As you may know, Dover's biggest claim to fame is the Intelligent Design court case with the schools. I'm sure if you google it, info will pop up everywhere!
Dover is still one of the more rural areas of York County. There are some new strip malls, and a larger grocery store has come into the area. A few miles down Rt. 74 will give you more selections for shopping. A rather nice complex opened there in the last few months. Lowe's, Giant Foods (nice store!), BJ's, Target, West Manchester Mall, Wal-Mart, etc., and every chain restaurant you could need is along Rt. 30.
Dover schools? Not the top of the line in the county. They've had some problems, and the past board decisions have cost them a great deal of money. Nearly 40 teachers left the district last year for other placements. I think that says something. There's not a good working relationship between administration and staff. You might want to check out West York Area Schools. The district is right next door. It covers West York Borough and West Manchester Twp.
Really good day care will be a sift and search proposition. There is a center there run by a local family. I've not heard a lot of positive about it, but it could work for you.
Tax rates you should be able to find on line. Check the real estate listings at places like trulia.com.
Your wife shouldn't have much difficulty finding a job. There are two newspapers in York. The York Dispatch and The York Daily Record. You might check out their web sites. They used to be owned by two different companies, and it provided Yorker's with a diversity of views. They are now both owned by the same company. Dispatch is the evening paper, and Daily Record is morning.
York County's rural areas are quite beautiful. North of Dover there are rolling hills, and the old Rt. 74 can be a pleasant drive to Carlisle and Harrisburg. If you're in a hurry, there's easy back roads to hit Rt. 83....thus a faster run to Baltimore south and Harrisburg north.
There's a lot of rural area between Dover and Hanover, and tons of rural roads will connect you to the old Lincoln Highway. Hanover is probably a bit too far from what you want, but it is a lovely area.
I grew up near the area where you are moving. It was all corn fields and quiet in that end of the county for many years. The convience of services has come, and we all have to trade one for the other. Of course, coming from Baltimore, you may find it Hayseed Village. LOL!
I left the West York area a couple of years ago and didn't think I'd miss it. I do. In my opinion the people are hard working and generally kind and friendly. I think they can be sort of unwelcoming to new folks. It's rather like approacing a puppy. Let them sniff you out first.
The Dover area has many people moving there to escape the metro areas, so you won't be alone.
Enjoy your adventure!!
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Moving To Dover Pa
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