Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Bethlehem Township is a township in Northampton County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. Bethlehem Township is located in the Lehigh Valley
region of the state and is a suburb of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
.
The population of Bethlehem Township was 23,730 at the 2010 census.
, the township has a total area of 14.7 square miles (38.1 km²), of which, 14.6 square miles (37.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.61%) is water. It is drained by the Lehigh River
, which separates it from Lower Saucon Township. Its villages include Broadhead, Butztown, Farmersville, Middletown
, Prospect Park (also in Palmer Township,) and Wagnerville. Its major roads include east-to-west Highway 22
, William Penn Highway, and Freemansburg Road and north-to-south Highway 33
, Route 191
, Butztown Road/Hecktown Road, Farmersville Road, and Main Street Extension.
of 2000, there were 21,171 people, 7,619 households, and 5,889 families residing in the township. The population density
was 1,451.7 people per square mile (560.6/km²). There were 7,831 housing units at an average density of 537.0/sq mi (207.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 93.27% White, 2.44% African American, 0.07% Native American, 2.20% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.14% from other races
, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.97% of the population.
There were 7,619 households out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.4% were married couples
living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 19.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the township the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $60,317, and the median income for a family was $68,427. Males had a median income of $47,363 versus $32,136 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $25,141. About 2.2% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.
and is also host to Northampton Community College
. Notre Dame High School, Moravian Academy, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help schools make up the parochial schools.
Northampton County, Pennsylvania
As of the 2010 census, the county was 86.3% White, 5.0% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 2.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 2.2% were two or more races, and 3.8% were some other race. 10.5% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.As of the census of...
, 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...
. Bethlehem Township is located in the Lehigh Valley
Lehigh Valley
The Lehigh Valley, known officially by the United States Census Bureau as the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metropolitan area and referred to locally as The Valley and A-B-E, is a metropolitan region consisting of Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, and Carbon counties in eastern Pennsylvania and...
region of the state and is a suburb of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem is a city in Lehigh and Northampton Counties in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 74,982, making it the seventh largest city in Pennsylvania, after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie,...
.
The population of Bethlehem Township was 23,730 at the 2010 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 14.7 square miles (38.1 km²), of which, 14.6 square miles (37.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.61%) is water. It is drained by 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 Lower Saucon Township. Its villages include Broadhead, Butztown, Farmersville, Middletown
Middletown, Northampton County, Pennsylvania
Middletown is a census-designated place in Bethlehem Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.The population of Middletown was 7,378 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, Prospect Park (also in Palmer Township,) and Wagnerville. Its major roads include east-to-west Highway 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...
, William Penn Highway, and Freemansburg Road and north-to-south Highway 33
Pennsylvania Route 33
Pennsylvania Route 33 is a -long limited-access state highway in eastern Pennsylvania, United States. South of the US 22 interchange, the route is called the Gen. Anthony Clement McAuliffe 101st Airborne Memorial Highway....
, Route 191
Pennsylvania Route 191
Pennsylvania Route 191 is a -long state highway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The route, a major non-freeway corridor connecting the Lehigh Valley to The Poconos in eastern Pennsylvania, is designated from U.S...
, Butztown Road/Hecktown Road, Farmersville Road, and Main Street Extension.
Neighboring municipalities
- Lower Saucon TownshipLower Saucon Township, PennsylvaniaLower Saucon Township is a township in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. Lower Saucon Township is located in the Lehigh Valley region of the state, and geographically in the Saucon Valley....
(south) - EastonEaston, PennsylvaniaEaston is a city in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 26,800 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Northampton County....
(southeast) - Palmer TownshipPalmer Township, PennsylvaniaPalmer Township is a township in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. Palmer Township is located in the Lehigh Valley region of the state....
(east) - Lower Nazareth TownshipLower Nazareth Township, PennsylvaniaLower Nazareth Township is a township in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. Lower Nazareth Township is located in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.The population of Lower Nazareth Township was 5,259 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
(north) - Hanover TownshipHanover Township, Northampton County, PennsylvaniaHanover Township is a township in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. Hanover Township is located in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.The population of Hanover Township was 10,866 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
(west) - BethlehemBethlehem, PennsylvaniaBethlehem is a city in Lehigh and Northampton Counties in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 74,982, making it the seventh largest city in Pennsylvania, after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie,...
(southwest) - FreemansburgFreemansburg, PennsylvaniaFreemansburg is a borough in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. Freemansburg is located in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.The population of Freemansburg was 1,897 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
(southwest)
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 21,171 people, 7,619 households, and 5,889 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 1,451.7 people per square mile (560.6/km²). There were 7,831 housing units at an average density of 537.0/sq mi (207.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 93.27% White, 2.44% African American, 0.07% Native American, 2.20% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.14% 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 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.97% of the population.
There were 7,619 households out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.4% 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, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 19.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the township the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $60,317, and the median income for a family was $68,427. Males had a median income of $47,363 versus $32,136 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 $25,141. About 2.2% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.
Public education
The township is served by the Bethlehem Area School DistrictBethlehem Area School District
The Bethlehem Area School District covers the City of Bethlehem, the Boroughs of Fountain Hill and Freemansburg and Bethlehem Township and Hanover Township in Lehigh County and Northampton County. The district operates two High Schools, four Middle Schools and sixteen Elementary Schools as well as...
and is also host to Northampton Community College
Northampton Community College
Northampton Community College is a community college in Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania, USA, just outside the city of Bethlehem. The college, founded in 1967, also has a second campus in Pocono Township in neighboring Monroe County...
. Notre Dame High School, Moravian Academy, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help schools make up the parochial schools.