Editing Leesport, Pennsylvania

{{short description|Borough in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Leesport, Pennsylvania
| official_name = 
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| settlement_type = [[List of towns and boroughs in Pennsylvania#Boroughs|Borough]]
| image_skyline = Main St, Leesport PA.JPG
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| image_caption = Main Street in Leesport
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| image_map = File:Leesport.png
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| map_caption = Location of Leesport in [[Berks County, Pennsylvania]]
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| pushpin_map            = Pennsylvania#USA
| pushpin_label          = Leesport
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| pushpin_map_caption    = Location in [[Pennsylvania]]##Location in the United States
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| subdivision_name2 = [[Berks County, Pennsylvania|Berks]]
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| established_title = Founded
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| leader_title = Mayor
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| unit_pref = Imperial
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| area_total_km2 = 1.95
| area_total_sq_mi = 0.75
| area_land_km2 = 1.88
| area_land_sq_mi = 0.72
| area_water_km2 = 0.07
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.03
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| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
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| population_total = 1954
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| population_density_sq_mi = 2695.17
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| postal_code = 19533
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| area_code = [[Area codes 610, 484, and 835|610]]
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| blank_info = 42-42352
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}}

'''Leesport''' is a [[Borough (Pennsylvania)|borough]] in [[Berks County, Pennsylvania]], United States. The population was 1,954 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].

The [[Schuylkill River]] passes through Leesport.

==History==
Leesport is named for Samuel Lee, who in 1840, laid out building lots.<ref>{{cite book | last = Wagner | first =  A. E. | title = The Story of Berks County (Pennsylvania) | publisher =  New York Public Library | year = 1913 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=FVQVAAAAYAAJ&q=%22Leesport%22%22Berks%20County%22 | pages = 226}}</ref>

A post office was established in 1851.<ref>{{cite book | last = Montgomery | first = Morton Luther | title = History of Berks County in Pennsylvania | publisher = Everts, Peck and Richards | year = 1886 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=VG29BvVp588C&pg=PP9 | pages = 472| volume = 1}}</ref> An anthracite furnace owned by the Leesport Iron Company was built in 1853.<ref>{{cite book | last = Lesley | first = J. P. | title = The Iron Manufacturer's Guide to the Furnaces, Forges and Rolling Mills of the United States, with Discussions of Iron as a Chemical Element, an American Ore, and a Manufactured Article, in Commerce and in History | publisher = John Wiley | year = 1866 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=HlHU4sYiRTMC&dq=Leesport&pg=PR11 | pages = 10}}</ref><ref name="DW">{{cite book | last = Egle | first = Wm. H. | title = An Illustrated History of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania | publisher = DeWitt C. Goodrich | year = 1876 | url = https://digital.library.pitt.edu/islandora/object/pitt%3A31735056287554/viewer#page/392/mode/2up | pages = 390}}</ref> Leesport was described in 1876 as "a flourishing village", with a station of the [[Philadelphia and Reading Railroad]].<ref name="DW"/>

In 1957, West Leesport, a borough located directly across the [[Schuylkill River]], was incorporated into Leesport.<ref>{{cite web | title = Welcome to Leesport, PA | publisher = Borough of Leesport, Pennsylvania | url = https://leesport.org/index.html | accessdate = January 28, 2024}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the borough has a total area of {{convert|0.8|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|0.7|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.04|sqmi|km2}} (4.00%) is water.

[[Bern Township, Pennsylvania|Bern Township]], [[Centre Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania|Centre Township]] and [[Ontelaunee Township, Pennsylvania|Ontelaunee Township]] all border Leesport.

==Demographics==
{{stack|{{US Census population
|1910= 436
|1920= 419
|1930= 464
|1940= 489
|1950= 535
|1960= 1138
|1970= 1158
|1980= 1258
|1990= 1270
|2000= 1805
|2010= 1918
|2020= 1954
|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=11 December 2013}}</ref><ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|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=11 December 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=11 June 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 2020 census, The racial makeup of the borough was 84.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.1% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.1% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], and 3.3% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] people of any race were 9.6% of the population.<ref>[https://www.censusdots.com/race/leesport-pa-demographics Leesport, PA Demographics]</ref>

As of the 2010 census,<ref name="GR2" /> there were 1,918 people, 747 households, and 523 families living in the borough. The population density was {{convert|2,740|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 790 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1128.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the borough was 94.8% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.5% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.4% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] people of any race were 4.2% of the population.

