Upper Tulpehocken, a rural township with farming settlement origins
Upper Tulpehocken is a rural community in Berks County with quick access to the interstate and the picturesque Blue Mountain Range in the background. The township was first settled in 1729, and the village of Strausstown was founded in 1840. Though the streets are now paved, and the old church was rebuilt after a lightning strike, Strausstown still feels like a small-town settlement with the village consisting of a main street with just one stoplight. "It's a quiet, peaceful place even though we are a block away from the major thoroughfare of Interstate 78," says Rob Deisenann, chairman for the Upper Tulpehocken Township Board of Supervisors. "The vast majority of the township is preserved farmland, and people live spread out in the sections that are left over."
Recreation in the Blue Mountain Range
Blue Mountain forms the natural northern border of the Upper Tulpehocken Township, offering many acres of natural land to explore. Part of that land includes the 2,000-mile-plus Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Pennsylvania State Game Lands No. 110, a popular spot for deer hunting and fishing. "Hunting is very, very big here," says Deissenan. "Hamburg has a Cabela's that everyone goes to get supplies." Both the Appalachian Trail and the game lands are accessible just 3 miles north along state Route 183. Parking lots sit off the main road at access points, and during the winter, the area has snowmobiling routes. Closer to home, Strausstown Lions Club Park has sports facilities, a playground, a bandstand and a skatepark. And the Pat Garrett Amphitheater is an outdoor venue that hosts concerts and comedy nights from May through September.
National-style homes starting in the $200,000s
The tight rows of National-style homes that line Strausstown's main road were built in the late 1800s and range in price from $200,000 to $400,000. But most people settle outside of the village, in houses situated on rural lots several acres wide, where the nearest neighbor could be miles away. Ranch-style homes and colonial revivals go for $300,000 to $600,000, many with long personal driveways for privacy. Houses are separated by sprawling farmland and, to the north, the dense forest of the Blue Mountain foothills. The CAP Index gives Upper Tulpehocken a crime score of 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Career pathways at Hamburg Area High
Students may start at Tilden Elementary Center, which gets a C-plus from Niche, before going to Hamburg Area Middle, which has a C. Hamburg Area High earns a B-minus and offers career pathways for fields like engineering and finance.
Shopping and dining around Strausstown
Within Strausstown, C&C Pizza is family owned and has been a staple since 1989. Kauffman's Bar-B-Que, a few miles west, is known for its fried chicken, and Way-Har Farm Market, a few miles south, is known for its homemade ice cream. To keep warm during the cold Pennsylvania winters, Sicafus Sheepskin sells handcrafted shearling coats, hats and more. For groceries, most residents head 12 miles east into Hamburg for a Walmart Supercenter and Aldi. Other stores in Hamburg include Cabela's, Lowe’s Home Improvement and Pet Supplies Plus.
Lions Club events and senior support
The Strausstown Lions Club is an active organization that plans events and community enrichment for the Upper Tulpehocken area. In September, the group hosts an annual Antique Auto Show & Flea Market, and in the spring, there's an egg hunt at the neighborhood park. The organization enriches the community through small acts too, like decorating the main street for the holidays and giving out youth awards. To support the community's older residents, Berks Encore Strausstown offers social events, a fitness center and Meals on Wheels. There is also a food pantry at the Zion Blue Mountain Church. For a beefier community celebration, residents drive 12 miles to Hamburg for the annual Hamburger Festival. With live music and over 100 hamburger and small business vendors, the festival draws people from all over the East Coast. "Most people also go over to Hamburg to do their shopping, and it's where all the youth sports games are," says Deissenan.
Commuting to Reading, Allentown and Harrisburg
Upper Tulpehocken’s rural layout makes the area car-dependent. For commuters, Reading is a 20-mile drive south and home to a regional airport and large hospital. Allentown is a straight 40 miles east on Interstate 78, and has an international airport. Harrisburg is 40 miles west on I-78.
