Heath Township, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania

Last updated
Heath Township, Pennsylvania
Phot clcreekcabin2.jpg
CCC-built cabin at Cook Forest State Park
Map of Jefferson County, Pennsylvania Highlighting Heath Township.PNG
Map of Jefferson County, Pennsylvania Highlighting Heath Township
Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Jefferson County.svg
Map of Jefferson County, Pennsylvania
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Jefferson
Settled1833
Incorporated1847
Area
[1]
  Total29.21 sq mi (75.66 km2)
  Land28.85 sq mi (74.72 km2)
  Water0.36 sq mi (0.94 km2)
Population
 (2020) [2]
  Total117 Decrease2.svg
  Estimate 
(2022) [2]
115
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
  Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
FIPS code 42-065-33448

Heath Township is a township in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 117 at the 2020 census, [2] down from the figure of 124 tabulated in 2010. It was named for early Jefferson County settler Elijah Heath. [3] Heath Township is the second-smallest municipality in Jefferson County.

Contents

History and Recreation

Heath Township is a popular tourist destination for avid sportsmen, with many seasonal private residences maintained by out-of-town residents, as well as a wide variety of campgrounds ranging from rustic accommodations to modern-day amenities. The Farmers Inn is a restaurant specializing in American cuisine and also maintains a petting zoo, three mini golf ranges, a candy shop and ice cream parlor, bakery, furniture and gift shops.

The municipality is the home of Clear Creek State Park, which is operated and maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

From 1912 to 2017, it was also the home of Heath Pump Station, a compressed natural gas producer owned by New York-based National Fuel Gas. The pump station also shared property with a dam that allowed Callen Run to flow into the Clarion River. The dam provided water to the engines running the station as well as a trout fishing hatchery built in 1955 and operated and maintained by the Heath Township Sportsmen's Association. Despite a persistent natural gas odor and pump noise, anglers were undeterred from fishing that portion of Callen Run.

Heath Pump Station stopped compressing gas in 2007, with its building being torn down a decade later. Of historical note, the pump station supplied much of northcentral Pennsylvania and western New York with natural gas using a compressor pump manufactured by Snow Steam Pump Works in Buffalo, New York. The pump weighed 98 tons and had a length of 50 feet, with its 13-foot flywheel alone weighing 11 tons. Though state of the art for its time, its use was supplanted by more modern technology capable of producing more gas more efficiently, and a smaller plant was constructed in the vicinity to replace the Heath Station. That plant is known as the Eldred Compressor Station. Relics from the Heath Station were later donated to the Jefferson County Historical Society and one of the Snow engines was donated to the Western New York Gas & Steam Engine Association.

The fish hatchery remains, and the sportsmen's association keeps a supply of approved food to allow young children visiting the hatchery an opportunity to feed the fish. The dam is slated to be eventually removed from the property to allow native trout to swim from the Clarion River back up to Callen Run in warmer weather.

Geography

Heath Township is in northern Jefferson County, bordered to the north by Elk County. The Clarion River, a west-flowing tributary of the Allegheny River, forms the northern border of the township and the county line. The township includes the unincorporated community of Dutch Hill.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 29.2 square miles (75.7 km2), of which 28.8 square miles (74.7 km2) are land and 0.35 square miles (0.9 km2), or 1.25%, are water. [4]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1850 203
1860 2145.4%
1870 24715.4%
1880 207−16.2%
1890 23614.0%
1900 32537.7%
1910 3250.0%
1920 219−32.6%
1930 181−17.4%
1940 20312.2%
1950 123−39.4%
1960 94−23.6%
1970 69−26.6%
1980 138100.0%
1990 109−21.0%
2000 16046.8%
2010 124−22.5%
2020 117−5.6%
2022 (est.)115 [2] −1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [5]

As of the census [6] of 2000, there were 160 people, 77 households, and 49 families residing in the township. The population density was 5.6 people per square mile (2.2/km2). There were 707 housing units at an average density of 24.7/sq mi (9.5/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 98.12% White, 0.62% Asian, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.62% of the population.

