Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Sinking Spring is a borough in Berks County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 2,639 at the 2000 census. Sinking Spring was given its name for a spring located in the center of town, the water in which would sink into the ground from time to time, giving it the illusion of having disappeared.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all of it land.
The Indians who first inhabited this area were the Lenni Lenape Indians (meaning the "original people"). The Tribe in this immediate area was the Minsi or Wolf tribe. They were known to be quite warlike at times. These Indians later became known as the Delawares. This name was given to them by a white man, Lorde de la Ware. Indian inhabitants in the Sinking Spring area supposedly called the main spring as the sunken spring. White settlers later called it the "sinking spring."
Penn Avenue is the main thoroughfare of Sinking Spring. There is a stone monument in the 3800 block of Penn Avenue. It was placed to identify "The Spring," which is said to periodically appear and disappear. The Township of Sinking Spring has a large number of underground streams that carve out limestone and form sinkholes; thus the name Sinking Spring.
The Borough of Sinking Spring was incorporated on March 13, 1913.
of 2000, there were 2,639 people, 1,233 households, and 748 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 1,960.7 people per square mile (754.8/km²). There were 1,269 housing units at an average density of 942.8 per square mile (362.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 95.76% White, 1.06% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 1.21% from other races
, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.73% of the population.
There were 1,233 households out of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were married couples
living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.72.
In the borough the population was spread out with 19.6% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $35,078, and the median income for a family was $50,064. Males had a median income of $36,875 versus $24,635 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $23,053. About 12.0% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.9% of those under age 18 and 14.8% of those age 65 or over.
.
The Sunoco Logistics Montello Complex is the company's Eastern Pipeline System headquarters, as well as a local trucking terminal and a major midstream terminal for refined products, mostly originating from the Philadelphia and Marcus Hook refineries. Sunoco's pipelines out of Montello provide gasoline, diesel fuel, and heating oil to large markets in Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Rochester, as well as smaller markets near Harrisburg, Altoona, Williamsport, Tamaqua (PA), Kingston (PA), and Corning/Elmira (NY).
Also located in Sinking Spring is the Alcon Laboratories "Alcon Precision Device" facility, used for the production of disposable, single-use medical devices. Most of these types of devices that Alcon manufactures for the world are fabricated within its walls.
Sinking Spring is headquarters to Hofmann Industries Inc., a manufacturer of welded steel tubing, powder-coated tubing, zinc-plated tubing, and fabricated tubing. The corporation owns a second plant in Eau Claire, Michigan. Established in 1922, Hofmann has called Sinking Spring home since the 1930s. The Sinking Spring Foundry, located on James Street was once part of Hofmann Industries, as was the Hofmann Broom Works.
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...
. The population was 2,639 at the 2000 census. Sinking Spring was given its name for a spring located in the center of town, the water in which would sink into the ground from time to time, giving it the illusion of having disappeared.
Geography
Sinking Spring is located at 40°19′29"N 76°1′21"W (40.324725, -76.022386).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 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all of it land.
The Indians who first inhabited this area were the Lenni Lenape Indians (meaning the "original people"). The Tribe in this immediate area was the Minsi or Wolf tribe. They were known to be quite warlike at times. These Indians later became known as the Delawares. This name was given to them by a white man, Lorde de la Ware. Indian inhabitants in the Sinking Spring area supposedly called the main spring as the sunken spring. White settlers later called it the "sinking spring."
Penn Avenue is the main thoroughfare of Sinking Spring. There is a stone monument in the 3800 block of Penn Avenue. It was placed to identify "The Spring," which is said to periodically appear and disappear. The Township of Sinking Spring has a large number of underground streams that carve out limestone and form sinkholes; thus the name Sinking Spring.
The Borough of Sinking Spring was incorporated on March 13, 1913.
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 2,639 people, 1,233 households, and 748 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 1,960.7 people per square mile (754.8/km²). There were 1,269 housing units at an average density of 942.8 per square mile (362.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 95.76% White, 1.06% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 1.21% 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 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.73% of the population.
There were 1,233 households out of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% 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, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.72.
In the borough the population was spread out with 19.6% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $35,078, and the median income for a family was $50,064. Males had a median income of $36,875 versus $24,635 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 $23,053. About 12.0% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.9% of those under age 18 and 14.8% of those age 65 or over.
Business and industry
Several oil and gas pipeline, terminal, and distribution companies are located in Sinking Spring near the village of MontelloMontello, Pennsylvania
Montello is an unincorporated community in Spring Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. With a zip code of 19608, it is located one mile south of Sinking Spring, and is less than half a mile from the South Heidelberg Township line. The village is served by the Wilson School District as well....
.
The Sunoco Logistics Montello Complex is the company's Eastern Pipeline System headquarters, as well as a local trucking terminal and a major midstream terminal for refined products, mostly originating from the Philadelphia and Marcus Hook refineries. Sunoco's pipelines out of Montello provide gasoline, diesel fuel, and heating oil to large markets in Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Rochester, as well as smaller markets near Harrisburg, Altoona, Williamsport, Tamaqua (PA), Kingston (PA), and Corning/Elmira (NY).
Also located in Sinking Spring is the Alcon Laboratories "Alcon Precision Device" facility, used for the production of disposable, single-use medical devices. Most of these types of devices that Alcon manufactures for the world are fabricated within its walls.
Sinking Spring is headquarters to Hofmann Industries Inc., a manufacturer of welded steel tubing, powder-coated tubing, zinc-plated tubing, and fabricated tubing. The corporation owns a second plant in Eau Claire, Michigan. Established in 1922, Hofmann has called Sinking Spring home since the 1930s. The Sinking Spring Foundry, located on James Street was once part of Hofmann Industries, as was the Hofmann Broom Works.