Bear Creek Township, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Bear Creek Township is a township in Luzerne County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The township was the site of a plane crash on May 21, 2000 when an airplane, in its attempt to land at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport
in nearby Avoca
, crashed in what was described by BBC
as a "wooded area" of the township near the intersection of Bear Creek Boulevard (PA-Route 115) and the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike
, killing the pilot as well as all 19 passengers. NTSB investigation ruled the accident was probably due to low fuel. The incident spurred an FBI investigation and made news across the globe. Passenger safety in the aviation field became a major issue of the 2000 U.S. presidential election. The population was 2,580 at the 2000 census.
, the township has a total area of 67.8 square miles (175.6 km²), of which, 66.2 square miles (171.5 km²) of it is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²) of it (2.42%) is water. It is drained by both the Susquehanna River
and the Lehigh River
, which separates it from Carbon County. Interstate 476
has its Wilkes-Barre Interchange in Forest Park with Route 115
, which connects the Wyoming Valley and Monroe County. Other important roads are Laurel Run Road, Pittston Boulevard, Suscon Road, and White Haven Road. Its villages include Forest Park, Llewellyn Corners (also in Plains Township,) and Pleasant View Summit.
of 2000, there were 2,580 people, 997 households, and 754 families residing in the township. The population density
was 39.0 people per square mile (15.0/km²). There were 1,216 housing units at an average density of 18.4/sq mi (7.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.88% White, 0.31% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.08% from other races
, and 0.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.78% of the population.
There were 997 households out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.0% were married couples
living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.3% were non-families. 20.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the township the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 104.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $43,900, and the median income for a family was $49,107. Males had a median income of $36,726 versus $26,053 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $19,427. About 4.6% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
- Demographics :As of the 2010 census, the county was 90.7% White, 3.4% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 3.3% were of some other race, and 1.5% were two or more races. 6.7% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino ancestry...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The township was the site of a plane crash on May 21, 2000 when an airplane, in its attempt to land at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport is an airport located in Pittston Township, Pennsylvania, near the border of Luzerne County and Lackawanna County, halfway between the cities of Wilkes-Barre and Scranton...
in nearby Avoca
Avoca, Pennsylvania
Avoca is a borough within the Greater Pittston area of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, ten miles northeast of Wilkes Barre and nine miles southwest of Scranton. The population was 2,851 at the 2000 census...
, crashed in what was described by BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
as a "wooded area" of the township near the intersection of Bear Creek Boulevard (PA-Route 115) and the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike
Pennsylvania Turnpike
The Pennsylvania Turnpike is a toll highway system operated by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. The three sections of the turnpike system total . The main section extends from Ohio to New Jersey and is long...
, killing the pilot as well as all 19 passengers. NTSB investigation ruled the accident was probably due to low fuel. The incident spurred an FBI investigation and made news across the globe. Passenger safety in the aviation field became a major issue of the 2000 U.S. presidential election. The population was 2,580 at the 2000 census.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the township has a total area of 67.8 square miles (175.6 km²), of which, 66.2 square miles (171.5 km²) of it is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²) of it (2.42%) is water. It is drained by both the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
and the Lehigh River
Lehigh River
The Lehigh River, a tributary of the Delaware River, is a river located in eastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. Part of the Lehigh, along with a number of its tributaries, is designated a Pennsylvania Scenic River by the state's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources...
, which separates it from Carbon County. Interstate 476
Interstate 476
Interstate 476 is a auxiliary Interstate Highway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania designated between Interstate 95 near Chester and Interstate 81 near Scranton, serving as the primary north–south Interstate corridor through eastern Pennsylvania....
has its Wilkes-Barre Interchange in Forest Park with Route 115
Pennsylvania Route 115
Pennsylvania Route 115 is a north–south state highway in eastern Pennsylvania. It stretches from U.S. Route 209 in Brodheadsville to Interstate 81 and Pennsylvania Route 309 near Wilkes-Barre. The road originated as the Sullivan Trail which later became known as the Easton and Wilkes-Barre...
, which connects the Wyoming Valley and Monroe County. Other important roads are Laurel Run Road, Pittston Boulevard, Suscon Road, and White Haven Road. Its villages include Forest Park, Llewellyn Corners (also in Plains Township,) and Pleasant View Summit.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,580 people, 997 households, and 754 families residing in the township. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 39.0 people per square mile (15.0/km²). There were 1,216 housing units at an average density of 18.4/sq mi (7.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.88% White, 0.31% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.08% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.78% of the population.
There were 997 households out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.3% were non-families. 20.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the township the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 104.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $43,900, and the median income for a family was $49,107. Males had a median income of $36,726 versus $26,053 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the township was $19,427. About 4.6% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.