Jenkins Township, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Jenkins Township is a township within the Greater Pittston area
of Luzerne County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 4,584 at the 2000 census. The township is adjacent to the small city of Pittston. It was the site of the infamous 1959 Knox Mine Disaster
, which led to a complete abandonment of the deep coal mining
industry in northeastern Pennsylvania
, which had been the area's key economic upside.
, the township has a total area of 13.9 square miles (36 km²), of which, 13.6 square miles (35.2 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (1.95%) is water. The township is served by the Pittston Area School District. It is drained by the Susquehanna River
, which separates it from Wyoming and Exeter, except for a portion in the southeast drained by the Lehigh River
. Its villages include Ewen, Inkerman, Old Boston, Port Blanchard, Port Griffith, and Sebastopol.
of 2000, there were 4,584 people, 1,715 households, and 1,166 families residing in the township. The population density
was 337.4 people per square mile (130.2/km²). There were 1,843 housing units at an average density of 135.7/sq mi (52.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.97% White, 0.26% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.07% from other races
, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.50% of the population.
There were 1,715 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples
living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.0% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the township the population was spread out with 20.0% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 23.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 83.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $39,103, and the median income for a family was $46,673. Males had a median income of $36,212 versus $23,534 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $19,693. About 5.7% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.
Greater Pittston
Greater Pittston is a region in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in reference to the area in and around Pittston. The total population of the Greater Pittston area is around 50,000 people...
of Luzerne County
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
- Demographics :As of the 2010 census, the county was 90.7% White, 3.4% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 3.3% were of some other race, and 1.5% were two or more races. 6.7% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino ancestry...
, 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 4,584 at the 2000 census. The township is adjacent to the small city of Pittston. It was the site of the infamous 1959 Knox Mine Disaster
Knox Mine disaster
The Knox Mine disaster was a mining accident that took place in Port Griffith, a town in Jenkins Township, Pennsylvania, near Pittston, on January 22, 1959....
, which led to a complete abandonment of the deep coal mining
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
industry in northeastern Pennsylvania
Northeastern Pennsylvania
Northeastern Pennsylvania is a geographic region of Pennsylvania that includes the Pocono Mountains, the Endless Mountains and the industrial cities of Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Pittston, Hazleton and Carbondale....
, which had been the area's key economic upside.
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 13.9 square miles (36 km²), of which, 13.6 square miles (35.2 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (1.95%) is water. The township is served by the Pittston Area School District. It is drained by 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...
, which separates it from Wyoming and Exeter, except for a portion in the southeast 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...
. Its villages include Ewen, Inkerman, Old Boston, Port Blanchard, Port Griffith, and Sebastopol.
Neighboring municipalities
- Bear Creek Township (south)
- Plains Township (southwest)
- LaflinLaflin, PennsylvaniaLaflin is a borough in the Greater Pittston area of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,502 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Laflin is located at ....
(southwest) - WyomingWyoming, PennsylvaniaWyoming is a borough in the Greater Pittston area of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States five miles north of Wilkes Barre, on the Susquehanna River. Formerly, coal mining was the chief industry. In 1900, 1,909 people resided in Wyoming. There were 3,010 residents in 1910...
(west) - ExeterExeter, PennsylvaniaExeter is a borough in the Greater Pittston area of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, about west of Scranton. The borough is in the middle of a fertile agricultural area, and some lumber and coal-mining had been carried out early on. In 1900, the population consisted of 1,948 persons; in 1910, 3,537...
(northwest) - PittstonPittston, PennsylvaniaPittston is a city in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States, between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. It gained prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as an active anthracite coal mining city, drawing a large portion of its labor force from European immigrants. The population was...
(north) - YatesvilleYatesville, PennsylvaniaYatesville is a borough within the Greater Pittston area of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 649 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Yatesville is located at ....
(northeast) - Pittston Township (northeast)
- Spring Brook Township, Lackawanna County (east)
- Thornhurst Township, Lackawanna County (southeast)
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 4,584 people, 1,715 households, and 1,166 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 337.4 people per square mile (130.2/km²). There were 1,843 housing units at an average density of 135.7/sq mi (52.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.97% White, 0.26% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.07% 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 0.50% of the population.
There were 1,715 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% 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, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.0% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the township the population was spread out with 20.0% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 23.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 83.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $39,103, and the median income for a family was $46,673. Males had a median income of $36,212 versus $23,534 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 $19,693. About 5.7% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.