PERRY COUNTY
County Offices
25 West Main Street
New Bloomfield 717-582-2131
www.perryco.org
Chamber of Commerce
3211 North Front Street
Harrisburg 717-232-4099
www.harrisburgregionalchamber.org
Originally included in the region known as Cumberland County, rural Perry County was named for Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, an American hero in the War of 1812. This panoramic area offers spectacular vistas, bordered on the north, west, and south by the Tuscarora, Conococheaque, and Blue Mountains. To the east, the Perry County line follows a 28-mile stretch of the rolling Susquehanna River. The first county seat was the community of Landisburg, but the seat of government was later moved to its present location in New Bloomfield. Close proximity to the capital city of Harrisburg enhances the quality of life for Perry County residents, who are just a short drive away from opera, dance, symphony, theatre, and lively nightspots.
This primarily rural county remains sparsely populated, although residential growth is steady and constant. The five municipalities that reported the largest population increases in the 2000 U.S. Census were Carroll, Saville, Spring, Centre, and Wheatfield townships. Several small boroughs dot the countryside, proud of their historic roots and vintage architecture. New residents are drawn to Perry County for its land-rich resources, rural beauty, and relaxed country lifestyle. Recreational opportunities are abundant in this area of Appalachian mountain splendor and riverfront water sports. Nearby institutions of higher education like East Stroudsburg University, Dickinson College, Capitol College, and Pennsylvania State University at Harrisburg enrich the area with educational and cultural advantages.
Services
Students receive a quality education in the Perry County public school system, where the teacher-pupil ratio encourages personalized attention and the development of every student’s potential. The state-affiliated East Stroudsburg University sprawls over 213 acres in the East Stroudsburg community, housing more than 2,200 students. Stony Acres adds nearly 120 acres of prime recreational land to the university holdings near Marshall Creek, offering a lodge and a small lake. Several other colleges and universities are available within a reasonable commute, including Shippensburg University, Capitol College, Central Pennsylvania College, and the Dickinson School of Law. The latter is not affiliated with Dickinson College but became part of the Pennsylvania State University system in 2000. Other options include Messiah College, Penn State Harrisburg, and Wilson College. The Harrisburg Area Community College provides campuses in Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon, and Gettysburg.
State-of-the-art healthcare services and facilities are available close to home at the Carlisle Regional Medical Center, owned and operated by Health Management Associates. The hospital is consistently upgrading and improving its services to keep pace with advancing technologies, including innovations like image-guided sinus surgery, lithotripsy services, holmium laser services, an endocrinology center, colorectal center, and cardiac catheterization. The hospital’s active emergency department treats nearly 30,000 patients each year, and the community outreach programs provide a wealth of educational benefits that are designed to promote wellness. Health Management Associates already has plans to build a new hospital campus in South Middleton Township by 2005. Throughout the region, family practice clinics, medical office centers, private practices, and specialty centers form a network of providers to meet every need, from routine to advanced.
State-of-the-art healthcare services and facilities are available close to home at the Carlisle Regional Medical Center, owned and operated by Health Management Associates. The hospital is consistently upgrading and improving its services to keep pace with advancing technologies, including innovations like image-guided sinus surgery, lithotripsy services, holmium laser services, an endocrinology center, colorectal center, and cardiac catheterization. The hospital’s active emergency department treats nearly 30,000 patients each year, and the community outreach programs provide a wealth of educational benefits that are designed to promote wellness. Health Management Associates already has plans to build a new hospital campus in South Middleton Township by 2005. Throughout the region, family practice clinics, medical office centers, private practices, and specialty centers form a network of providers to meet every need.
Lifestyle
Many are drawn to this Appalachian Mountain paradise for its gracious country lifestyle and superior recreational amenities. The county’s forests and woodlands are recognized as some of Pennsylvania’s finest hunting areas, particularly for whitetail deer and turkey. The sparkling streams, rivers, and Lake Holman at Little Buffalo State Park ensure superb fishing for trout, bass, and muskie. Hikers and bikers enjoy the numerous alpine overlooks while students of history prefer to explore historical sites. Fourteen covered bridges and numerous old mills are scattered throughout the county, which is also dotted with wonderful antique shops and unique boutiques. From the spring blooms through fall foliage and freshly fallen winter snow, Perry County offers a wonderland of sights and sounds throughout the four seasons.
Those who are interested in cultural attractions will find resources close to home through the efforts of the Perry County Council of the Arts. Founded in 1979, the PCCA has been responsible for decades of quality programming and support for regional artists. The organization is probably best known for its Festival at Little Buffalo, but the scope of its services enriches a regional population. The “Gallery on the Square” is a magnet for visitors, while the “Endowment Funds for the Future” encourages generosity in support of the arts. Housing options in Perry County range from vintage homes shaded by large old trees to beautiful new construction in growing townships. Availability of prime land, generous acreage, a healthy country lifestyle, and reasonable proximity to the Harrisburg and Hershey urban amenities are key elements in the appeal of rural Perry County.
