Littlestown, Pennsylvania

Littlestown, Pennsylvania
Borough
Pavillon in Crouse Park
Seal
Motto(s):  We're growing, one neighbor at a time
Location in Adams County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
Littlestown Location in Pennsylvania and the United States Show map of Pennsylvania Littlestown Littlestown (the United States) Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 39°44′37″N77°05′21″W / 39.74361°N 77.08917°W / 39.74361; -77.08917
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Adams
Settled	1765
Incorporated	1864
Government
• Type	Borough Council
• Mayor	James Eline, Sr.
Area [1]
• Total	1.50 sq mi (3.89 km2)
• Land	1.50 sq mi (3.89 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	627 ft (191 m)
Population  (2020) [2]
• Total	4,782
• Density	3,181.64/sq mi (1,228.55/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
Zip code	17340
Area codes	717 and 223
FIPS code	42-43944
Website	www.littlestownborough.org

Littlestown is a borough in Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,782 at the 2020 census.

Originally laid out by Peter Klein in 1760, the town was first named "Petersburg". German settlers in the area came to call the town "Kleine Stedtle". As confusion between the town and a neighboring town (also named "Petersburg", now York Springs ^[3] ) grew, the town officially changed its name to Littlestown (essentially a translation of "Kleine Stedtle" from German) in 1795. ^[4]

Geography

Littlestown is located at 39°44′37″N77°5′21″W / 39.74361°N 77.08917°W / 39.74361; -77.08917 (39.743749, -77.089240). ^[5] According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), all land. Littlestown is surrounded by three larger towns, Hanover and Gettysburg in Pennsylvania and Westminster, Maryland, all within 20 miles (32 km) driving distance.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	394		—
1860	702		78.2%
1870	847		20.7%
1880	913		7.8%
1890	991		8.5%
1900	1,118		12.8%
1910	1,347		20.5%
1920	1,552		15.2%
1930	2,001		28.9%
1940	2,463		23.1%
1950	2,635		7.0%
1960	2,756		4.6%
1970	3,026		9.8%
1980	2,870		−5.2%
1990	2,974		3.6%
2000	3,947		32.7%
2010	4,434		12.3%
2020	4,782		7.8%
Sources: [6] [7] [8] [2]

As of the census ^[7] of 2000, there were 3,947 people, 1,586 households, and 1,113 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,517.0 inhabitants per square mile (971.8/km²). There were 1,692 housing units at an average density of 1,079.0 per square mile (416.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.26% White, 0.56% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.51% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.27% of the population.

There were 1,586 households, out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% 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 2.95.

In the borough, the population was spread out, with 27.7% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males. The median income for a household in the borough was $36,678, and the median income for a family was $42,261. Males had a median income of $31,055 versus $23,658 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $17,310. About 6.9% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.

While the agricultural past of the town is still clear, it has begun to become a bedroom community for commuters working in Baltimore, Harrisburg and York.

Public schools

Main article: Littlestown Area School District

There are three branches of the school district:

• Alloway Creek Elementary (K–5th),
• Maple Avenue Middle School (grades 6 to 8),
• Littlestown High School (grades 9 to 12), home of the Thunderbolts.

Recreation and parks

The borough contains Littlestown Community Park, Crouse Park, and the Littlestown Community Pool. ^[9]

Littlestown History Plaza

Notable people

• George Peter Deisert, fraktur artist ^[10]
• Congressman Joseph A. Goulden ^[11]
• Congressman James McSherry
• Stage actress/writer/dancer Myrtle Louise Stonesifer- King
• Escaped slave James W. C. Pennington ^[12]

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
2. "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Oct 12, 2022.
3. "History of Littlestown, Pennsylvania". Littlestown.info. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
4. "Where Industry and Agriculture Meet". Littlestown History Page. Littlestown.net. November 25, 2005. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
6. "Census of Population and Housing". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
7. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2008-01-31.
8. "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 11 June 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
9. "Borough Staff". www.adamscounty.us. Retrieved 2019-01-26.
10. Gerard C. Wertkin (2 August 2004). Encyclopedia of American Folk Art. Routledge. ISBN   978-1-135-95614-1.
11. Pennsylvania Society of New York, Yearbook, 1916, page 58
12. David Trask. "Slave to Abolitionist: James W. C. Pennington". Littlestown History Page. Littlestown.net. Retrieved September 4, 2011.