Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania

Geobox Township
name = Whitehall Township
native_name =
other_name =
other_name1 =
category = Township


image_size =
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flag_size =
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country = United States
state = Pennsylvania
region = Lehigh
region_type = County
area_imperial = 12.8
area_land_imperial = 12.6
area_water_imperial = 0.2
area_water_percentage = auto
area_percentage_round = 2
area_round = 1
location =
lat_d = 40
lat_m = 40
lat_s = 00
lat_NS = N
long_d = 75
long_m = 30
long_s = 00
long_EW = W
elevation_imperial = 384
elevation_round = 1
population_as_of = 2000
population = 24896
population_density_imperial = 1981.1
population_density_round = 1
government_type =
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mayor =
timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
postal_code =
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area_code = 610
area_code_type =
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code2 =
free_type =
free =
free1_type =
free1 =


map_caption = Location of Whitehall Township in Lehigh County
map1 = Pennsylvania Locator Map.png map1_caption = Location of Whitehall Township in Pennsylvania
map1_locator = Pennsylvania
map2 = Map of USA PA.svg
map2_caption = Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
website = http://www.whitehalltownship.com

Whitehall Township is a township in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is a suburb of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.

The population of Whitehall Township was 24,896 at the 2000 census.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 12.8 square miles (33.1 km²), of which, 12.6 square miles (32.6 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (1.80%) is water.

The township was originally created on March 20, 1753 and included what is now North Whitehall and South Whitehall Townships. In 1810, a petition was made to the Northampton County Court to split the township into two portions (at the time, the area now encompassed by Lehigh County was part of Northampton County).

In 1867 eastern portions of both North and South Whitehall were reapportioned into the current Whitehall Township. The new Whitehall Township is generally rectangular in shape, running from NNW to SSE and is situated along the western bank of the Lehigh River. At the time, the township encompassed the villages of Egypt, Fullerton, Cementon, Coplay, Hokendauqua, Mickleys, Stilesand West Catasauqua.

Two years after the new township's formation, the Borough of Coplay was incorporated, removing from the township, a square section of 0.6 sq mi (1.6 km²).

Maps

* [http://www.whitehalltownship.com/pdf/townshipmap.pdf Official Township Street Map] (source: Whitehall Township, PA web site)
* [http://www.whitehalltownship.com/pdf/zoningmap.pdf Official Township Zoning Map] (source: Whitehall Township, PA web site)
* [http://www.lehighcounty.org/sitemap/sitemapdocs/maps/whitehall.pdf Township Boundary Map] (source: Lehigh County, PA web site)
* Voting District Maps, see below

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 24,896 people, 10,376 households, and 6,817 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,981.1 people per square mile (764.7/km²). There were 10,744 housing units at an average density of 855.0/sq mi (330.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 90.56% White, 2.74% African American, 0.13% Native American, 3.62% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.71% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.37% of the population.

There were 10,376 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 452% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the township the population was spread out with 21.2% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $43,070, and the median income for a family was $51,597. Males had a median income of $39,175 versus $26,933 for females. The per capita income for the township was $21,383. About 4.4% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Whitehall-Coplay School District serves the township, as well as the borough of Coplay. Students in grades 9-12 from both municipalities attend Whitehall High School.

There also are several parochial and private schools within the Township:
* [http://www.ctk-wc.org Christ The King School] (K-8)
* [http://mylvls.com Lehigh Valley Lutheran School] (K-8)
*Lehigh Valley Seventh-day Adventist School (K-8)
*Little People Day Care School (PK-K)
* [http://www.allentowndiocese.org/education/school_result.php3?school_id=00030 St. Elizabeth Regional School] (K-8)
* [http://www.ststephenepiscopal.org/school.html St. Stephens School] (PK-K)

Notability

Businesses

The Lehigh Valley Mall, the largest Lehigh Valley-based shopping mall, is located in Whitehall Township.

