Gamble Township, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Gamble Township is a township in Lycoming County
, Pennsylvania
, in the United States. The population was 854 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport
, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.
and Cascade Townships on January 30, 1875. An election of the citizens of the proposed township was 152-0 in favor of its creation. The drive for the formation of Gamble Township was led Ira Parker, Abraham Swartz, and J.C. Green. They started a petition
and gathered the necessary signatures. Their petition was presented to Judge James Gamble who authorized the election. The results of the balloting were certified by Judge Huston Hepburn. The township is named for the judge who ordered the election.
The first settler in Gamble Township was John Rose, for who Rose Valley is named. Rose was born in Scotland
in 1772. He migrated to the United States
in 1794 and settled in what is now Gamble Township. Rose was accompanied to the valley by is first wife and a man named Andrew Tulloh. Rose and Tulloh cleared some land for farming
but did not remain in the valley. They both moved to Williamsport
in their later years. The departure of John Rose did not bring about the end of agricultural development in Gamble Township. New settlers, a majority of them Germans
, continued to clear Rose Valley. Here they established dairy farms and orchard
s, some of which are thriving today.
Salt mining and the lumbering were the primary industries found in Gamble Township during the mid-to-late 19th century. Several salt mines were built within the township. Thousands of acres of old-growth forest were cleared to meet the demands for lumber during the lumber era that swept throughout Pennsylvania. Williamsport, which is just south of Gamble Township, was known at the "Lumber Capital of the World."
Today Gamble Township is a largely rural area with scattered dairy farms, orchards, and family homes. The population has risen by just 100 since the 1890 census when count stood at 754.
to the northwest, Cascade Township to the north, Plunketts Creek Township to the east and southeast, and Hepburn and Eldred Townships
to the south. 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 46.2 square miles (119.7 km²).45.5 square miles (117.9 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (1.37%) is water.
Rose Valley Lake
is a reservoir
that covers 389 acres (1.6 km²) in Gamble Township. The fish and waters of the lake are managed by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
. The lake is owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Its primary use is recreational game fishing. The lake is open for recreational fishing on a year round basis. Ice fishing
is permitted, but the thickness of the ice is not monitored by the Fish Commission. The most common game species of fish in the lake are, largemouth bass
, bluegill
, black crappie, muskellunge
, yellow perch
, chain pickerel
, pumpkinseed
and walleye
. The lake is five miles east of U.S. Route 15
and Pennsylvania Route 14
. It can be reached by taking Trout Run Mountain Road to Rose Valley Mountain Road.
of 2000, there were 854 people, 320 households, and 254 families residing in the township. The population density
was 18.8 people per square mile (7.2/km²). There were 382 housing units at an average density of 8.4/sq mi (3.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 99.65% White, 0.12% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.12% from other races
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.12% of the population.
There were 320 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.9% were married couples
living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.6% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the township the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 30.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 105.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $39,028, and the median income for a family was $42,054. Males had a median income of $31,705 versus $20,000 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $18,867. About 8.1% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.6% of those under age 18 and 7.3% 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 854 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
Gamble Township was formed from parts of LewisLewis Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Lewis Township is a township in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 1,139 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
and Cascade Townships on January 30, 1875. An election of the citizens of the proposed township was 152-0 in favor of its creation. The drive for the formation of Gamble Township was led Ira Parker, Abraham Swartz, and J.C. Green. They started a petition
Petition
A petition is a request to do something, most commonly addressed to a government official or public entity. Petitions to a deity are a form of prayer....
and gathered the necessary signatures. Their petition was presented to Judge James Gamble who authorized the election. The results of the balloting were certified by Judge Huston Hepburn. The township is named for the judge who ordered the election.
The first settler in Gamble Township was John Rose, for who Rose Valley is named. Rose was born in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1772. He migrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1794 and settled in what is now Gamble Township. Rose was accompanied to the valley by is first wife and a man named Andrew Tulloh. Rose and Tulloh cleared some land for farming
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
but did not remain in the valley. They both moved to 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...
in their later years. The departure of John Rose did not bring about the end of agricultural development in Gamble Township. New settlers, a majority of them Germans
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, continued to clear Rose Valley. Here they established dairy farms and orchard
Orchard
An orchard is an intentional planting of trees or shrubs that is maintained for food production. Orchards comprise fruit or nut-producing trees which are grown for commercial production. Orchards are also sometimes a feature of large gardens, where they serve an aesthetic as well as a productive...
s, some of which are thriving today.
