Washington Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Washington Township is a township in eastern Berks County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 3,354 at the 2000 census.
, the township has a total area of 14.0 square miles (36.3 km²), all of it land. It is drained by the Perkiomen Creek
into the Schuylkill River
. The northwest portion is located in the South Mountains
. Washington Township's villages include Barto
, Clayton (also in Hereford Township), Dale, and Eshbach. Route 100
crosses it north-to-south on its path from Lehigh County to Pottstown via Bally. Other local roads of note include Barto Road, County Line Road, Forgedale Road, Hoffmansville Road, Kutztown Road, and Niantic Road.
Washington Township surrounds the boroughs of Bally
and Bechtelsville
.
of 2000, there were 3,354 people, 1,212 households, and 970 families residing in the township. The population density
was 239.2 people per square mile (92.4/km²). There were 1,250 housing units at an average density of 89.2/sq mi (34.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.88% White, 0.75% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.24% from other races
, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.66% of the population.
There were 1,212 households out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.5% were married couples
living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.9% were non-families. 15.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the township the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 104.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $53,241, and the median income for a family was $60,054. Males had a median income of $37,951 versus $26,298 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $20,454. About 2.1% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 2.1% of those age 65 or over.
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 3,354 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 14.0 square miles (36.3 km²), all of it land. It is drained by 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...
into 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...
. The northwest portion 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...
. Washington Township's villages include Barto
Barto, Pennsylvania
Barto is an unincorporated community situated between the boroughs of Bally and Bechtelsville in Washington Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. Barto is part of the Delaware Valley, located near the border with Montgomery County. Its zip code is 19504 and the West Branch Perkiomen Creek flows...
, Clayton (also in Hereford Township), Dale, and Eshbach. Route 100
Pennsylvania Route 100
Pennsylvania Route 100 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania that runs from U.S. Route 202 in West Chester, Pennsylvania to Pennsylvania Route 309 in Pleasant Corners, Pennsylvania....
crosses it north-to-south on its path from Lehigh County to Pottstown via Bally. Other local roads of note include Barto Road, County Line Road, Forgedale Road, Hoffmansville Road, Kutztown Road, and Niantic Road.
Adjacent municipalities
- Hereford Township (north)
- District Township (northwest)
- Pike TownshipPike Township, Berks County, PennsylvaniaPike Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,677 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 13.9 square miles , all of it land. It is drained by the Schuylkill River via the...
(west) - Colebrookdale Township (south)
- Douglass Township, Montgomery CountyDouglass Township, Montgomery County, PennsylvaniaDouglass Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 10,195 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
(southeast) - Upper Hanover Township, Montgomery County (east)
Washington Township surrounds the boroughs of Bally
Bally, Pennsylvania
Bally is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,062 at the 2000 census, but a 2005 census estimate put the population at 1,102 residents.-History:...
and Bechtelsville
Bechtelsville, Pennsylvania
Bechtelsville is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. Its population was 931 at the 2000 census. Its population was 942 in the 2010 Census.-Geography:Bechtelsville is located at ....
.
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 3,354 people, 1,212 households, and 970 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 239.2 people per square mile (92.4/km²). There were 1,250 housing units at an average density of 89.2/sq mi (34.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.88% White, 0.75% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.24% 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 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.66% of the population.
There were 1,212 households out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.5% 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, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.9% were non-families. 15.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the township the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 104.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $53,241, and the median income for a family was $60,054. Males had a median income of $37,951 versus $26,298 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 $20,454. About 2.1% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 2.1% of those age 65 or over.
Legislators
- State Representative Doug ReichleyDoug ReichleyDouglas "Doug" Reichley is a politician from the U.S. state of Pennsylvania; he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2002, representing the 134th district. He sits on the House Appropriations, Consumer Affairs, Health and Human Services and Professional Licensure Committees...
, Republican, 134th 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...
, Democrat, 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