| Penbrook, Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|
| — Borough — | |
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Penbrook, Pennsylvania
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Dauphin |
| Settled | 1861 |
| Incorporated | 1894 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Borough Council |
| • Mayor | Kenneth J. Cramer (2010- ) |
| • Former Mayor | Richard Stottlemyer (1992-2010) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.5 sq mi (1.3 km2) |
| Elevation | 147 ft (45 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 3,044 |
| • Density | 6,636.1/sq mi (2,562.2/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Zip code | 17103 |
| Area code(s) | 717 |
| Website | Penbrook Borough |
Penbrook is a borough in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, founded in 1861 and incorporated July 10, 1894. Penbrook was once named East Harrisburg and still maintains a Harrisburg postal ZIP code. The population was 3,044 at the 2000 census.
Penbrook is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area.
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Penbrook is located at (40.278445, -76.847463)[1].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km2), all of it land.
Penbrook Borough Park is an 8.5 acre recreational area in the southeast corner of the borough and contains ball fields, play structure, basketball courts, concession stand, and a picnic pavilion. It was also the home of the former Penbrook Swim Club. The park is connected to the Capital Area Greenbelt, a 20 mile link to Riverfront Park and other regional parks.
Little Valley Park with 1.5 acres was given to the community in 1959 by S. Merl Mosby, who reclaimed a depression era landfill with more than 2000 loads of dirt from nearby Edgemont. It contains a ball field, play str ucture, and basketball courts and is located near East Harrisburg Cemetery.
Reservoir Park, with 85 acres, is adjacent to the Borough, with Levitt Performing Arts Pavilion and the National Civil War Museum.
Since 1952, the Penbrook Athletic Association has led the community’s recreational programs.[2][3]
The Mayor is Kenneth J. Cramer, replacing long time Mayor Richard Stottlemyer.
Two Council members are elected from each of the Borough's four wards.
1st Ward:
2nd Ward:
3rd Ward:
4th Ward:
In 2009, a Penbrook couple were threatened with a federal lawsuit by their local government because of their "You're In Steelers Country" sign on their porch.[5] Government officials in Penbrook, Pennsylvania, sent the homeowner a letter reading "The ‘Steeler Country’ banner must be removed immediately" and ordered them to purchase a $40 permit for the sign in order to comply with the borough's ordinance.[6] The homeowner protested, citing her First Amendment free speech rights, and contact the American Civil Liberties Union, who negotiated an agreement with the zoning officials to allow the sign to remain.[7]
As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 3,044 people, 1,307 households, and 764 families residing in the borough. The population density was 6,636.1 people per square mile (2,555.0/km²). There were 1,398 housing units at an average density of 3,047.7 per square mile (1,173.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 77.33% White, 15.24% African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.61% Asian, 1.87% from other races, and 3.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.60% of the population.
There were 1,307 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.6% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.5% were non-families. 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% 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 3.04.
In the borough the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 33.8% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $35,341, and the median income for a family was $44,375. Males had a median income of $32,128 versus $26,061 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $18,274. About 4.4% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.
Opening in 1901, and with additions in the 1930s and 1950s, the Penbrook School educated children through 10th grade. Older students transferred to John Harris HS or Susquehanna Township HS. In 1955, the school became part of the new Central Dauphin School District. The building served as an elementary school until 1982 and now serves as the home to Infinity Charter School.[9]