Highspire, Pennsylvania

Highspire is a borough in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,741 at the 2020 census, an increase over the figure of 2,399 tabulated in 2010.[3] It is part of the HarrisburgCarlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Highspire, Pennsylvania
Aerial view of Highspire
Aerial view of Highspire
Location in Dauphin County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
Location in Dauphin County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
Highspire is located in Pennsylvania
Highspire
Highspire
Location in Pennsylvania
Highspire is located in the United States
Highspire
Highspire
Location in United States
Coordinates: 40°12′27″N 76°47′05″W / 40.20750°N 76.78472°W / 40.20750; -76.78472
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountyDauphin
Settled1814
Incorporated1867
Government
 • TypeBorough Council
Area
 • Total0.74 sq mi (1.92 km2)
 • Land0.72 sq mi (1.86 km2)
 • Water0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2)
Elevation
312 ft (95 m)
Population
 • Total2,741
 • Density3,812.24/sq mi (1,472.27/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
17034
Area code717
FIPS code42-34664
Websitewww.highspire.org

History

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In 1814, the town was laid out by two Germans named Barnes and Doughterman who emigrated from a small village named Spire in Bavaria. It is debated as to whether the town was named for the high spire of the church that could be seen from the Susquehanna River, or for the village of Spire. The town's location along the Pennsylvania Canal system and Susquehanna River made it a prime location for a variety of industries including logging, candy and potato chip factories, whiskey distilling, boat building, knitting and milling.[4][5]

The Highspire High School was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.[6]

Geography

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Highspire is located in southern Dauphin County at 40°12′27″N 76°47′5″W / 40.20750°N 76.78472°W / 40.20750; -76.78472 (40.207622, -76.784698),[7] on the northeast bank of the Susquehanna River between the towns of Steelton and Middletown. Interstate 76, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, curves around the west and north sides of the borough, with indirect access from Exit 247 (Interstate 283). Pennsylvania Route 230 (Second Street) is the main road through the borough, leading northwest 7 miles (11 km) through Steelton to Harrisburg and southeast 3 miles (5 km) to Middletown and 11 miles (18 km) to Elizabethtown.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.74 square miles (1.92 km2), of which 0.72 square miles (1.86 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.06 km2), or 2.96%, is water.[3]

Notable person

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The American actor Don Keefer (1916–2014) was born in Highspire.

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1830172
1850291
1870612
188075222.9%
19101,669
19202,03121.7%
19302,32714.6%
19402,3711.9%
19502,79918.1%
19602,9997.1%
19702,947−1.7%
19802,9590.4%
19902,668−9.8%
20002,7201.9%
20102,399−11.8%
20202,74114.3%
Sources:[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][2]

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 2,720 people, 1,279 households, and 689 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,762.6 inhabitants per square mile (1,452.7/km2). There were 1,373 housing units at an average density of 1,899.3/sq mi (733.3/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 86.62% White, 8.20% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 2.17% from other races, and 2.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.11% of the population.

There were 1,279 households, out of which 22.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.3% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.1% were non-families. 38.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 19.8% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $32,083, and the median income for a family was $40,398. Males had a median income of $31,269 versus $24,188 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $18,781. About 5.1% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.

References

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  1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Oct 12, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Highspire borough, Pennsylvania". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  4. ^ Morgan, George H. (1877). Centennial: the settlement, formation and progress of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, from 1785 to 1876. Harrisburg, PA: Telegraph Steam Book and Job Printing House. p. 240.
  5. ^ Notes and Queries, Historical, Biographical and Genealogical, Relating Chiefly to Interior Pennsylvania. Harrisburg Publishing Company. 1895. p. 15.
  6. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  8. ^ "1830 U.S. Census". www.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  9. ^ "1850 United States Census, Statistics of Pennsylvania, Table II Population by Subdivisions of Counties, Dauphin County, p.167" (PDF).
  10. ^ "1870 United States Census, Population of Civil Divisions Less Than Counties, Table III State of Pennsylvania, p.248, subdivision of Lower Swatara Township" (PDF). 1870 Census Vol. 1. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  11. ^ "1880 United States Census, Population of Civil Divisions Less Than Counties, Table III-Pennsylvania, p. 321" (PDF). Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  12. ^ Bureau, US Census. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved 13 July 2022. {{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  13. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  14. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  15. ^ "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.
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