Hanover Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|
 Huber Breaker in Ashley Borough, as viewed from a farm in Hanover Township | |
| Motto: "A progressive growing community" | |
 Map of Luzerne County highlighting Hanover Township | |
 Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Luzerne County | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Luzerne |
| Settled | 1772 |
| Incorporated | 1790 |
| Area | |
• Total | 19.22 sq mi (49.77 km2) |
| • Land | 18.86 sq mi (48.86 km2) |
| • Water | 0.35 sq mi (0.90 km2) |
| Population | |
• Total | 11,424 |
• Estimate (2021)[2] | 11,418 |
| • Density | 575.6/sq mi (222.25/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | 18634, mostly 18706 |
| Area codes | 570 & 272 |
| FIPS code | 42-079-32416 |
| Website | hanovertownship.org |
Hanover Township is atownship inLuzerne County,Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census,[2] the population was 11,424, making it the most populous township in the county.
Hanover Township was one of the original townships laid out by the Susquehanna Company ofConnecticut. CaptainLazarus Stewart and dozens of his followers moved fromLancaster County into theWyoming Valley in 1770; they fought for Connecticut in theYankee-Pennamite Wars. For their service to Connecticut, Captain Stewart and his followers were granted a tract of land which became Hanover Township. The community was named after Lazarus Stewart's hometown of Hanover inDauphin County, Pennsylvania. In the early 1770s, Captain Lazarus Stewart built the first house in theBreslau section of the township (betweenSolomon Creek and theSusquehanna River).[3]
Native Americanraids were very common in the Wyoming Valley in the 18th century. On July 3, 1778,Loyalist andIroquois forces routed thePatriot militia at theBattle of Wyoming in present-dayExeter. Over two dozen Hanover Township residents were killed in the fight.[3]
The original township occupied all the land fromWilkes-Barre toNewport Township, and all the land between theSusquehanna River and theLehigh River. In the 19th century, the original township downsized when sections of it broke away to form new municipalities, including townships, boroughs, and cities.
In the following decades,coal mining became the major industry in and around Hanover Township.Coal breakers were constructed throughout the region. One, in particular, was built in modern-dayAshley; it was known as theHuber Breaker.
Following the collapse of the mining industry inWyoming Valley, the breaker was demolished in 2014.Ashley Planes, a historic freightcable railroad in Hanover and Fairview Townships, was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 1980.[4]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 19.2 square miles (49.8 km2), of which 18.9 square miles (48.9 km2) is land and 0.35 square miles (0.9 km2), or 1.82%, is water. TheSusquehanna River drains the municipality and separates it fromLarksville Borough,Plymouth Borough, andPlymouth Township. The north side of the township — near the river — is mainly low-lying (500 to 650 ft or 150 to 200 m above sea level); most of the township's homes and businesses reside in the northern and central portions of the township. The southern portion of the municipality is mountainous, rising to 2,148 feet (655 m) at the summit ofHaystack Mountain on the southeast border. The township lies directly between the cities ofWilkes-Barre andNanticoke.
The main thoroughfares in Hanover Township are theSouth Cross Valley Expressway (PA 29), the four-lane Sans Souci Parkway (locally pronounced "San Suey"), and the two-lane South Main Street. The former connectsI-81 in the southeast withU.S. 11 inWest Nanticoke which connects Wilkes-Barre and Nanticoke.
I-81 andPA 309 provide access toHazleton,Wilkes-Barre Township, andScranton. In the northern portion of the community, the Carey Ave Bridge, also known as the 1st Battalion, 109th Field Artillery Pennsylvania Army National Guard Bridge. crosses theSusquehanna River, linking Hanover Township to Plymouth and Larksville.[5]
Hanover's 12 villages are Askam,Breslau, Buttonwood, Dundee, Hanover Green, Iona,Korn Krest, Lee Park, Lower Askam, Lyndwood, Newtown, and Preston. The township is part ofHanover Area School District, which is located in central Luzerne County.
Three boroughs,Ashley,Sugar Notch, andWarrior Run, are surrounded by Hanover Township.
The township has ahumid continental climate (Dfa/Dfb) and thehardiness zone is 6a except in Dundee, where it is 6b. Average monthly temperatures in Askam range from 26.3 °F in January to 71.8 °F in July.
Hanover Township is governed by a board of seven commissioners. The following is a list of current board members:[6]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 12,102 | — | |
| 1980 | 12,601 | 4.1% | |
| 1990 | 12,050 | −4.4% | |
| 2000 | 11,488 | −4.7% | |
| 2010 | 11,076 | −3.6% | |
| 2020 | 11,424 | 3.1% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 11,418 | [2] | −0.1% |
| [7] | |||
As of thecensus[8] of 2000, there were 11,488 people, 4,951 households, and 3,153 families residing in the township. The population density was 610.5 inhabitants per square mile (235.7/km2). There were 5,338 housing units at an average density of 283.7 per square mile (109.5/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 98.08%White, 0.96%African American, 0.02%Native American, 0.17%Asian, 0.12% fromother races, and 0.64% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.60% of the population.
There were 4,951 households, out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% weremarried couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29, and the average family size was 2.90.
In the township the population was spread out, with 22.0% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $30,043, and the median income for a family was $37,883. Males had a median income of $29,679, versus $21,691 for females. Theper capita income for the township was $16,181. About 12.2% of families and 15.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 23.0% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.
Hanover Township is served by theLuzerne County Transportation Authority. The bus routes include:
41°12′00″N75°52′28″W / 41.20000°N 75.87444°W /41.20000; -75.87444
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
