Penbrook, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Penbrook is a borough
in Dauphin County
, Pennsylvania
, founded in 1861 and incorporated July 10, 1894. Penbrook was once named East Harrisburg
and still maintains a Harrisburg
postal ZIP code. The population was 3,044 at the 2000 census.
Penbrook is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), all of it land.
, a 20 mile link to Riverfront Park
and other regional parks.
Little Valley Park with 1.5 acres was given to the community in 1959 by S. Merl Mosby, who reclaimed a depression era landfill with more than 2000 loads of dirt from nearby Edgemont
. It contains a ball field, play str ucture, and basketball courts and is located near East Harrisburg Cemetery
.
Reservoir Park, with 85 acres, is adjacent to the Borough, with Levitt Performing Arts Pavilion and the National Civil War Museum
.
Since 1952, the Penbrook Athletic Association has led the community’s recreational programs.
1st Ward:
2nd Ward:
3rd Ward:
4th Ward:
In 2009, a Penbrook couple were threatened with a federal lawsuit by their local government because of their "You're In Steelers Country
" sign on their porch. Government officials in Penbrook, Pennsylvania, sent the homeowner a letter reading "The ‘Steeler Country’ banner must be removed immediately" and ordered them to purchase a $40 permit for the sign in order to comply with the borough's ordinance. The homeowner protested, citing her First Amendment free speech rights
, and contact the American Civil Liberties Union
, who negotiated an agreement with the zoning officials to allow the sign to remain.
of 2000, there were 3,044 people, 1,307 households, and 764 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 6,636.1 people per square mile (2,555.0/km²). There were 1,398 housing units at an average density of 3,047.7 per square mile (1,173.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 77.33% White, 15.24% African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.61% Asian, 1.87% from other races
, and 3.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.60% of the population.
There were 1,307 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.6% were married couples
living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.5% were non-families. 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the borough the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 33.8% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $35,341, and the median income for a family was $44,375. Males had a median income of $32,128 versus $26,061 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $18,274. About 4.4% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.
.
The building served as an elementary school until 1982 and now serves as the home to Infinity Charter School.
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
in Dauphin County
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...
, founded in 1861 and incorporated July 10, 1894. Penbrook was once named East Harrisburg
East Harrisburg
East Harrisburg is a conglomeration of neighborhoods in the eastern end of the U.S. city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Its zip codes are 17103, 17104, and 17105...
and still maintains a 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...
postal ZIP code. The population was 3,044 at the 2000 census.
Penbrook is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle is a borough in and the county seat of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The name is traditionally pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable. Carlisle is located within the Cumberland Valley, a highly productive agricultural region. As of the 2010 census, the borough...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Harrisburg metropolitan area
The Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area , as defined the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of three counties in Pennsylvania's Susquehanna Valley, anchored by the cities of Harrisburg and Carlisle...
.
Geography
Penbrook is located at 40°16′42"N 76°50′51"W (40.278445, -76.847463).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 borough has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), all of it land.
Parks
Penbrook Borough Park is an 8.5 acre recreational area in the southeast corner of the borough and contains ball fields, play structure, basketball courts, concession stand, and a picnic pavilion. It was also the home of the former Penbrook Swim Club. The park is connected to the Capital Area GreenbeltCapital Area Greenbelt
The Capital Area Greenbelt is a long green belt around urbanized portions of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, linking many city neighborhoods, parks and open spaces. For several miles, between Shipoke and Uptown, the Greenbelt follows the east bank of the Susquehanna River...
, a 20 mile link to Riverfront Park
Riverfront Park (Harrisburg)
Riverfront Park is a public park in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.The park runs parallel to the Susquehanna River between the shoreline and Front Street from Vaughn Street South to Paxton Street. Riverfront Park offers picturesque views of the river, City Island, Wormleysburg and Blue Mountain in the...
and other regional parks.
