Union Township is a rural community around Ringtown
Union Township is a swath of rolling countryside surrounding the namesake borough of the Ringtown Valley. Pastoral as it is, this pocket of Schuylkill County isn’t totally out of time; historic churches have fallen into disrepair and been restored, and the turbines of the Locust Ridge Wind Farm spin high over a region where coal was once king. But it’s remained a place with plenty of space and quiet countryside between houses, expansive recreation areas and wineries overflowing with local vintages and the sound of live music. “Union Township is definitely not a town – it's mostly spread-out homes on larger parcels, maybe a mechanic’s garage or two and cornfields up in the northern part of the county,” says Nada Laguna, a Realtor with who’s served the Schuylkill market for more than 13 years. “It's gorgeous out there with all the mountains and farmland. Gorgeous and very rural.”
Ranch-style homes set on small acreages between farms
Driving around Union Township’s backroads, the single-family homes that pop up behind telephone poles range from historic farmhouses to New Traditional estates. Ranch-style homes built since the 1960s come on the market most often, set on an acre or so of land. Prices range from around $260,000 to $380,000. Pockets of woods frame some properties, further breaking up sightlines along the township’s rolling hills and valleys. Large-scale farms form a patchwork of agricultural fields throughout Union Township; the neighbors are often tending crops of soy or corn.
Rural businesses and shopping in nearby boroughs
Locally owned businesses pop up along Union Township’s hilly country roads. Smokey Hollow Winery invites locals to try new food trucks, sip some wine and come line dance or listen to live music on special nights. Dark Run Jerky is a quick stop convenience store for slushies, beer and all kinds of jerky. During strawberry season, B & R Farms operates a pick-your-own experience and a farmstand stocked with fresh pints of berries. The small borough of Ringtown is home to a handful of small businesses, like Luna’s Pizzeria, as well as Dollar General. Shenandoah is about 10 minutes away and has a busier commercial district anchored by Boyer’s Food Market.
Rural trails and hunting grounds and Ringtown’s parks
A new yellow sign marks the West Mahonoy Township Nature Trail, a wooded path that was once the main connective road between Ringtown and Shenandoah. State Game Lands Numbers 58 and 329 offer more than 14,000 acres of forested mountains for deer hunting and creek fishing in and around Union Township. Bookworms might choose to spend their time browsing at the Ringtown Area Library. Residents also head into Ringtown for Little League games at the Ringtown Valley Recreation Center or to attend meetings at the Ringtown Valley Senior Citizens’ headquarters.
Attending North Schuylkill School District
North Schuylkill Elementary School serves kindergarten through sixth grade and earns a C from Niche. Students finish up at North Schuylkill Junior/Senior High School, which scores a C-plus. “When you look around the big regional school districts in that area, North Schuylkill is known for its sports. Especially football,” Laguna says. Beyond trying to take home a Spartan win, North Schuylkill’s football team also gives back to the local community by hosting the annual, countywide Schuylkill United Way’s High School Football Challenge fundraiser.
Getting around Schuylkill County and northeastern PA
The Schuylkill County seat of Pottsville and Lehigh Valley Hospital—Schuylkill E. Norwegian Street are about 16 miles away. Hazleton is around 20 miles from home. Residents head east on Interstate 81 on the nearly 50-mile drive to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport.
A historic church with ties to Ringtown
The Old White Church is exactly what it sounds like: a National Historic Landmark set among Union Township’s rolling hills. It’s the oldest church in the county north of Broad Mountain, but does not house a modern congregation. Ringtown’s own St. John’s Lutheran Church and St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, however, have restored the building over the years to preserve the history of the Ringtown Valley. As a result, residents can come to special religious services and learn about the Old White Church’s striking 19th-century history and architecture over open houses on Memorial Day weekend. St. John’s and St. Paul’s host more regular religious services and annual community picnics.
Flood risk along Catawissa Creek
Waterways like Catawissa Creek increase flood risk to low-lying areas after unusually heavy rain. While most of Union Township is unaffected, buyers should still consult maps to understand their potential risk and need for flood insurance.
Written By
Julia Szymanski
