Lebanon County, Pennsylvania

Lebanon County, Pennsylvania
Lebanon County (Pennsylvania Dutch: Lebanon Kaundi) is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 143,257. Its county seat is the city of Lebanon.
The county was formed from portions of Dauphin and Lancaster counties in 1813, with minor boundary revisions in 1814 and 1821. Lebanon County comprises the Lebanon, Pennsylvania, metropolitan statistical area, which is part of the Harrisburg–York–Lebanon combined statistical area.
Lebanon is 72 miles northwest of Philadelphia, which is the nearest major city.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.2%) is water. Most of it is drained by the Swatara Creek into the Susquehanna River while some eastern portions are drained by the Tulpehocken Creek (which originates in the county near Myerstown) eastward into the Schuylkill River. It consists in large part of a valley.
Climate
The county has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) and the hardiness zone is 6b except along the northern boundary with Dauphin where it is 6a. Average monthly temperatures in center-city Lebanon range from 29.4 °F in January to 74.3 °F in July.
Adjacent counties
Schuylkill County (northeast)
Berks County (east)
Lancaster County (south)
Dauphin County (west and northwest)
Major highways
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 120,327 people and 32,771 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 49,320 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 94.46% White, 1.29% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.89% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.26% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. 4.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 45.6% were of German, 11.8% American and 6.1% Irish ancestry. 92.5% spoke English, 4.2% Spanish and 1.1% Pennsylvania Dutch as their first language.
There were 46,551 households, out of which 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.40% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.70% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males.
2020 census
Metropolitan Statistical Area
The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has designated Lebanon County as the Lebanon, PA metropolitan statistical area (MSA). As of the 2010 U.S. census the metropolitan area ranked 16th most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the 296th most populous in the United States with a population of 133,568. Lebanon County is also a part of the larger Harrisburg–York–Lebanon combined statistical area (CSA), which combines the populations of Lebanon County as well as Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, and York Counties in Pennsylvania. The combined statistical ara ranked 5th largest in the state and 43rd largest in the U.S. with a population of 1,219,422.
Politics and government
|}
Voter registration
According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans comprise a majority of registered voters in Lebanon County.
United States House of Representatives
The county is located in the 9th congressional district, represented by Dan Meuser, Republican.
State senate
All of the county falls within the 48th Senatorial District. The seat is currently held by Lebanon business owner and Republican Chris Gebhard.
State House of Representatives
The county is divided into the 101st, 102nd and 104th Pennsylvania House Districts.
101st District
The 101st District, served by Republican Frank Ryan, includes:
102nd District
The 102nd District, served by Republican Russ Diamond, includes:
104th District
The 104th District, which includes North Annville Twp. and East Hanover Twp., is represented by Republican Sue Helm.
County government
The county is governed by three commissioners, who are elected every four years from a slate of four candidates (two Democrats and two Republicans). Other elected officials include County Controller, Sheriff, Coroner, Prothonotary and Clerk of Court, Recorder of Deeds, County Treasurer, and Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court.
Electoral history
For most of its history, Lebanon County has been one of the most Republican counties in Pennsylvania. The county is strongly Republican even by the standards of south-central Pennsylvania. It is very conservative for an urban county, having only supported a Democrat for president once since 1880. That came when Franklin D. Roosevelt won it in his 46-state landslide reelection; even then, FDR only carried it by 587 votes. The only other time since 1880 that the county has failed to support a Republican was in 1912, when the GOP was mortally divided and Theodore Roosevelt carried it on the Bull Moose ticket.
In 1964, Lebanon County was one of only four counties in the state to vote for Barry Goldwater, along with Snyder, Union, and Wayne counties.
In the 2006 election for U.S. Senate, the county cast 21,756 votes (55.1%) for Republican Rick Santorum and 17,737 (44.9%) for Democrat Bob Casey, Jr., who won the race. In that year's gubernatorial election, the county cast 22,775 votes (57.5%) for Republican Lynn Swann and 16,813 (42.5%) for Democrat Ed Rendell, who won the race.
