Bethel Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania Explained

Bethel Township
Settlement Type:Township
Pushpin Map:USA Pennsylvania#USA
Pushpin Label:Bethel Township
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of Bethel Township in Pennsylvania
Coordinates:40.5008°N -76.3764°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Pennsylvania
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Berks
Established Title:Founded
Leader Title:Mayor
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:109.64
Area Total Sq Mi:42.33
Area Land Km2:109.34
Area Land Sq Mi:42.22
Area Water Km2:0.30
Area Water Sq Mi:0.12
Elevation Ft:741
Elevation Max Footnotes:[2]
Elevation Max Ft:1680
Elevation Max Point:Blue Mountain, about 2 miles northeast of Shikellamy Scout Camp
Elevation Min Ft:430
Elevation Min Point:Little Swatara Creek where it flows out of township
Population As Of:2020
Population Footnotes:[3]
Population Total:4072
Pop Est As Of:2021
Population Est:4066
Population Density Km2:37.69
Population Density Sq Mi:97.62
Timezone1:EST
Utc Offset1:-5
Timezone1 Dst:EDT
Utc Offset1 Dst:-4
Area Codes:610, 717
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:42-011-06008
Blank2 Name Sec2:Wikimedia Commons

Bethel Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,072 at the 2020 census.[3]

History

Spannuth Mill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 42.2sqmi, of which 42.2sqmi is land and 0.04sqmi (0.05%) is water. It is drained by the Little Swatara Creek into the Swatara Creek and the Susquehanna River. Its natural northern boundary is Blue Mountain. Its villages include Bethel, Crosskill Mills (also in Tulpehocken Township,) Frystown, Grimes, Meckville, and Schubert.

Adjacent townships

Recreation

Portions of the Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 80 and Number 110, through which passes the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, are located along the northern border of the township.[4] [5] [6]

Demographics

As of the 2000 census,[7] there were 4,166 people, 1,466 households, and 1,150 families residing in the township. The population density was 98.7sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 1,551 housing units at an average density of 36.7sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the township was 97.36% White, 0.55% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.77% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.56% of the population.

There were 1,466 households, out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.1% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.5% were non-families. 17.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the township, the population was spread out, with 27.2% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.4 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $47,015, and the median income for a family was $52,115. Males had a median income of $32,439 versus $23,929 for females. The per capita income for the township was $18,116. About 4.1% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.4% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

As of 2020, there were of public roads in Bethel Township, of which were maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and were maintained by the township.[8]

Bethel Township's main west-to-east route is Interstate 78/U.S. Route 22, which spans the length of the township. Interchanges within the township link it with Pennsylvania Route 645, Pennsylvania Route 501 and Pennsylvania Route 419. Pennsylvania Route 183 also serves the township, briefly passing through the northeastern corner.

Notable person

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. August 13, 2017.
  2. Web site: Get Maps . USGS Topoview . US Geological Survey . July 15, 2022 . en.
  3. Web site: Bureau . US Census . City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021 . Census.gov . US Census Bureau . July 9, 2022.
  4. https://viewer.nationalmap.gov/advanced-viewer/ The National Map, retrieved October 27, 2018
  5. https://www.pgc.pa.gov/HuntTrap/StateGameLands/Documents/SGL%20Maps/SGL__080.pdf Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 80
  6. https://www.pgc.pa.gov/HuntTrap/StateGameLands/Documents/SGL%20Maps/SGL__110.pdf Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 110
  7. Web site: U.S. Census website . . January 31, 2008 .
  8. Web site: Bethel Township map. PennDOT. March 14, 2023.
  9. Web site: Fraktur bid sets record. Lita. Solis-Cohen. baltimoresun.com. April 11, 2019.