Lebanon County, Pennsylvania Explained

County:Lebanon County
State:Pennsylvania
Ex Image:St Lukes LebCo PA 1.jpg
Seal:Seal of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania.png
Seal Size:100
Founded Date:February 16
Founded Year:1813
Seat Wl:Lebanon
Largest City Wl:Lebanon
Area Total Sq Mi:362
Area Land Sq Mi:362
Area Water Sq Mi:0.7
Area Percentage:0.2
Census Estimate Yr:2020
Pop:143,257
Density Sq Mi:390
Web:www.lebcounty.org
Time Zone:Eastern
District:9th

Lebanon County (Pennsylvania Dutch: Lebanon Kaundi) is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 143,257.[1] Its county seat is the city of Lebanon.[2] It lies 72 miles northwest of Philadelphia, which is the nearest major city. The county is part of the South Central Pennsylvania region of the state.

The county was formed from portions of Dauphin and Lancaster counties in 1813, with minor boundary revisions in 1814 and 1821.[3] Lebanon County comprises the Lebanon metropolitan statistical area, which is part of the Harrisburg–York–Lebanon combined statistical area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and (0.2%) is water.[4] Most of it is drained by the Swatara Creek into the Susquehanna River while some eastern portions are drained by the Tulpehocken Creek (which originates in the county near Myerstown) eastward into the Schuylkill River. It consists in large part of a valley.[5]

Climate

The county has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) and the hardiness zone is 7a, except in higher areas north of the Interstate 78 and 81 corridor, where it is 6b. Average monthly temperatures in center-city Lebanon range from 29.4 °F in January to 74.3 °F in July.[6]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 120,327 people and 32,771 families residing in the county. The population density was 332/mi2. There were 49,320 housing units at an average density of 136adj=preNaNadj=pre. The racial makeup of the county was 94.46% White, 1.29% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.89% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.26% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. 4.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 45.6% were of German, 11.8% and 6.1% Irish ancestry. 92.5% spoke English, 4.2% Spanish and 1.1% Pennsylvania Dutch as their first language.

There were 46,551 households, out of which 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.40% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.70% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males.

2020 census

Lebanon County racial composition[8] !Race!Num.!Perc.
White (NH)114,00479.6%
Black or African American (NH)2,5551.8%
Native American (NH)1190.1%
Asian (NH)2,1921.53%
Pacific Islander (NH)390.03%
Other/mixed (NH)4,0002.8%
Hispanic or Latino20,34814.2%

Metropolitan statistical area

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget[9] has designated Lebanon County as the Lebanon, PA metropolitan statistical area (MSA). As of the 2010 U.S. census[10] the metropolitan area ranked 16th most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 296th most populous in the United States with a population of 133,568. Lebanon County is also a part of the larger Harrisburg–York–Lebanon combined statistical area (CSA), which combines the populations of Lebanon County as well as Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, and York counties in Pennsylvania. The combined statistical area ranked 5th largest in the state and 43rd largest in the U.S., with a population of 1,219,422.

Politics and government

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Voter registration

According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans comprise a majority of registered voters in Lebanon County.

Lebanon County voter registration statistics as of January 2, 2024[11]
Political partyTotal votersPercentage
Republicanalign = center 50,528align = center 55.42%
Democraticalign = center 26,238align = center 28.78%
No party affiliationalign = center 10,420align = center 11.43%
Minor partiesalign = center 3,978align = center 4.36%
Totalalign = center 91,164align = center 100.00%

United States House of Representatives

The county is located in the 9th congressional district, represented by Dan Meuser, Republican.

State senate

All of the county falls within the 48th Senatorial District. The seat is currently held by Lebanon business owner and Republican Chris Gebhard.

State House of Representatives

The county is divided into the 98th, 101st, and 102nd Pennsylvania House Districts.

98th District

The 98th District, which includes Mt. Gretna Borough, South Annville Township, and South Londonderry Township is represented by Republican Tom Jones.

101st District

The 101st District, served by Republican John Schlegel, includes:

102nd District

The 102nd District, served by Republican Russ Diamond, includes:

County government

The county is governed by three commissioners, who are elected every four years from a slate of four candidates (two Democrats and two Republicans). Other elected officials include County Controller, Sheriff, Coroner, Prothonotary and Clerk of Court, Recorder of Deeds, County Treasurer, and Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court.

Electoral history

For most of its history, Lebanon County has been one of the most Republican counties in Pennsylvania. The county is strongly Republican even by the standards of south-central Pennsylvania. It is very conservative for an urban county, having only supported a Democrat for president once since 1880. That came when Franklin D. Roosevelt won it in his 46-state landslide reelection; even then, FDR only carried it by 587 votes. The only other time since 1880 that the county has failed to support a Republican was in 1912, when the GOP was mortally divided and Theodore Roosevelt carried it on the Bull Moose ticket.

In 1964, Lebanon County was one of only four counties in the state to vote for Barry Goldwater, along with Snyder, Union, and Wayne counties.

