Lykens, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lykens, Pennsylvania
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Borough
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Location in Dauphin County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
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 Lykens, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Lykens, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Dauphin |
| Settled | 1848 |
| Incorporated | 1872 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Borough Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.22 sq mi (3.16 km2) |
| • Land | 1.22 sq mi (3.16 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 705 ft (215 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,873 |
| • Density | 1,535.25/sq mi (592.95/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
17048
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| Area code(s) | 717 |
| FIPS code | 42-45592 |
Lykens is a small town, called a borough, located in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. For many years, coal mining was a very important industry here. It helped the town grow, with a population of 2,762 people in 1900. By 2020, about 1,865 people lived in Lykens.
Lykens is part of a larger area known as the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. This means it's connected to the bigger cities of Harrisburg and Carlisle.
History of Lykens Borough
Lykens was first planned out in 1848. The borough got its name from Andrew Lycan, who was one of the first European settlers in the area. He arrived in 1731 from Berks, Pennsylvania. Andrew Lycan's grandfather was Peter Nilsson Lyckan, who was a Swedish immigrant.
A special building in Lykens, called the GAR Building, is a historic landmark. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. This means it's an important place that is protected for its history.
Geography and Location
Lykens is found in the northeastern part of Dauphin County. It sits in a valley, which is a low area between mountains. This valley is formed by the Wiconisco Creek. To the north of Lykens, you can see Short Mountain and Big Lick Mountain. To the south, there is Berry Mountain.
U.S. Route 209 is a main road that goes through the borough. If you travel northeast on this road, you will reach Pottsville in about 29 miles. If you go west, you will get to Millersburg on the Susquehanna River in about 14 miles.
The United States Census Bureau says that Lykens covers a total area of about 3.2 square kilometers (1.22 square miles). All of this area is land, with no large bodies of water.
Population Changes Over Time
The number of people living in Lykens has changed throughout its history. Here's a look at how the population has grown and shrunk over the years:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 2,154 | — | |
| 1890 | 2,450 | 13.7% | |
| 1900 | 2,762 | 12.7% | |
| 1910 | 2,943 | 6.6% | |
| 1920 | 2,880 | −2.1% | |
| 1930 | 3,033 | 5.3% | |
| 1940 | 3,048 | 0.5% | |
| 1950 | 2,735 | −10.3% | |
| 1960 | 2,527 | −7.6% | |
| 1970 | 2,506 | −0.8% | |
| 1980 | 2,181 | −13.0% | |
| 1990 | 1,986 | −8.9% | |
| 2000 | 1,937 | −2.5% | |
| 2010 | 1,779 | −8.2% | |
| 2020 | 1,865 | 4.8% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 1,860 | 4.6% | |
| Sources: | |||
In the year 2000, there were 1,937 people living in Lykens. These people lived in 810 households. About 27.8% of these households had children under 18 years old. Many households were made up of married couples living together.
The population was spread out in terms of age. About 23.3% of the people were under 18. About 21.1% of the people were 65 years old or older. The average age in Lykens was 40 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Lykens para niños