In the 2004 presidential election, the county cast 37,089 votes (66.6%) for Republican George W. Bush and 18,109 (32.5%) for Democrat John Kerry. In that same year's election for U.S. Senate, the county cast 35,336 votes (66.8%) for Republican Arlen Specter, 13,182 for Democrat Joe Hoeffel, 3,320 (6.3%) for Constitution Party candidate Jim Clymer, and 1,083 (2.0%) for Libertarian Betsy Summers. In the 2008 presidential election the county cast 34,314 votes (58.59%) for Republican John McCain and 23,310 votes (39.8%) for Barack Obama. In the 2016 presidential election, the county cast 38,804 votes (65,9%) for Republican Donald Trump and 17,860 votes (30,3%) for Democrat Hillary Clinton.
In the 2002 gubernatorial election, the county cast 22,659 votes (62.7%) for Republican Mike Fisher and 12,712 (35.2%) for Democrat Ed Rendell, who won the race. In the 2002 race for the U.S. House of Representatives, Republican George Gekas received 21,733 votes (60.9%) from the county while Democrat Tim Holden received 13,945 (39.1%); Holden won.
Education
Colleges and universities
Harrisburg Area Community College (Lebanon Campus)
Lebanon Valley College
Evangelical Seminary
Public school districts
Annville-Cleona School District
Cornwall-Lebanon School District
Eastern Lebanon County School District
Lebanon School District
Northern Lebanon School District
Palmyra Area School District
Communities
Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships, and, in at most two cases, towns. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Lebanon County:
City
Lebanon (county seat)
Boroughs
Cleona
Cornwall
Jonestown
Mount Gretna
Myerstown
Palmyra
Richland
Townships
Annville
Bethel
Cold Spring
East Hanover
Heidelberg
Jackson
Millcreek
North Annville
North Cornwall
North Lebanon
North Londonderry
South Annville
South Lebanon
South Londonderry
Swatara
Union
West Cornwall
West Lebanon
Census-designated places
Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law.
Annville
Avon
Campbelltown
Fort Indiantown Gap
Fredericksburg
Hebron
Lebanon South
Mount Gretna Heights
Newmanstown
Pleasant Hill
Quentin
Sand Hill
Schaefferstown
Timber Hills
Other unincorporated communities
Anthracite
Bellegrove
Beverly Heights
Bordnersville
Buffalo Springs
Bunker Hill
Canaan Grove
Clear Spring
Coffeetown
Colebrook
Coheva
Dogtown
East Hanover
Ebenezer
Edisonville
Eustontown
Flintville
Fontana
Freeport Mills
Gold Mine
Gravel Hill
Greble
Green Point
Hamlin
Harper Tavern
Hauckville
Heilmandale
Indiantown
Inwood
Iona
Johnstown
Kleinfeltersville
Kutztown
Lawn
Lickdale
McGillstown
Midway
Millardsville
Millbach
Millbach Springs
Mount Ararat
Mount Pleasant
Mount Wilson
Mount Zion
Murray
Nacetown
Ono
Pansy Hill
Plainville
Prescott
Reinoeldville
Reistville
Rocherty
Rockwood
Sheridan
Shirksville
Springhaven
Stricklerstown
Syner
Union Water Works
Upper Lawn
Valley Glenn
Waldeck
Weavertown, Jackson Township
Weavertown, North Lebanon Township
West Jonestown
Westmont
Woodfort
Zinns Mill
Ghost towns
Cold Spring
Rausch Gap
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Lebanon County.
† county seat
Parks and recreational places
Memorial Lake State Park
Swatara State Park
Union Canal Tunnel Park
Lions Lake Park
Coleman's Memorial Park
Stoever's Dam Park
South Hill's Park
Mount Gretna Lake
Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area
Lebanon Valley Rails to Trails
Bordner Cabin
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania
References
External links
County of Lebanon (official website)
Lebanon County Pages
Lebanon County Historical Society
Lebanon County Tourism Promotion Agency
Lebanon Valley Exposition Center and Fairgrounds
1813 establishments in Pennsylvania
Populated places established in 1813