Longswamp Township, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Longswamp Township is a township in Berks County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 5,608 at the 2000 census.
of 2000, there were 5,608 people, 2,029 households, and 1,529 families residing in the township. The population density
was 246.1 people per square mile (95.0/km²). There were 2,097 housing units at an average density of 92.0/sq mi (35.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.95% White, 0.32% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.12% from other races
, and 0.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.84% of the population.
There were 2,029 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.5% were married couples
living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 19.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $47,965, and the median income for a family was $55,238. Males had a median income of $35,434 versus $25,324 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $21,592. About 2.9% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.4% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.
, the township has a total area of 22.8 square miles (59.1 km²), of which, 22.8 square miles (59.0 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.09%) is water. The Little Lehigh Creek
and Swabia Creek
start in Longswamp and drain most of it eastward into the Lehigh River
. The Schuylkill River
also drains portions of the township via the Sacony Creek
(which also starts in Longswamp) to the west and the Perkiomen Creek
to the south. The southern half of Longswamp is located in the South Mountains
.
Longswamp Township's villages include Farmington, Hancock, Henningsville, Longsdale, Longswamp, Maple Grove, Mertztown
, New Hensingersville
(also in Lehigh County,) Red Lion, and Rittenhouse Gap
. Its east-to-west thoroughfare is Main Street, which is part of an unnumbered straight chain of roads connecting NE and central Berks as well as Topton with Lyons and Fleetwood. The mountains to the south prevent through north-to-south routes, so they start on Main Street and extend either north to U.S. Highway 222, as do Farmington Road, Topton Road, and Valley Road, or south up the mountain. Longswamp Road, Mertztown Road, and Mountain Street lead east into Lehigh County.
Longswamp surrounds the borough of Topton
.
, just south of Maple Grove.
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 5,608 at the 2000 census.
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 5,608 people, 2,029 households, and 1,529 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 246.1 people per square mile (95.0/km²). There were 2,097 housing units at an average density of 92.0/sq mi (35.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.95% White, 0.32% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.12% 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 0.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.84% of the population.
There were 2,029 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.5% 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, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 19.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $47,965, and the median income for a family was $55,238. Males had a median income of $35,434 versus $25,324 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 $21,592. About 2.9% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.4% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.
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 22.8 square miles (59.1 km²), of which, 22.8 square miles (59.0 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.09%) is water. The Little Lehigh Creek
Little Lehigh Creek
The Little Lehigh Creek is approximately long, in eastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is also sometimes referred to as the Little Lehigh River. It is called the Little Lehigh because it is the largest tributary of the Lehigh River....
and Swabia Creek
Swabia Creek
Swabia Creek, a tributary of Little Lehigh Creek, is a creek located in Berks and Lehigh Counties, Pennsylvania, in the United States.- Source :...
start in Longswamp and drain most of it eastward into the Lehigh River
Lehigh River
The Lehigh River, a tributary of the Delaware River, is a river located in eastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. Part of the Lehigh, along with a number of its tributaries, is designated a Pennsylvania Scenic River by the state's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources...
. The Schuylkill River
Schuylkill River
The Schuylkill River is a river in Pennsylvania. It is a designated Pennsylvania Scenic River.The river is about long. Its watershed of about lies entirely within the state of Pennsylvania. The source of its eastern branch is in the Appalachian Mountains at Tuscarora Springs, near Tamaqua in...
also drains portions of the township via the Sacony Creek
Sacony Creek
Sacony Creek is a tributary of Maiden Creek in Berks County, Pennsylvania in the United States. It flows through the borough of Kutztown, and is the main water source there....
(which also starts in Longswamp) to the west and the Perkiomen Creek
Perkiomen Creek
Perkiomen Creek is a tributary of the Schuylkill River in Berks, Lehigh and Montgomery counties in Pennsylvania in the United States.Perkiomen Creek begins in Hereford Township, Berks County, initially flows eastward into Upper Milford Township, Lehigh County, and turns southward to reenter...
to the south. The southern half of Longswamp is located in the South Mountains
South Mountain (eastern Pennsylvania)
South Mountain is a colloquial name applied to features in the mountain range extending south and south west from the Lehigh Valley to the Lebanon Valley regions of Pennsylvania. At times, it also been known as Durham Hills, Reading Hills, and the Lehigh Mountains...
.
Longswamp Township's villages include Farmington, Hancock, Henningsville, Longsdale, Longswamp, Maple Grove, Mertztown
Mertztown, Pennsylvania
Mertztown is an unincorporated community in Longswamp Township in eastern Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. Its zip code is 19539....
, New Hensingersville
Hensingersville, Pennsylvania
Hensingersville, also known as New Hensingersville, is an unincorporated community located mostly in southwestern Lower Macungie Township, Lehigh County but also in Longswamp Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, near the intersections of Pennsylvania Route 2018 , Pennsylvania Route 3001 , Chestnut...
(also in Lehigh County,) Red Lion, and Rittenhouse Gap
Rittenhouse Gap, Pennsylvania
Rittenhouse Gap is the name of a village in Longswamp Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, at .The gap which gives the town its name lies between the headwaters of Swabia Creek, in the Lehigh River watershed, and an unnamed tributary of the Perkiomen Creek, in the Schuylkill River watershed...
. Its east-to-west thoroughfare is Main Street, which is part of an unnumbered straight chain of roads connecting NE and central Berks as well as Topton with Lyons and Fleetwood. The mountains to the south prevent through north-to-south routes, so they start on Main Street and extend either north to U.S. Highway 222, as do Farmington Road, Topton Road, and Valley Road, or south up the mountain. Longswamp Road, Mertztown Road, and Mountain Street lead east into Lehigh County.
Longswamp surrounds the borough of Topton
Topton, Pennsylvania
Topton is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,948 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Topton is located at ....
.
Legislators
- State Representative Gary DayGary Day (politician)Gary Day is serving his first term as representative of the 187th Legislative District of Pennsylvania. His district includes communities of northern, northwestern, and west-central Lehigh County and northeastern Berks County.-Career:...
, Republican, 187th district - State Senator Judy SchwankJudy SchwankJudith Schwank is an American politician. A Democrat, she was elected to the Pennsylvania Senate from the 11th district in a special election on March 15, 2011 to succeed the late Mike O'Pake. The district includes the city of Reading and most of eastern Berks County.-Biography:Schwank attended...
, 11th district - US Representative Jim GerlachJim GerlachJames "Jim" Gerlach is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.- Early life, education and career :...
, Republican, 6th district
Board of Supervisors
- Steve Wyka, Chairman
- Maryann Lantz, Vice-Chairman
- Mike Sacks, Supervisor
Recreation
Longswamp is home to Bear Creek Ski and Recreation AreaBear Creek Ski and Recreation Area
Bear Creek is a ski resort near Macungie, in the Berks County region of Pennsylvania, in the United States. The resort opened in 1967. It was known as the Doe Mountain until 1999....
, just south of Maple Grove.