Centre, Carroll, Saville, Spring
Municipal Offices
Centre Township
717-582-8784
Carroll Township
717-432-4951
www.carrolltownship.com
Saville Township
717-438-3536
www.savilletwp.com
Spring Township
717-789-4550
www.springtwp.org
Chamber of Commerce
717-232-4099
www.harrisburgregionalchamber.org
Some of Perry County’s fastest-growing communities are the townships of Centre, Carroll, Saville, and Spring. This panoramic countryside is rapidly being transformed into a suburban haven of commercial conveniences and residential neighborhoods. Commuters to regional employment centers are discovering the mountain and woodland beauty of these townships as an ideal location for affordable, handsome new homes. Major highways make it possible to reach the bright lights of Harrisburg within a few minutes, opening the door to a wealth of cultural attractions that include performing arts, fine museums, unique galleries, and visual art centers. Major hospitals, the renowned Hershey Medical Center, community college campuses, leading state universities, and private colleges are available within a reasonable commute. Closer to home, residents enjoy some of Pennsylvania’s finest sites for hunting, fishing, biking, hiking, camping, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, swimming, canoeing, and nature study.
Duncannon, Penn, Wheatfield
Municipal Offices
Duncannon Borough
717-834-4311
www.duncannonboro.org
Penn Township
717-834-5281
www.penntownship.net
Wheatfield Township
717-834-5467
www.wheatfieldtwp.com
Chamber of Commerce
717-232-4099
www.harrisburgregionalchamber.org
The small community of Duncannon Borough as well as Penn and Wheatfield townships are located in close proximity to Route 22-322 at Clark’s Ferry Bridge over the Susquehanna River approximately 20 miles from the state capital. The Juniata River is also available just minutes from home. Newcomers will discover a medley of housing options in this area, from well-kept older homes and historic properties to newer construction that includes country homes on impressive acreage. Mini-farms and ranches are also available in this pastoral setting. The commute to Harrisburg employment centers, shopping, dining, entertainment, and institutions of higher education is relatively quick and easy. Wooded lots, abundant wildlife, and the opportunity to “fish and hunt in your own backyard” are just a few of the appealing features of life in Duncannon, Penn, and Wheatfield. Quality cultural attractions are available nearby in the capital city region.
Marysville, Rye
Municipal Offices
Marysville Borough
717-957-3110
www.marysvilleboro.com
Rye Township
717-957-2348
www.ryetwp.com
Chamber of Commerce
717-232-4099
www.harrisburgregionalchamber.org
The picturesque Borough of Marysville is nestled in the southern tip of Perry County, bounded by mountain vistas to the north and the south and the Susquehanna River to the east. On the western border of the community is Rye Township. U.S. Routes 11 and 15 provide the major transportation corridor for local residents. The proud home of the historic Rockville Bridge, Marysville draws visitors who are interested in seeing the 3,830-foot-long structure that is distinguished as the longest stone masonry arch bridge in the world. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the bridge was also declared a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. The rural Rye Township has preserved its original agricultural flavor in spite of steady growth and development. The township has evolved into a bedroom community as transportation improvements made it possible for commuters to live in the country and drive to Metropolitan Harrisburg employment centers. Recreational opportunities near Marysville and Rye include lush state parks, the famous Appalachian Trail, and the Susquehanna River for the nation’s finest muskie fishing. Hunting, skiing, swimming, hiking, rock climbing, biking, and horseback riding are other popular activities.
Newport, New Bloomfield, Oliver
Municipal Offices
Newport Borough
717-567-3728
www.newportb oro.com
Oliver Township
717-567-3809
Chamber of Commerce
717-232-4099
www.harrisburgregionalchamber.org
Designated as a National Historic District, the charming Borough of Newport saw the construction of many of its buildings in the 1800s. This former rail transportation hub housed the commercial conveniences and businesses that supported the surrounding agricultural community. In the borough, many handsome residences sprang up in a wide variety of architectural styles. Minutes from Newport is the Perry County seat of New Bloomfield, another charming town with examples of magnificent architecture and a mix of quiet residential neighborhoods with thriving businesses. Both Newport and Oliver Township blend business owners with commuters, artists, artisans, and commuters for a diverse yet closely knit atmosphere. The strength of the community is evidenced in active organizations and special events like the Buffalo Festival of the Arts, the Perry County Council of the Arts, the Perry County Fair, the Oliver Grange, and a 4H Club. Little Buffalo State Park is a popular site for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Lush valleys, fertile farmland, the scenic Tuscarora mountains, and the meandering Juniata River create a backdrop of natural beauty for residential development. Quaint Newport Borough has been praised as a charming community with impressively rich architecture that remains remarkably intact.