Several radio stations have broadcast facilities within the township (all owned by Clear Channel Communications):

* WAEB (AM) (790 AM), Talk Radio
* WAEB (FM) (104.1 FM), Contemporary/Top 40
* WYHM (1470 AM), Christian Talk Radio/Music
* WZZO (95.1 FM), Rock music

People

* Brian Knobbs, former professional wrestler.
* Jerry Sags, former professional wrestler.
* Dan Koppen, professional football player, New England Patriots.
* Matt Millen, former professional football player, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins, former President and General Manager, Detroit Lions.

Government

Whitehall Township operates as a First Class Township. On November 5, 1974, the township adopted a Home Rule Charter ( [http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/339/chapter21/chap21toc.html here] ) form of government that became effective January 5, 1976.

As part of this governmental arrangement, the Township has separate executive and legislative branches. The legislative branch consists of a Township Board of Commissioners of seven (7) members, each serving 4-year terms. Four of the seats have terms that overlap the remaining three seat terms (e.g. four of the current terms end in 2007, while the remaining 3 terms end in 2009). The seated members then elect a President and Vice President who conduct Board meetings.

The executive branch consists of a Township Executive, who also serves a 4-year term. The Township Executive may appoint an Assistant Township Executive at his/her discretion, with approval from the Board of Commissioners. The Assistant Township Executive does not automatically become Township Executive should the standing Executive leave office for any reason--a replacement is to be appointed by the Board of Commissioners.

Whitehall Township also maintains an elected Treasurer who serves a 4-year term.

Voting Districts

The township is broken into twelve (12) voting districts, each with one polling place. Below is a list of each district, a link to a district map, area covered and the current polling location for the district.

Map source: Lehigh County, PA [http://www.lehighcounty.org web site]

Current Officials

Township

Township Executive

*Edward Hozza, Jr. (D; $71,403.93); 2011

Township Treasurer

*Ronald G. Reaman (D; $33,200); 2009

Township Commissioners

*Linda K. Snyder Sr., President (D; $3,600); 2009
*Phillip Ginder, Vice President (D; $4,125); 2011
*Gerard Palagonia, Secretary (D; $4,125); 2009
*Clair Hunsberger (D; $3,600); 2011
*Kyle Kern (D; $4,125); 2011
*Kenneth S. Snyder Sr. (D; $3,600); 2011 {no relation}
*Vacancy; 2009

Lehigh County

County Executive

Don Cunningham (D; $65,000); 2009

County Commissioners

*1st County District
**Sterling H. Raber (R; $5,500); 2009::Whitehall Districts: 2, 4-12 (plus others outside Whitehall)
*4th County District
**Daniel K. McCarthy, Vice Chair (D; $5,500); 2009::Whitehall Districts: 1, 3 (plus others outside Whitehall)

Pennsylvania

enate

*18th State Senatorial District: [http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/senate_bio.cfm?id=179 Lisa Boscola] (D; $72,187); 2010 ( [http://www.senatorboscola.com/district_map.htm District map] )

tate House

*133rd State Legislative District
**Joseph F. Brennan (D; $73,614); 2008 ::Whitehall Districts: 2-6, 8-9 (plus others outside Whitehall)
*183rd State Legislative District
**Julie Harhart (R; $73,614); 2008::Whitehall Districts: 1, 7, 10-12 (plus others outside Whitehall)

Federal

enate

*Arlen Specter (R; $165,100); 2010
*Robert Patrick Casey, Jr. (D; $165,100); 2012

House

*15th District of Pennsylvania Charlie Dent (R; $165,200); 2008 ( [http://dent.house.gov/DefaultPage.aspx?pgid=16 District map] )

ources

* [http://www.lwvlv.org/govdir_lehigh.htm#WHITEHALL%20TOWNSHIP League of Women Voters of the Lehigh Valley]
* [http://www.lehighcounty.org Lehigh County Web Site]

References

External links

* [http://www.whitehalltownship.com/ Whitehall Township]
* [http://whitehallhistoricalsociety.org/ Whitehall Historical Preservation Association Official Web Site]
* [http://www.lehighvalleymall.com/ The Lehigh Valley Mall Official Web Site] , located in Whitehall Township.

[vo:Whitehall (komot: Lehigh)]