Susquehanna Township,
Dauphin County,
Pennsylvania
Township
The Rockville Bridge over the Susquehanna River
The Rockville Bridge over the Susquehanna River
Official logo of Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Location in Dauphin County and state of Pennsylvania.
Location in Dauphin County and state of Pennsylvania.
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountyDauphin
Incorporated1815
Government
 • TypeBoard of Commissioners
Area
[1]
 • Total15.27 sq mi (39.56 km2)
 • Land13.34 sq mi (34.55 km2)
 • Water1.93 sq mi (5.01 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total26,736
 • Estimate 
(2021)[2]
26,706
 • Density2,004.2/sq mi (773.84/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
17109, 17110
Area code(s)717 and 223
FIPS code42-043-75528
Websitewww.susquehannatwp.com

Susquehanna Township is a township in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 26,736 at the time of the 2020 census.[3] This represents a 9.8% increase from the 2000 census count of 21,895. Susquehanna Township has the postal ZIP codes 17109 and 17110, which maintain the Harrisburg place name designation. The township is a suburb of Harrisburg and is connected to Marysville by the Rockville Bridge, the world's longest stone-arch rail bridge at the time of its completion.

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.[4]

On June 4, 1785, the state legislature created Dauphin County from part of Lancaster County. By that time, the territory of today's Dauphin County had been divided among the townships of Derry, Londonderry, Lower Paxtang and Upper Paxtang.[5] The spelling "Paxtang" is from the original Indian name Peshtank, which meant "standing water" and further morphed into "Paxton." Susquehanna Township was incorporated from part of Lower Paxtang 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.[6]

Up until the 1950s, the Pennsylvania State Police serviced the township, with a township room space in Progress once dedicated to them to use as a substation as a gesture of thanks. In September 1955, Charles S. Hill was sworn in as the first police officer, and he used his own car for patrol duty. With continuing growth, he would become the first chief and by the early 1960s there would be four officers.[7]

The Rockville Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.[8]

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.[9] 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

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19408,716—
195011,08127.1%
196017,47457.7%
197017,008−2.7%
198018,0346.0%
199018,6363.3%
200021,89517.5%
201024,0369.8%
202026,73611.2%
2021 (est.)26,706[2]−0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[10][11] [12]

As of the 2020 census, the township was 60.6% White, 27.3% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 5.6% Asian, and 3.7% were two or more races. 7.0% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry .

As of the census[13] of 2020, there were 26,736 people, 10,529 households residing in the township. The population density was 2,004.2 inhabitants per square mile (773.8/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 60.6% White, 27.3% African American, 0.1% Native American, 5.6% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.0% of the population.

The median income for a household in the township was $68,674. The per capita income for the township was $34,875. About 9.1% of the population was below the poverty line.

Attractions

Politics and government

Legislators

Board of Commissioners

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

Ward Name Term[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2] Board title
Elected Expiration
Ward 1
Jody Rebarchak
 Unknown
2024
  
Ward 2
Gary Rothrock
 Unknown
2026
  
Ward 3
Carl Hisiro
 Unknown
2024
Ward 4
Frank Lynch
 Unknown
2026
President
Ward 5
Tom Pyne
 Unknown
2024
  
Ward 6
Fred Faylona
 Unknown
2026
  
Ward 7
Fred Engle Jr.
 Unknown
2024
  
Ward 8
La Tasha Williams
 Unknown
2026
  
Ward 9
Steven C. Napper
 Unknown
2024
Vice President
  1. ↑ "Elected Officials". Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Municipal Officials For Dauphin County" (PDF). Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. p. 52. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 21, 2015. Retrieved March 13, 2015.

Other municipal positions

Title Name Term[lower-alpha 1]
Elected Expiration
Manager
David W. Kratzer Jr.
 Non-elected position
Tax Collector
Dauphin County Treasurer[14]
Auditor
Zelenkofske Axelrod
 Non-elected position
Solicitor
Michael M. Miller, Esq.
 Non-elected position
  1. ↑ "Municipal Officials for Dauphin County" (PDF). Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. p. 52. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 21, 2015. Retrieved March 13, 2015.
  2. ↑ This is only a partial term due to prior resignation. Dauphin County failed to include this on the document above.

References

  1. ↑ "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
  2. 1 2 Bureau, US Census. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Geographic Identifiers: 2020 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Susquehanna township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  4. ↑ Notes and Queries, Historical, Biographical and Genealogical, Relating Chiefly to Interior Pennsylvania. Harrisburg Publishing Company. 1895. p. 19.
  5. ↑ "Dauphin County" (PDF). Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  6. ↑ About Susquehanna Township Archived 2012-12-13 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ Silver Anniversary Commentaries on the History of Susquehanna Township. 1977.
  8. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Susquehanna township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  11. ↑ https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/17216604v1p40ch02.pdf
  12. ↑ https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-40.pdf
  13. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  14. ↑ "Susquehanna Twp. inducts new tax collector". PennLive.com. Retrieved March 13, 2015.
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