Myerstown, Pennsylvania Explained

Official Name:Myerstown, Pennsylvania
Settlement Type:Borough
Pushpin Map:Pennsylvania#USA
Pushpin Label:Myerstown
Pushpin Label Position:top
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Pennsylvania##Location in the United States
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Pennsylvania
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Lebanon
Government Type:Borough Council
Leader Title:Mayor
Established Title:Settled
Established Date:1763
Established Title1:Incorporated
Established Date1:1912
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:2.22
Area Land Km2:2.22
Area Water Km2:0.00
Area Total Sq Mi:0.86
Area Land Sq Mi:0.86
Area Water Sq Mi:0.00
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:3094
Population Density Km2:1394.82
Population Density Sq Mi:3614.49
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Coordinates:40.3719°N -76.3042°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP Code
Postal Code:17067
Area Code:717 and 223
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:42-52488

Myerstown (Pennsylvania Dutch: Moyerschteddel) is a borough located in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. It is part of the Lebanon, Pennsylvania Metropolitan statistical area. The population was 3,103 at the 2020 census. It is home to over 100 businesses, including a Bayer manufacturing plant, a GAF manufacturing plant, Farmer Boy Ag, Stoneridge Towne Centre and Wengers of Myerstown. The Evangelical Seminary is located on South College Street.

History

On December 24, 1757, 249acres of land was deeded to Isaac Meier and wife Catherine, who built their house at the Hergelrode site on South College Street. As early as 1763 he began deeding out lots and planned to make a town which he called Tulpehocken Town, after the Tulpehocken Creek, which runs through the borough.

Meier was fatally shot by an unknown assassin on July 14, 1770, at the Henry Buch House on 40 West Main Street which was a tavern at that time.[2] After his death the citizens of Tulpehocken Town began to call it Meier's Town after him.

The Isaac Meier Homestead was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

Geography

Myerstown is located at 40°22'19" North, 76°18'15" West (40.372058, -76.304208).[3] According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.9sqmi, all land.

Myerstown is completely surrounded by Jackson Township. It has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) and the local hardiness zone is 6b. Average monthly temperatures range from 29.2 °F in January to 74.1 °F in July.[4]

Demographics

At the 2000 census, there were 3,171 people, 1,265 households, and 810 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3559.1sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 1,339 housing units at an average density of 1502.9sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the borough was 97.48% White, 1.41% African American, 0.00% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.45% from two or more races. 0.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.There were 1,265 households, 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.4% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 31.5% of households were made up of individuals, and 16.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the borough, the population was spread out, with 22.2% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 85.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.5 males.

The median household income was $36,563 and the median family income was $45,698. Males had a median income of $31,985 versus $20,684 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $17,177. 6.6% of the population and 4.6% of families were below the poverty line. 8.4% of those under the age of 18 and 9.5% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Notable person

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ArcGIS REST Services Directory. United States Census Bureau. October 12, 2022.
  2. Web site: The History of our Borough . deviated . https://web.archive.org/web/20170504154847/https://www.myerstownboro.org/history.html . 2017-05-04 . 19 Jun 2023 . Myerstownboro.org.
  3. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. 2011-04-23. 2011-02-12.
  4. Web site: PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State U. 2021-07-01. prism.oregonstate.edu.