Limestone Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Limestone Township is a township in Lycoming County
, Pennsylvania
, in the United States. The population was 2,136 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport
, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.
. It was formed from parts of Nippenose and Wayne Townships
. Limestone Township was originally known as Adams Township in honor of United States President John Adams
until April 14, 1835 when the name as changed to what was deemed to be a more appropriate title.
The first European settlers in the Limestone Township area arrived as early as 1789. The early settlers thought that the land was barren because the base of valley was largely free of trees. It was covered by dense thickets of thorny bushes. At first the land sold for as little as fifty cents an acre. After the initial settlers cleared the shrubbery and planted wheat, the land was found to be quite fertile and the price of the land rose dramatically to $5.00 per acre and by the 1890s the land was selling for as much as $100.00 an acre. Later settlers to Limestone Township established the communities of Collomsville, Oriole and Oval. These small towns were the locations of small tavern
s, general store
s and sawmill
s.
Much of the farmland in the southeastern portion of Limestone Township was purchased by the Williamsport
Water Authority in the early 1900s as part of its watershed
. Visitors to the "water company" lands can see the stone remains of the early settlers homesteads spread throughout the watershed.
The water authority built a multi-million dollar water filtration plant in the 1990s in Mosquitio Valley. With the construction of this plant the lands of the water authority were opened as a nature preserve to the general public. All visitors are required to sign in at the offices at the filtration plant on the end of Mosquito Valley Road in Armstrong Township
. The watershed is a nature preserve. The following is list of prohibited activities in the watershed: No dogs, hunting
, fishing
, littering, artifact hunting, motorized vehicles, horseback riding, camping
, fires, and swimming. All visitors are requested to park their vehicles in the designated parking areas. The nature preserve is closed during certain hunting seasons when it is open to hunters who have acquired special permits issued by the Williamsport Municipal Water Authority.
to the south and east, Armstrong Township
to the east, Bastress and Nippenose Townships to the north, and Clinton County
to the west. As the crow flies
, Lycoming County is about 130 miles (209 km) northwest of Philadelphia and 165 miles (266 km) east-northeast of Pittsburgh.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the township has a total area of 34.2 square miles (88.5 km²).34.1 square miles (88.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.23%) is water. Limestone Township is the in the southwestern corner of Lycoming County.
Within a number of caves in this valley a new species of fish, a type of troglomorphic sculpin, was identified in 2003 by Luis Espinasa, an associate professor of biology at Marist College.
of 2000, there were 2,136 people, 689 households, and 580 families residing in the township. The population density
was 62.7 people per square mile (24.2/km²). There were 732 housing units at an average density of 21.5/sq mi (8.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.78% White, 0.05% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.42% from other races
, and 0.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.
There were 689 households out of which 44.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.5% were married couples
living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.8% were non-families. 13.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.10 and the average family size was 3.41.
In the township the population was spread out with 32.0% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 109.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $41,375, and the median income for a family was $44,219. Males had a median income of $31,543 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $15,180. About 5.7% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
-Appalachian Mountains and Allegheny Plateau:Lycoming County is divided between the Appalachian Mountains in the south, the dissected Allegheny Plateau in the north and east, and the valley of the West Branch Susquehanna River between these.-West Branch Susquehanna River:The West Branch of 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...
, in the United States. The population was 2,136 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport
Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Williamsport is a city in and the county seat of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania in the United States. In 2009, the population was estimated at 29,304...
, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Limestone Township was established on December 4, 1824 by a decree of the Pennsylvania General AssemblyPennsylvania General Assembly
The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. In colonial times , the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly. Since the Constitution of 1776, written by...
. It was formed from parts of Nippenose and Wayne Townships
Wayne Township, Clinton County, Pennsylvania
Wayne Township is a township located in Clinton County, Pennsylvania. As of the 2000 census, the township had a total population of 1,363.- Geography :...
. Limestone Township was originally known as Adams Township in honor of United States President John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
until April 14, 1835 when the name as changed to what was deemed to be a more appropriate title.
