Washington Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Washington Township is a township in Lehigh County
, Pennsylvania
, in the United States
. It is a suburb of Allentown
, Pennsylvania
, in the Lehigh Valley
area of the state.
The population of Washington Township was 6,588 at the 2000 census.
, the township has a total area of 23.8 square miles (61.6 km²), of which, 23.7 square miles (61.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (0.46%) is water. It is drained by the Lehigh River
, which separates it from Northampton County
, and Blue Mountain
separates it from Carbon County
.
Its villages include Emerald, Friedens, Lehigh Furnace, Lehigh Gap
(also in Northampton County,) Neffs
(also in North Whitehall Township,) Newhard, Newside, and Slatedale
. Washington Township's is served by Pennsylvania Route 873
(PA 873), which crosses north-to-south from PA 248 in Lehigh Gap to PA 329 in Neffs and PA 309 in Schnecksville. An important east-to-west thoroughfare is Mountain Road, which proceeds west from PA 873 in Lehigh Gap to PA 309 north of New Tripoli.
of 2000, there were 6,588 people, 2,512 households, and 1,929 families residing in the township. The population density
was 278.4 people per square mile (107.5/km²). There were 2,594 housing units at an average density of 109.6/sq mi (42.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.71% White, 0.21% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.24% from other races
, and 0.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.97% of the population.
There were 2,512 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.2% were married couples
living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.2% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the township the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 103.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.8 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $50,587, and the median income for a family was $55,332. Males had a median income of $35,340 versus $26,967 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $19,980. About 3.5% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.
Lehigh County, Pennsylvania
-Climate:Most of the county's climate is considered to fall in the humid continental climate zone. Summers are typically hot and muggy, fall and spring are generally mild, and winter is cold. Precipitation is almost uniformly distributed throughout the year....
, 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
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is a suburb of Allentown
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
, 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 Lehigh Valley
Lehigh Valley
The Lehigh Valley, known officially by the United States Census Bureau as the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metropolitan area and referred to locally as The Valley and A-B-E, is a metropolitan region consisting of Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, and Carbon counties in eastern Pennsylvania and...
area of the state.
The population of Washington Township was 6,588 at the 2000 census.
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 23.8 square miles (61.6 km²), of which, 23.7 square miles (61.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (0.46%) is water. It is drained by the Lehigh River
Lehigh River
The Lehigh River, a tributary of the Delaware River, is a river located in eastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. Part of the Lehigh, along with a number of its tributaries, is designated a Pennsylvania Scenic River by the state's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources...
, which separates it from Northampton County
Northampton County, Pennsylvania
As of the 2010 census, the county was 86.3% White, 5.0% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 2.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 2.2% were two or more races, and 3.8% were some other race. 10.5% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.As of the census of...
, and 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...
separates it from Carbon County
Carbon County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 58,802 people, 23,701 households, and 16,424 families residing in the county. The population density was 154 people per square mile . There were 30,492 housing units at an average density of 80 per square mile...
.
Its villages include Emerald, Friedens, Lehigh Furnace, Lehigh Gap
Lehigh Gap, Pennsylvania
The Lehigh Gap, located in Lower Towamensing Township, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, is a water gap formed by the Lehigh River where it cuts through Blue Mountain in the state of Pennsylvania in the United States. The gap allows easy travel between Carbon County to the north and Lehigh and...
(also in Northampton County,) Neffs
Neffs, Pennsylvania
Neffs is a small village located mainly in North Whitehall Township but also in Washington Township in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States. Neffs is located at the junction of Pennsylvania Routes 873 and 329, about one mile north of Schnecksville....
(also in North Whitehall Township,) Newhard, Newside, and Slatedale
Slatedale, Pennsylvania
Slatedale is an unincorporated community in Washington Township, northern Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. It is 3.1 miles west of the borough of Slatington....
. Washington Township's is served by Pennsylvania Route 873
Pennsylvania Route 873
Pennsylvania Route 873 is a north-south, two-lane road mainly located in northern Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Its northern terminus is at PA 248 in the Lehigh Township hamlet of Weiders Crossing. It passes through Slatington as Main Street. Its southern terminus is at PA 309 in Schnecksville....
(PA 873), which crosses north-to-south from PA 248 in Lehigh Gap to PA 329 in Neffs and PA 309 in Schnecksville. An important east-to-west thoroughfare is Mountain Road, which proceeds west from PA 873 in Lehigh Gap to PA 309 north of New Tripoli.
Adjacent municipalities
- North Whitehall TownshipNorth Whitehall Township, PennsylvaniaNorth Whitehall Township is a township in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is a suburb of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.The population of North Whitehall Township was 14,731 at the 2000 census....
(south) - Heidelberg TownshipHeidelberg Township, Lehigh County, PennsylvaniaHeidelberg Township is a township in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is a suburb of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.The population of Heidelberg Township was 3,279 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
(west) - East Penn Township, Carbon CountyEast Penn Township, PennsylvaniaEast Penn Township is a township in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,461 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water...
(north) - Lower Towamensing Township, Carbon CountyLower Towamensing Township, PennsylvaniaLower Towamensing Township is a township in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,173 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
(tangent to the northeast) - Lehigh Township, Northampton CountyLehigh Township, Northampton County, PennsylvaniaLehigh Township is a township in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. Lehigh Township is located in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.The population of Lehigh Township was 9,728 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
(east) - SlatingtonSlatington, PennsylvaniaSlatington is a borough in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. It is located 15 miles northwest of Allentown, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state...
(east) - Walnutport, Northampton CountyWalnutport, PennsylvaniaWalnutport is a borough in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. Incorporated in 1909, Walnutport is located in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania along the Lehigh River.The population of Walnutport was 2,043 at the 2000 census. The U.S...
(east)
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 6,588 people, 2,512 households, and 1,929 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 278.4 people per square mile (107.5/km²). There were 2,594 housing units at an average density of 109.6/sq mi (42.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.71% White, 0.21% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.24% 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 0.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.97% of the population.
There were 2,512 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.2% 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, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.2% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the township the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 103.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.8 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $50,587, and the median income for a family was $55,332. Males had a median income of $35,340 versus $26,967 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 $19,980. About 3.5% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.