There were 747 households, out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30% were non-families. 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the borough, the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 28% from 45 to 64, and 11% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.7 years. Females made up 50.4% of the population and males made up 49.6%.

The median income for a household in the borough was $47,067, and the median income for a family was $51,761. Males had a median income of $36,453 versus $25,833 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the borough was $20,148. About 2.2% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.

When used as a mailing address, Leesport ([[ZIP Code]] 19533) also includes [[Ontelaunee Township, Pennsylvania|Ontelaunee Township]] and portions of [[Bern Township, Pennsylvania|Bern]] [[Township (Pennsylvania)|Township]]s.

==Arts and culture==
[[Leesport Lock House]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Berks County, Pennsylvania|National Register of Historic Places]].

==Education==
The area is served by the [[Schuylkill Valley School District]].

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
[[File:2022-08-22 11 41 13 View south along Pennsylvania State Route 61 (Centre Avenue) at Shackamaxon Street in Leesport, Berks County, Pennsylvania.jpg|thumb|PA 61 southbound in Leesport]]
[[File:Take a ride on the Reading.jpg|thumb|[[Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad]] heritage steam train in Leesport]]

As of 2010, there were {{convert|9.55|mi}} of public roads in Leesport, of which {{convert|2.33|mi}} were maintained by the [[Pennsylvania Department of Transportation]] (PennDOT) and {{convert|7.22|mi}} were maintained by the borough.<ref name=PennDOTmap>{{cite web|url=https://gis.penndot.gov/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/Type5/06426.pdf|title=Leesport Borough map|publisher=PennDOT|access-date=March 13, 2023}}</ref>

[[Pennsylvania Route 61]] runs northwest-southeast through Leesport on Centre Avenue, heading south to [[Reading, Pennsylvania|Reading]] and north to [[Hamburg, Pennsylvania|Hamburg]] and [[Pottsville, Pennsylvania|Pottsville]]. [[Pennsylvania Route 73]] begins at PA 61 south of Leesport and heads southeast to [[Blandon, Pennsylvania|Blandon]] and eventually [[Philadelphia]].

[[Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority]] (BARTA) provides bus service to Leesport along Route 20, which follows PA 61 on its route between Hamburg to the north and the [[BARTA Transportation Center]] in Reading to the south. There is a [[park and ride]] lot at the [[Redner's]] in Leesport that is served by BARTA.<ref>{{cite web|title=Route 20 schedule|publisher=BARTA|url=http://www.bartabus.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Route-20-all.pdf|access-date=February 21, 2017}}</ref>

[[SEPTA]]'s [[Pottsville Line]] once provided passenger rail service to Leesport, with service to Pottsville, Reading, and Philadelphia. The service ceased in 1981 after all diesel services were cancelled. Freight service in Leesport is provided by the [[Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad]], which operates a branch line between Hamburg and [[Temple, Pennsylvania|Temple]] through Leesport and its [[Reading Division]] mainline through West Leesport.<ref>{{cite map|title=Reading & Northern Railroad System Map|publisher=Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad|url=http://www.rbmnrr.com/system-maps/|access-date=July 16, 2017}}</ref>

===Emergency services===
Emergency services are provided by the Northern Berks Regional Police Department, Union Fire Company of Leesport, and Schuylkill Valley EMS all of which are dispatched by the Berks County Communications Center.

==Notable people==
*[[Sheila Butler]], visual artist<ref>{{Cite book|title=Herstory: Art by Women from The University of Winnipeg Collection|last=White|first=Laura|publisher=Leamarc|year=2013|isbn=978-0-9921187-0-9|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|pages=31}}</ref>
*[[Doug Clemens]], professional athlete

==References==
{{commons category}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Berks County, Pennsylvania}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:1842 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Boroughs in Berks County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1842]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Schuylkill River]]