Littlestown, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Littlestown is a borough
in Adams County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 4,434 at the 2010 census.
Originally laid out by Peter Klein in 1760, the town was first named "Petersburg". German settlers
in the area came to call the town "Kleine Stedtle". As confusion between the town and a neighboring town (also named "Petersburg", now York Springs grew, the town officially changed its name to Littlestown (essentially a translation of "Kleine Stedtle" from German) in 1795.
, the borough has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), all of it land.
Littlestown is surrounded by three larger towns -- Hanover
, Gettysburg
, and Westminster
-- all within 10 to 20 miles (32.2 km) driving distance.
of 2000, there were 3,947 people, 1,586 households, and 1,113 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 2,517.0 people per square mile (970.7/km²). There were 1,692 housing units at an average density of 1,079.0 per square mile (416.1/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.26% White, 0.56% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.51% from other races
, and 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.27% of the population.
There were 1,586 households out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples
living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the borough the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $36,678, and the median income for a family was $42,261. Males had a median income of $31,055 versus $23,658 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $17,310. About 6.9% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.
While the agricultural past of the town is still clear, it has begun to become a bedroom community for communters working in nearby Washington, D.C.
, Baltimore, Harrisburg
and York
.
Borough (Pennsylvania)
In the U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a borough is a self-governing municipal entity that is usually smaller than a city. There are 958 boroughs in Pennsylvania. All municipalities in Pennsylvania are classified as either cities, boroughs, or townships...
in Adams County
Adams County, Pennsylvania
Adams County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 101,407. It was created on January 22, 1800, from part of York County and named in honor of the second President of the United States, John Adams...
, 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 4,434 at the 2010 census.
Originally laid out by Peter Klein in 1760, the town was first named "Petersburg". German settlers
Pennsylvania Dutch
Pennsylvania Dutch refers to immigrants and their descendants from southwestern Germany and Switzerland who settled in Pennsylvania in the 17th and 18th centuries...
in the area came to call the town "Kleine Stedtle". As confusion between the town and a neighboring town (also named "Petersburg", now York Springs grew, the town officially changed its name to Littlestown (essentially a translation of "Kleine Stedtle" from German) in 1795.
Geography
Littlestown is located at 39°44′37"N 77°5′21"W (39.743749, -77.089240). 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 borough has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), all of it land.
Littlestown is surrounded by three larger towns -- Hanover
Hanover, Pennsylvania
Hanover is a borough in York County, Pennsylvania, southwest of York and north-northwest of Baltimore, Maryland.The town is situated in a productive agricultural region. The population was 15,289 at the 2010 census. The borough is served by a 717 area code and the Zip Codes of 17331-34...
, Gettysburg
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg is a borough that is the county seat, part of the Gettysburg Battlefield, and the eponym for the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. The town hosts visitors to the Gettysburg National Military Park and has 3 institutions of higher learning: Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg College, and...
, and Westminster
Westminster, Maryland
Westminster is a city in northern Maryland, United States. It is the seat of Carroll County. The city's population was 18,590 at the 2010 census. Westminster is an outlying community within the Baltimore-Towson, MD MSA, which is part of a greater Washington-Baltimore-Northern Virginia, DC-MD-VA-WV...
-- all within 10 to 20 miles (32.2 km) driving distance.
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 3,947 people, 1,586 households, and 1,113 families residing in the borough. 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 2,517.0 people per square mile (970.7/km²). There were 1,692 housing units at an average density of 1,079.0 per square mile (416.1/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.26% White, 0.56% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.51% 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 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.27% of the population.
There were 1,586 households out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% 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, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the borough the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $36,678, and the median income for a family was $42,261. Males had a median income of $31,055 versus $23,658 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 borough was $17,310. About 6.9% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.
While the agricultural past of the town is still clear, it has begun to become a bedroom community for communters working in nearby Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Baltimore, Harrisburg
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
and York
York, Pennsylvania
York, known as the White Rose City , is a city located in York County, Pennsylvania, United States which is in the South Central region of the state. The population within the city limits was 43,718 at the 2010 census, which was a 7.0% increase from the 2000 count of 40,862...
.
Public schools
There are currently four branches of the school district: Rolling Acres Elementary (grades K to 3), the recently built 4th to 5th grade Alloway Creek, Maple Avenue Middle School (grades 6 to 8), and Littlestown High School (grades 9 to 12), home of the Thunderbolts.Notable people
- Escaped slave James W. C. Pennington
- Congressman James McSherryJames McSherry (Pennsylvania)James McSherry , was a politician from Littlestown, Pennsylvania.He served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives . He fought in the War of 1812 in the defense of Baltimore, Maryland. He served in the Pennsylvania State Senate , and was a delegate to the Pennsylvania State Constitutional...
- Stage actress/writer/dancer Myrtle Louise Stonesifer- KingHalo MeadowsHalo Meadows was an American an actress, writer and burlesque dancer. Meadows also used Louise Howard as a pseudonym.-Early life:...