The first European settlers in the Limestone Township area arrived as early as 1789. The early settlers thought that the land was barren because the base of valley was largely free of trees. It was covered by dense thickets of thorny bushes. At first the land sold for as little as fifty cents an acre. After the initial settlers cleared the shrubbery and planted wheat, the land was found to be quite fertile and the price of the land rose dramatically to $5.00 per acre and by the 1890s the land was selling for as much as $100.00 an acre. Later settlers to Limestone Township established the communities of Collomsville, Oriole and Oval. These small towns were the locations of small tavern
Tavern
A tavern is a place of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages and be served food, and in some cases, where travelers receive lodging....
s, general store
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
s and sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
s.
Much of the farmland in the southeastern portion of Limestone Township was purchased by the Williamsport
Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Williamsport is a city in and the county seat of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania in the United States. In 2009, the population was estimated at 29,304...
Water Authority in the early 1900s as part of its watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
. Visitors to the "water company" lands can see the stone remains of the early settlers homesteads spread throughout the watershed.
The water authority built a multi-million dollar water filtration plant in the 1990s in Mosquitio Valley. With the construction of this plant the lands of the water authority were opened as a nature preserve to the general public. All visitors are required to sign in at the offices at the filtration plant on the end of Mosquito Valley Road in Armstrong Township
Armstrong Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Armstrong Township is a township in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 717 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. The watershed is a nature preserve. The following is list of prohibited activities in the watershed: No dogs, hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, littering, artifact hunting, motorized vehicles, horseback riding, camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
, fires, and swimming. All visitors are requested to park their vehicles in the designated parking areas. The nature preserve is closed during certain hunting seasons when it is open to hunters who have acquired special permits issued by the Williamsport Municipal Water Authority.
Geography
Limestone Township is bordered by Washington TownshipWashington Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Washington Township is a township in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 1,613 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
to the south and east, Armstrong Township
Armstrong Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Armstrong Township is a township in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 717 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
to the east, Bastress and Nippenose Townships to the north, and Clinton County
Clinton County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 37,914 people, 14,773 households, and 9,927 families residing in the county. The population density was 43 people per square mile . There were 18,166 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
to the west. As the crow flies
As the crow flies
"As the crow flies" or beelining is an idiom for the shortest route between two points; the geodesic distance.An example is the great-circle distance between Key West and Pensacola, at either end of the U.S...
, Lycoming County is about 130 miles (209 km) northwest of Philadelphia and 165 miles (266 km) east-northeast of Pittsburgh.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 34.2 square miles (88.5 km²).34.1 square miles (88.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.23%) is water. Limestone Township is the in the southwestern corner of Lycoming County.
Nippenose Valley
The region includes anticlinal karst Nippenose Valley part of the northernmost fold sequence of the Ridge and Valley Physiographic Province. Nippenose Valley is uniquely bowl-shaped and consists of a doubly plunging anticline. According to a research paper from the University of Akron, The center has been eroded, exposing carbonate rocks in the valley. There is an average total of about 470 meters of Lower to Middle Ordovician limestone and dolomite underlying the valley. The Reedsville Shale is stratigraphically above them, and overlain by the ridge forming Bald Eagle Sandstone. The valley has been intensely karstified, as evidenced by the numerous sinkholes, springs, caves, and disappearing streams.Within a number of caves in this valley a new species of fish, a type of troglomorphic sculpin, was identified in 2003 by Luis Espinasa, an associate professor of biology at Marist College.
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 2,136 people, 689 households, and 580 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 62.7 people per square mile (24.2/km²). There were 732 housing units at an average density of 21.5/sq mi (8.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.78% White, 0.05% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.42% 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 0.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.
There were 689 households out of which 44.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.5% 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, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.8% were non-families. 13.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.10 and the average family size was 3.41.
In the township the population was spread out with 32.0% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 109.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $41,375, and the median income for a family was $44,219. Males had a median income of $31,543 versus $21,250 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 $15,180. About 5.7% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
See also
For histories of the other townships in Lycoming County see- History of the Townships of Lycoming County, PennsylvaniaHistory of the Townships of Lycoming County, PennsylvaniaLycoming County was formed from Northumberland County on April 13, 1795. At the time it was formed the county was much larger than it is today. It took up most of the land that is now north central Pennsylvania....