Hellam Township, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Hellam Township is a township in York County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 6,043 at the 2010 census. Founded around 1736, it was the first township in the area, and it originally included the entirety of modern York and Adams
counties. Fire department services are provided jointly by the Hellam and Wrightsville fire departments located in the boroughs of Hallam
and Wrightsville
.
, the township has a total area of 27.7 square miles (71.7 km²), of which 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²), or 0.14%, is water.
of 2000, there were 5,930 people, 2,395 households, and 1,726 families residing in the township. The population density
was 214.3 people per square mile (82.7/km²). There were 2,538 housing units at an average density of 91.7/sq mi (35.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.81% White, 0.74% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races
, and 0.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.93% of the population.
There were 2,395 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.0% were married couples
living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the township the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $49,750, and the median income for a family was $55,700. Males had a median income of $40,000 versus $28,558 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $22,345. About 3.6% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.1% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.Hellam Twp Has 2 Fire departments Hellam(21)& Wrightsville (41).
in Hellam Township. The first gate is located off Trout Run Road which, according to the legend, was the location of an insane asylum fire that killed most of its inhabitants. This gate is supposedly the only one visible during the day. The other six gates are said to be visible only during the night. According to the legend, if you pass through all of them, you will land in Hell
. It is insisted that no one has ever made it past the fifth gate (after which all have turned back).
York County, Pennsylvania
York County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 434,972. It is in the Susquehanna Valley, a large fertile agricultural region in South Central Pennsylvania....
, 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 6,043 at the 2010 census. Founded around 1736, it was the first township in the area, and it originally included the entirety of modern York and Adams
Adams County, Pennsylvania
Adams County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 101,407. It was created on January 22, 1800, from part of York County and named in honor of the second President of the United States, John Adams...
counties. Fire department services are provided jointly by the Hellam and Wrightsville fire departments located in the boroughs of Hallam
Hallam, Pennsylvania
Hallam is a borough in York County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,673 at the 2010 census.-History:Before 1736, all parts of Pennsylvania west of the Susquehanna River, including present-day Hallam Borough and the surrounding Hellam Township, were land of the Iroquois.In October...
and Wrightsville
Wrightsville, Pennsylvania
Wrightsville is a borough in York County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,310 at the 2010 census. Wrightsville borough has a police department, historic society, and a volunteer fire company.- History :According to a plaque at Samuel S...
.
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 27.7 square miles (71.7 km²), of which 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²), or 0.14%, is water.
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 5,930 people, 2,395 households, and 1,726 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 214.3 people per square mile (82.7/km²). There were 2,538 housing units at an average density of 91.7/sq mi (35.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.81% White, 0.74% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.19% 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 0.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.93% of the population.
There were 2,395 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.0% 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, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the township the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $49,750, and the median income for a family was $55,700. Males had a median income of $40,000 versus $28,558 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 $22,345. About 3.6% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.1% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.Hellam Twp Has 2 Fire departments Hellam(21)& Wrightsville (41).
Lore
Possibly as a result of its name, there is a local legend of the Seven Gates of HellSeven Gates of Hell
The Seven Gates of Hell is a legend of the York, Pennsylvania area of America. Two versions of the legend exist, one involving a burnt insane asylum and the other an eccentric doctor. Both agree that there are seven gates in a wooded area of Hellam Township, Pennsylvania, and that anyone who passes...
in Hellam Township. The first gate is located off Trout Run Road which, according to the legend, was the location of an insane asylum fire that killed most of its inhabitants. This gate is supposedly the only one visible during the day. The other six gates are said to be visible only during the night. According to the legend, if you pass through all of them, you will land in Hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
. It is insisted that no one has ever made it past the fifth gate (after which all have turned back).