Middletown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Middletown is a borough in Dauphin County
, Pennsylvania
, on the Susquehanna River
, nine miles (15 km) southeast of Harrisburg
. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
. In the past, it had flouring and planing mills, stove works, car shops, and shoe, hosiery, cigar, and furniture factories. In 1900, 5,608 people lived there; in 1910, 5,374; and in 1940, 7,046. The population was 9,242 at the 2000 census.
The George Everhart (Frey) Trust, named for a citizen of Middletown from the 1800s, still manages leases on much of the land in and around Middletown. The Trust was founded to operate the Frey Orphanage; and did so for many years, in three locations in Middletown. The Orphanage eventually closed and the final location, on Red Hill, has become the Frey Village Retirement Community, a Diakon Lutheran senior living facility.
Middletown is located less than five miles (8 km) away from the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant. The Unit #2 reactor there suffered a partial meltdown in 1979
, causing then-Governor Richard "Dick" Thornburgh
to order the evacuation of pregnant women and pre-school children from the area. Within days, 140,000 people had left the area. The Mayor of Middletown, at the time, was Robert G. Reid http://www.raiderweb.org/49806072015393, the first Black Mayor in Pennsylvania. Then President Jimmy Carter
visited Middletown's Community Building to calm the nerves of anxious residents.
Because the town is so old, architecture styles abound. Middletown has everything from a log cabin to Victorian mansions, and beyond. The Simon Cameron House and Bank
, B'nai Jacob Synagogue, St. Peter's Kierch
, Charles and Joseph Raymond Houses
, Henry Smith Farm
, and Swatara Ferry House
are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), of which, 2.0 square miles (5.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (2.87%) is water.
of 2000, there were 9,242 people, 4,032 households, and 2,370 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 4,536.5 people per square mile (1,749.2/km²). There were 4,387 housing units at an average density of 2,153.4 per square mile (830.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 88.77% White, 7.34% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.92% from other races
, and 2.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.18% of the population.
There were 4,032 households out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were married couples
living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the borough the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $35,425, and the median income for a family was $43,661. Males had a median income of $32,891 versus $24,692 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $18,535. About 4.6% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Dauphin County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is one of the three counties comprising the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010 census, the population was 268,100. The county includes the city of Harrisburg, which has served as the state capital...
, 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...
, on 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...
, nine miles (15 km) southeast of Harrisburg
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle is a borough in and the county seat of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The name is traditionally pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable. Carlisle is located within the Cumberland Valley, a highly productive agricultural region. As of the 2010 census, the borough...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Harrisburg metropolitan area
The Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area , as defined the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of three counties in Pennsylvania's Susquehanna Valley, anchored by the cities of Harrisburg and Carlisle...
.
History
Middletown was founded in 1755 and was incorporated as a borough in 1828. It is the oldest incorporated community in Dauphin County and is in a rich agricultural area bordering Pennsylvania Dutch CountryPennsylvania Dutch Country
Pennsylvania Dutch Country refers to an area of southeastern Pennsylvania, United States that by the American Revolution had a high percentage of Pennsylvania Dutch inhabitants. Religiously, there was a large portion of Lutherans. There were also German Reformed, Moravian, Amish, Mennonite and...
. In the past, it had flouring and planing mills, stove works, car shops, and shoe, hosiery, cigar, and furniture factories. In 1900, 5,608 people lived there; in 1910, 5,374; and in 1940, 7,046. The population was 9,242 at the 2000 census.
The George Everhart (Frey) Trust, named for a citizen of Middletown from the 1800s, still manages leases on much of the land in and around Middletown. The Trust was founded to operate the Frey Orphanage; and did so for many years, in three locations in Middletown. The Orphanage eventually closed and the final location, on Red Hill, has become the Frey Village Retirement Community, a Diakon Lutheran senior living facility.
Middletown is located less than five miles (8 km) away from the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant. The Unit #2 reactor there suffered a partial meltdown in 1979
Three Mile Island accident
The Three Mile Island accident was a core meltdown in Unit 2 of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania near Harrisburg, United States in 1979....
, causing then-Governor Richard "Dick" Thornburgh
Dick Thornburgh
Richard Lewis "Dick" Thornburgh is an American lawyer and Republican politician who served as the 41st Governor of Pennsylvania from 1979 to 1987, and then as the U.S...
to order the evacuation of pregnant women and pre-school children from the area. Within days, 140,000 people had left the area. The Mayor of Middletown, at the time, was Robert G. Reid http://www.raiderweb.org/49806072015393, the first Black Mayor in Pennsylvania. Then President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
visited Middletown's Community Building to calm the nerves of anxious residents.
Because the town is so old, architecture styles abound. Middletown has everything from a log cabin to Victorian mansions, and beyond. The Simon Cameron House and Bank
Simon Cameron House and Bank
Simon Cameron House and Bank consists of a historic home and bank building located at Middletown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The house was built about 1833, and is a 2 1/2-story, 3-bay, brick building with a typical half-Georgian plan. Attached to the house is a 2 1/2-story, 3-bay, stone...
, B'nai Jacob Synagogue, St. Peter's Kierch
St. Peter's Kierch
St. Peter's Kierch, also called the Old Kierch or St. Peter's Church, is a historic Lutheran church in Middletown, Dauphin County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Construction began in 1767 and it was dedicated by Henry Muhlenberg in 1769. St. Peter's Kierch was used regularly until 1879 when a...
, Charles and Joseph Raymond Houses
Charles and Joseph Raymond Houses
Charles and Joseph Raymond Houses consists of two historic homes located at Middletown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. They are two irregularly shaped brick and stone mansions in the Queen Anne style. They were built across the street from one another by two brothers, Charles and Joseph Raymond...
, Henry Smith Farm
Henry Smith Farm
Henry Smith Farm, also known as Hidden Spring Farm, is a historic home, barn, and vaulted cellar located at Middletown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The house was built in 1806, and two-story, five bay, double pile building built of brownstone in the Federal style. The interior has a center hall...
, and Swatara Ferry House
Swatara Ferry House
Swatara Ferry House, also known as "Old Fort," is a historic home located at Middletown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. It is a 1 1/2-story log building with a full stone foundation and cellar, built in two sections. It is believed to date to about 1820. The Middletown Area Historical Society...
are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Geography
Middletown is located at 40°11′55"N 76°43′46"W (40.198491, -76.729326).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 borough has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), of which, 2.0 square miles (5.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (2.87%) 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 9,242 people, 4,032 households, and 2,370 families residing in the borough. 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 4,536.5 people per square mile (1,749.2/km²). There were 4,387 housing units at an average density of 2,153.4 per square mile (830.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 88.77% White, 7.34% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.92% 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 2.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.18% of the population.
There were 4,032 households out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% 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, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the borough the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $35,425, and the median income for a family was $43,661. Males had a median income of $32,891 versus $24,692 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 borough was $18,535. About 4.6% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.