Country United States Settled 1755 Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) Elevation 110 m Population 8,880 (2013) University Penn State Harrisburg | County Dauphin Incorporated 1828 ZIP code 17057 Area 5.4 km² Local time Tuesday 1:01 PM | |
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Weather 10°C, Wind W at 14 km/h, 72% Humidity | ||
Middletown is a borough in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States, on the Susquehanna River, 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Harrisburg. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 8,901. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
Map of Middletown, PA 17057, USA
History
Middletown was founded in 1755 along the left bank of the Susquehanna River and was incorporated as a borough in 1828 after a sudden boom in development and population occurred as a result of the construction of the Union Canal, connecting Lancaster to Middletown. Earlier in 1824 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's legislature authorized and funded the canal construction as part of the broad sweeping commercial initiative called the Main Line of Public Works; a forward looking project designing to connect Philadelphia to Pittsburgh by canals and river navigations which projects would continue to allow Philadelphia to challenge New York City (and its Erie Canal) for emerging mid-western markets beyond the Allegheny Mountains. Middletown was selected as the western terminus of the Union Canal, and it was named from its location halfway between Lancaster and Carlisle, where an ascent exists to a low pass allowing easier (wagon era) travel among the barrier mountains of the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians giving access into north-central Maryland and the valley of the Potomac River. It is the oldest incorporated community in Dauphin County and is located within a rich agricultural area forming the western edge of Pennsylvania Dutch Country.
The George Everhart (Frey) Trust, named for a citizen of Middletown from the 1800s, still manages leases on much of the land in and around Middletown. The trust was founded to operate the Frey Orphanage and did so for many years, in three locations in Middletown. The orphanage eventually closed, and the final location, on Red Hill, has become the Frey Village Retirement Community, a Diakon Lutheran senior living facility.
Middletown is located 3 miles (5 km) north of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant. The Unit #2 reactor at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant suffered a partial meltdown in 1979, causing then-Governor Richard "Dick" Thornburgh to order the evacuation of pregnant women and pre-school children from the area. Within days, 140,000 people had left the area. President Jimmy Carter visited Middletown's Community Building to calm the nerves of anxious residents.
Because the town is old, diverse historic architectural styles abound. Middletown has everything from log houses (some whose construction is obscured by modern siding) to Victorian mansions, and beyond. The Simon Cameron House and Bank, B'nai Jacob Synagogue, St. Peter's Kierch, Charles and Joseph Raymond Houses, Henry Smith Farm, and Swatara Ferry House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Geography
Middletown is located in southern Dauphin County at 40°11′55″N 76°43′46″W (40.198491, -76.729326). Its southern border is along the Susquehanna River, and its eastern border is formed by Swatara Creek, across which is the borough of Royalton. Pennsylvania Route 230 (Main Street) leads northwest 10 miles (16 km) to the center of Harrisburg and southeast 8 miles (13 km) to Elizabethtown. Via the PA 283 expressway it is 28 miles (45 km) southeast to Lancaster. The Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 76) passes through the northern part of the borough, but the nearest access is 4 miles (6 km) west near Highspire.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2), of which 2.0 square miles (5.3 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 2.33%, is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,242 people, 4,032 households, and 2,370 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,536.5 people per square mile (1,749.2/km²). There were 4,387 housing units at an average density of 2,153.4 per square mile (830.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 88.77% White, 7.34% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.92% from other races, and 2.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.18% of the population.
There were 4,032 households, out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 23.0% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $35,425, and the median income for a family was $43,661. Males had a median income of $32,891 versus $24,692 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $18,535. About 4.6% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.