Plainfield Township, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Plainfield Township is a township in Northampton County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. Plainfield Township is located in the Lehigh Valley
region of the state. It is part of Pennsylvania's Slate
Belt http://www.slatebeltchamber.org/aboutsbcc.htm.
The population of Plainfield Township was 6,138 at the 2010 census.
, the township has a total area of 24.8 square miles (64.2 km²), of which 24.7 square miles (64 km²) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²), or 0.16%, is water. It is in the Delaware watershed and drained by Bushkill Creek
and Martins Creek. Its natural northern boundary is Blue Mountain
. Its villages include Belfast
, Delabole, Edelman, Kesslersville, Miller, West Bangor, and West Pen Argyl. Its numbered routes are the 33 Expressway
, 191
, and 512
.
Plainfield Township surrounds Pen Argyl
in the northeast and nearly surrounds Wind Gap
in the northwest.
of 2000, there were 5,668 people, 2,130 households, and 1,637 families residing in the township. The population density
was 229.2 people per square mile (88.5/km²). There were 2,191 housing units at an average density of 88.6/sq mi (34.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.85% White, 0.37% African American, 0.02% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.14% from other races
, and 0.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.
There were 2,130 households out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.0% were married couples
living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.1% were non-families. 18.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the township the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $49,019, and the median income for a family was $54,856. Males had a median income of $39,334 versus $25,145 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $20,639. About 1.7% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.
Northampton County, Pennsylvania
As of the 2010 census, the county was 86.3% White, 5.0% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 2.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 2.2% were two or more races, and 3.8% were some other race. 10.5% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.As of the census of...
, 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...
. Plainfield Township is located in the Lehigh Valley
Lehigh Valley
The Lehigh Valley, known officially by the United States Census Bureau as the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metropolitan area and referred to locally as The Valley and A-B-E, is a metropolitan region consisting of Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, and Carbon counties in eastern Pennsylvania and...
region of the state. It is part of Pennsylvania's Slate
Slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
Belt http://www.slatebeltchamber.org/aboutsbcc.htm.
The population of Plainfield Township was 6,138 at the 2010 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 24.8 square miles (64.2 km²), of which 24.7 square miles (64 km²) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²), or 0.16%, is water. It is in the Delaware watershed and drained by Bushkill Creek
Bushkill Creek
Bushkill Creek is a tributary of the Delaware River in eastern Pennsylvania in the United States.A portion of Bushkill Creek passes through Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center. The confluence with the Delaware River is in Easton.-References:*Gertler, Edward. Keystone Canoeing, Seneca...
and Martins Creek. Its natural northern boundary is Blue Mountain
Blue Mountain (Pennsylvania)
Blue Mountain is a ridge that forms the eastern edge of the Appalachian mountain range in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It cuts across the eastern half of the state from New Jersey to Maryland, providing a distinct boundary between a number of Pennsylvania's geographical and cultural regions...
. Its villages include Belfast
Belfast, Pennsylvania
Belfast is a census-designated place in Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in the Lehigh Valley region of the state...
, Delabole, Edelman, Kesslersville, Miller, West Bangor, and West Pen Argyl. Its numbered routes are the 33 Expressway
Pennsylvania Route 33
Pennsylvania Route 33 is a -long limited-access state highway in eastern Pennsylvania, United States. South of the US 22 interchange, the route is called the Gen. Anthony Clement McAuliffe 101st Airborne Memorial Highway....
, 191
Pennsylvania Route 191
Pennsylvania Route 191 is a -long state highway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The route, a major non-freeway corridor connecting the Lehigh Valley to The Poconos in eastern Pennsylvania, is designated from U.S...
, and 512
Pennsylvania Route 512
Pennsylvania Route 512 is a long state route in eastern Pennsylvania. The southern terminus is at U.S. Route 22 north of Bethlehem. The northern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 611 in Upper Mount Bethel Township.-Route description:...
.
Neighboring municipalities
- Bushkill Township (west)
- Upper Nazareth Township (southwest)
- StockertownStockertown, PennsylvaniaStockertown is a borough in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.The small borough contains large industries, such as, Hercules Cement, Polymer Products, and Praxair. The Borough is located within a 2-mile radius and provides...
(southwest) - Forks TownshipForks Township, Northampton County, PennsylvaniaForks Township is a township in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. Forks Township is located in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.The population of Forks Township was 8,419 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
(south) - Lower Mount Bethel Township (southeast)
- Washington TownshipWashington Township, Northampton County, PennsylvaniaWashington Township is a township in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. Washington Township is located in the Lehigh Valley region of the state...
(east) - Hamilton Township, Monroe CountyHamilton Township, Monroe County, PennsylvaniaHamilton Township is a township in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,235 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water...
(north) - Ross Township, Monroe CountyRoss Township, Monroe County, PennsylvaniaRoss Township is a township in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,435 at the 2000 census. The township is served by the Pleasant Valley School District.-Geography:...
(northwest)
Plainfield Township surrounds Pen Argyl
Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania
Pen Argyl is a borough in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, north of Easton, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state. It is part of Pennsylvania's Slate Belt.-Population:In 1900, 2,784 people lived in Pen Argyl, and in 1910, 3,967 people lived here...
in the northeast and nearly surrounds Wind Gap
Wind Gap, Pennsylvania
Wind Gap is a borough in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. Wind Gap is located in the Lehigh Valley region of the state. It is part of Pennsylvania's Slate Belt .The population of Wind Gap was 2,720 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
in the northwest.
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 5,668 people, 2,130 households, and 1,637 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 229.2 people per square mile (88.5/km²). There were 2,191 housing units at an average density of 88.6/sq mi (34.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.85% White, 0.37% African American, 0.02% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.14% 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 0.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.
There were 2,130 households out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.0% 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 23.1% were non-families. 18.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the township the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $49,019, and the median income for a family was $54,856. Males had a median income of $39,334 versus $25,145 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 $20,639. About 1.7% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.