Kidder Township, Carbon County, Pennsylvania

History

On October 10, 1888, a train wreck known as the Mud Run Disaster occurred on the Lehigh Valley Railroad which runs through the township. 66 people were killed, most members of the Total Abstinence Union returning from a rally.

Geography

Kidder Township occupies the northern end of Carbon County and is bordered by Luzerne County to the north and west and by Monroe County to the east. It is drained by the Lehigh River, which separates it from Luzerne County. Tobyhanna Creek, a tributary of the Lehigh, forms the northern half of the township's eastern border. Its villages include Albrightsville (also in Penn Forest Township), Hickory Run, Lake Harmony, Lehigh Tannery, Leonardsville/Pocono Mountain Lake Estates, and Split Rock.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 69.8 square miles (180.8 km²), of which 69.1 square miles (178.9 km²) is land and 0.73 square miles (1.9 km²), or 1.04%, is water. Hickory Run State Park occupies nearly 16,000 acres (65 km²) in the southern half of the township.

Kidder's numbered roads include Interstate 80 and the parallel Pennsylvania Route 940 east-to-west and Interstate 476, which is north-to-south and has the Pocono Interchange in the township with the former two. Route 903 crosses the southeast portion of Kidder on its way between Jim Thorpe and Route 115 just beyond the Monroe County line. Route 534 intersects 903 in Albrightsville and proceeds northwest to meet 80 and 940. Kidder has one more important road, which connects 903 and 940 via Lake Harmony and Split Rock. The portion between Split Rock and 940, Mosey Wood Road, is a private toll road operated by Vacation Charters Limited, and the portion south to 903 is Lake Drive.

Neighboring municipalities

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,185 people, 498 households, and 347 families residing in the township. The population density was 17.2 people per square mile (6.6/km²). There were 2,197 housing units at an average density of 31.8/sq mi (12.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 93.25% White, 2.36% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 1.35% from other races, and 2.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.56% of the population.

There were 498 households, out of which 21.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.69.

In the township the population was spread out, with 21.3% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 31.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 110.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.4 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $32,583, and the median income for a family was $37,404. Males had a median income of $30,714 versus $26,250 for females. The per capita income for the township was $18,719. About 9.5% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.

PennEast Pipeline

The Kidder Township Supervisors passed a resolution opposing the PennEast pipeline. The proposed PennEast Pipeline will pass through the county adversely impacting many property owners and community tax revenues. Unlike other states, under Pennsylvania state tax policy, natural gas and oil pipelines are exempted from property taxes. Pipeline companies prohibit development within the 100 foot wide right-of-way, there by limiting future development options for the landowner. This limits future potential property tax revenues for the school district, by constraining future land development. Located in the marcellus shale region, Carbon County is adversely impacted this way.

The Carbon County Planning Commission and Carbon County Commissioners have stated opposition to the pipeline project. The pipeline adversely impacts: Penn Forest Township, Kidder Township, Towamensing Township and Lower Towamensing Township. The Township Supervisors in all four townships passed resolutions opposing the pipeline. The pipeline's impact on property tax revenues will also adversely impact the school district by depressing revenues.