Millcreek Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Millcreek Township is a township in Erie County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 53,515 at the 2010 census. It is the largest suburb of Erie
, Pennsylvania
and the sixth-largest municipality in the state; larger than the cities of Altoona and Harrisburg.
Millcreek Township is home to the Millcreek Mall
and portions of busy Peach Street
, the entrance of Presque Isle State Park
, Waldameer Park and many other attractions. Also located in the township is Erie International Airport
, the major airport serving the Erie metropolitan area.
presence in Millcreek Township as early as 3700 BC. The township's Sommerheim Park is the location of the Sommerheim Park Archaeological District
, which has yielded archaeological artifacts
from the Archaic and Woodland
periods.
One of the earliest townships in the Erie Triangle
to be settled, Millcreek was one of the original 16 townships of Erie County. As families came they moved from the bayfront settlement of Erie
they began to form small hamlets such as Federal Hill, Kearsarge, Marvintown, Weigelville, etc. all to become part of Mill Creek Township. As the Erie settlement grew, first into a borough, then a city, it annexed more and more sections of the township.
After the east/west roads were laid out, taverns began to sprout about every mile or so. Along the Ridge Road (U.S. Route 20
), which was laid west through Millcreek in 1805, one of the few that remains is the Nicholson Tavern. Built in 1836, mostly by Isabella Nicholson and her sons, it is still owned by the family and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
A recurving sandspit peninsula, Presque Isle, connects to the mainland in western Millcreek. During the War of 1812
, Oliver Hazard Perry
commanded his fleet in battle and strategically used the peninsula's bay as a harbor to construct six out of nine of the ships in his fleet. In 1921 the peninsula was made a state park and was designated as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service
. Today the park is a bird sanctuary with over 150 different species identified here.
Just west of the entry into Presque Isle was a well-forested area known as Hopkins Grove. The Erie Electric Motor Company purchased the grove in 1896 for development into an amusement park. Today Waldameer is one of the oldest amusement parks in the nation.
, the township has a total area of 29.5 square miles (76.4 km²), of which, 29.5 square miles (76.4 km²) of it is land and 0.03% is water. Millcreek Township is the second largest municipality in Erie County.
Today land use in Millcreek is dedicated to retail, commercial and service-oriented businesses, to light industry, fine public and private schools, and residential areas. About 1% of the land is still zoned for agriculture. Located within its borders is Edinboro University's Porreco Extension Center, Zuck Park, (donated for recreational use by the Zuck family), the Erie Golf Course, and the Asbury Woods Nature Center and Recreation Center, which was once the holdings and summer home of the Behrend family.
of 2000, there were 52,129 people, 21,217 households, and 14,088 families residing in the township. The population density
was 1,768.5 people per square mile (682.7/km²). There were 22,369 housing units at an average density of 758.9/sq mi (293.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.55% White, 1.09% African American, 0.09% Native American, 1.34% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races
, and 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.99% of the population.
There were 21,217 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples
living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the township the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $45,019, and the median income for a family was $56,341. Males had a median income of $41,868 versus $26,610 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $24,279. About 3.9% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.
As said previously, there are four township departments. These departments operate out of six ( 6 ) stations. Apparatus within the township is as follows;
Engines - 7 ( West Lake 482,483 - West Ridge 472,474 - Kearsarge 442 - Belle Valley 362,363 )
Towers - 3 ( West Ridge 479, Kearsarge 449, Belle Valley 369 )
Ladders - 1 ( West Lake 489 )
Rescues - 4 ( West Lake 488,485 - Kearsarge 444 - Belle Valley 368 )
QRV's - 4 ( West Lake 487 - West Ridge 477 - Kearsarge 447 - Belle Valley 367 )
Boats - 1 ( West Lake 486 - Ice Rescue Boat )
Air/Light Truck - 1 ( West Ridge 478 )
Specialty Rescue Trailer - 1 ( West Lake Trench and Confined Space )
Total Apparatus - 22 Rigs
Millcreek Fire Departments have a Dive/Rescue team, operating from members from West Lake and West Ridge Fire Departments.
The four ( 4 ) departments stay extremely busy throughout the year answering over 4,000 calls within the township. Over 4,500 calls if you include Lake Shore. The busiest stations are in order from busiest to slowest; West Ridge, West Lake, Kearsarge and Belle Valley.
