Benner Township, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Benner Township is a township in Centre County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. It is part of the State College
, Pennsylvania
Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is located approximately at 40°54′48"N 77°45′53"W (40.9134, -77.7648) along Buffalo Run Road (Pennsylvania Route 550
), near Bellefonte
.
The population was 6,188 at the 2010 census, which is a 18.6% increase since the 2000 census.http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/profile/PA
Buffalo
were seen in the area as late as 1769. Other wild game that inhabited the area prior to settlement were bears
, gray wolves
and cougars. It is noted that these three animals were so abundant in the area that men dared not venture into the woods after dark.
The Brockerhoff Mill
was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1979.
, the township has a total area of 28.5 square miles (73.8 km²), all of it land.
Benner Township is bordered by Spring Township
to the northeast, College Township to the south, Patton Township to the southwest and Union Township
to the northwest.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 5,217 people, 1,324 households, and 932 families residing in the township. The population density
was 183.0 people per square mile (70.7/km²). There were 1,386 housing units at an average density of 48.6/sq mi (18.8/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 76.10% White, 19.84% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.86% from other races
, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.51% of the population.
There were 1,324 households out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% were married couples
living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the township the population was spread out with 13.5% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 44.7% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 222.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 252.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $42,083, and the median income for a family was $47,800. Males had a median income of $30,033 versus $23,979 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $17,665. About 0.9% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Centre County, Pennsylvania
Centre County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 153,990....
, 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...
. It is part of the State College
State College, Pennsylvania
State College is the largest borough in Centre County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is the principal city of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Centre County. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 42,034, and roughly double...
, 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...
Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is located approximately at 40°54′48"N 77°45′53"W (40.9134, -77.7648) along Buffalo Run Road (Pennsylvania Route 550
Pennsylvania Route 550
Pennsylvania Route 550 is a 36 mile long state highway in Pennsylvania. The southern terminus of the route is at Pennsylvania Route 45 Truck and Pennsylvania Route 453 east of Tyrone...
), near Bellefonte
Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
Bellefonte is a borough in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It lies about twelve miles northeast of State College and is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
The population was 6,188 at the 2010 census, which is a 18.6% increase since the 2000 census.http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/profile/PA
History
Benner Township was settled in 1793 with the establishment of an iron furnace. It is named for General Phillip Benner who built the furnace along Spring Creek near the settlement of Rock. Benner built a nail mill and slitting mill in the area as well.Buffalo
American Bison
The American bison , also commonly known as the American buffalo, is a North American species of bison that once roamed the grasslands of North America in massive herds...
were seen in the area as late as 1769. Other wild game that inhabited the area prior to settlement were bears
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
, gray wolves
Gray Wolf
The gray wolf , also known as the wolf, is the largest extant wild member of the Canidae family...
and cougars. It is noted that these three animals were so abundant in the area that men dared not venture into the woods after dark.
The Brockerhoff Mill
Brockerhoff Mill
Brockerhoff Mill, also known as Roopsburg Mill, is a historic grist mill located at Benner Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. It was built about 1862, and is a four-story brick building on a limestone foundation. It measures 56 feet by 40 feet, and has a gable roof. Also on the property are...
was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1979.
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 28.5 square miles (73.8 km²), all of it land.
Benner Township is bordered by Spring Township
Spring Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania
Spring Township is a township in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area...
to the northeast, College Township to the south, Patton Township to the southwest and Union Township
Union Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania
Union Township is a township in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area...
to the northwest.
Demographics
As of the 2010 census, the township had 6,188 people. The township was 78.8% White, 16.2% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.4% Asian, and 0.8% were two or more races. 4.2% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/profile/PAAs of the census
Census
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 5,217 people, 1,324 households, and 932 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 183.0 people per square mile (70.7/km²). There were 1,386 housing units at an average density of 48.6/sq mi (18.8/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 76.10% White, 19.84% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.86% 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 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.51% of the population.
There were 1,324 households out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% 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, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the township the population was spread out with 13.5% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 44.7% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 222.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 252.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $42,083, and the median income for a family was $47,800. Males had a median income of $30,033 versus $23,979 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 $17,665. About 0.9% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.