Elizabeth Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Township is a township
in north central Lancaster County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 3,833 at the 2000 census.
, the township has a total area of 17.8 square miles (46.1 km²), of which, 17.6 square miles (45.6 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (1.07%) is water.
The Township's largest village is Brickerville
. Some other smaller villages include Elm
, Poplar Grove and Lexington.
. It was split again in 1853 to create the present Clay Township
to the east.
In early colonial days the area now comprising Elizabeth Township played an important part in the development of the County. The village of Brickerville dates from 1741, when the area's first blast furnace was built to make cast iron from ore from the Cornwall mines. Stiegel glass manufacturing, dating from 1757, soon grew into an international export. Iron production grew, reaching its peak about 1780 and continuing until 1856. The supplying of charcoal from area forests to feed the furnaces over this period became an important related industry.
of 2000, there were 3,833 people, 1,303 households, and 1,088 families residing in the township. The population density
was 218.0 people per square mile (84.2/km²). There were 1,334 housing units at an average density of 75.9/sq mi (29.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.62% White, 0.37% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.37% from other races
, and 0.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.25% of the population.
There were 1,303 households out of which 39.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 76.7% were married couples
living together, 4.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.5% were non-families. 12.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the township the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 108.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $50,720, and the median income for a family was $54,181. Males had a median income of $39,074 versus $26,354 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $19,078. About 2.5% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Township (Pennsylvania)
A township in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a state of the United States of America, is one of four types of municipalities in the state . Townships were established based on convenient geographical boundaries and vary in size from six to forty square miles...
in north central Lancaster County
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Lancaster County, known as the Garden Spot of America or Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is a county located in the southeastern part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010 the population was 519,445. Lancaster County forms the Lancaster Metropolitan Statistical Area, the...
, 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 3,833 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 17.8 square miles (46.1 km²), of which, 17.6 square miles (45.6 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (1.07%) is water.
The Township's largest village is Brickerville
Brickerville, Pennsylvania
Brickerville is a census-designated place in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States with a zip code of 17543. The population was 1,287 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Brickerville is located at ....
. Some other smaller villages include Elm
Elm, Pennsylvania
Elm is an unincorporated village in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The community is in the Lancaster metropolitan area and in the Eastern Standard time zone....
, Poplar Grove and Lexington.
History
Elizabeth Township was established in 1757 as a split off Warwick TownshipWarwick Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Warwick Township is a township in north central Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 15,475 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
. It was split again in 1853 to create the present Clay Township
Clay Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Clay Township is a township in north central Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,173 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
to the east.
In early colonial days the area now comprising Elizabeth Township played an important part in the development of the County. The village of Brickerville dates from 1741, when the area's first blast furnace was built to make cast iron from ore from the Cornwall mines. Stiegel glass manufacturing, dating from 1757, soon grew into an international export. Iron production grew, reaching its peak about 1780 and continuing until 1856. The supplying of charcoal from area forests to feed the furnaces over this period became an important related industry.
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 3,833 people, 1,303 households, and 1,088 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 218.0 people per square mile (84.2/km²). There were 1,334 housing units at an average density of 75.9/sq mi (29.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.62% White, 0.37% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.37% 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 0.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.25% of the population.
There were 1,303 households out of which 39.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 76.7% 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, 4.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.5% were non-families. 12.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the township the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 108.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $50,720, and the median income for a family was $54,181. Males had a median income of $39,074 versus $26,354 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 $19,078. About 2.5% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Area Attractions
- Wolf Sanctuary of PA
- Speedwell Forge Lake
- Speedwell Forge County Park
Shopping
- Brickerville Shops
- Great Windsor Chairs.com
- Natural Choices (organic food market run by a local Amish family)