Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania

History

Susquehanna Township is located adjacent to the city of Harrisburg in Dauphin County. It was named from the Susquehanna River which runs along its western edge.

Prior to June 4, 1785, what is now Dauphin County was part of Lancaster County. After the state legislature created Dauphin County it was basically divided into three townships: Upper Paxtang, Middle Paxtang and Lower Paxtang. The spelling "Paxtang" is from the original Indian name Peshtank, which meant "standing water". Today we use the word "Paxton" instead of Paxtang.

Lower Paxtang Township embraced the areas now known as Lower Swatara, Swatara, Lower Paxton, Derry and Susquehanna townships. Susquehanna Township was formed from it on May 1, 1815.

The first settlement where Susquehanna Township now lies was known as "Coxestown" and was laid out by Dr. John Cox, Jr. of Philadelphia on October 2, 1757. In honor of his wife, Ester, the town was renamed "Estherton" and was the second oldest town in Dauphin County (behind Middletown). In 1774, a second settlement, "Rockville", and a third in 1815, "Progress" were settled. On January 2, 1952, Susquehanna became a First Class township via the Dauphin County Court.

The Rockville Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Susquehanna Township has a total area of 15.3 square miles (39.6 km²), of which 13.3 square miles (34.5 km²) is land and 1.9 square miles (5.0 km²), or 12.66%, is water. It is drained by the Susquehanna River, which separates it from Cumberland County and Perry County to the west. The north end of the township is on Blue Mountain, and Susquehanna Township's elevations range from approximately 300 feet (91 m) on the river to 1,150 feet (350 m) in the northeast.

The township's numbered roads include Interstate 81, U.S. Route 22, U.S. Route 322, and Pennsylvania Route 39. Other local roads include Elmerton Avenue and Progress Avenue.

Unincorporated communities and census designated places in Susquehanna Township

Adjacent municipalities

Demographics

As of the 2010 census, the township was 67.3% White, 23.6% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 3.6% Asian, and 3.5% were two or more races. 4.9% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry [1].

As of the census of 2000, there were 21,895 people, 9,178 households, and 5,727 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,632.9 people per square mile (630.4/km²). There were 9,593 housing units at an average density of 715.4/sq mi (276.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 75.30% White, 19.37% African American, 0.11% Native American, 2.19% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.03% from other races, and 1.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.25% of the population.

There were 9,178 households, out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the township the population was spread out, with 21.9% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $49,293, and the median income for a family was $61,781. Males had a median income of $41,367 versus $32,296 for females. The per capita income for the township was $26,572. About 3.9% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

Neighborhoods

Neighborhoods in Susquehanna Township include Edgemont, Oxford Court, Beaufort Farms, Mountaindale, Apple Creek Farms, Deer Path Woods, Northwoods Crossing, Sienna Woods, Saybrook Meadows, Latshmere, Green Acres, Crooked Hill, Montrose Park, Waverly Woods, Wedgewood Hills, Whitehall Terrace, Woodridge Estates, and Progress.

Legislators

Board of Commissioners

Susquehanna Township is a first-class township and elects nine commissioners by ward.

Education

Residents of Susquehanna Township may attend the local, public schools operated by Susquehanna Township School District which provides full day kindergarten through 12th grade. It is the only public school district serving Susquehanna Township. In 2014, enrollment at Susquehanna Township School District declined to 2,777 pupils. In 2013, enrollment was 2,824 pupils and in 2,966 pupils in 2012. In 2009, Susquehanna Township School District enrollment was 3,091 pupils.

Susquehanna township School District operates: Sara Lindemuth Elementary School K-2nd; Thomas Holtzman Elementary School 3rd–5th; Susquehanna Township Middle School 6th-8th and Susquehanna Township High School 9th-12th. High School students may also choose to attend the publicly funded, Dauphin County Technical School for training in the construction and mechanical trades.

Susquehanna Township School District’s graduation rate was 94%. In 2014, the Pittsburgh Business Times ranked Susquehanna Township School District 402nd out of 496 public schools for academic achievement of its pupils.

Susquehanna Township residents may also apply to attend any of the Commonwealth's 14 public cyber charter schools (in 2014) at no additional cost to the parents. Pennsylvania Distance and Electronic Learning Charter School is a public, cyber charter school which is based in Dauphin County. Students can also seek admission to Capital Area School for the Arts, Sylvan Heights Science Charter School, Premier Arts and Science Charter School or Infinity Charter School which are all traditional, public charter schools operating in Dauphin County. The resident’s public school district is required to pay the charter school and cyber charter school tuition for residents who attend these public schools. The tuition rate that Susquehanna Township School District must pay was $9,233.78 for elementary students and $10,440 for high school students in 2013. By Commonwealth law, when 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.

Capital Area Intermediate Unit #15 provides a wide variety of services to children living in its region which includes Susquehanna Township. Early screening, special education services, speech and hearing therapy, autistic support, preschool classes 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. Intermediate units receive taxpayer funding: through subsidies paid by member school districts; through direct charges to users for some services; through the successful application for state and federal competitive grants and through private grants.

Susquehanna Township residents may attend Harrisburg Area Community College a local community college at a discounted rate due to Susquehanna Township being a sponsoring agency. The school district forwards tax dollars each school year to HACC.

Residents of Susquehanna Township have access to the eight public libraries operated by the Dauphin County Public Libraries.