Bastress Township, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Bastress Township is a township in Lycoming County
, Pennsylvania
, in the United States. The population was 574 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport
, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.
on December 13, 1854 by the Pennsylvania General Assembly
. The township is named in honor of Solomon Bastress, of Jersey Shore
, who was a former member of the legislature and an associate judge.
The first settlers were German Roman Catholic farmer
s. They migrated to the area beginning in 1837 under the leadership of the Jesuit missionary, Father Nicholas Steinbacher. Together they built the first Church of the Immaculate Conception
in 1838. The current stone church building was erected in 1860. The parish also established a cemetery and Catholic school
soon after the settlement of Bastress. Immaculate Conception parish and school stand today as a reminder of the German Catholic heritage of the residents of Bastress Township.
Bastress has changed very little since its founding. The community is largely rural and many of the residents are descendants of the first settlers. Since the 1890 census it has grown from a population of 236 to just 574.
to the east, Limestone Township
to the south, and Nippenose Township to the west. 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 8.6 square miles (22.3 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 574 people, 188 households, and 150 families residing in the township. The population density
was 66.3 people per square mile (25.6/km²). There were 201 housing units at an average density of 23.2/sq mi (9.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 99.13% White, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.87% of the population.
There were 188 households out of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.5% were married couples
living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.7% were non-families. 17.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.05 and the average family size was 3.50.
In the township the population was spread out with 31.7% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 102.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $50,125, and the median income for a family was $54,844. Males had a median income of $34,306 versus $20,250 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $17,880. About 2.6% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and none 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 574 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
Bastress Township was formed from part of Susquehanna TownshipSusquehanna Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Susquehanna Township is a township in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 993 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
on December 13, 1854 by the Pennsylvania General Assembly
Pennsylvania 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...
. The township is named in honor of Solomon Bastress, of Jersey Shore
Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania
Jersey Shore is a borough in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is on the West Branch Susquehanna River, west by south of Williamsport. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. In the past, Jersey Shore held farms, railroad shops, cigar factories, a...
, who was a former member of the legislature and an associate judge.
The first settlers were German Roman Catholic farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
s. They migrated to the area beginning in 1837 under the leadership of the Jesuit missionary, Father Nicholas Steinbacher. Together they built the first Church of the Immaculate Conception
Immaculate Conception
The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, according to which the Virgin Mary was conceived without any stain of original sin. It is one of the four dogmata in Roman Catholic Mariology...
in 1838. The current stone church building was erected in 1860. The parish also established a cemetery and Catholic school
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
soon after the settlement of Bastress. Immaculate Conception parish and school stand today as a reminder of the German Catholic heritage of the residents of Bastress Township.
Bastress has changed very little since its founding. The community is largely rural and many of the residents are descendants of the first settlers. Since the 1890 census it has grown from a population of 236 to just 574.
Geography
Bastress Township is bordered by Susquehanna Township to the north, Armstrong TownshipArmstrong Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Armstrong Township is a township in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 717 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
to the east, Limestone Township
Limestone Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Limestone Township is a township in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 2,136 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
to the south, and Nippenose Township to the west. 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 8.6 square miles (22.3 km²), all of it land.
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 574 people, 188 households, and 150 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 66.3 people per square mile (25.6/km²). There were 201 housing units at an average density of 23.2/sq mi (9.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 99.13% White, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.87% of the population.
There were 188 households out of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.5% 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, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.7% were non-families. 17.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.05 and the average family size was 3.50.
In the township the population was spread out with 31.7% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 102.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $50,125, and the median income for a family was $54,844. Males had a median income of $34,306 versus $20,250 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 $17,880. About 2.6% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and none 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....