In the 2006 election for U.S. Senate, the county cast 21,756 votes (55.1%) for Republican Rick Santorum and 17,737 (44.9%) for Democrat Bob Casey, Jr., who won the race. In that year's gubernatorial election, the county cast 22,775 votes (57.5%) for Republican Lynn Swann and 16,813 (42.5%) for Democrat Ed Rendell, who won the race.[12]

In the 2004 presidential election, the county cast 37,089 votes (66.6%) for Republican George W. Bush and 18,109 (32.5%) for Democrat John Kerry. In that same year's election for U.S. Senate, the county cast 35,336 votes (66.8%) for Republican Arlen Specter, 13,182 for Democrat Joe Hoeffel, 3,320 (6.3%) for Constitution Party candidate Jim Clymer, and 1,083 (2.0%) for Libertarian Betsy Summers.[13] In the 2008 presidential election the county cast 34,314 votes (58.59%) for Republican John McCain and 23,310 votes (39.8%) for Barack Obama.[14] In the 2016 presidential election, the county cast 38,804 votes (65,9%) for Republican Donald Trump and 17,860 votes (30,3%) for Democrat Hillary Clinton.[15]

In the 2002 gubernatorial election, the county cast 22,659 votes (62.7%) for Republican Mike Fisher and 12,712 (35.2%) for Democrat Ed Rendell, who won the race. In the 2002 race for the U.S. House of Representatives, Republican George Gekas received 21,733 votes (60.9%) from the county while Democrat Tim Holden received 13,945 (39.1%); Holden won.[16]

Education

Colleges and universities

Public school districts

Communities

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Lebanon County:

City

Boroughs

Townships

Census-designated places

Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law.

Other unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Lebanon County.[10]

county seat

RankCity/town/etc.Municipal typePopulation (2010 Census)
1 LebanonCity25,477
2PalmyraBorough7,320
3Annville (township)CDP4,767
4CornwallBorough4,112
5CampbelltownCDP3,616
6MyerstownBorough3,062
7Pleasant HillCDP2,643
8Sand HillCDP2,496
9NewmanstownCDP2,478
10Lebanon SouthCDP2,270
11CleonaBorough2,080
12JonestownBorough1,905
13AvonCDP1,667
14RichlandBorough1,519
15FredericksburgCDP1,357
16HebronCDP1,305
17SchaefferstownCDP941
18QuentinCDP594
19Timber HillsCDP360
20Mount Gretna HeightsCDP323
21Mount GretnaBorough196
22Fort Indiantown GapCDP143

Parks and recreational places

See also

External links

40.37°N -76.46°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: State & County QuickFacts. United States Census Bureau. November 17, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110606194850/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/42/42075.html. June 6, 2011.
  2. Web site: Find a County. June 7, 2011. National Association of Counties. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. May 31, 2011.
  3. http://lebanoncountyhistoricalsociety.org/research-archives/lebanon-county Our County
  4. Web site: 2010 Census Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. March 9, 2015. August 22, 2012.
  5. Lebanon (county). Lebanon, a S. E. county of Pennsylvania.
  6. Web site: PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State U . July 29, 2021 . prism.oregonstate.edu.
  7. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. January 31, 2008.
  8. Web site: P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lebanon County, Pennsylvania.
  9. Web site: Office of Management and Budget. whitehouse.gov. May 4, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180429235115/https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/. April 29, 2018.
  10. Web site: 2010 U.S. Census website . . July 10, 2016 .
  11. Web site: November 2022 Voter Registration Statistics . XLS . November 7, 2022 . Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of State . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210309182141/https://www.dos.pa.gov/VotingElections/OtherServicesEvents/VotingElectionStatistics/Pages/VotingElectionStatistics.aspx . March 9, 2021 .
  12. Web site: Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information . March 10, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080529001955/http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=12&ElectionID=24 . May 29, 2008 .
  13. Web site: Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information . March 10, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081127051425/http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=12&ElectionID=11 . November 27, 2008 .
  14. Web site: Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections - State Data . January 5, 2009 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20081201041545/http://www.uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/statesub.php?year=2008&fips=42075&f=1&off=0&elect=0 . December 1, 2008 .
  15. Web site: Pennsylvania Election Results 2016: President Live Map by County, Real-Time Voting Updates. Election Hub. November 8, 2016 . May 4, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107044131/https://www.politico.com/2016-election/results/map/president/pennsylvania/. November 7, 2017.
  16. Web site: Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information . May 16, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080515030551/http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=12&ElectionID=7 . May 15, 2008 .
  17. https://web.archive.org/web/20111007194743/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/memoriallake/ Memorial Lake State Park
  18. http://www.stateparks.com/swatara_state_park_in_pennsylvania.html Swatara State Park
  19. http://www.lebanoncountypages.com/listings/union-canal-tunnel-park Union Canal Tunnel Park
  20. http://www.lebanoncountypages.com/listings/lions-lake-park Lions Lake Park
  21. http://www.lebanoncountypages.com/listings/colemans-memorial-park Coleman's Memorial Park
  22. http://www.lebanoncountypages.com/listings/stoevers-dam-park-lebanon-pa Stoever's Dam Park
  23. http://www.lebanoncountypages.com/listings/south-hills-park-lebanon-pa South Hill's Park
  24. http://www.lebanoncountypages.com/listings/mount-gretna-lake-mt-gretna-pa Mount Gretna Lake
  25. http://www.lebanoncountypages.com/listings/middle-creek-wildlife-management-area Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area
  26. http://www.lvrailtrail.com/ Lebanon Valley Rails to Trails
  27. http://users.mbcomp.com/swatara/State%20Park/bordner_cabin.htm Bordner Cabin