Penn Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Penn Township is a township in Lycoming County
, Pennsylvania
, in the United States. The population was 900 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport
, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.
was divided for the fourth time. It is named for Penn Township, Berks County
, Pennsylvania
in Berks County which is name for William Penn
the founder of Pennsylvania
. Tobias and Isaac Kepner had migrated to eastern Lycoming County from Berks County and wanted their new home to have the same name as their old home. Much of the history of Penn Township can be found in the history of the Big Runaway
and Muncy Township
. Lumbering was the dominant industry in Penn Township during the mid-to-late 19th century. A man made lake, Beaver Lake, was built to supply water power for a sawmill
. The sawmill has long since disappeared but the lake remains.
to the northeast, Franklin Township
to the east, Moreland Township to the south, Wolf Township and Picture Rocks
to the west, and Shrewsbury Township
to the northwest. 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 26.7 square miles (69.2 km²), of which, 26.6 square miles (68.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (0.52%) is water.
of 2000, there were 900 people, 349 households, and 263 families residing in the township. The population density
was 33.9 people per square mile (13.1/km²). There were 420 housing units at an average density of 15.8/square mile (6.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.89% White, 0.44% Asian, and 0.67% from two or more races.
There were 349 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.6% were married couples
living together, 3.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the township the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 112.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $40,735, and the median income for a family was $46,797. Males had a median income of $28,421 versus $22,000 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $16,346. About 5.0% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 6.4% 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 900 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
Penn Township was formed in 1828 when Muncy TownshipMuncy Township, Pennsylvania
Muncy Township is a township in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 1,059 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.The unincorporated village of Pennsdale is located here...
was divided for the fourth time. It is named for Penn Township, Berks County
Penn Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania
Penn Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,993 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 19.1 square miles , of which, 18.6 square miles of it is land and...
, 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 Berks County which is name for William Penn
William Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
the founder of Pennsylvania
Province of Pennsylvania
The Province of Pennsylvania, also known as Pennsylvania Colony, was founded in British America by William Penn on March 4, 1681 as dictated in a royal charter granted by King Charles II...
. Tobias and Isaac Kepner had migrated to eastern Lycoming County from Berks County and wanted their new home to have the same name as their old home. Much of the history of Penn Township can be found in the history of the Big Runaway
Big Runaway
The Big Runaway occurred in 1778, during the American Revolutionary War, when settlements throughout the West Branch Susquehanna Valley in Pennsylvania in what became the United States were attacked by Loyalists and Native Americans allied with the British...
and Muncy Township
Muncy Township, Pennsylvania
Muncy Township is a township in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 1,059 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.The unincorporated village of Pennsdale is located here...
. Lumbering was the dominant industry in Penn Township during the mid-to-late 19th century. A man made lake, Beaver Lake, was built to supply water power for a 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....
. The sawmill has long since disappeared but the lake remains.
Geography
Penn Township is bordered by Sullivan CountySullivan County, Pennsylvania
Sullivan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population is 6,428. Sullivan County was created on March 15, 1847, from part of Lycoming County and named for Charles Sullivan, leader of the Pennsylvania Senate...
to the northeast, Franklin Township
Franklin Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Franklin Township is a township in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 915 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
to the east, Moreland Township to the south, Wolf Township and Picture Rocks
Picture Rocks, Pennsylvania
Picture Rocks is a borough in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 693 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
to the west, and Shrewsbury Township
Shrewsbury Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Shrewsbury Township is a township in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 433 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
to the northwest. 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 26.7 square miles (69.2 km²), of which, 26.6 square miles (68.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (0.52%) 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 900 people, 349 households, and 263 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 33.9 people per square mile (13.1/km²). There were 420 housing units at an average density of 15.8/square mile (6.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.89% White, 0.44% Asian, and 0.67% from two or more races.
There were 349 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.6% 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, 3.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the township the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 112.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $40,735, and the median income for a family was $46,797. Males had a median income of $28,421 versus $22,000 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 $16,346. About 5.0% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 6.4% 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....