Lackawaxen Township, Pennsylvania
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lackawaxen Township is the largest and northernmost township in Pike County, Pennsylvania. The population was 4,154 at the 2000 census. The Delaware River, which marks the eastern boundary of the township, joins the Lackawaxen River at Lackawaxen Village. Its postal code is 18435.
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[edit] History
Named for the Lackawaxen River that flows twelve miles through the township, it was named Lackawaxen Township in 1798 after the Indian word for "Swift Waters". Lenni Lenape and Iroquois Indians lived in the area through the early 19th century; although there were no villages of any size, the land was used for hunting. Tools, pot shards and bone fragments have been found at Indian rock shelters and camp sites.
The first permanent European settlers in the area were Jonathan Conkling and John Barnes in 1770. In the Battle of Minisink in 1779, 40-50 settlers were killed in an engagement with a band of Indians and Loyalists under English Colonel Joseph Brant.
During the early part of the 19th century, logging was the principal commercial activity in the area; as much as 50 million board feet (120,000 m³) of lumber were produced annually. Logs were floated to market in Easton or Trenton.
In 1829, the Delaware and Hudson Canal began operating between Honesdale, Pennsylvania and Kingston, New York. In its time, the canal company was the largest private commercial enterprise in the nation. There were 28 locks in Lackawaxen Township, raising the elevation of the canal 278 feet. Some of the old locks are still visible and several lock houses are now in private hands. Roebling's Delaware Aqueduct, built by John A. Roebling, famed engineer behind the Brooklyn Bridge, was constructed in 1848 as part of the canal, and is now preserved by the National Park Service.
The canal linked New York City with the rich coal deposits of the Carbondale, Wilkes-Barre and Scranton areas, providing fuel for the city's foundries and residential areas. In 1848, the New York and Erie Railroad was built through the area and although the canal continued to operate for another fifty years, railroads would eventually make canals obsolete.
Bluestone quarrying became a major enterprise in the area starting in the mid 1800s; bluestone was used extensively in the construction of the region's buildings and sidewalks.
The railroad also brought tourism to the area; the rugged countryside of the Delaware Valley became a popular destination for urban tourists. Stations were built at Lackawaxen, West Colang and Mast Hope and elaborate hotels were built nearby.
From 1905 to 1918, western author Zane Grey lived in Lackawaxen; his early stories relate his experiences fishing along the upper Delaware. Grey's home from 1914 to 1918 is preserved by the National Park Service as part of Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River as a museum; he is buried nearby.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 209.9 km² (81.1 mi²). 203.5 km² (78.6 mi²) of it is land and 6.4 km² (2.5 mi²) of it (3.07%) is water. A scenic area within the Upper Delaware River National Park, Lackawaxen is located about a two hour drive from New York City. It is also located about twenty-two miles north-west of Milford, the County Seat of Government of Pike County.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 4,154 people, 1,694 households, and 1,197 families residing in the township. The population density was 20.4/km² (52.9/mi²). There were 3,750 housing units at an average density of 18.4/km² (47.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the township was 94.87% White, 2.58% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.48% from other races, and 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.72% of the population.
There were 1,694 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 100.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $38,090, and the median income for a family was $46,856. Males had a median income of $35,758 versus $20,268 for females. The per capita income for the township was $19,119. About 7.4% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.5% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] External links
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Municipalities and Communities of Pike County, Pennsylvania (County Seat: Milford) |
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| Boroughs | Matamoras | Milford |
| Townships | Blooming Grove | Delaware | Dingman | Greene | Lackawaxen | Lehman | Milford | Palmyra | Porter | Shohola | Westfall |
