Linglestown, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Linglestown, Pennsylvania
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The flagpole at Linglestown square
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Location in Dauphin County and state of Pennsylvania
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Dauphin |
| Township | Lower Paxton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.83 sq mi (9.91 km2) |
| • Land | 3.83 sq mi (9.91 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 540 ft (160 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,539 |
| • Density | 1,708.65/sq mi (659.77/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
17112
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| FIPS code | 42-43672 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1179431 |
Linglestown is a community in Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. It is called a census-designated place (CDP) because the U.S. Census Bureau defines it for gathering population data.
Thomas Lingle founded Linglestown in 1765. In 2020, about 6,539 people lived there. It is part of the larger Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan area.
Contents
History of Linglestown
In 1765, a man named Thomas Lingle bought a piece of land. He planned to build a community with 90 plots for new European settlers. He named his new settlement "The Town of St. Thomas" after a Christian apostle.
Lingle drew a detailed map of his village on a special document made of sheepskin. This old document still exists today. It shows the village's name, each plot, and all the street names.
How Linglestown Got Its Name
Thomas Lingle died in 1811 and was buried in a local church cemetery. Soon after, people in the area started calling his village "Lingle's town." This name eventually became "Linglestown," which is what we call it today.
Because it was located at a busy crossroads near a mountain, Linglestown quickly became an important center. It was a place for business, community events, religious activities, and schools. Many of these activities still happen there today.
The oldest church in the village is St. Thomas United Church of Christ. The Church of God denomination also started in Linglestown, building its first church and cemetery there.
Improving Linglestown Square
Since 1996, people in Linglestown have wanted to make the village square better. There is a flagpole in the middle of the road in the square. The first idea was to move the flagpole and add a traffic light. This idea was not approved after a lot of discussion.
A new plan, called the "Linglestown Plan," was suggested in 2000. In 2007, a changed version of this plan was approved. This new plan included adding roundabouts and other ways to slow down traffic. It also aimed to improve the community's look.
Construction for these improvements began in 2009. The goal was to help with traffic and make the area more appealing for businesses. Even though the construction was difficult for some local shops, the project finished its main phase in 2010. The new roads helped with traffic jams and made the area safer.
Geography of Linglestown
Linglestown is located in the northern part of Lower Paxton Township. It is next to the community of Paxtonia to the south. The border between them is Interstate 81. You can get to Linglestown from Exit 72 on Interstate 81.
The community covers about 9.9 square kilometers (3.8 square miles) of land. It has a few small streams and ponds.
The highest point in Linglestown is about 303 meters (995 feet) high. This spot is on the southern side of Blue Mountain. Pennsylvania Route 39 (Linglestown Road) goes through the village from east to west. This road leads east to Interstate 81 and west towards Harrisburg.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 6,539 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, Linglestown had 6,539 people living in 2,622 homes. About 20.8% of these homes had children under 18. Also, 19.7% of homes had people aged 65 or older. The average number of people in each home was 2.43.
Most people in Linglestown are White (77.1%). There are also African American (14.2%) and Asian (4.5%) residents. About 4.2% of people are from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people make up 2.6% of the population.
In 2010, there were 2,508 homes. About 32.6% of these homes had children under 18. Most homes (63.6%) were married couples living together.
The median age in Linglestown was 40 years old. This means half the people were younger than 40 and half were older. About 23.0% of the population was under 18.
The median income for a household in Linglestown was $77,699. This is the middle income for all homes. About 3.0% of the population lived below the poverty line. Many adults (64.1%) worked in the civilian labor force.
Schools in Linglestown
Linglestown has its own elementary and middle schools. They are part of the Central Dauphin School District.
Linglestown Elementary School
The mascot for Linglestown Elementary School is the Lion. Their school colors are navy blue and gold. The school building was first built in 1955. It had additions made to it in 1995.
Linglestown Middle School
Linglestown Middle School was built in 1973. It has about 792 students. The school's mascot is a Ram, and their colors are green and white.
Students at Linglestown Middle School can join many sports and activities. These include basketball, lacrosse, soccer, track and field, field hockey, and cheerleading. There are also groups like the Linglestown Middle School band and chorus. Other clubs include the History Classic Film Club and the Outdoor Sports Club.
Before about 2005, Linglestown Middle School was known as Linglestown Jr. High. At that time, their mascot was a Viking, and their school colors were black and gold.
School buses are provided by Durham School Services for students in the district.
Notable People
- Maynard Yingst: A famous sprint car racer and a crew chief for drag racing national championships.
Recreation and Parks
Linglestown offers great places for fun and activities, especially at Koons Park.
Koons Park: A Place for Fun
Koons Park is a very popular park, especially for kids in the summer. It's a large park, covering about 33 acres (13 hectares).
The park has many sports facilities:
- Three basketball courts
- Two volleyball courts
- Four tennis courts
- Three softball fields
- Three baseball diamonds
- One football field
Koons Park also has three pavilions, which are covered areas for gatherings. These pavilions have charcoal grills, seating for many people, electricity, and water fountains. They are also close to restrooms. The park has paved parking areas too.
There is a swimming pool at Koons Park, but you need a membership to use it.
July 4th Fireworks Display
Every summer, Koons Park hosts a fireworks display for the Fourth of July. The Linglestown Fire Company sponsors this event, and they have done so for over ten years. It usually happens on a weekend close to the holiday. More than 2,000 people come to the park to watch the fireworks.
Infrastructure
Emergency Services
The Linglestown Fire Company started in Linglestown, Pennsylvania, in 1934. This fire company helps protect the northern part of Lower Paxton Township. It has modern equipment and is run entirely by volunteers.
See also
In Spanish: Linglestown para niños
