Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania

Schaefferstown is a census-designated place (CDP) in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 984 at the 2000 census. The [http://www.hsimuseum.org historic] Bomberger's Distillery, although now closed, is near Schaefferstown.

Geography

Schaefferstown is located at coor dms|40|17|42|N|76|17|43|W|city (40.294869, -76.295221)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km²), all of it land.

It is home to Fountain Park, which is the oldest Chartered Waterworks still in operation in the United States.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 984 people, 374 households, and 286 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 365.8 people per square mile (141.2/km²). There were 386 housing units at an average density of 143.5/sq mi (55.4/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 99.29% White, 0.51% African American, 0.10% Asian, 0.10% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.20% of the population.

There were 374 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.4% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.3% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.3 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $43,542, and the median income for a family was $52,609. Males had a median income of $31,625 versus $26,528 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $29,176. About 2.0% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.3% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Fountain Park

The water company in Schaefferstown has the oldest gravitational conveyance system by underground pipes in the United States. The water system was constructed sometime between 1744 and 1750 by the founder of the town, Alexander Schaeffer. The water system, which is located in the area now known as Fountain Park, is still used by the townspeople for portable household water. When the origianl system was laid out, it ran to two wooden troughs on the Square, which is now the intersection of Main St. and Market St. One trough was since replaced by Matilda Zimmerman in memory of Mary Rex Zimmerman, her mother and great granddaughter of Alexander Schaeffer. This trough is now located on the south face of the historic bank located within the Square.

Fire/EMS Protection

Residents of Heidelberg Township are served by the Schaefferstown Volunteer Fire Co. and Schaefferstown EMS. The fire department has 24/7 coverage by 5 different pieces of apparatus: Engine/Rescue 35, Engine 35, Tanker 35, Tanker 35-1, and Brush 35.

Schaefferstown EMS houses one ambulance (Ambulance 160) with 24/7 coverage. Schaefferstown EMS is a Basic Life Support (BLS) company only, but is covered with Advanced Life Support (ALS) by First Aid and Safety Patrol of Lebanon, PA. Schaefferstown EMS serves Heidelberg Township and portions of South Lebanon Township.

External links

Historic Schaefferstown Homepage [http://www.hsimuseum.org/]