Editing Upper Allen Township, Pennsylvania

{{short description|Township in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Upper Allen Township, Pennsylvania
| settlement_type    = [[Township (Pennsylvania)|Township]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = Messiahcollegebridge2.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = A [[covered bridge]] at [[Messiah University]] in Upper Allen Township
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = Map of Cumberland County Pennsylvania Highlighting Upper Allen Township.PNG
| mapsize            = 250x200px
| map_caption        = Map of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania highlighting Upper Allen Township
| image_map1         = Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Cumberland County.svg
| mapsize1           = 250x200px
| map_caption1       = Map of Cumberland County, 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  = [[Cumberland County, Pennsylvania|Cumberland]]
<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = Board of Commissioners
| leader_title       = President
| leader_name        = Kenneth Martin (R)
| leader_title1      = Vice President
| leader_name1       = Richard Castranio, Jr. (R)
| leader_title2      = Commissioner
| leader_name2       = James Cochran (R)
| established_title  = Settled
| established_date   = 
| established_title1 = Incorporated
| established_date1  = 1850
<!-- Area -->| 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 13, 2017}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 34.45
| area_land_km2      = 34.18
| area_water_km2     = 0.27
| area_total_sq_mi   = 13.30
| area_land_sq_mi    = 13.20
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.10
<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 23,183
| population_density_km2 = 579.79
| population_density_sq_mi = 1501.59
<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -->| postal_code_type   = 
| postal_code        = 
| area_code          = [[Area code 717|717]]
| website            = {{URL|http://www.uatwp.org/}}
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 2020 (est.)
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref name="USCensusEst2020"/>
| population_est     = 23197
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 42-041-78736
| leader_title3      = Commissioner
| leader_name3       = Eric Fairchild (D)
| leader_title4      = Commissioner
| leader_name4       = Phil Walsh (D)
}}

{{US Census population
|2010= 18059
|estyear=2021
|estimate=23197
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2020">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|access-date=August 11, 2022}}</ref>
|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=August 11, 2022}}</ref>
|2020=23183}}

'''Upper Allen Township''' is a [[township (Pennsylvania)|township]] in [[Cumberland County, Pennsylvania|Cumberland County]], [[Pennsylvania]], United States. The population was 23,183 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/0600000US4204178736| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Upper Allen township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=June 23, 2015| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213131504/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/0600000US4204178736| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref> up from 18,059 at the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]]. 

==Geography==
The township is in eastern Cumberland County, bordered by the borough of [[Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania|Mechanicsburg]] to the north and [[York County, Pennsylvania|York County]] to the south. [[Interstate 76 (east)|Interstate 76]], the [[Pennsylvania Turnpike]], crosses the northern part of the township from east to west, while the [[U.S. Route 15 in Pennsylvania|U.S. Route 15]] freeway crosses the township from northeast to southwest. Three highway interchanges provide access from US 15 to the township, while a fourth connects to Exit 236 on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. From the US 15/I-76 interchange it is {{convert|8|mi|0}} northeast to [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|Harrisburg]], the state capital, and {{convert|31|mi}} southwest to [[Gettysburg, Pennsylvania|Gettysburg]], both via US 15, while it is {{convert|111|mi}} east to [[Philadelphia]] and {{convert|196|mi}} west to [[Pittsburgh]] via the Turnpike.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the township has a total area of {{convert|34.4|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{Convert|34.2|sqkm|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.3|sqkm|order=flip|1}}, or 0.78%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010"/> [[Yellow Breeches Creek]] forms the southern border of the township, separating it from York County.

Several unincorporated communities are in the township, including [[Grantham, Pennsylvania|Grantham]], [[Bowmansdale, Pennsylvania|Bowmansdale]], [[Shepherdstown, Pennsylvania|Shepherdstown]], Nantilly, Stumpstown, Mt. Allen, Kollertown, Winding Heights, and Winding Hill (not to be confused with the Winding Hills development). The [[Messiah College, Pennsylvania|campus of Messiah University]] is defined as a [[census-designated place]] for population statistics.

