Lancaster Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Lancaster Township,
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
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settlement_type = Township
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map_caption = Map of Lancaster County highlighting Lancaster Township


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Pennsylvania
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Lancaster
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government_type = Board of Supervisors
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established_title = Settled
established_date = 1717
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date2 = 1729
area_total_km2 =
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area_total_sq_mi = 6.0
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population_as_of = 2000
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population_total = 13944
population_density_km2 =
population_density_sq_mi = 2314.9
timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
area_code = 717
website = [http://www.twp.lancaster.pa.us/ Lancaster Township]
footnotes =

Lancaster Township is a civil township of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is in the central area and it immediately surrounds Lancaster City. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 13,944.

Lancaster Township is one of the six immediate suburbs of the city of Lancaster, all sharing the same official designation as Lancaster, Pennsylvania by the United States Postal Service. [cite web | title=Lancaster's suburbs | work=Google | url= http://books.google.com/books?id=f891HxR6y9MC&pg=PA225&lpg=PA225&dq=east+hempfield+township+suburb+of+lancaster&source=web&ots=9d7xV6ASFc&sig=radVQZ8hHgzU3qf4xbuzZOTkIog&hl=en | accessmonthday=March 18 | accessyear=2008]

History

Lancaster Township was established in 1729 as one of seventeen original townships in Lancaster County. It was the smallest of the townships with its boundaries being defined by the Conestoga River, Manor Township, the Little Conestoga Creek, (East) Hempfield Township, and Manheim Township. A two-mile square was later cut out of the northern part of Lancaster Township to create the county seat of Lancaster City.

The creation of the county caused an influx of people to come to Lancaster City, and Lancaster Township, its closest suburb, received many people too, with many people living here and working in the city. As Lancaster became larger and more prominent, larger roads and railroads needed to extend out to its suburbs, including Lancaster Township. The town even had its own canal, the Conestoga Navigation Canal on the Conestoga River.

Lancaster Township's growth was slow but steady, with about 150 people joining the community each decade prior to 1900. Since then, as the Industrial Revolution came to a close, Lancaster Township has been transformed into a mostly residential municipality.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 6.0 square miles (15.6 km²), all of it land.

President James Buchanan's summer home, Wheatland, was located within the township.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 13,944 people, 5,892 households, and 3,694 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,314.9 people per square mile (894.3/km²). There were 6,094 housing units at an average density of 1,011.7/sq mi (390.8/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 84.08% White, 6.45% African American, 0.09% Native American, 2.09% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 5.24% from other races, and 2.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.65% of the population.

There were 5,892 households out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% 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 2.82.

In the township the population was spread out with 20.7% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 19.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 85.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $44,459, and the median income for a family was $52,961. Males had a median income of $37,522 versus $26,286 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,555. About 7.0% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.3% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Lancaster Township, as well as Lancaster proper, are served by the School District of Lancaster. There are 13 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and one high school separated into grades 9-10 and 11-12 located in two buildings on one campus.

References

External links

* [http://www.twp.lancaster.pa.us/ Official site]