Lower Macungie Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania

History

Before European settlement, the area that now includes Lower Macungie Township was inhabited by people who called themselves the Lenni Lenape. They hunted here, and are known to have had a few small seasonal villages and jasper workshops close to streams and springs. Jasper from their quarries outside present-day Macungie and Vera Cruz was traded far and wide across North America.

The name “Macungie” is derived from a Native American word meaning bear swamp, or place where bears feed. The early Pennsylvania German settlers took land that had been hunting grounds for the Lenni Lenape, adopting the Lenape name for the area. They cleared the scrub and forests, planted crops, raised livestock, and continually expanded their holdings. Most of what they produced fed their families and their hired and indentured servants, but some crops were grown for their cash value. Eventually they raised enough money to buy land warrants in Philadelphia from the proprietors, William Penn’s heirs. The Rodale Organic Gardening Experimental Farm was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 22.6 square miles (58.5 km²). Little Lehigh Creek and Swabia Creek drain and wind through the township from sources in Berks and Lehigh Counties. Swabia Creek joins Little Lehigh Creek in the township and the latter drains into the Lehigh River in Allentown. South Mountain crosses the township's southern-most corner, just south of the boroughs of Alburtis and Macungie.

Neighboring municipalities

Demographics

At the 2010 census, there were 30,633 people residing in the township. The population was 84.6% Non-Hispanic White, 3.3% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American and Alaskan Native, 6.0% Asian, 1.6% from two or more race, and 1.6% from some other race. 5.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.[1]

At the 2000 census, there were 19,220 people, 7,158 households and 5,611 families residing in the township. The population density was 851.5 per square mile (328.8/km²) There were 7,405 housing units at an average density of 328.1/sq mi (126.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 93.77% White, 0.58% African American, 0.11% Native American, 4.31% Asian, 0.48% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.52% of the population.

There were 7,158 households of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.2% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.6% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.3% 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 3.03.

Age distribution was 25.2% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 29.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

The median household income was $69,592, and the median family income was $78,695. Males had a median income of $60,325 versus $33,145 for females. The per capita income for the township was $30,202. About 1.3% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 2.1% of those age 65 or over.

Legislators

Township officials

As a Township of the First Class under Pennsylvania law, Lower Macungie Township has a five-member Board of Commissioners, and a Treasurer. In accordance with the PA First Class Township Code, the Lower Macungie Township Board of Commissioners is charged with the general governance of the Township. The Board serves as the legislative body of the township, setting policy, enacting ordinances and resolutions, adopting budgets and levying taxes.

The duties of the Treasurer include, among other responsibilities, the task of collecting certain real estate taxes, a duty which had formerly been performed by the Tax Collector, when the township was a Township of the Second Class. The voters changed the form of government in 2007. The Township Manager is appointed by the Commissioners.

The current officials are:

Board of Commissioners:

Treasurer:

Township Manager (appointed):

Director of Planning/Community Development:

Occupational Manager (Republican):

Education

The Township is served by the East Penn School District, of which it constitutes the majority of the population.

Transportation

Lower Macungie's main north-to-south roads are Pennsylvania Route 100, Spring Creek Road, Willow Road, Brookside Road, and Pennsylvania Route 29 in the extreme east. Main east-to-west roads include U.S. Route 222 (which interchanges with Interstate 78/Pennsylvania Route 309 in the extreme north,) Lower Macungie Road, and Mountain Road in the south.

Industry

Lower Macungie Township is home to the primary manufacturing facilities of Mack Trucks and as of January 2015 special effects manufacturer Smooth-On.