Steelton, Pennsylvania

"Steelton" redirects here. It is not to be confused with Steeltown, Steelville, or Steel City.
Steelton, Pennsylvania
Borough

Second Street in 1910
Motto: "Our Renaissance Continues..."

Location in Dauphin County and state of Pennsylvania.
Coordinates: 40°13′52″N 76°49′56″W / 40.23111°N 76.83222°WCoordinates: 40°13′52″N 76°49′56″W / 40.23111°N 76.83222°W
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Dauphin
Settled 1866
Incorporated 1880
Government
 • Type Borough Council
Area
 • Total 1.8 sq mi (5 km2)
Elevation 116 ft (35 m)
Population (2000)
 • Total 5,858
 • Density 3,215.6/sq mi (1,241.6/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Zip code 17113
Area code(s) 717

Steelton is a borough in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, three miles (5 km) southeast of Harrisburg. The population was 5,858 at the 2000 census. The borough is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Steelton was incorporated as a borough on 19 January, 1880. It was named from the steel industry contained within its borders.[1] The extensive works of the Pennsylvania Steel Company, later operated by Bethlehem Steel, are located along the Susquehanna River in Steelton. Also present at one time were brickyards, a flouring mill, and machine shops.

Steelton is the birthplace of Homer Litzenberg, the Korean War hero who commanded the 7th Marine Regiment during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.

19 people were killed and 199 injured, when a Baseball Special train from Harrisburg to Philadelphia derailed at Steelton on 28 July 1962. Three of nine cars landed in the Susquehanna River. A passing U.S. Navy drill team participated in the rescue efforts.[2]

The Steelton High School was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.[3]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2), all of it land. Steelton is bordered by the Susquehanna River.

The borough is crossed by Pennsylvania Route 230.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18802,447—
18909,250278.0%
190012,08630.7%
191014,24617.9%
192013,428−5.7%
193013,291−1.0%
194013,115−1.3%
195012,574−4.1%
196011,266−10.4%
19708,556−24.1%
19806,484−24.2%
19905,152−20.5%
20005,85813.7%
20105,9902.3%
Est. 20125,960−0.5%
Sources:[4][5][6][7]

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 5,858 people, 2,312 households, and 1,518 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,215.6 people per square mile (1,242.7/km²). There were 2,533 housing units at an average density of 1,390.4 per square mile (537.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 62.03% White, 31.12% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.41% from other races, and 3.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.48% of the population. 15.0% were of German, 7.7% American, 6.0% Irish, 5.7% Italian and 5.4% Croatian ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 2,312 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.1% were married couples living together, 22.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the borough the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 87.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.6 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $34,829, and the median income for a family was $39,556. Males had a median income of $30,488 versus $24,701 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $16,612. About 9.1% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.5% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ Notes and Queries, Historical, Biographical and Genealogical, Relating Chiefly to Interior Pennsylvania. Harrisburg Publishing Company. 1895. p. 15.
  2. ↑ U.S. Navy All Hands magazine December 1962, pp. 16-19.
  3. ↑ "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 9/06/11 through 9/09/11. National Park Service. 2011-09-16.
  4. ↑ "Number of Inhabitants: Pennsylvania". 18th Census of the United States. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  5. ↑ "Pennsylvania: Population and Housing Unit Counts". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  7. ↑ "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 25 November 2013.

External links