Editing Dorrance Township, Pennsylvania

{{short description|Township in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Dorrance Township, Pennsylvania
|settlement_type = [[Township (Pennsylvania)|Township]]
|nickname = 
|motto = 
|image_skyline = Field in Dorrance Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.JPG
|imagesize = 
|image_caption = Field in Dorrance Township on Saint Marys Road
|image_flag = 
|image_seal = 
|image_map = Map of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Highlighting Dorrance Township.PNG
|mapsize = 250x200px
|map_caption = Map of Luzerne County highlighting Dorrance Township
|image_map1 = Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Luzerne County.svg
|mapsize1 = 250x200px
|map_caption1 = Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Luzerne County
<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Pennsylvania]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Pennsylvania|County]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Luzerne County, Pennsylvania|Luzerne]]
|government_footnotes = 
|government_type = 
|leader_title = 
|leader_name = 
|leader_title1 = 
|leader_name1 = 
|leader_title2 = 
|leader_name2 = 
|established_title = Settled
|established_date = 
|established_title1 = Incorporated
|established_date1 = 
|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2016">{{cite web|title=2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2016_Gazetteer/2016_gaz_place_42.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 14, 2017}}</ref>
|area_magnitude = 
|area_total_km2 = 63.11
|area_land_km2 = 62.67
|area_water_km2 = 0.43
|area_total_sq_mi = 24.37
|area_land_sq_mi = 24.20
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.17
|population_as_of = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021">{{cite web |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020—2021 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |website=Census.gov |publisher=US Census Bureau |access-date=August 3, 2022}}</ref>
|population_total = 2077 {{decrease}}
|population_density_km2 = 35.33
|population_density_sq_mi = 91.50
|timezone = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset = -5
|timezone_DST = EDT
|utc_offset_DST = -4
|postal_code_type = 
|postal_code = 
|area_code = 
|website = {{URL|dorrancetwp.com}}
|footnotes = 
|pop_est_as_of = 2021
|pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
|population_est = 2072
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 42-079-19616
}}

'''Dorrance Township''' is a [[Township (Pennsylvania)|township]] in [[Luzerne County, Pennsylvania|Luzerne County]], [[Pennsylvania]], United States. The population was 2,077 at the 2020 census.<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>

==History==
[[File:Oldmapofdorrancetwp.jpg|thumb|left|200px|An old map of Dorrance]]

===Founding===
It's believed that the township's first white settlers were hunters and fishermen. They were soon followed by [[lumberjacks]]. The community bears the name of Col. George Dorrance, who was killed in the [[Battle of Wyoming]] on July 3, 1778. Following the battle, settlers began to move into what is now Dorrance Township.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.pagenweb.org/~luzerne/patk/dorrance.htm|title=DORRANCE TOWNSHIP|website=www.pagenweb.org}}</ref>

The township was officially formed in 1840, when it broke away from [[Newport Township, Pennsylvania|Newport Township]]. By 1860, over five hundred people lived within the township. In 1865, the community had several sawmills, [[gristmills]], and at least one [[tavern]].<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n102 108]}}</ref>

Dorrance Village is the only hamlet in the township; it is located near the center of the community. It became a major intersection in the township. A schoolhouse, which also acted as a [[meeting house]], was constructed near the crossroads.<ref name="auto"/>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the township has a total area of {{convert|63.1|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|62.7|km2|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.4|km2|disp=flip}}, or 0.68%, is water. Dorrance Township is part of the [[Mountain Top, Pennsylvania|Mountain Top]] region of Luzerne County. The township, which consists mostly of farmland and forests, is located within a valley (between [[Penobscot Mountain]]—to the north—and [[Nescopeck Mountain]]—to the south). Several lakes and streams (e.g., [[Little Wapwallopen Creek]] and [[Big Wapwallopen Creek]]) are scattered throughout the township. Dorrance Village is the only hamlet in the township; it is centrally located. [[Interstate 81|I-81]] and [[Pennsylvania Route 309|PA 309]] run through the eastern section of Dorrance Township.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|2000= 2109
|2010= 2188
|2020= 2077
|estyear=2021
|estimate=2072
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 2,109 people, 775 households, and 626 families residing in the township.  The population density was {{convert|87.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 816 housing units at an average density of {{convert|33.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the township was 99.24% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.05% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.09% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], and 0.62% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.28% of the population.

There were 775 households, out of which 37.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.1% were non-families. 17.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the township the population was spread out, with 25.9% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.0 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $44,545, and the median income for a family was $49,583. Males had a median income of $34,194 versus $26,364 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the township was $19,519.  About 2.4% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Dorrance Township is part of [[Crestwood School District (Pennsylvania)|Crestwood School District]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|dorrancetwp.com}}

{{Luzerne County, Pennsylvania}}

{{coord|41|08|00|N|75|58|59|W|type:city_region:US-PA_source:GNIS-enwiki|display=title}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Townships in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Townships in Pennsylvania]]