East Allen Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 14.4 square miles (37 km²), all of it land. It is drained by the Lehigh River via the Catasauqua Creek and Monocacy Creek. Its villages include Franks Corner, Jacksonville, Jamesville (also in Moore Township), Seemsville (also in Allen Township), and Weaversville (also in Allen Township).

Its numbered routes are east-to-west 248 and 329 and north-to-south 512 and 987. 329 and 987 join in Franks Corner to meet 248 in Bath, which 512 and 987 connect with Allentown and Bethlehem respectively to the south. Other local roads of note are Airport Road, Hanoverville Road, Jacksonville Road, Old Carriage Road, Seemsville Road, and Weaversville Road.

History

Craig's Scotch-Irish Settlement was established in 1728, and is the oldest settlement in Northampton County along the Catasauqua Creek.

The Scotch-Irish Presbyterians of Allen Twp established a church in 1731.

The first log church was built in 1732. The present church, built in 1813, and is the 3rd church that was built by this congregation.

Northampton County was formed in 1752, which included the settlement.

Built in 1757, Fort Ralston is located near Bath and was to protect settlers from Indian attacks during the French and Indian War. The fort was near the present intersection of Route 329 and Airport Rd.

The first burial in Horner’s Cemetery was in 1745, making it the oldest cemetery in Northampton County. It contains the graves of many of the region's earliest inhabitants. There are 21 veterans of four wars.

Some of those buried there include John Ralston, a member of the Constitutional Convention and Continental Congress. There is a stone for Gen. Robert Brown, a personal friend of George Washington and owner of the "Friendship Tree"

George Palmer, Surveyor-General of PA, and Surgeon-General Dr. Matthew McHenry are both buried there. James Ralston laid out the town of Bath PA and Gen. William Lattimore owned the first house there. Hugh Wilson was the founder of Northampton PA. All 3 are buried at Horner's Cemetery.

The cemetery has been restoration by local members of the community, starting in 2008. The Horner Cemetery Historical Society was formed in 2011.

East Allen Township was established in 1842 from what was Allen Twp. With the new township boundaries, the settlement is now located in East Allen Twp.

Neighboring municipalities

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,903 people, 1,864 households, and 1,461 families residing in the township. The population density was 339.9 people per square mile (131.2/km²). There were 1,907 housing units at an average density of 132.2/sq mi (51.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.65% White, 0.49% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.71% of the population.

There were 1,864 households, out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.6% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.6% were non-families. 16.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% 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 2.95.

In the township the population was spread out, with 22.3% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 32.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $55,694, and the median income for a family was $59,007. Males had a median income of $40,194 versus $28,387 for females. The per capita income for the township was $23,684. About 2.5% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 1.6% of those age 65 or over.

Public education

The Township is served by the Northampton Area School District.