Bethel Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Bethel Township is a township in Berks County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 4,166 at the 2000 census.
, the township has a total area of 42.2 square miles (109.3 km²), of which, 42.2 square miles (109.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.05%) is water. It is drained by the Little Swatara Creek
into the Swatara Creek
and the Susquehanna River
. Its natural northern boundary is Blue Mountain
.
Bethel Township's main east-to-west route is Interstate 78
/U.S. Route 22
, which interchanges with the north-to-south Route 183
, Route 419
, Route 501
, and Route 645
. Its villages include Bethel
, Crosskill Mills (also in Tulpehocken Township,) Frystown
, Grimes, Meckville, and Schubert.
Adjacent townships
of 2000, there were 4,166 people, 1,466 households, and 1,150 families residing in the township. The population density
was 98.7 people per square mile (38.1/km²). There were 1,551 housing units at an average density of 36.7/sq mi (14.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.36% White, 0.55% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.77% from other races
, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.56% of the population.
There were 1,466 households out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.1% were married couples
living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.5% were non-families. 17.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 105.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $47,015, and the median income for a family was $52,115. Males had a median income of $32,439 versus $23,929 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $18,116. About 4.1% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.4% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.
Berks County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 373,638 people, 141,570 households, and 98,532 families residing in the county. The population density was 435 people per square mile . There were 150,222 housing units at an average density of 175 per square mile...
, 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 population was 4,166 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 42.2 square miles (109.3 km²), of which, 42.2 square miles (109.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.05%) is water. It is drained by the Little Swatara Creek
Little Swatara Creek
Little Swatara Creek is a tributary of Swatara Creek in southeast Pennsylvania in the United States.Little Swatara Creek rises on Blue Mountain in Berks County north of Strausstown and flows west-southwest, joining Swatara Creek in the borough of Jonestown in Lebanon County.-References:*Gertler,...
into the Swatara Creek
Swatara Creek
Swatara Creek is a tributary of the Susquehanna River in east central Pennsylvania in the United States. "Swatara" is an Indian word meaning "Where we feed on eels."...
and 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...
. Its natural northern boundary is Blue Mountain
Blue Mountain (Pennsylvania)
Blue Mountain is a ridge that forms the eastern edge of the Appalachian mountain range in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It cuts across the eastern half of the state from New Jersey to Maryland, providing a distinct boundary between a number of Pennsylvania's geographical and cultural regions...
.
Bethel Township's main east-to-west route is Interstate 78
Interstate 78
Interstate 78 is an Interstate Highway in the Northeast United States, running 144 miles from Interstate 81 northeast of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, through Allentown, Pennsylvania, and western and northern New Jersey to the Holland Tunnel and Lower Manhattan in New York City.I-78 is a major road...
/U.S. Route 22
U.S. Route 22
U.S. Route 22 is a west–east route and is one of the original United States highways of 1926, running from Cincinnati, Ohio, at US 27, US 42, US 127, and US 52 to Newark, New Jersey, at U.S. Route 1/9 near the Newark Liberty International Airport.US 22 also carries the names of the William...
, which interchanges with the north-to-south Route 183
Pennsylvania Route 183
Pennsylvania Route 183 is a long route that runs north to south in southeastern Pennsylvania. The southern terminus is at U.S. Route 422 Business in Reading. Its northern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 61 in Schuylkill Haven.-Berks County:...
, Route 419
Pennsylvania Route 419
Pennsylvania Route 419 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The route runs from U.S. Route 322 in West Cornwall Township, Lebanon County north to Pennsylvania Route 183 in Bethel Township, Berks County.-Route description:...
, Route 501
Pennsylvania Route 501
Pennsylvania Route 501 is a north–south state highway in south central Pennsylvania that runs for . Its southern terminus is at U.S. Route 222 and Pennsylvania Route 272 north of Lancaster, and its northern terminus is Pennsylvania Route 895 southeast of Pine Grove...
, and Route 645
Pennsylvania Route 645
Pennsylvania Route 645 is a state highway in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The route runs from U.S. Route 422 in Myerstown, Lebanon County north to Pennsylvania Route 443 in Pine Grove Township, Schuylkill County.-Route description:...
. Its villages include Bethel
Bethel, Berks County, Pennsylvania
Bethel is an unincorporated community in Bethel Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. With a zip code of 19507, it is located at the junction of Interstate 78/U.S. Route 22 and Pennsylvania Route 501. It is in the Susquehanna watershed and drained southward into the Little Swatara...
, Crosskill Mills (also in Tulpehocken Township,) Frystown
Frystown, Pennsylvania
Frystown is a small, unincorporated community in southwestern Bethel Township, in far western Berks County, Pennsylvania. It is located near the township line with Tulpehocken Township, and the community is served by the Tulpehocken Area School District....
, Grimes, Meckville, and Schubert.
Adjacent townships
- Upper Tulpehocken Township (east)
- Tulpehocken Township (south)
- Bethel Township, Lebanon CountyBethel Township, Lebanon County, PennsylvaniaBethel Township is a township in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Lebanon, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 4,526 at the 2000 census...
(west) - Pine Grove Township, Schuylkill CountyPine Grove Township, Schuylkill County, PennsylvaniaPine Grove Township is a township in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,930 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
(northwest) - Washington Township, Schuylkill CountyWashington Township, Schuylkill County, PennsylvaniaWashington Township is a township in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,750 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
(north) - Wayne Township, Schuylkill CountyWayne Township, Schuylkill County, PennsylvaniaWayne Township is a township in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,721 at the 2000 census. The township includes the village of Reedsville which contains a medium size state police barracks. Children from this township attend schools in the Blue Mountain School...
(northeast)
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 4,166 people, 1,466 households, and 1,150 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 98.7 people per square mile (38.1/km²). There were 1,551 housing units at an average density of 36.7/sq mi (14.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.36% White, 0.55% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.77% 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 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.56% of the population.
There were 1,466 households out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.1% 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, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.5% were non-families. 17.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 105.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $47,015, and the median income for a family was $52,115. Males had a median income of $32,439 versus $23,929 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 $18,116. About 4.1% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.4% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.