Lebanon, Pennsylvania

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Lebanon, Pennsylvania, formerly known as Steitztown, is is the county seat of Lebanon County, PennsylvaniaGR6, United States. The population was 24,461 at the 2000 census. Lebanon is located in eastern Pennsylvania in the Lebanon Valley, 26 miles (42 km) east of Harrisburg.

Lebanon was first settled in 1720 and the town was laid out in 1753. The town was incorporated as a borough on February 20, 1821 and became a city on November 25, 1885. It adopted the commission form of government, consisting of four councilmen and a mayor.

In 1900, 17,628 people lived in Lebanon; in 1910, 19,240 people lived there; in 1920, 24,643 people lived there; and in 1940, 27,206 people lived in Lebanon, Pennsylvania.

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[edit] Geography

Border detail of Lebanon and surrounding municipalities
Enlarge
Border detail of Lebanon and surrounding municipalities

Lebanon is located at 40°20′30″N, 76°25′15″W (40.341529, -76.420853)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.9 km² (4.2 mi²), all land.

Lebanon is bordered to the north and east by North Lebanon Township (4.5 mi), to the south and east by South Lebanon Township (3.22 mi), to the west by West Lebanon Township (1.07 mi), and to the south and west by North Cornwall Township (4.38 mi).

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 24,461 people, 10,266 households, and 6,056 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,254.0/km² (5,844.8/mi²). There were 11,220 housing units at an average density of 1,033.9/km² (2,681.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.50% White, 3.23% African American, 0.28% Native American, 1.02% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 8.11% from other races, and 1.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.43% of the population.

There were 10,266 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.7% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.0% were non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,259, and the median income for a family was $34,045. Males had a median income of $26,957 versus $20,162 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,584. About 12.8% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.7% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Education

Education inside Lebanon City include the schools of Lebanon Catholic and the Lebanon School District. The high school of the Lebanon City School District, Lebanon High School, is sometimes referred to as "the 3-ring circus" because of its makeup: 3 circular buildings joined by walkways. Also another school district exists on the outskirts of Lebanon, Cedar Crest. Most of the students who attend Cedar Crest live mainly in the suburbs.

[edit] Trivia

  • Lebanon bologna was first made here.
  • NASCAR/ARCA driver Bobby Gerhart is from here.
  • Sam Bowie was born here and attended Lebanon High School.
  • NFL quarterback Kerry Collins is from here.
  • Former NFL quarterback Frank Reich attended Cedar Crest High School here.
  • Lebanon was formerly home to a major steel mill operated by Bethlehem Steel.
  • "The home office in Lebanon, Pennsylvania" was also the original fictional source of David Letterman's Top Ten Lists.
  • Lebanon is also mentioned in the short story "The Red-Headed League" in the series The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle:
    "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. . ."
  • Lebanon author/novelist Gary Ludwig speaks to groups about an infamous Lebanon County 19th century murder that featured six defendants who all had blue eyes. They became known as The Blue Eyed Six, given the moniker by a newspaper reporter who was attending the trial. The true story has become part of Lebanon County's folklore. Their murder trial received worldwide publicity and inspired Arthur Conan Doyle while he was writing The Red-Headed League. Ludwig’s four part magazine series about the murder was published in 1979. The magazine articles were subsequently published in booklet form.

[edit] References

  • Ludwig, Gary (1979). The Blue Eyed Six, A Historical Narrative. Lebanon, PA: Hodge Podge USA

[edit] Colleges and universities

[edit] External links


Municipalities and Communities of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania
(County Seat: Lebanon)
Cities Lebanon
Boroughs Cleona | Cornwall | Jonestown | Mount Gretna | Myerstown | Palmyra | Richland
Townships Annville | Bethel | Cold Spring | East Hanover | Heidelberg | Jackson | Millcreek | North Annville | North Cornwall | North Lebanon | North Londonderry | South Annville | South Lebanon | South Londonderry | Swatara | Union | West Cornwall | West Lebanon
Communities and CDPs Annville | Avon | Campbelltown | Fort Indiantown Gap | Fredericksburg | Lebanon South | Mount Gretna Heights | Newmanstown | Pleasant Hill | Quentin | Sand Hill | Schaefferstown | Timber Hills
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