Little Valley Park with 1.5 acres was given to the community in 1959 by S. Merl Mosby, who reclaimed a depression era landfill with more than 2000 loads of dirt from nearby Edgemont
Edgemont, Pennsylvania
Edgemont is a unincorporated community in Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania in the Harrisburg-Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area, nearby bordering the state capital city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania northeast, and the nearby census-designated place of Progress, Pennsylvania, the...
. It contains a ball field, play str ucture, and basketball courts and is located near East Harrisburg Cemetery
East Harrisburg Cemetery
East Harrisburg Cemetery is a cemetery located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The cemetery received is name from its location, adjacent to the borough of Penbrook, formerly known as East Harrisburg...
.
Reservoir Park, with 85 acres, is adjacent to the Borough, with Levitt Performing Arts Pavilion and the National Civil War Museum
National Civil War Museum
The National Civil War Museum, located at One Lincoln Circle at Reservoir Park in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is a permanent, nonprofit educational institution created to promote the preservation of material culture and sources of information that are directly relevant to the American Civil War of...
.
Since 1952, the Penbrook Athletic Association has led the community’s recreational programs.
Government and Politics
The Mayor is Kenneth J. Cramer, replacing long time Mayor Richard Stottlemyer.Borough Council
Two Council members are elected from each of the Borough's four wards.1st Ward:
- Rick Harvey
- Michael D. Goodman, Sr.
2nd Ward:
- David Deardorff
- Beverly Carlson / Council Vice-President
3rd Ward:
- Carrie Robinson
- Sandra L. Matio
4th Ward:
- Peggyanne Miller
- Kevin M. Rampert / Council President
Legislators
- State Representative Sue HelmSue HelmSusan C. Helm is a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 104th District and was elected in 2006.Helm earned an Associate Degree from the Harrisburg Area Community College....
, Republican, 104th district - State Senator Jeffrey PiccolaJeffrey PiccolaJeffrey E. Piccola is member of the Pennsylvania State Senate, representing the 15th State Senate District. He is in the Republican Party.Piccola is a 1970 graduate of Gettysburg College, and a 1973 graduate of George Washington University Law School. From 1973 to 1974, he served in the United...
, Republican, 15th district - US Representative Tim HoldenTim HoldenThomas Timothy "Tim" Holden is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:...
, Democrat, 17th district
In 2009, a Penbrook couple were threatened with a federal lawsuit by their local government because of their "You're In Steelers Country
Steeler Nation
Steeler Nation is the unofficial name of the fan base of the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers, coined by NFL Films narrator John Facenda in "Blueprint for Victory," the team's 1975 highlights film...
" sign on their porch. Government officials in Penbrook, Pennsylvania, sent the homeowner a letter reading "The ‘Steeler Country’ banner must be removed immediately" and ordered them to purchase a $40 permit for the sign in order to comply with the borough's ordinance. The homeowner protested, citing her First Amendment free speech rights
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
, and contact the American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
, who negotiated an agreement with the zoning officials to allow the sign to remain.
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 3,044 people, 1,307 households, and 764 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 6,636.1 people per square mile (2,555.0/km²). There were 1,398 housing units at an average density of 3,047.7 per square mile (1,173.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 77.33% White, 15.24% African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.61% Asian, 1.87% 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 3.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.60% of the population.
There were 1,307 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.6% 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, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.5% were non-families. 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the borough the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 33.8% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $35,341, and the median income for a family was $44,375. Males had a median income of $32,128 versus $26,061 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 $18,274. About 4.4% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Opening in 1901, and with additions in the 1930s and 1950s, the Penbrook School educated children through 10th grade. Older students transferred to John Harris HS or Susquehanna Township HS. In 1955, the school became part of the new Central Dauphin School DistrictCentral Dauphin School District
The Central Dauphin School District is a large, suburban, public school district located in suburban Harrisburg, Pennsylvania serving students in central and eastern Dauphin County. It is the largest school district in the county, the largest in the greater Harrisburg metropolitan area and is the...
.
The building served as an elementary school until 1982 and now serves as the home to Infinity Charter School.