Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Susquehanna Township is a township in Dauphin County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 24,036 at the 2010 census. This represents a 9.8% increase from the 2000 census count of 21,895. Susquehanna Township has the postal ZIP codes 17109 and 17110, which maintain the Harrisburg
place name designation. The township is a suburb of Harrisburg
, Pennsylvania
and is connected to Marysville
by the Rockville Bridge
, the world's longest stone-arch rail bridge at the time of its completion.
on October 2, 1757. In honor of his wife, Ester, the town was then renamed "Estherton" and was the second oldest town in Dauphin County (behind Middletown
). In 1774, a second settlement, "Rockville", and a third in 1815, "Progress" were settled. On January 2, 1952 Susquehanna became a First Class township via the Dauphin County Court.
, the township has a total area of 15.2 square miles (39.3 km²), of which, 13.4 square miles (34.7 km²) of it is land and 1.8 square miles (4.6 km²) of it (11.72%) is water. It is drained by the Susquehanna River
, which separates it from Cumberland County
and Perry County
. The north end of the township is on Blue Mountain
and Susquehanna Township's elevations range from approximately 300 feet on the river to 1,150 feet in the northeast.
The township's numbered roads include Interstate 81
, Route 22
, Route 322
, and Route 39
. Other local roads include Elmerton Avenue and Progress Avenue.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 21,895 people, 9,178 households, and 5,727 families residing in the township. The population density
was 1,632.9 people per square mile (630.4/km²). There were 9,593 housing units at an average density of 715.4/sq mi (276.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 75.30% White, 19.37% African American, 0.11% Native American, 2.19% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.03% from other races
, and 1.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.25% of the population.
There were 9,178 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples
living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the township the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $49,293, and the median income for a family was $61,781. Males had a median income of $41,367 versus $32,296 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $26,572. About 3.9% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
, Oxford Court, Beaufort Farms, Mountaindale
, Apple Creek Farms, Deer Path Woods
, Northwoods Crossing, Sienna Woods, Saybrook Meadows, Latshmere, Green Acres, Crooked Hill
, Montrose Park, Waverly Woods, Wedgewood Hills, Whitehall Terrace, and Progress.
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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 24,036 at the 2010 census. This represents a 9.8% increase from the 2000 census count of 21,895. Susquehanna Township has the postal ZIP codes 17109 and 17110, which maintain the 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...
place name designation. The township is a suburb 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...
, 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 is connected to Marysville
Marysville, Pennsylvania
Marysville is a borough in Perry County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,425 in July 2008. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area....
by the Rockville Bridge
Rockville Bridge
The Rockville Bridge, at the time of its completion in 1902, was, and still remains, the longest stone masonry arch railroad viaduct in the world. Constructed between 1900 - 1902 by the Pennsylvania Railroad, it has forty-eight 70-foot spans, for a total length of 3,820 feet .The bridge crosses...
, the world's longest stone-arch rail bridge at the time of its completion.
History
The first settlement where Susquehanna Township now lies was known as "Coxestown" and was laid out by Dr. John Cox, Jr. of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
on October 2, 1757. In honor of his wife, Ester, the town was then renamed "Estherton" and was the second oldest town in Dauphin County (behind Middletown
Middletown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Middletown is a borough in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, on the Susquehanna River, nine miles southeast of Harrisburg. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
). In 1774, a second settlement, "Rockville", and a third in 1815, "Progress" were settled. On January 2, 1952 Susquehanna became a First Class township via the Dauphin County Court.
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 15.2 square miles (39.3 km²), of which, 13.4 square miles (34.7 km²) of it is land and 1.8 square miles (4.6 km²) of it (11.72%) is water. It is drained by 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...
, which separates it from Cumberland County
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is one of three counties comprising the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 235,406.-History:...
and Perry County
Perry County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 43,602 people, 16,695 households, and 12,320 families residing in the county. The population density was 79 people per square mile . There were 18,941 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile...
. The north end of the township is on Blue Mountain
Blue Mountain (Pennsylvania)
Blue Mountain is a ridge that forms the eastern edge of the Appalachian mountain range in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It cuts across the eastern half of the state from New Jersey to Maryland, providing a distinct boundary between a number of Pennsylvania's geographical and cultural regions...
and Susquehanna Township's elevations range from approximately 300 feet on the river to 1,150 feet in the northeast.
The township's numbered roads include Interstate 81
Interstate 81
Interstate 81 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern part of the United States. Its southern terminus is at Interstate 40 in Dandridge, Tennessee; its northern terminus is on Wellesley Island at the Canadian border, where the Thousand Islands Bridge connects it to Highway 401, the main freeway...
, Route 22
U.S. Route 22
U.S. Route 22 is a west–east route and is one of the original United States highways of 1926, running from Cincinnati, Ohio, at US 27, US 42, US 127, and US 52 to Newark, New Jersey, at U.S. Route 1/9 near the Newark Liberty International Airport.US 22 also carries the names of the William...
, Route 322
U.S. Route 322
U.S. Route 322 is a long, east–west United States Highway, traversing Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. The road is a spur of U.S. Route 22 and one of the original highways from 1926...
, and Route 39
Pennsylvania Route 39
Pennsylvania Route 39 is a long east–west state highway in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. It starts at North Front Street north of Harrisburg and ends at U.S. Route 322 and U.S. Route 422 near Hummelstown...
. Other local roads include Elmerton Avenue and Progress Avenue.
Unincorporated communities and census designated places in Susquehanna Township
- Beaufort FarmsBeaufort Farms, PennsylvaniaBeaufort Farms is an unincorporated community in northern Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania in the Harrisburg-Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. The latitude is 40.324, the longitude -76.885, and its elevation is .- External links :*...
