Editing Dover, Pennsylvania

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Dover, Pennsylvania
| other_name         = 
| native_name        = 
| nickname           = 
| settlement_type    = Borough
| motto              = <!-- images and maps ----------->
| image_skyline      = Englehart Melchinger House from SE (rear) Dover PA.JPG
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Englehart Melchinger House
| image_flag         = 
| flag_size          = 
| image_seal         = 
| seal_size          = 
| image_shield       = 
| shield_size        = 
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_size  = 
| image_map          = York County Pennsylvania incorporated and unincorporated areas Dover highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 260px
| map_caption        = Location in [[York County, Pennsylvania|York County]] and the U.S. state of [[Pennsylvania]].
| pushpin_map        = Pennsylvania#USA
| pushpin_label      = Dover
| pushpin_map_alt    = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Dover in Pennsylvania
<!-- 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  = [[York County, Pennsylvania|York]]
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = Borough Council
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Dennis Hernley{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}
| leader_title1      = President
| leader_name1       = Andrew Kroft
| leader_title2      = 
| leader_name2       = 
| leader_title3      = 
| leader_name3       = 
| leader_title4      = 
| leader_name4       = 
| established_title  = Settled
| established_date   = {{start date and age|1764}}
| established_title1 = Incorporated
| established_date1  = {{start date and age|1864}}
| area_magnitude     = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='42'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 12, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 1.41
| area_land_km2      = 1.41
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi   = 0.54
| area_land_sq_mi    = 0.54
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00
| area_water_percent = 
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2023">{{cite web |author=US Census Bureau |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2023 |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=March 20, 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 1954
| population_density_km2 = 1390.20
| population_density_sq_mi = 3598.53
| timezone           = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| coordinates        = {{coord|40|00|14|N|76|50|58|W|type:landmark_region:US|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 
| elevation_ft       = 443
| postal_code_type   = [[Zip code]]
| postal_code        = 17315
| area_code          = [[Area code 717|717]]; prefixes 292, 308<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.whitepages.com/phone/1-717 |title=Area Code 717 phone numbers |website=Whitepages |access-date=June 1, 2020 }}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|https://www.doverboroughpa.com/}}
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 42-19696
}}
'''Dover''' is a [[Borough (Pennsylvania)|borough]] in [[York County, Pennsylvania]], United States. The population was 1,954 at the 2020 census.<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2023"/> The borough is located about eight miles from downtown [[York, Pennsylvania|York]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Matt's Auto Glass LLC to Dover |url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Matt%27s+Auto+Glass/Dover,+PA+17315/@39.9565421,-76.7948337,11.75z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x89c88ea5d79a8201:0x46803f17b846e46d!2m2!1d-76.7276589!2d39.9624752!1m5!1m1!1s0x89c8f31fd11a0361:0xe53cbe0aca6b1fad!2m2!1d-76.8502488!2d40.0017634!3e0?entry=ttu |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=Matt's Auto Glass LLC to Dover |language=en}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Dover PA Reformed Church PHS168.jpg|thumb|left|Dover United Church of Christ on a vintage postcard]]
James Joner purchased {{convert|203|acre|km2}} in 1764 and laid out the town of Dover. It was known generally as Joner's Town until 1815, when a Dover post office was established.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gdhspa.org/Dover/borough%20history.htm |title=The History of Dover Borough |publisher=The Greater Dover Historical Society |access-date=March 15, 2020 }}</ref>

During the 1863 [[Gettysburg Campaign]] of the [[American Civil War]], Dover was briefly occupied overnight, June 30&nbsp;– July 1, by [[Confederate States Army|Confederate]] [[cavalry]] under [[J.E.B. Stuart]].

Dover was incorporated in 1864, 100 years after its founding.

The [[Englehart Melchinger House]] was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1992.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

==Geography==
Dover is located in [[York County, Pennsylvania|York County]] at {{coord|40|0|14|N|76|50|58|W}} (40.003846, -76.849397),<ref name="GR1">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2011-04-23 |date=2011-02-12 |title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990 }}</ref> {{convert|5|mi|0}} northwest of the county seat of [[York, Pennsylvania|York]].  The borough is entirely surrounded by [[Dover Township, York County, Pennsylvania|Dover Township]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the borough has a total area of {{convert|0.5|sqmi|km2}}, all  land.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 246
|1860= 302
|1870= 418
|1880= 415
|1890= 465
|1900= 438
|1910= 576
|1920= 535
|1930= 676
|1940= 733
|1950= 809
|1960= 975
|1970= 1168
|1980= 1910
|1990= 1884
|2000= 1815
|2010= 2007
|2020= 1954
|estyear=2023
|estimate=1949
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2023"/>
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="USDecennialCensus">{{cite web|title=Census of Population and Housing|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=December 11, 2013}}</ref><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><ref name=CensusPopEst>{{cite web|title=Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|work=Population Estimates|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=December 11, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611010502/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|archive-date=June 11, 2013}}</ref><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:42&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=Oct 12, 2022}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 1,815 people, 770 households, and 489 families residing in the borough. The population density was {{convert|3,623.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 790 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,577.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the borough was 96.47% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.05% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.39% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.83% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.72% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.55% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.43% of the population.

