Lower Towamensing Township, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Lower Towamensing Township is a township in Carbon County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 3,173 at the 2000 census.
, the township has a total area of 21.2 square miles (54.8 km²), of which, 21.1 square miles (54.6 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.24%) is water. It is drained by the Lehigh River
, which separates it from East Penn Township, and its southern geographic boundary is Blue Mountain
. Its villages include Aquashicola (locally pronounced "ack-wa-SHIK-la,") Christian Corner, Hazard, and Little Gap
(which hosts the Blue Mountain Ski Area
.) Its highway access is via Route 248
, which extends through the southern gorge of the river to connect Lehighton
with the Lehigh Valley
and has nearby interchanges in Palmerton and Bowmanstown.
of 2000, there were 3,173 people, 1,207 households, and 900 families residing in the township. The population density
was 150.4 people per square mile (58.1/km²). There were 1,296 housing units at an average density of 61.4/sq mi (23.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.74% White, 0.13% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.44% from other races
, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.04% of the population.
There were 1,207 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.0% were married couples
living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were non-families. 19.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% 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 2.99.
In the township the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 100.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $36,414, and the median income for a family was $40,855. Males had a median income of $32,113 versus $23,654 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $16,878. About 6.5% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.0% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
Carbon County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 58,802 people, 23,701 households, and 16,424 families residing in the county. The population density was 154 people per square mile . There were 30,492 housing units at an average density of 80 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 3,173 at the 2000 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 21.2 square miles (54.8 km²), of which, 21.1 square miles (54.6 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.24%) is water. It is drained by 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...
, which separates it from East Penn Township, and its southern geographic 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 Aquashicola (locally pronounced "ack-wa-SHIK-la,") Christian Corner, Hazard, and Little Gap
Little Gap, Pennsylvania
Little Gap, Pennsylvania is a village in eastern Lower Towamensing Township, Carbon County on the Aquashicola Creek, which is crossed by a covered bridge, open to vehicular traffic. Blue Mountain Ski Area is located just to the south of the village, which is split between the Danielsville,...
(which hosts the Blue Mountain Ski Area
Blue Mountain Ski Area
Blue Mountain is a ski resort located near Palmerton, Pennsylvania, on Blue Mountain in the northern part of the Lehigh Valley, in Pennsylvania...
.) Its highway access is via Route 248
Pennsylvania Route 248
Pennsylvania Route 248 is a long state highway in eastern portions of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The western terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 209 in Weissport. The eastern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 611 in Easton....
, which extends through the southern gorge of the river to connect Lehighton
Lehighton, Pennsylvania
Lehighton is a borough in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, north by west of Philadelphia. In the past, it developed early industries because of water power from the Lehigh River. With the location of a repair facility here and its regional operations, the Lehigh Valley Railroad became for years a...
with 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...
and has nearby interchanges in Palmerton and Bowmanstown.
Neighboring municipalities
- PalmertonPalmerton, PennsylvaniaPalmerton is a borough in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in the coal region of the state. It is a part of lower Carbon County, which is considered part of the Lehigh Valley and the greater Allentown Metropolitan Area....
(southwest) - East Penn Township (west and southwest)
- BowmanstownBowmanstown, PennsylvaniaBowmanstown is a borough in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 895 at the 2000 census. Bowmanstown is at an elevation of and is located west of Palmerton and south of Lehighton off of Route 248.-Geography:...
(southwest) - Mahoning TownshipMahoning Township, Carbon County, PennsylvaniaMahoning Township is a township in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,978 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 23.7 square miles , of which, 23.6 square miles of it is land and...
(west) - ParryvilleParryville, PennsylvaniaParryville is a borough in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 478 at the 2000 census. Parryville is located southeast of Lehighton and north of Bowmanstown off Route 248 and northwest of Palmerton...
(northwest) - Franklin TownshipFranklin Township, Carbon County, PennsylvaniaFranklin Township is a township in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,243 at the 2000 census. A portion of Beltzville State Park, a Pennsylvania state park, is in Franklin Township.-Geography:...
(northwest) - Towamensing Township (north)
- Eldred Township, Monroe CountyEldred Township, Monroe County, PennsylvaniaEldred Township is a township in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,665 at the 2000 census. The township is served by the Pleasant Valley School District.-Geography:...
(east) - Moore Township, Northampton County (southeast)
- Lehigh Township, Northampton CountyLehigh Township, Northampton County, PennsylvaniaLehigh Township is a township in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. Lehigh Township is located in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.The population of Lehigh Township was 9,728 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
(south) - Washington Township, Lehigh CountyWashington Township, Lehigh County, PennsylvaniaWashington Township is a township in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is a suburb of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley area of the state.The population of Washington Township was 6,588 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
(tangent to the southwest)
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 3,173 people, 1,207 households, and 900 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 150.4 people per square mile (58.1/km²). There were 1,296 housing units at an average density of 61.4/sq mi (23.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.74% White, 0.13% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.44% 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 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.04% of the population.
There were 1,207 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.0% 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, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were non-families. 19.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% 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 2.99.
In the township the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 100.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $36,414, and the median income for a family was $40,855. Males had a median income of $32,113 versus $23,654 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 $16,878. About 6.5% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.0% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- Elisha MarshallElisha MarshallElisha Gaylord Marshall was a Brevet Brigadier General for the Union Army in the American Civil War. He fought in the Battle of the Colorado River in 1859 during the Mohave War in Arizona.He was married to Janet, née Rutherford...
, Brevet Brigadier GeneralBrigadier general (United States)A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
for the Union ArmyUnion ArmyThe Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
in the American Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...