Ontelaunee Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania

History

Ontelaunee Township was organized in 1849. Ontelaunee is the Native American word for Maiden Creek.

The Berkley Historic District and Davies House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 9.2 square miles (23.8 km²), of which, 8.6 square miles (22.2 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (6.63%) is water.

Adjacent townships

The borough of Leesport is bounded on the west of Ontelaunee Township.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,217 people, 516 households, and 347 families residing in the township. The population density was 141.7 people per square mile (54.7/km²). There were 555 housing units at an average density of 64.6/sq mi (24.9/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.22% White, 0.08% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 1.97% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.29% of the population.

There were 516 households, out of which 21.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the township the population was spread out, with 18.7% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 104.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $51,058, and the median income for a family was $60,089. Males had a median income of $36,597 versus $22,679 for females. The per capita income for the township was $24,996. About 2.2% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.4% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.

Neighborhoods

Berkley Historic District

Furnace Row

Indian Manor

The Harvest

Willow Glen

Willow Glen North

Current government and school district

The area is served by the Schuylkill Valley School District.

Emergency services are provided by the Northern Berks Regional Police Department, Union Fire Company of Leesport, and Schuylkill Valley EMS all of which are dispatched by the Berks County Communications Center.