==Demographics==
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 2020, there were 23,183 people and 7,893 households residing in the township.  The population density was {{convert|1,750.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the township was 86% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 6.3% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 4.0% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 2.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.9% of the population.

There were 7,893 households, out of which 19.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the township the population was spread out, with 19.8% under the age of 18, 19.2% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.7 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.4 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $86,817, and the median income for a family was $65,349. Males had a median income of $45,589 versus $30,103 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the township was $45,486.  About 2.9% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.

== Education ==
Upper Allen Township residents are served by the [[Mechanicsburg Area School District]]. Shepherdstown Elementary, Upper Allen Elementary, and Mechanicsburg Middle School are located within Upper Allen Township.<!--UNI 15030--><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st42_pa/schooldistrict_maps/c42041_cumberland/DC20SD_C42041.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Cumberland County, PA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-09-09}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st42_pa/schooldistrict_maps/c42041_cumberland/DC20SD_C42041_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> [[Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School]] is in Mechanicsburg borough.

Upper Allen Township was previously served by Upper Allen School District, which operated 12 one-room schoolhouses throughout its existence. In 1953, these schools were merged into a new, larger school known as Upper Allen Elementary (now known as Shepherdstown Elementary). In 1964, Upper Allen School District and Mechanicsburg School District combined to form Mechanicsburg Area School District.<ref>{{cite web |title=The One-Room Schoolhouses of the Mechanicsburg Area {{!}} Elizabeth V. and George F. Gardner Library |url=https://gardnerlibrary.org/journal/one-room-schoolhouses-mechanicsburg-area |website=gardnerlibrary.org |access-date=23 March 2025}}</ref>

Additionally, the township is home to [[Messiah University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st42_pa/place/p4248868_messiah_college/DC20BLK_P4248868.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Messiah College CDP, PA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-09-09}}</ref>
 
==Recreation==
The township has several parks, including Fisher Park, Winding Hill Park, Friendship Park, Simpson Park, McCormick Park, Generations Park, Grantham Park, Mt. Allen Park, Spring Run Acres Park, Trout Run Park (formerly Center Square Park), Miller's Crest, Country Estates Park, Rosegarden Park, and Aspen Park. Upper Allen has received various awards for recent park additions, including the Excellence in Recreation Award from the PA Recreation and Parks Society. The township is also accredited as a Certified Autism Center for inclusivity within its parks.<ref>{{cite web |title=Upper Allen Township Parks Department |url=https://uatwp.org/departments/parks |website=Upper Allen Township |access-date=23 March 2025}}</ref>

Upper Allen Township operates the Upper Allen Dog Park and helps maintain Koser Park within the Borough of Mechanicsburg. The township works with the Mechanicsburg Area Recreation Department to manage the Mechanicsburg Area Community Pool, which residents can purchase membership at a reduced price.

Upper Allen Township has been named a certified Bird Town by Bird Town Pennsylvania. The Appalachian Audubon Society maintains Trout Run Nature Preserve, a 21.4-acre spring-fed wetland within the township. The nearby Trout Run Park also includes a preserved wetland area with a nature trail. Grantham Pond within Grantham Park, fed by Trout Run, is a popular fishing spot.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trout Run |url=https://www.appalachianaudubon.org/trout-run |website=Appalachian Audubon Society |access-date=23 March 2025}}</ref>

Trails and Trees Environmental Center, operated by the Mechanicsburg Area School District, contains a large wooded area used for educational and recreational purposes. A mountain bike trail system was constructed there in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mechanicsburg Trails and Trees |url=https://sambabiker.com/mechanicsburg-environmental-center/ |website=SAMBA |access-date=23 March 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.uatwp.org/ Upper Allen Township official website]

{{Cumberland County, Pennsylvania}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|40|10|00|N|76|58|59|W|type:city_region:US-PA_source:GNIS-enwiki|display=title}}

[[Category:Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan statistical area]]
[[Category:Townships in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1850]]
[[Category:Townships in Pennsylvania]]