Erie County, Pennsylvania
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 280,566. Its county seat is the City of Erie.- Geography :...
, 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 53,515 at the 2010 census. It is the largest suburb of Erie
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
, 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...
and the sixth-largest municipality in the state; larger than the cities of Altoona and Harrisburg.
Millcreek Township is home to the Millcreek Mall
Millcreek Mall
The Millcreek Mall or Millcreek Mall Complex is a one-level shopping center located 3.4 miles southwest of downtown Erie, Pennsylvania, between Peach Street and Interstate 79, in Millcreek Township...
and portions of busy Peach Street
Peach Street
Peach Street, part of U.S. Route 19, is a main artery serving downtown Erie, Pennsylvania. Once surrounded by nothing but rolling hills and farmland, "Upper Peach Street" , is the most significant center of urban sprawl in Erie and is now home to numerous strip plazas, a major shopping mall and...
, the entrance of Presque Isle State Park
Presque Isle State Park
Presque Isle State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on an arching sandy peninsula that juts into Lake Erie, west of the city of Erie, in Millcreek Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The peninsula sweeps northeastward, surrounding Presque Isle Bay along the park's...
, Waldameer Park and many other attractions. Also located in the township is Erie International Airport
Erie International Airport
Erie International Airport / Tom Ridge Field is a public airport serving northwestern Pennsylvania and is located five miles southwest of the central business district of Erie, a city in Erie County. It features commercial service by regional airlines, connecting passengers to hubs in the...
, the major airport serving the Erie metropolitan area.
History
Evidence exists of Native AmericanIndigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
presence in Millcreek Township as early as 3700 BC. The township's Sommerheim Park is the location of the Sommerheim Park Archaeological District
Sommerheim Park Archaeological District
The Sommerheim Park Archaeological District includes a group of six archaeological sites west of Erie, Pennsylvania in the United States. The sites are in Sommerheim Park, one of the few undeveloped areas of the Lake Erie shoreline, in Millcreek Township...
, which has yielded archaeological artifacts
Artifact (archaeology)
An artifact or artefact is "something made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp an object of archaeological interest"...
from the Archaic and Woodland
Woodland period
The Woodland period of North American pre-Columbian cultures was from roughly 1000 BCE to 1000 CE in the eastern part of North America. The term "Woodland Period" was introduced in the 1930s as a generic header for prehistoric sites falling between the Archaic hunter-gatherers and the...
periods.
One of the earliest townships in the Erie Triangle
Erie Triangle
The Erie Triangle is a tract of American land that was the subject of several competing colonial-era claims and which was eventually acquired by the U.S. federal government and sold to Pennsylvania so that the state would have access to a freshwater port on Lake Erie...
to be settled, Millcreek was one of the original 16 townships of Erie County. As families came they moved from the bayfront settlement of Erie
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
they began to form small hamlets such as Federal Hill, Kearsarge, Marvintown, Weigelville, etc. all to become part of Mill Creek Township. As the Erie settlement grew, first into a borough, then a city, it annexed more and more sections of the township.
After the east/west roads were laid out, taverns began to sprout about every mile or so. Along the Ridge Road (U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20 is an east–west United States highway. As the "0" in its route number implies, US 20 is a coast-to-coast route. Spanning , it is the longest road in the United States, and the route sparsely parallels Interstate 90...
), which was laid west through Millcreek in 1805, one of the few that remains is the Nicholson Tavern. Built in 1836, mostly by Isabella Nicholson and her sons, it is still owned by the family and is 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...
.
A recurving sandspit peninsula, Presque Isle, connects to the mainland in western Millcreek. During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, Oliver Hazard Perry
Oliver Hazard Perry
United States Navy Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry was born in South Kingstown, Rhode Island , the son of USN Captain Christopher Raymond Perry and Sarah Wallace Alexander, a direct descendant of William Wallace...
commanded his fleet in battle and strategically used the peninsula's bay as a harbor to construct six out of nine of the ships in his fleet. In 1921 the peninsula was made a state park and was designated as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
. Today the park is a bird sanctuary with over 150 different species identified here.
Just west of the entry into Presque Isle was a well-forested area known as Hopkins Grove. The Erie Electric Motor Company purchased the grove in 1896 for development into an amusement park. Today Waldameer is one of the oldest amusement parks in the nation.
