Elizabethville, Pennsylvania

History

Elizabethville was founded in 1817. It was named for the wife of the original owner of the site. A post office has been in operation at Elizabethville since 1826. The borough was incorporated in 1893.

Geography

Elizabethville is located in northern Dauphin County at 40°32′56″N 76°48′54″W (40.548801, -76.814994), along the northern base of Berry Mountain. U.S. Route 209 passes through the borough, leading east 14 miles (23 km) to Tower City and west 8 miles (13 km) to Millersburg on the Susquehanna River. Pennsylvania Route 225 crosses US 209 in the center of town, leading north 4 miles (6 km) to Berrysburg and southwest 9 miles (14 km) to Halifax on the Susquehanna. Harrisburg, the state capital, is 26 miles (42 km) south via PA 225.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Elizabethville has a total area of 0.54 square miles (1.4 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,344 people, 579 households, and 353 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,476.2 people per square mile (961.0/km²). There were 617 housing units at an average density of 1,136.8 per square mile (441.2/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.84% White, 0.30% African American, 0.89% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.19% of the population.

There were 579 households, out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 23.1% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.5 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $31,406, and the median income for a family was $40,625. Males had a median income of $34,659 versus $25,054 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $18,077. About 6.6% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.4% of those under age 18 and 19.5% of those age 65 or over.

Politics and government

Elizabethville Borough Council has an elected mayor and seven locally elected members who serve a four-year term. The council meets once per month at the municipal building.

Education

Residents of Elizabethville may attend the local, public schools operated by Upper Dauphin Area School District which provides kindergarten through 12th grade. The District's enrollment declined to 1,237 students K-12 in 2013. Upper Dauphin School District ranked 322nd out of 500 public schools for academic achievement of its pupils in 2013. Elizabethville residents may also apply to attend Infinity Charter School located on 51 Banks St, Harrisburg and any of the Commonwealth's 13 public cyber charter schools at no additional cost to the parents. The Upper Dauphin School District is required to pay the charter school and cyber charter school tuition for residents who attend these public schools. By Commonwealth law, if the District provides transportation for its own students, then the District must provide transportation to any school that lies within 10 miles of its borders. Residents may also seek admission for their school aged child to any other public school district. When accepted for admission, the student's parents are responsible for paying an annual tuition fee set by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. In 2012, the tuition fees for Upper Dauphin School District were: Elementary School - $8,961.52, High School - $9,565.39.

Capital Area Intermediate Unit #15 provides a wide variety of services to children living in its region which includes Elizabethville. Early screening, special educations services, speech and hearing therapy and many other services like driver education are available. Services for children during the preschool years are provided without cost to their families when the child is determined to meet eligibility requirements. CAIU15 also operates Capital Area Online Learning Association which is an online learning program operated in association with the local public schools.

Elizabethville residents have access to Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC). People residing in Elizabethville fund HACC in part through an annual payment made by Upper Dauphin Area School District from tax revenues. Twenty two local public school districts are required to contribute annually to HACC regardless of whether any residents are attending the college. Full-time students from these districts, who attend HACC, pay $1,674 for 12 credit hours.

Elizabethville Area Library is located at 80 North Market Street. It is part of Dauphin County Library System.