Penn Forest Township, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Penn Forest Township is a township in Carbon County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 5,439 at the 2000 census.
, the township has a total area of 75.4 square miles (195.2 km²), of which, 74.2 square miles (192.2 km²) of it is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) of it (1.57%) is water. It is drained by the Lehigh River
, which meanders along Penn Forest's western border through the Lehigh Gorge
. Its villages include Albrightsville
(also in Kidder Township,) Christmans, Christmansville, and Meckesville.
The township's numbered routes include Route 903
, which crosses it NE-to-SW, and Route 534
, which crosses in the east and intersects 903 in Albrightsville. Other important roads include Hatchery Road, Maury Road, and Schock Mill Road. Interstate 476
crosses Penn Forest north-to-south with indirect access from the Mahoning Valley and Pocono interchanges. A new E-ZPass
interchange with 903 just north of the Hickory Run Service Plaza is under construction by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
. http://www.paturnpike.com/constructionprojects/Route_903_Slip_Ramp/home.html
of 2000, there were 5,439 people, 2,046 households, and 1,565 families residing in the township. The population density
was 73.3 people per square mile (28.3/km²). There were 4,806 housing units at an average density of 64.8/sq mi (25.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 92.48% White, 3.36% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.25% from other races
, and 2.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.39% of the population.
There were 2,046 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.1% were married couples
living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.5% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the township the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $36,601, and the median income for a family was $40,597. Males had a median income of $39,864 versus $21,774 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $17,129. About 7.0% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.0% of those under age 18 and 10.9% 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 5,439 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 75.4 square miles (195.2 km²), of which, 74.2 square miles (192.2 km²) of it is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) of it (1.57%) 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 meanders along Penn Forest's western border through the Lehigh Gorge
Lehigh Gorge State Park
Lehigh Gorge State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Luzerne and Carbon Counties, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park encompasses the Lehigh Gorge, which stretches along the Lehigh River from a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control dam in Luzerne County to Jim Thorpe in Carbon County...
. Its villages include Albrightsville
Albrightsville, Pennsylvania
Albrightsville, Pennsylvania is a village in Kidder Township and Penn Forest Township, Carbon County, Pennsylvania. It is drained by Mud Run westward into the Lehigh River. Routes 534 and 903 intersect in the village. Although it has its own post office with the zip code of 18210, areas just to...
(also in Kidder Township,) Christmans, Christmansville, and Meckesville.
The township's numbered routes include Route 903
Pennsylvania Route 903
Pennsylvania Route 903 is a long state highway located in Carbon and Monroe counties in Pennsylvania. The southern terminus is at US 209 in Jim Thorpe. The northern terminus is at PA 115 in Tunkhannock Township....
, which crosses it NE-to-SW, and Route 534
Pennsylvania Route 534
Pennsylvania Route 534 is an long state highway located in Monroe and Carbon counties in Pennsylvania. The western terminus is at PA 940 in East Side. The eastern terminus is at US 209 in Polk Township....
, which crosses in the east and intersects 903 in Albrightsville. Other important roads include Hatchery Road, Maury Road, and Schock Mill Road. Interstate 476
Interstate 476
Interstate 476 is a auxiliary Interstate Highway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania designated between Interstate 95 near Chester and Interstate 81 near Scranton, serving as the primary north–south Interstate corridor through eastern Pennsylvania....
crosses Penn Forest north-to-south with indirect access from the Mahoning Valley and Pocono interchanges. A new E-ZPass
E-ZPass
E-ZPass is an electronic toll-collection system used on most tolled roads, bridges, and tunnels in the northeastern US, south to Virginia and West Virginia, and west to Illinois. Currently, there are 25 agencies spread across 14 states that make up the . All member agencies use the same technology,...
interchange with 903 just north of the Hickory Run Service Plaza is under construction by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission was created in 1937 to construct, finance, operate and maintain the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The commission consists of five members. Four members are appointed by the Governor of Pennsylvania. The fifth member is the Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation.In...
. http://www.paturnpike.com/constructionprojects/Route_903_Slip_Ramp/home.html
Neighboring municipalities
- Kidder Township (north)
- Lehigh TownshipLehigh Township, Carbon County, PennsylvaniaLehigh Township is a township in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 527 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. It is drained by the Lehigh River, which...
(west) - Jim ThorpeJim Thorpe, PennsylvaniaJim Thorpe is a borough in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, USA. The population was 4,804 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Carbon County. The town has been called the "Switzerland of America" due to the picturesque scenery, mountainous location, and architecture; as well as the "Gateway to...
(southwest) - 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:...
(south) - Towamensing Township (south)
- Polk Township, Monroe CountyPolk Township, Monroe County, PennsylvaniaPolk Township is a township in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,533 at the 2000 census. Polk Township is served by the Pleasant Valley School District.-Geography:...
(east) - Chestnuthill Township, Monroe County (tangent to the east)
- Tunkhannock Township, Monroe CountyTunkhannock Township, Monroe County, PennsylvaniaTunkhannock Township is a township in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,983 at the 2000 census. The Pocono Raceway is located within the township.-Geography:...
(northeast)
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 5,439 people, 2,046 households, and 1,565 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 73.3 people per square mile (28.3/km²). There were 4,806 housing units at an average density of 64.8/sq mi (25.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 92.48% White, 3.36% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.25% 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 2.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.39% of the population.
There were 2,046 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.1% 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, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.5% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the township the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $36,601, and the median income for a family was $40,597. Males had a median income of $39,864 versus $21,774 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 $17,129. About 7.0% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.0% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.