Paxtang, Pennsylvania

Infobox Settlement
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settlement_type = Borough
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Pennsylvania
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Dauphin
government_footnotes =
government_type = Borough Council
leader_title = Mayor
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established_title = Settled
established_date = 1722
established_title1 = Incorporated
established_date1 = 1914
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unit_pref = Imperial
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area_total_sq_mi = 0.4
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population_as_of = 2000
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population_total = 1570
population_density_km2 =
population_density_sq_mi = 3753.6
timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 40
latm = 15
lats = 39
latNS = N
longd = 76
longm = 50
longs = 02
longEW = W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m =
elevation_ft = 371
postal_code_type = Zip code
postal_code =
area_code = 717
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Paxtang is a borough in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The borough is a suburb of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and is one of the earliest colonial settlements in the United States.

History

The origin of “Paxtang” dates back to the 17th century Susquehannock Indian village of “Peshtank”, which means “still waters”. The village may have been hundreds of years old at this time. During this era, several important trails and routes crisscrossed the area. When William Penn claimed his famous “woods”, an area known as Paxtang, sometimes referred to as Paxton, was an area of rolling hills, meadows, and forests encompassing approximately half of present day Dauphin County. The community is known for the origin of the Paxton Boys in 1763, a group of backcountry Scots-Irish frontiersmen who formed a vigilante group in response to the American Indian uprising known as Pontiac's Rebellion. The population was 1,570 at the 2000 census.

Old Paxton Church

Paxtang is home to the Old Paxton Church, one of the earliest organized settlements in the area. The Church is the oldest Presbyterian Church building in continuous use in Pennsylvania, and the second oldest in the United States. Its early history is closely interwoven with the colonial history of central Pennsylvania.

Well-founded tradition tells us that preaching started here as early as 1716.Fact|date=July 2007 In 1726 the Rev. James Anderson, of Donegal, Pennsylvania, became the first regular preacher.

In 1732 the congregation was officially organized as a Presbyterian Church by the Presbytery of Donegal, with the Rev. William Bertram as its first installed pastor. The Rev. John Elder, the famous "Fighting Parson," became pastor in 1738. He continued as pastor through the trying period of the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War, during which time he was a commissioned officer. The church has been noted for its long pastorates, the terms of four of its ministers totaling 140 years.

The present stone sanctuary was erected in 1740, replacing a log meeting house which had served as a place of worship during the rugged pioneer days. A stone marker south of the sanctuary indicates the site of the log building. A replica of the log meeting house was erected north of the present sanctuary.

In the quaint old churchyard adjacent to the church lie the bodies of frontier defenders along with soldiers of the French and Indian War, Revolutionary War, Civil War, and both World Wars. Ministers, legislators, farmers, teachers, men of affairs, and even a few family slaves lie buried with them in this historic plot. Buried here too are people who in earlier days helped to mold the religious and political character of America, such as John Harris II and four of the six commissioners who planned the town of Harrisburg with him in 1785. Also, William Maclay, first United States Senator from Pennsylvania, lies buried in the churchyard.

For detailed information about the church, a 200-page book A History of Paxton Church, written by the Pastor Emeritus, Dr. Morton Glise, is available for purchase from the Church.

Geography

Paxtang is located at coor dms|40|15|39|N|76|50|2|W|city (40.260760, -76.833782)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1.1 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,570 people, 670 households, and 438 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,753.6 people per square mile (1,443.3/km²). There were 703 housing units at an average density of 1,680.8/sq mi (646.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 88.54% White, 6.37% African American, 0.13% Native American, 1.53% Asian, 1.66% from other races, and 1.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.01% of the population.

There were 670 households out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the borough, the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.3 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $46,250, and the median income for a family was $54,412. Males had a median income of $36,389 versus $29,712 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $23,217. About 3.4% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.7% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

References

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