There were 77 households, out of which 15.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.60.

In the township the population was spread out, with 14.4% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 34.4% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53 years. For every 100 females there were 125.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 128.3 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $42,500, and the median income for a family was $48,750. Males had a median income of $41,250 versus $32,250 for females. The per capita income for the township was $37,309. About 14.0% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.5% of those under the age of 18 and none of those 65 or over.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Elizabeth is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, on the east bank of the Monongahela River, where Pennsylvania Route 51 crosses, 15 miles (24 km) upstream (south) of Pittsburgh and close to the county line. The population was 1,398 at the 2020 census. The borough of Elizabeth is entirely contained within the 15037 USPS ZIP code. The local school district is the Elizabeth Forward School District. The borough is home to neighborhoods Walker Heights and Town Hill. Elizabeth Borough is the birthplace of Town Hill Hockey established in 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croyle Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Croyle Township is a township in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,339 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Callensburg, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Callensburg is a borough in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 207 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clarion Township, Clarion County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Clarion Township is a township in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,649 at the 2020 census, a decrease from the figure of 4,116 tabulated in 2010, which was, in turn, an increase over the total of 3,273 at the 2000 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Farmington Township, Clarion County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Farmington Township is a township in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,778 at the 2020 census, a decrease from 1,934 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Limestone Township, Clarion County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Limestone Township is a township that is located in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,870 at the time of the 2020 census, an increase from the figure of 1,858 tabulated in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Millcreek Township, Clarion County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Millcreek Township is a township in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 361 at the 2020 census, a decrease from the figure of 396 tabulated in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redbank Township, Clarion County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Redbank Township is a township in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,334 at the 2020 census, a decrease from the figure of 1,370 tabulated in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wayne Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Wayne Township is a township in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,408 at the 2020 census, down from 1,539 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Millstone Township, Elk County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Millstone Township is a township in Elk County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 95 at the 2020 census, up from 82 in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spring Creek Township, Elk County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Spring Creek Township is a township in Elk County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 198 at the 2020 census, down from 233 in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Union Township, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Union Township is a township in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 957 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conemaugh Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Conemaugh Township is a township in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,080 at the 2020 census. The township includes the communities of Clarksburg, Foster, Lewisville, McKeeverville, Nowrytown, Tunnelton, and White.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barnett Township, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Barnett Township is a township in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 231 at the 2020 census down from 254 at the 2010 census. It was named for Jefferson County pioneer Joseph Barnett.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clover Township, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Clover Township is a township in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 430 at the 2020 census, down from 448 at the 2010 census. It was named for Levi G. Clover, Jefferson County prothonotary, in 1841.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eldred Township, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Eldred Township is a township in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,273 at the 2020 census. It was named for Nathaniel B. Eldred, President Judge of the judicial district of which Jefferson County was a part.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McCalmont Township, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

McCalmont Township is a township in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,136 at the 2020 census. It was named for John Swayze McCalmont, president judge of the county at the time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snyder Township, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Snyder Township is a township in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,366 at the 2020 census. It was named for Governor of Pennsylvania Simon Snyder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Union Township, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Union Township is a township in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 845 at the 2020 census. The name was derived from the term applied to the country of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rye Township, Perry County, Pennsylvania</span> Township in Pennsylvania, United States

Rye Township is a township in Perry County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,259 at the 2020 census.

References

  1. "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Aug 14, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Bureau, US Census. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  3. McKnight, William James (1917). Historical. J.H. Beers. p. 484.
  4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Heath township, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  5. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  6. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2008-01-31.

[Concerned Groups Hope Trout Nursery Doesn't Go Way of Heath Pump Station https://www.explorejeffersonpa.com/concerned-groups-hope-trout-nursery-doesnt-go-way-of-heath-pump-station/]

41°20′00″N78°57′59″W / 41.33333°N 78.96639°W / 41.33333; -78.96639