Shrewsbury Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
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.
in 1804. It was originally much larger in size and included a large part of what is now Sullivan County until 1847. It is named for Shrewsbury Township
, New Jersey
. Some of the first settlers, The Little and Bennett families, migrated to Lycoming County from New Jersey and wanted their new home to have the same name as their old home. Peter Corson, also from New Jersey
was one of the first settlers to establish a home in the area and he was quite successful. Corson and his wife had 5 sons and 3 daughters and within less than 100 years they had descendants that were numbered by the hundred.
In the late 1800s, Highland Lake, in the northern part of Shrewsbury Township was popular summer vacation destination. There were three large hotels on the lake as well as several summer cottages. The cottage holders included Pennsylvanians from as far away as Philadelphia which is approximately 100 mi (160 km) southwest of Shrewsbury Township.
Industry and farming are and always have been very limited in Shrewsbury Township. It is a very mountainous area. The population as of the 2000 census has declined to 433 residents from 570 at the census of 1890.
to the northeast, Penn Township
to the southeast, Picture Rocks
to the south, Wolf Township to the west and Plunketts Creek 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 17.5 square miles (45.3 km²).17.5 square miles (45.3 km²) of it is land and 0.06% is water.
of 2000, there were 433 people, 181 households, and 131 families residing in the township. The population density
was 24.8 people per square mile (9.6/km²). There were 252 housing units at an average density of 14.4/sq mi (5.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 99.54% White and 0.46% Native American.
There were 181 households out of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.7% were married couples
living together, 3.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the township the population was spread out with 20.1% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 106.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $36,389, and the median income for a family was $45,417. Males had a median income of $30,208 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $17,186. About 3.3% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including none 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 433 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
Shrewsbury Township was formed from part of Muncy Township by 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...
in 1804. It was originally much larger in size and included a large part of what is now Sullivan County until 1847. It is named for Shrewsbury Township
Shrewsbury Township, New Jersey
Shrewsbury Township is a township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 1,141.-History:...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. Some of the first settlers, The Little and Bennett families, migrated to Lycoming County from New Jersey and wanted their new home to have the same name as their old home. Peter Corson, also from New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
was one of the first settlers to establish a home in the area and he was quite successful. Corson and his wife had 5 sons and 3 daughters and within less than 100 years they had descendants that were numbered by the hundred.
In the late 1800s, Highland Lake, in the northern part of Shrewsbury Township was popular summer vacation destination. There were three large hotels on the lake as well as several summer cottages. The cottage holders included Pennsylvanians from as far away as Philadelphia which is approximately 100 mi (160 km) southwest of Shrewsbury Township.
Industry and farming are and always have been very limited in Shrewsbury Township. It is a very mountainous area. The population as of the 2000 census has declined to 433 residents from 570 at the census of 1890.
Geography
Shrewsbury 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, Penn Township
Penn Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
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.-History:...
to the southeast, 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 south, Wolf Township to the west and Plunketts Creek Township 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 17.5 square miles (45.3 km²).17.5 square miles (45.3 km²) of it is land and 0.06% 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 433 people, 181 households, and 131 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 24.8 people per square mile (9.6/km²). There were 252 housing units at an average density of 14.4/sq mi (5.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 99.54% White and 0.46% Native American.
There were 181 households out of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.7% 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, 3.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the township the population was spread out with 20.1% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 106.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $36,389, and the median income for a family was $45,417. Males had a median income of $30,208 versus $23,750 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 $17,186. About 3.3% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including none 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....