Salt mining and the lumbering were the primary industries found in Gamble Township during the mid-to-late 19th century. Several salt mines were built within the township. Thousands of acres of old-growth forest were cleared to meet the demands for lumber during the lumber era that swept throughout Pennsylvania. Williamsport, which is just south of Gamble Township, was known at the "Lumber Capital of the World."
Today Gamble Township is a largely rural area with scattered dairy farms, orchards, and family homes. The population has risen by just 100 since the 1890 census when count stood at 754.
Geography
Gamble Township is bordered by Lewis TownshipLewis Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Lewis Township is a township in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 1,139 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
to the northwest, Cascade Township to the north, Plunketts Creek Township to the east and southeast, and Hepburn and Eldred Townships
Eldred Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Eldred Township is a township in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The population was 2,178 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. The unincorporated village of Warrensville is located in Eldred Township.-Formation and...
to the south. 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 46.2 square miles (119.7 km²).45.5 square miles (117.9 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (1.37%) is water.
Rose Valley Lake (Pennsylvania)
Rose Valley Lake is a reservoir that covers in Gamble Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The fish and waters of the lake are managed by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. The lake is owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The primary use of Rose Valley Lake...
is a reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
that covers 389 acres (1.6 km²) in Gamble Township. The fish and waters of the lake are managed by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is the state agency responsible for the regulation of all fishing and boating in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania...
. The lake is owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Its primary use is recreational game fishing. The lake is open for recreational fishing on a year round basis. Ice fishing
Ice fishing
Ice fishing is the practice of catching fish with lines and fish hooks or spears through an opening in the ice on a frozen body of water. Ice anglers may sit on the stool in the open on a frozen lake, or in a heated cabin on the ice, some with bunks and amenities.-Locations:It is a popular pastime...
is permitted, but the thickness of the ice is not monitored by the Fish Commission. The most common game species of fish in the lake are, largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
The largemouth bass is a species of black bass in the sunfish family native to North America . It is also known as widemouth bass, bigmouth, black bass, bucketmouth, Potter's fish, Florida bass, Florida largemouth, green bass, green trout, linesides, Oswego bass, southern largemouth...
, bluegill
Bluegill
The Bluegill is a species of freshwater fish sometimes referred to as bream, brim, or copper nose. It is a member of the sunfish family Centrarchidae of the order Perciformes.-Range and distribution:...
, black crappie, muskellunge
Muskellunge
A muskellunge , also known as a muskelunge, muscallonge, milliganong, or maskinonge , is a large, relatively uncommon freshwater fish of North America. Muskellunge are the largest member of the pike family, Esocidae...
, yellow perch
Yellow perch
The yellow perch is a species of perch found in the United States and Canada, where it is often referred to by the shortform perch. Yellow perch look similar to the European perch, but are paler and more yellowish, with less red in the fins. They have six to eight dark, vertical bars on their sides...
, chain pickerel
Chain pickerel
The chain pickerel, Esox niger , is a species of freshwater fish in the pike family of order Esociformes. The chain pickerel and the american pickerel belong to the Esox genus of pikes.-Range:...
, pumpkinseed
Pumpkinseed
The pumpkinseed sunfish is a freshwater fish of the sunfish family of order Perciformes. It is also referred to as "pond perch", "common sunfish", "punkys", and "sunny".-Range and distribution:...
and walleye
Walleye
Walleye is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the northern United States. It is a North American close relative of the European pikeperch...
. The lake is five miles east of U.S. Route 15
U.S. Route 15
U.S. Route 15 is a -long United States highway, designated along South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York. The route is signed north–south, from U.S. Route 17 Alternate in Walterboro, South Carolina to Interstate 86 and NY 17 in Painted Post, New York.US...
and Pennsylvania Route 14
Pennsylvania Route 14
Pennsylvania Route 14 is a Pennsylvania highway that runs for . It runs from U.S. Route 15 in Trout Run, Pennsylvania to the New York-Pennsylvania border at Fassett, Pennsylvania, co-signed with U.S. Route 6 for a short distance in Troy...
. It can be reached by taking Trout Run Mountain Road to Rose Valley Mountain Road.
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 854 people, 320 households, and 254 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 18.8 people per square mile (7.2/km²). There were 382 housing units at an average density of 8.4/sq mi (3.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 99.65% White, 0.12% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.12% 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...
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.12% of the population.
There were 320 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.9% 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, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.6% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the township the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 30.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 105.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $39,028, and the median income for a family was $42,054. Males had a median income of $31,705 versus $20,000 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 $18,867. About 8.1% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.6% of those under age 18 and 7.3% 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....