There were 770 households, out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 23.7% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.9 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $41,250, and the median income for a family was $46,086. Males had a median income of $33,796 versus $22,826 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the borough was $19,108. About 4.3% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 10.5% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
[[File:Dover, PA Post Office.JPG|thumb|upright=1.3|Post office]]
Dover's public schools are operated by the [[Dover Area School District]].

==Intelligent design controversy==
Dover received national attention in 2004–05, after the [[Dover Area School District]] voted to include the following statement about [[intelligent design]] in the biology curriculum of its schools:
:The Pennsylvania Academic Standards require students to learn about [[Charles Darwin|Darwin's]] Theory of Evolution and eventually to take a standardized test of which [[evolution]] is a part.

:Because Darwin's theory is a [[Evolution as fact and theory|theory]], it continues to be tested as new [[evidence]] is discovered. The theory is not a fact. Gaps in the theory exist for which there is no evidence.

:A theory is defined as a well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations.

:Intelligent Design is an explanation of the [[origin of life]] that differs from Darwin's view. The reference book ''[[Of Pandas and People]]'' is available for students who might be interested in gaining an understanding of what Intelligent Design actually involves.

:With respect to any theory, students are encouraged to keep an open mind. The school leaves the discussion of the Origins of Life to individual students and their families. As a Standards-driven district, class instruction focuses upon preparing students to achieve proficiency on Standards-based assessments.<ref name=NYTsplits>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/16/us/an-alternative-to-evolution-splits-a-pennsylvania-town.html?pagewanted=3 |title=An Alternative to Evolution Splits a Pennsylvania Town |newspaper=[[NYTimes.com]] |access-date=January 13, 2008 |first=Neela |last=Banerjee |date=January 16, 2005 }}</ref>

:[[Wikisource:Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District#Introduction|Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District (page 1)]]

===Aftermath===
The controversial statement by the school board triggered the court case ''[[Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District]]'' in late 2005. The case was resolved on December 20, 2005, when Judge [[John E. Jones III]] ruled that the Dover Area School District cannot teach Intelligent Design in a science class room, due to its religious origins. The [[separation of church and state in the United States|separation of church and state]] principle, as derived from the [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution]], prohibits any government agency from endorsing religious points of view.<ref name=CNNrules>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/12/20/intelligent.design/index.html |title=Judge rules against 'intelligent design' in science class |publisher=[[CNN.com]] | access-date=January 13, 2008 }}</ref><ref name=BBCban>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4545822.stm |title='Intelligent design' teaching ban |publisher=[[BBC.co.uk]]| access-date=January 13, 2008 | date=December 20, 2005 }}</ref>

In an upset election on November 8, 2005, the eight [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] school board members who voted for the language were all defeated by the challengers from the Dover Cares slate—four Democrats and four Republicans, forced by election rules to run on the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] ticket—who opposed the teaching of intelligent design in a science class.<ref name=NYTelection>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/10/national/10dover.html |title=A Decisive Election in a Town Roiled Over Intelligent Design |newspaper=[[NYTimes.com]] |access-date=January 13, 2008 |first=Laurie |last=Goodstein |date=November 10, 2005 }}</ref>

Over the past few years Dover has incorporated a Comparative Religion course as an elective for students who want to learn more about all the religions of the world.

===Pat Robertson===
Two days after the upset, [[Pat Robertson]] commented on the election results on ''[[The 700 Club]]'':
:I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: If there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God. You just rejected Him from your city.<ref name=tribQuote>{{cite web| url=http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/story/5323848p-4823394c.html |title=Pat Robertson admonishes town that 'voted God out' |publisher=TheNewsTribune.com |access-date=January 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313182520/http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/story/5323848p-4823394c.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=March 13, 2007 }}</ref><ref name=foxQuote>{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/robertson-god-may-smite-down-town-that-voted-out-anti-evolution-school-board |title=Robertson: God May Smite Down Town That Voted Out Anti-Evolution School Board |publisher=[[FoxNews.com]] |access-date=January 13, 2008 |date=November 11, 2005 }}</ref>
He later revisited his previous warning:
:God is tolerant and loving, but we can't keep sticking our finger in His eye forever. If they have future problems in Dover, I recommend they call on Charles Darwin. Maybe he can help them.<ref name=tribQuote/><ref name=foxQuote/>

==Notable people==
*[[Bob Hall (Texas politician)|Bob Hall]], Republican member of the [[Texas State Senate]]; former resident of Dover
*[[Jeff Koons]], conceptual artist
*[[John Kuhn]], [[Fullback (American football)|fullback]] for the [[New Orleans Saints]]
*Christopher Thorn, member of [[Blind Melon]], born in Dover in 1968<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blindmelon.org/melon/christopherthorn.htm |title=Christopher Thorn |access-date=January 27, 2016 |publisher=[[Blind Melon]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328024718/http://www.blindmelon.org/melon/christopherthorn.htm |archive-date=March 28, 2013 }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.doverboroughpa.com/ Borough of Dover official website]
{{York County, Pennsylvania}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places established in 1764]]
[[Category:Boroughs in York County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:1864 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Pat Robertson]]