Shillington, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Shillington is a borough
in Berks County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
with a population of 5,059 at the 2000 census nestled amongst other suburbs outside of Reading
. It is perhaps best known as the place where author John Updike
lived until he was 13, and it is the basis for the town of Olinger
that he wrote about in his fiction.
A post office
opened in Shillington in 1884. On August 18, 1908, the Quarter Session Court officially incorporated the borough
of Shillington as a separate municipality from Cumru Township with a population of 450. Later that year Shillington elected its first official, Adam Rollman, as chief burgess. Borough council meetings were held in various locations over the years until the present town hall was completed in 1932.
Much of the borough's present land was occupied by Angelica Farm which would be established as an almshouse, or poorhouse
, in 1824. The alms house was replaced by Bern Township's Berks Heim in 1952. The buildings of the Governor Mifflin School District
now occupy most of land that was once part of the almshouse. Today, the most notable visible remnant of the poorhouse is a stone wall that is within short walking distance down the road from John Updike's old home. Updike's first novel, The Poorhouse Fair
, is set in a fictional building based on Shillington's poorhouse. Angelica Farm was also the historical home of Thomas Mifflin
, the first governor of Pennsylvania.
, adjacent to Reading
, the county seat, and about 100 km (62.1 mi) northwest of Philadelphia. The Wyomissing Creek runs alongside Shillington. Cumru Township
largely surrounds Shillington, except for the border with Wyomissing
in the northwest.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 5,059 people, 2,238 households, and 1,405 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 4,964.4 people per square mile (1,915.0/km²). There were 2,321 housing units at an average density of 2,277.6 per square mile (878.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.11% White, 0.49% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.75% from other races
, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.10% of the population.
There were 2,238 households out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples
living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the borough the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $43,833, and the median income for a family was $52,500. Males had a median income of $35,318 versus $27,179 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $22,322. About 2.2% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.
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 Berks County
Berks County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 373,638 people, 141,570 households, and 98,532 families residing in the county. The population density was 435 people per square mile . There were 150,222 housing units at an average density of 175 per square mile...
, 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...
with a population of 5,059 at the 2000 census nestled amongst other suburbs outside of Reading
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
. It is perhaps best known as the place where author John Updike
John Updike
John Hoyer Updike was an American novelist, poet, short story writer, art critic, and literary critic....
lived until he was 13, and it is the basis for the town of Olinger
Olinger, Pennsylvania
Olinger, Pennsylvania is a fictional rural town in the southeastern part of the state that serves as the setting for several short stories and one novel by American writer John Updike...
that he wrote about in his fiction.
History
Shillington began in 1860 as part of Cumru Township, when local landowner and borough namesake Samuel Shilling sold some of his lots for residences. The area had an inn, originally built in 1762, called the Three Mile House because it was 3 miles (4.8 km) from Reading on the Lancaster Pike. The inn was a popular stop for farmers going to the city's markets and later it sat near a horse racing track built by Aaron Einstein in 1868.A post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
opened in Shillington in 1884. On August 18, 1908, the Quarter Session Court officially incorporated the borough
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...
of Shillington as a separate municipality from Cumru Township with a population of 450. Later that year Shillington elected its first official, Adam Rollman, as chief burgess. Borough council meetings were held in various locations over the years until the present town hall was completed in 1932.
Much of the borough's present land was occupied by Angelica Farm which would be established as an almshouse, or poorhouse
Poorhouse
A poorhouse or workhouse was a government-run facility in the past for the support and housing of dependent or needy persons, typically run by a local government entity such as a county or municipality....
, in 1824. The alms house was replaced by Bern Township's Berks Heim in 1952. The buildings of the Governor Mifflin School District
Governor Mifflin School District
The Governor Mifflin School District is located in southern Berks County in southeastern Pennsylvania in the United States.The district comprises six schools, located throughout the district....
now occupy most of land that was once part of the almshouse. Today, the most notable visible remnant of the poorhouse is a stone wall that is within short walking distance down the road from John Updike's old home. Updike's first novel, The Poorhouse Fair
The Poorhouse Fair
The Poorhouse Fair was the first novel by the American author John Updike.A new edition was published with an introduction by the author. According to the introduction, the new edition contains some changes from the first edition-Plot:The setting is a fictional location in New Jersey...
, is set in a fictional building based on Shillington's poorhouse. Angelica Farm was also the historical home of Thomas Mifflin
Thomas Mifflin
Thomas Mifflin was an American merchant and politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, a member of the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly, a Continental Congressman from Pennsylvania, President of the Continental...
, the first governor of Pennsylvania.
Geography
Shillington is located at 40°18′16"N 75°58′1"W (40.304342, -75.966855). It is situated in southeastern PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
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...
, adjacent to Reading
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
, the county seat, and about 100 km (62.1 mi) northwest of Philadelphia. The Wyomissing Creek runs alongside Shillington. Cumru Township
Cumru Township, Pennsylvania
Cumru Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 15,147 at the 2010 census. The name is Welsh in origin, likely from "Cymru" the Welsh name for Wales...
largely surrounds Shillington, except for the border with Wyomissing
Wyomissing, Pennsylvania
Wyomissing is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States, established on July 2, 1906. The population was 8,587 at the 2000 census, but after the January, 2002 merger with neighboring Wyomissing Hills, the combined 2000 Census estimate was 11,155 making it the most populous borough in...
in the northwest.
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 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land.
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 5,059 people, 2,238 households, and 1,405 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 4,964.4 people per square mile (1,915.0/km²). There were 2,321 housing units at an average density of 2,277.6 per square mile (878.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.11% White, 0.49% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.75% 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 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.10% of the population.
There were 2,238 households out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% 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, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the borough the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $43,833, and the median income for a family was $52,500. Males had a median income of $35,318 versus $27,179 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 $22,322. About 2.2% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.