West Penn Township, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
West Penn Township is a township in Schuylkill County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 3,852 at the 2000 census.
, the township has a total area of 58.2 square miles (150.7 km²), of which, 58.0 square miles (150.2 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (0.38%) is water. It extends from Blue Mountain
in the south to the border of Tamaqua
in the north and from the Carbon County
border in the east to the Little Schuylkill River
in the west, which drains most of its area. Portions of West Penn are also drained into the Lehigh River
via the Mahoning and Lizard Creeks, which both originate in the township.
The numbered state routes of West Penn are 309
, 443
, and 895
. Its villages include Andreas
, Clamtown, Dorset, Kepner, Leibeyville, Longacre, Mantzville , Millers, Snyders
, and South Tamaqua
.
of 2000, there were 3,852 people, 1,485 households, and 1,136 families residing in the township. The population density
was 66.4 people per square mile (25.7/km²). There were 1,607 housing units at an average density of 27.7/sq mi (10.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.78% White, 0.21% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.34% from other races
, and 0.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.73% of the population.
There were 1,485 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.7% were married couples
living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.5% were non-families. 19.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the township the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 103.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $39,276, and the median income for a family was $47,341. Males had a median income of $31,673 versus $21,649 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $18,577. About 3.5% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.
Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
-Notable people:*Boxing heavyweight great Muhammad Ali had his training camp in Deer Lake.*Charles Justin Bailey, commanding general of the 81st Division in World War I, was born in Tamaqua on June 21, 1859....
, 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 3,852 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 58.2 square miles (150.7 km²), of which, 58.0 square miles (150.2 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (0.38%) is water. It extends from 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...
in the south to the border of Tamaqua
Tamaqua, Pennsylvania
Tamaqua is a borough in eastern Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The borough, located in Northeastern Pennsylvania's Coal Region, had a population of 7,107 as of the 2010 U.S...
in the north and from the 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...
border in the east to the Little Schuylkill River
Little Schuylkill River
Little Schuylkill River is a tributary of the Schuylkill River in northeast Pennsylvania in the United States.It rises south of McAdoo Heights in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, on top of Broad Mountain. It flows south, then southwest passing through the communities of Tamaqua and New Ringgold....
in the west, which drains most of its area. Portions of West Penn are also drained into 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...
via the Mahoning and Lizard Creeks, which both originate in the township.
The numbered state routes of West Penn are 309
Pennsylvania Route 309
Pennsylvania Route 309 is a major highway which runs for 134 miles through Pennsylvania in the United States. It connects Philadelphia and its northern suburbs to Allentown, Hazleton, and Wilkes-Barre. A limited-access highway portion of PA 309 in the Wilkes-Barre area is known as the North...
, 443
Pennsylvania Route 443
Pennsylvania Route 443 is a long east–west state highway in the US state of Pennsylvania. Unlike other state highways, PA 443 terminates at not a traffic route at its west end, but at Front Street, formerly U.S. Route 22 and U.S. Route 322 and presently Quadrant Route 3009, in the...
, and 895
Pennsylvania Route 895
Pennsylvania Route 895 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is designated as an east–west route, with termini at Route 443 in Pine Grove and Route 248 in Bowmanstown. The entire course is close to the north flank of Blue Mountain.- Schuylkill County :PA 895 begins at an...
. Its villages include Andreas
Andreas, Pennsylvania
Andreas, Pennsylvania is a village in the SE corner of Schuylkill County. It is located in West Penn Township, Schuylkill County on Route 895. The Lizard Creek flows eastward through the village to the Lehigh River. Andreas lies at the northern foot of Blue Mountain and its zip code is 18211. The...
, Clamtown, Dorset, Kepner, Leibeyville, Longacre, Mantzville , Millers, Snyders
Snyders, Pennsylvania
Snyders, Pennsylvania is a village in West Penn Township, Schuylkill County located at the junction of Routes 309 and 895. The Lizard Creek flows eastward through the village to the Lehigh River. Snyders lies at the northern foot of Blue Mountain and is split between the Andreas zip code of 18211...
, and South Tamaqua
South Tamaqua, Pennsylvania
South Tamaqua, Pennsylvania is a village located along the Little Schuylkill River at the junctions of Routes 309 and 443 in West Penn Township, Schuylkill County. It is split between the New Ringgold zip code of 17960 and the Tamaqua zip code of 18252....
.
Neighboring municipalities
- TamaquaTamaqua, PennsylvaniaTamaqua is a borough in eastern Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The borough, located in Northeastern Pennsylvania's Coal Region, had a population of 7,107 as of the 2010 U.S...
(north) - Walker TownshipWalker Township, Schuylkill County, PennsylvaniaWalker Township is a township in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 936 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 22.9 square miles , of which, 22.8 square miles of it is land and...
(west) - East Brunswick Township (southwest)
- Albany Township, Berks CountyAlbany Township, Berks County, PennsylvaniaAlbany Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,662 at the 2000 census. A 2005 census estimate put the township's population at 1,712. The township hall is located in Kempton.-Geography:...
(south) - Lynn Township, Lehigh County (south)
- Heidelberg Township, Lehigh CountyHeidelberg 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:...
(tangent to the southeast) - East Penn Township, Carbon County (east)
- Mahoning Township, Carbon CountyMahoning Township, Carbon County, PennsylvaniaMahoning Township is a township in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,978 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 23.7 square miles , of which, 23.6 square miles of it is land and...
(northeast) - Summit Hill, Carbon CountySummit Hill, PennsylvaniaSummit Hill is a borough in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,974 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Summit Hill is located at ....
(northeast)
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 3,852 people, 1,485 households, and 1,136 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 66.4 people per square mile (25.7/km²). There were 1,607 housing units at an average density of 27.7/sq mi (10.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.78% White, 0.21% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.34% 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 0.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.73% of the population.
There were 1,485 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.7% 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, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.5% were non-families. 19.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the township the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 103.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $39,276, and the median income for a family was $47,341. Males had a median income of $31,673 versus $21,649 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 $18,577. About 3.5% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.