Lower Paxton Township, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Lower Paxton Township is a township in Dauphin County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The township was incorporated in 1767 from Paxton Township. The population was 44,424 at the 2000 census.
, the township has a total area of 28.1 square miles (72.8 km²), all of it land.
Unincorporated communities and census designated places in Lower Paxton Township.
of 2000, there were 44,424 people, 18,584 households, and 12,153 families residing in the township. The population density
was 1,580.9 people per square mile (610.4/km²). There were 19,606 housing units at an average density of 697.7/sq mi (269.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 86.51% White, 8.28% African American, 0.10% Native American, 2.69% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.04% from other races
, and 1.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.37% of the population.
There were 18,584 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples
living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the township the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $49,566, and the median income for a family was $61,017. Males had a median income of $41,147 versus $30,837 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $26,116. About 3.2% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.
Ongoing pollution and soil erosion in the region continue to degrade the water quality and the environment locally as well as regionally. Farming, wastewater treatment facilities and industrial spills are cited as contributing factors to loss of water quality. It also contributes to the pollution of the Chesapeake Bay
. Controlling the wastewater discharges alone is expected to cost local taxpayers along the Susquehanna River billions of dollars.
Plans for a greenways project are moving forward. Part of the comprehensive plan developed in 2004, the greenway will connect via trails several neighborhoods to five schools, two parks and the Lower Paxton Township Municipal Building. The cost of the multiyear project is estimated at $14 million.
In 2006, the Foundation for Enhancing Communities conducted an extensive study. They identified five critical lissues for Dauphin County which include access to health care, transportation to jobs, substance abuse, job training/workforce development and affordable housing.
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Dauphin County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is one of the three counties comprising the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010 census, the population was 268,100. The county includes the city of Harrisburg, which has served as the state capital...
, 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 township was incorporated in 1767 from Paxton Township. The population was 44,424 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 28.1 square miles (72.8 km²), all of it land.
Unincorporated communities and census designated places in Lower Paxton Township.
- Colonial ParkColonial Park, PennsylvaniaColonial Park is a census-designated place in Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 13,259 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. It uses the Harrisburg zip code of 17109 and hosts a great deal...
, PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe 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... - LinglestownLinglestown, PennsylvaniaLinglestown is a census-designated place in Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was founded and laid out in 1765 by Thomas Lingle....
, PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe 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... - PaxtoniaPaxtonia, PennsylvaniaPaxtonia is a census-designated place in Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,254 at the 2000 census...
, PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe 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... - Progress (mainly in Susquehanna Township)
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 44,424 people, 18,584 households, and 12,153 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 1,580.9 people per square mile (610.4/km²). There were 19,606 housing units at an average density of 697.7/sq mi (269.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 86.51% White, 8.28% African American, 0.10% Native American, 2.69% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.04% 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 1.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.37% of the population.
There were 18,584 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% 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, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the township the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $49,566, and the median income for a family was $61,017. Males had a median income of $41,147 versus $30,837 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 $26,116. About 3.2% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.
Infrastructure
In 2002 the Department of Environmental Protection mandated that the township eliminate sewer overflows in the Paxton Creek Basin by 2012. Overflows happen when extra water goes out manholes during heavy storms. The project involves the replacement of 42 miles (67.6 km) of asbestos cement pipes in the Paxton Creek basin, which drains the western half of the township. The $67 million plan will be paid for by residents' sewer bills which will double over the next 20 years.Ongoing pollution and soil erosion in the region continue to degrade the water quality and the environment locally as well as regionally. Farming, wastewater treatment facilities and industrial spills are cited as contributing factors to loss of water quality. It also contributes to the pollution of the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
. Controlling the wastewater discharges alone is expected to cost local taxpayers along the Susquehanna River billions of dollars.
Plans for a greenways project are moving forward. Part of the comprehensive plan developed in 2004, the greenway will connect via trails several neighborhoods to five schools, two parks and the Lower Paxton Township Municipal Building. The cost of the multiyear project is estimated at $14 million.
In 2006, the Foundation for Enhancing Communities conducted an extensive study. They identified five critical lissues for Dauphin County which include access to health care, transportation to jobs, substance abuse, job training/workforce development and affordable housing.