Ellendale Forge, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Ellendale Forge is a small community located in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. It's known as an "unincorporated community," which means it's a group of homes and businesses that doesn't have its own official local government, like a city or town would. Instead, it's managed by the larger county government.
This community is part of the Harrisburg-Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a way to describe a larger region that includes a big city and its surrounding areas. Ellendale Forge is situated at a latitude of 40.400 degrees North and a longitude of 76.852 degrees West. Its elevation is about 577 feet (or 176 meters) above sea level.
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Understanding Unincorporated Communities
What Does "Unincorporated" Mean?
When a place is called an "unincorporated community," it means the people living there don't have their own separate local government. They don't elect a mayor or a town council just for their community. Instead, the county government takes care of services like roads, police, and schools for them.
How Are They Different from Cities?
Cities and towns are "incorporated," meaning they have officially formed their own governments. They can make their own local laws, collect their own taxes, and provide specific services to their residents. Unincorporated communities rely on the county for these things.
Location and Geography
Where is Ellendale Forge Located?
Ellendale Forge is found in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is a state in the northeastern part of the United States. Dauphin County is known for its capital city, Harrisburg.
What is a Metropolitan Area?
Ellendale Forge is part of the Harrisburg-Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. A metropolitan area is a region that includes a large city and all the smaller towns and communities around it that are closely connected. People often live in the smaller communities and travel to the main city for work, shopping, or other activities.
Understanding Coordinates and Elevation
What are Latitude and Longitude?
Latitude and longitude are like invisible lines on a map that help us find exact locations on Earth. Latitude lines run east to west, measuring how far north or south a place is from the Equator. Longitude lines run north to south, measuring how far east or west a place is from the Prime Meridian. Ellendale Forge's coordinates (40.400 N, 76.852 W) pinpoint its precise spot on the globe.
What is Elevation?
Elevation tells us how high a place is above sea level. Sea level is the average height of the ocean's surface. Ellendale Forge's elevation of 577 feet (176 meters) means it's quite a bit higher than the ocean.
