Wolf Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania

Wolf Township is a township in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,907 at the 2010 census.[3] It is part of the Williamsport Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Wolf Township,
Lycoming County,
Pennsylvania
Township
Field in Wolf Township
Map of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania highlighting Wolf Township
Map of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Coordinates: 41°15′2″N 76°43′4″W
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountyLycoming
Settled1777
Incorporated1824
Area
 • Total19.78 sq mi (51.22 km2)
 • Land19.63 sq mi (50.84 km2)
 • Water0.15 sq mi (0.38 km2)
Elevation558 ft (170 m)
Population
 • Total2,907
 • Estimate 
(2016)[4]
3,007
 • Density153.19/sq mi (59.15/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
FIPS code42-081-85984
GNIS feature ID1216777[2]
Websitewolftownship.org

History

Wolf Township was formed from part of Muncy Township by the Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace of Lycoming County in 1834. The township is named for George Wolf, governor of Pennsylvania from 1829 to 1835. The boroughs of Hughesville and Picture Rocks are on land that was taken from Wolf Township.[5]

Wolf Township has grown to a population of 2,907 residents as of the 2010 census, up from 734 residents at the census of 1890.[5]

Quarries

The geology of Wolf Township played a role in its history. Limestone was quarried west of Hughesville for use as lime, used in large quantities as building and engineering materials (including limestone products, concrete and mortar) and as chemical feedstocks, among other uses. Wolf Township was also the home to several Pennsylvania bluestone quarries. Pennsylvania bluestone has many uses, from cut dimensional stone used in patios, walkways and stair treads to architectural stone used in buildings. It is also used for wallstone, decorative boulders, natural steps and other landscape features.[5]

Early settlers and industry

David Aspen was the first white settler to live within the borders of what is now Wolf Township. He was scalped during the Revolutionary War, when his and other settlements throughout the Susquehanna valley were attacked by Loyalists and Native Americans allied with the British. After the Wyoming Valley battle and massacre in the summer of 1778 (near what is now Wilkes-Barre) and smaller local attacks, the "Big Runaway" occurred throughout the West Branch Susquehanna Valley. Settlers fled feared and actual attacks by the British and their allies. Homes and fields were abandoned, with livestock driven along and a few possessions floated on rafts on the river east to Muncy, then further south to Sunbury. The abandoned property was burnt by the attackers. Some settlers soon returned, only to flee again in the summer of 1779 in the "Little Runaway". Sullivan's Expedition helped stabilize the area and encouraged resettlement, which continued after the war.[6] Abraham Webster was another of the early settlers to be attacked, only he survived and returned to Wolf Township twelve years after the Big Runaway. His entire family had been killed, but he returned with a new wife and re-established his home.[5]

The earliest industrial venture in Wolf Township was a gristmill constructed in 1816. A wool carding mill was built in 1842. There were also several sawmills in the township that were part of the lumber industry that covered much of Pennsylvania during the late 1800s.[5]

Geography
Field in Wolf Township
Field in Wolf Township

Wolf Township is in southeastern Lycoming County and is bordered by Plunketts Creek Township to the north, Shrewsbury Township to the northeast, the borough of Picture Rocks and Penn Township to the east, Moreland Township to the southeast, Muncy Creek Township to the southwest, Muncy Township to the west, and Mill Creek Township to the northwest. Wolf Township surrounds the borough of Hughesville.[7] Wolf Township is 15 miles (24 km) east of Williamsport, the Lycoming county seat, and 84 miles (135 km) north of Harrisburg, the state capital. It is 50 miles (80 km) west of Wilkes-Barre.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 19.8 square miles (51.2 km2), of which 19.6 square miles (50.8 km2) are land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km2), or 0.75%, are water.[1] Muncy Creek, a tributary of the West Branch Susquehanna River, flows through the township from northeast to southwest.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
20102,907—
2016 (est.)3,007[4]3.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 2,707 people, 1,050 households, and 787 families residing in the township. The population density was 138.3 people per square mile (53.4/km2). There were 1,102 housing units at an average density of 56.3/sq mi (21.7/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 99.19% White, 0.22% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.15% Asian, and 0.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.15% of the population.

There were 1,050 households, out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.1% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the township the population was spread out, with 25.3% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $39,167, and the median income for a family was $45,859. Males had a median income of $31,284 versus $22,852 for females. The per capita income for the township was $18,571. About 5.8% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.

References
  1. "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Aug 14, 2017.
  2. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. "Total Population: 2010 Census DEC Summary File 1 (P1), Wolf township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  4. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  5. Meginness, John Franklin (1892). "Shrewsbury, Wolf, and Penn". History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania: including its aboriginal history; the colonial and revolutionary periods; early settlement and subsequent growth; organization and civil administration; the legal and medical professions; internal improvement; past and present history of Williamsport; manufacturing and lumber interests; religious, educational, and social development; geology and agriculture; military record; sketches of boroughs, townships, and villages; portraits and biographies of pioneers and representative citizens, etc. etc (1st ed.). Chicago: Brown, Runk & Co. ISBN 0-7884-0428-8. Retrieved 2007-02-20. (Note: ISBN refers to Heritage Books July 1996 reprint. URL is to a scan of the 1892 version with some OCR typos).
  6. A Picture of Lycoming County (PDF). The Lycoming County Unit of the Pennsylvania Writers Project of the Work Projects Administration (First ed.). The Commissioners of Lycoming County Pennsylvania. 1939. Retrieved 2006-07-23.CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. "2007 General Highway Map Lycoming County Pennsylvania" (PDF) (Map). 1:65,000. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division. Retrieved 2009-12-26.
  8. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
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