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 29.5 square miles (76.4 km²), of which, 29.5 square miles (76.4 km²) of it is land and 0.03% is water. Millcreek Township is the second largest municipality in Erie County.
Today land use in Millcreek is dedicated to retail, commercial and service-oriented businesses, to light industry, fine public and private schools, and residential areas. About 1% of the land is still zoned for agriculture. Located within its borders is Edinboro University's Porreco Extension Center, Zuck Park, (donated for recreational use by the Zuck family), the Erie Golf Course, and the Asbury Woods Nature Center and Recreation Center, which was once the holdings and summer home of the Behrend family.
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 52,129 people, 21,217 households, and 14,088 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 1,768.5 people per square mile (682.7/km²). There were 22,369 housing units at an average density of 758.9/sq mi (293.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.55% White, 1.09% African American, 0.09% Native American, 1.34% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.30% 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 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.99% of the population.
There were 21,217 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% 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, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the township the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $45,019, and the median income for a family was $56,341. Males had a median income of $41,868 versus $26,610 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 $24,279. About 3.9% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.
Fire and EMS Protection
Millcreek Township is protected by separate volunteer fire departments. There are four (4) fire departments in Millcreek, Township Department #1 West Lake Fire Department, also known as Department 48 ( or stations 48 and 49 ), Township Department #2 Kearsarge Fire Department also known as Department 44, Township Department #3 Belle Valley Fire Department also known as Station 36, Township Department #4 West Ridge Fire Department, also known as Station 46 and Station 47 and Lake Shore Fire Department. Lake Shore is a Fairview Township Fire Department, that lies within the border of Millcreek Township and provides mutual aid to the Millcreek Departments. Each department is completely separate, however they work with each other on fires, rescues, etc. everyday. They all provide fire, rescue and fire responder services to Millcreek Township, 24/7 365. There is approximately 100 volunteers in the township. Millcreek Township employees (Water Dept, Street Dept, Etc.) form a Fire Response unit while on duty five (5) days a week (8am-4pm), known as 929. They will be dispatched and respond to any report of a fire or at anytime request by the fire departments. This "department" is supervised by the Township Chief Fire Inspector and Assistant Fire Inspector (920 and 931). Millcreek Fire Departments are classified as an ISO Class 3, the township recently achieved this before they were ISO Class 4. Millcreek Paramedic Service is the sole ALS (Advanced Life Support) and transportable ambulance service in Millcreek Township. MPS is owned by the four Millcreek Fire Departments and Lake Shore FD. Currently, operates with three (3) front line ambulances stationed at West Ridge (West), Kearsarge (Central) and Belle Valley (East) - 24/7 365. Also on duty from 7am-5am is a Paramedic Supervisor in an ambulance or a "flycar" to provide ALS to mutual aid companies and to first respond to emergencies. This is a paid ambulance service with about 50 employees. Better known as "MPS" provides emergency services as well as non-emergency services. Remember to always call 9-1-1 for emergencies.As said previously, there are four township departments. These departments operate out of six ( 6 ) stations. Apparatus within the township is as follows;
Engines - 7 ( West Lake 482,483 - West Ridge 472,474 - Kearsarge 442 - Belle Valley 362,363 )
Towers - 3 ( West Ridge 479, Kearsarge 449, Belle Valley 369 )
Ladders - 1 ( West Lake 489 )
Rescues - 4 ( West Lake 488,485 - Kearsarge 444 - Belle Valley 368 )
QRV's - 4 ( West Lake 487 - West Ridge 477 - Kearsarge 447 - Belle Valley 367 )
Boats - 1 ( West Lake 486 - Ice Rescue Boat )
Air/Light Truck - 1 ( West Ridge 478 )
Specialty Rescue Trailer - 1 ( West Lake Trench and Confined Space )
Total Apparatus - 22 Rigs
Millcreek Fire Departments have a Dive/Rescue team, operating from members from West Lake and West Ridge Fire Departments.
The four ( 4 ) departments stay extremely busy throughout the year answering over 4,000 calls within the township. Over 4,500 calls if you include Lake Shore. The busiest stations are in order from busiest to slowest; West Ridge, West Lake, Kearsarge and Belle Valley.