Hazle Township, Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|
 Dreck Creek Reservoir in Hazle Township | |
 Location of Hazle Township inLuzerne County, Pennsylvania | |
 Location of Luzerne County inPennsylvania | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Luzerne |
| Incorporated | 1839 |
| Area | |
• Total | 45.34 sq mi (117.42 km2) |
| • Land | 45.07 sq mi (116.73 km2) |
| • Water | 0.27 sq mi (0.69 km2) |
| Population | |
• Total | 10,150 |
• Estimate (2021)[2] | 10,170 |
| • Density | 211.2/sq mi (81.53/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code | 570 |
| FIPS code | 42-079-33376 |
| Website | www |
Hazle Township is atownship inLuzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 10,150 at the time of the 2020 census.[2] The township surrounds the city ofHazleton and the borough ofWest Hazleton.
Delaware andSeneca tribes traveled through what is now southern Luzerne County to trade with otherNative American settlements inNew York and theChesapeake Bay area. The most common route for the Native Americans was known as "Warriors Path", which was also used by white settlers in the 18th century. Broad Street (PA 93) is roughly the location of the trail.[3]
Moravianmissionaries were among the firstEuropeans to travel to the region; they wanted to convert Native Americans toChristianity. The Hazleton area was then a shallow valley with an abundance ofhazel trees. It is speculated that the Native Americans were the first to refer to the area as "Hazle Swamp."
At the beginning of the 19th century,Native Americans abandoned their territory in theeast while European settlers continued to move into the region.
In 1804, a private company widened "Warriors Path", which was renamed the Berwick Turnpike. As a result,logging became the major industry in the area. Logging remained the largest industry in southern Luzerne County until the 1830s, whenanthracite coal was discovered under the land that had been cleared. In 1836, the firstmines and settlements were established in present-day Hazle Township.[4]
Hazle Township was formed from a section ofSugarloaf Township in 1839; in 1856, a portion ofButler Township was added to Hazle Township.[5] By the mid-19th century, the territory had changed dramatically from its early days. The expanding coal industry led to more extensive roads, railroads, and housing settlements.Immigrants, mostly from Europe, came to Greater Hazleton by the thousands to work in the dangerous mines. For the next century, large amounts of coal from Hazle Township were shipped by train to the lucrativePhiladelphia market.
On September 10, 1897, about 300 to 400 unarmed strikers, nearly all ofSlovaks andGermans, marched to a coal mine owned byCalvin Pardee (in the town ofLattimer in Hazle Township) to support a newly formed UMW union. The demonstrators were confronted by law enforcement officials several times on the road; they were ordered to disperse, but kept marching.
The deputies had spent most of the morning joking about how many miners they would kill.[6] While on a streetcar headed for Lattimer (with the sheriff and his comrades), one deputy was overheard saying "I bet I drop six of them when I get over there."
When the demonstrators reached Lattimer at 3:45 pm, they were met again by the sheriff and 150 armed deputies. Sources differ on the number of deputies present. One source claims only 86 deputies confronted the marchers. Sheriff Martin ordered the marchers to disperse, and then attempted to grab an American flag out of the hands of the lead marcher. A scuffle ensued, and the police opened fire on the unarmed crowd. Nineteen miners died, and anywhere from 17 to 49 others wounded. All had been shot in the back, and several had multiple gunshot wounds which indicated that they had been targeted by the deputies.[7][8][9]
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The population of Hazle Township peaked at nearly 15,000 residents in the early 20th century. By the 1940s, the population began to dwindle; this was the result of the declining coal industry. Many mines closed in the 1940s and 1950s. Many residents were forced to seek jobs elsewhere.
Although the region was in the midst of an economic recession, local leaders were determined to turn the economy around. CAN-DO (Community Area New Development Organization) was formally organized in 1956 by founder Dr. Edgar L. Dessen. It was founded to bring new industry into the area. Their first priority was to raise money—through their "Dime a Week" campaign—in which area residents were encouraged to put a dime on their sidewalk each week to be collected by CAN-DO.
The company raised over $250,000 and was able to purchase over 500 acres (2.0 km2) of land, which was converted into anindustrial park. CAN-DO was responsible for establishing the Valmont, Humboldt, and McAdoo industrial parks. CAN-DO also founded a white-collar business park in the late 1990s; it was named the CAN-DO Corporate Center, located in nearby Drums. Today, retail development and housing construction are on the rise in Hazle Township.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 45.3 square miles (117.4 km2), of which 45.1 square miles (116.7 km2) is land and 0.27 square miles (0.7 km2), or 0.59%, is water. It is drained by theSusquehanna River and theLehigh River. Hazle Township is located in the southern portion of Luzerne County; it surrounds most ofHazleton andWest Hazleton. Its numbered routes includeI-81,PA 93,PA 309,PA 424,PA 924, andPA 940.Hazleton Regional Airport is situated in the northern half of the township. Most of the community is made up of homes and businesses. Mountains, forests, creeks, lakes, andstrip mines are also scattered throughout the township. Its villages include Beaver Brook,Drifton,Ebervale, Green Ridge,Harleigh, Harwood, Hollywood, Humboldt,Japan, Jeanesville,Lattimer,Milnesville, Oakdale,Pardeesville, and Stockton.
The township has a warm-summerhumid continental climate (Dfb) and thehardiness zone is 6a. Average monthly temperatures in Humboldt range from 23.7 °F in January to 70.2 °F in July, while in Oakdale they range from 23.8 °F in January to 69.5 °F in July.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 9,000 | — | |
| 2010 | 9,549 | 6.1% | |
| 2020 | 10,150 | 6.3% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 10,170 | [2] | 0.2% |
| [10] | |||
As of thecensus[11] of 2000, there were 9,000 people, 3,775 households, and 2,536 families residing in the township. The population density was 200.3 inhabitants per square mile (77.3/km2). There were 4,002 housing units at an average density of 89.1 per square mile (34.4/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 98.67%White, 0.17%African American, 0.06%Native American, 0.31%Asian, 0.42% fromother races, and 0.38% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.02% of the population.
There were 3,775 households, out of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% weremarried couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the township the population is fairly spread out, with 19.4% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 23.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $34,352, and the median income for a family was $44,028. Males had a median income of $32,993 versus $22,926 for females. Theper capita income for the township was $18,139. About 9.3% of families and 11.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.
Hazle Township is governed by three supervisors; each one is electedat-large.[12]
Hazle Township is part ofHazleton Area School District. The school district encompasses approximately 250 square miles (650 km2). According to 2000 federal census data, it served a resident population of 70,042. By 2010, the district's population increased to 72,862 people.[13] The school district's administrative headquarters is located in Hazle Township. The following schools are located in or near Hazle Township:[14]
40°57′30″N75°54′59″W / 40.95833°N 75.91639°W /40.95833; -75.91639
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