- EdgemontEdgemont, PennsylvaniaEdgemont is a unincorporated community in Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania in the Harrisburg-Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area, nearby bordering the state capital city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania northeast, and the nearby census-designated place of Progress, Pennsylvania, the...
- EsthertonEstherton, PennsylvaniaEstherton is an Unincorporated area in Dauphin County, in the Harrisburg-Carlisle area.Estherton . Nearby Fort Hunter served as a supply base for the armed forces during the French and Indian War. The second settlement is what is now known as Rockville, which was settled in 1774 by a Mr...
- LucknowLucknow, PennsylvaniaLucknow is a small unincorporated community in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States, in the Harrisburg-Carlisle area....
- Paxtang ManorPaxtang Manor, PennsylvaniaPaxtang Manor is an unincorporated community in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania in the Harrisburg-Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area, the latitude is 40.270, and the longitude -76.831, its elevation is .- External links :*...
- Progress CDPCensus-designated placeA census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
- Windsor FarmsWindsor Farms, PennsylvaniaWindsor Farms is an unincorporated community in Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania in the Harrisburg-Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. The latitude is 40.323, the longitude is -76.876, and its elevation is .- External links :*...
Adjacent municipalities
- Middle Paxton TownshipMiddle Paxton Township, PennsylvaniaMiddle Paxton Township is a township in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,823 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
(north) - Lower Paxton TownshipLower Paxton Township, PennsylvaniaLower Paxton Township is a township in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The township was incorporated in 1767 from Paxton Township...
(east) - Swatara TownshipSwatara Township, Dauphin County, PennsylvaniaSwatara Township is a township in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 22,611 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 15.8 square miles , of which, 13.2 square miles of it is land and...
(south) - PaxtangPaxtang, PennsylvaniaPaxtang is a borough in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The borough is a suburb of Harrisburg and is one of the earliest colonial settlements in South Central Pennsylvania.-History:...
(south) - HarrisburgHarrisburg, PennsylvaniaHarrisburg 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...
(southwest and west) - PenbrookPenbrook, PennsylvaniaPenbrook is a borough in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, founded in 1861 and incorporated July 10, 1894. Penbrook was once named East Harrisburg and still maintains a Harrisburg postal ZIP code...
(southwest) - East Pennsboro Township, Cumberland CountyEast Pennsboro Township, PennsylvaniaEast Pennsboro Township is a township in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,254 at the 2000 census. In 1990 the township had a population of 16,588. East Pennsboro is the second largest municipality in Cumberland County. The township is located along the...
(west) - Marysville, Perry CountyMarysville, PennsylvaniaMarysville is a borough in Perry County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,425 in July 2008. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area....
(northwest)
Demographics
As of the 2010 census, the township was 67.3% White, 23.6% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 3.6% Asian, and 3.5% were two or more races. 4.9% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/profile/PA.As of the census
Census
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 21,895 people, 9,178 households, and 5,727 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 1,632.9 people per square mile (630.4/km²). There were 9,593 housing units at an average density of 715.4/sq mi (276.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 75.30% White, 19.37% African American, 0.11% Native American, 2.19% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.03% 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 1.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.25% of the population.
There were 9,178 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% 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, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the township the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $49,293, and the median income for a family was $61,781. Males had a median income of $41,367 versus $32,296 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 $26,572. About 3.9% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
Neighborhoods
Incorporated into Susquehanna Township are many neighborhoods, such as: EdgemontEdgemont, Pennsylvania
Edgemont is a unincorporated community in Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania in the Harrisburg-Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area, nearby bordering the state capital city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania northeast, and the nearby census-designated place of Progress, Pennsylvania, the...
, Oxford Court, Beaufort Farms, Mountaindale
Mountaindale, Pennsylvania
Mountaindale is an old coal-mining community in northeastern Cambria County, Pennsylvania.The name "Mountaindale" is also used for a residential development located in Susquehanna Township, just outside of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania....
, Apple Creek Farms, Deer Path Woods
Deer Path Woods
Deer Path Woods is a neighborhood in the Susquehanna Township area of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The neighborhood is at the bottom of Blue Mountain and is about 2 miles from the Susquehanna River. Between the elementary school's park and McNaughton Park, there are two basketball courts, two baseball...
, Northwoods Crossing, Sienna Woods, Saybrook Meadows, Latshmere, Green Acres, Crooked Hill
Crooked Hill
Crooked Hill is a neighborhood in Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and is a suburb of the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The name Crooked Hill is derived from Crooked Hill Road, which has many different neighborhoods located along it....
, Montrose Park, Waverly Woods, Wedgewood Hills, Whitehall Terrace, and Progress.
Legislators
- State Representative Sue HelmSue HelmSusan C. Helm is a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 104th District and was elected in 2006.Helm earned an Associate Degree from the Harrisburg Area Community College....
, Republican, 104th district - State Senator Jeffrey PiccolaJeffrey PiccolaJeffrey E. Piccola is member of the Pennsylvania State Senate, representing the 15th State Senate District. He is in the Republican Party.Piccola is a 1970 graduate of Gettysburg College, and a 1973 graduate of George Washington University Law School. From 1973 to 1974, he served in the United...
, Republican, 15th district - US Representative Tim HoldenTim HoldenThomas Timothy "Tim" Holden is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:...
, Democrat, 17th district
Board of Commissioners
Susquehanna Township is a first-class township and elects nine commissioners by ward.- Ward 1, Donald Houser
- Ward 2, Diane Bowman
- Ward 3, Tracey Lewis
- Ward 4, Frank Lynch, Vice-President
- Ward 5, Jacquelin Patton, President
- Ward 6, Sean Sanderson
- Ward 7, Fred Engle Jr.
- Ward 8, Sherri Levin-McConnell
- Ward 9, Steven C. Napper