variety of bungalows, ranchers and Craftsman-style properties ranging from approximately $170,000 to $400,000, with fixer-uppers as low as $100,000. In the northern half of the township above Interstate 81, homes sit on slightly larger lots, featuring a mix of Cape Cods, traditional builds, split-levels and subdivisions with newer construction options. Most of these homes cost between $200,000 and $650,000, but some larger estates have sold for upwards of $700,000. Susquehanna Township’s average home value of about $330,000 is on par with the Harrisburg Metro Area.
Zoning for the Susquehanna Township School District
The Susquehanna Township School District receives an overall C-plus rating from Niche and includes four schools serving the K-12 population. Kindergarten through second-grade students can attend the B-rated Sara Lindemuth/Anna Carter Primary School, while those in grades three through five head to the C-rated Thomas W. Holtzman Jr. Elementary School. Susquehanna Township Middle School is also rated C, while Susquehanna Township High School earns a B-minus rating. The high school offers Advanced Placement courses and electives for performing arts and visual arts. Adult education institutions in this area include the Harrisburg Area Community College and Dauphin County Technical School.
Neighborhood parks and recreation along the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna Township oversees several park and recreation amenities throughout the community. On the banks of the Susquehanna River is the Fort Hunter Mansion and Park, a historic estate with recreational facilities open to the public, like playgrounds, walking paths and a boat launch. People can also tour Fort Hunter’s 18th-century buildings and rent the park’s barn or pavilion for private events. Christian McNaughton Memorial Park features open, grassy fields and athletic facilities for baseball and soccer. Wildwood Park encompasses 22 acres of wetlands, a 90-acre lake and the Benjamin Olewine III Nature Center, where visitors can view wildlife exhibits. Veterans Park covers 25 acres of land and has various sports amenities, including tennis and pickleball courts, lighted ball fields and a 9-table picnic pavilion. Most township residents are within walking distance of at least one of many smaller neighborhood parks scattered across the community’s residential areas.
Retail hubs offer clothing, casual dining and groceries
Shopping and dining options in Susquehanna Township are primarily concentrated in commercial developments like Dauphin Plaza Shopping Center, Union Square and The Shoppes at Susquehanna Marketplace. At the latter, residents can browse retailers like LOFT, Eddie Bauer and Sephora, or grab a bite to eat at one of the marketplace’s many chain and local eateries. For grocery runs and everyday errands, people can head to the GIANT supermarket at Blue Mountain Commons shopping mall or Price Rite Marketplace at Dauphin Plaza at the township's opposite end. Khadka says locals will notice the area’s diversity in the various ethnic restaurants and businesses along Linglestown Road: “It’s becoming a very diverse community,” Khadka says. “You can find people of all different ethnic backgrounds here.” Locals can also dine at a string of restaurants along the riverfront, which includes popular places like Boro Bar and Front Street Diner.
Township residents have quick access to I-81, I-83 and Route 22
Residents mostly rely on cars to navigate the township’s suburban layout. Still, this area is served by Rabbittransit, the region’s public bus system with fixed routes serving Harrisburg and the greater Dauphin County. Several major highways pass through Susquehanna Township, including U.S. Route 22 and Interstate 81, which offers access to Interstate 83, a major artery that connects to downtown Harrisburg approximately 5 miles away. For commercial air travel, the Harrisburg International Airport is 15 miles away. The UPMC Community Osteopathic general hospital and 24-hour emergency room are just outside the township off I-83.
Photography Contributed By
Danny Lambert
