Lebanon County, Pennsylvania

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 362 sqmi, of which 362 sqmi is land and 0.7 sqmi (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 7a, except in higher areas north of the Interstate 78 and 81 corridor, where it is 6b. 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

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2019

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 143,257. The median age was 41.8 years. 22.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.2 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 82.7% White, 2.3% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 6.6% from some other race, and 6.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 14.2% of the population.

74.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 25.4% lived in rural areas.

There were 55,808 households in the county, of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.6% were married-couple households, 16.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 59,084 housing units, of which 5.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 70.1% were owner-occupied and 29.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.8%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 120,327 people and 32,771 families residing in the county. The population density was 332 /mi2. There were 49,320 housing units at an average density of 136 /mi2. 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% 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.

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 area ranked 5th largest in the state and 43rd largest in the U.S., with a population of 1,219,422.

Politics and government

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Voter registration

According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans comprise a majority of registered voters in Lebanon County.

United States Senate

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 98th, 101st, and 102nd Pennsylvania House Districts.

98th District

The 98th District, which includes Mt. Gretna Borough, South Annville Township, and South Londonderry Township is represented by Republican Tom Jones.

101st District

:The 101st District, served by Republican John Schlegel, includes:

• Cornwall Borough
• Lebanon City
• North Cornwall Twp.
• North Lebanon Twp.
• South Lebanon Twp.
• West Cornwall Twp.
• West Lebanon Twp.

102nd District

:The 102nd District, served by Republican Russ Diamond, includes:

• Annville Twp.
• Bethel Twp.
• Cleona Borough
• Cold Spring Twp.
• East Hanover Twp.
• Heidelberg Twp.
• Jackson Twp.
• Jonestown Borough
• Millcreek Twp.
• Myerstown Borough
• North Annville Twp.
• Richland Borough
• North Londonderry Twp.
• Palmyra Borough
• Richland Borough
• Swatara Twp.
• Union Twp.

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 supported a Democrat for president only once since 1880. That came when Franklin D. Roosevelt won the county in his 46-state landslide reelection; even then, FDR carried it by only 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

References

References

1. "QuickFacts: Lebanon County, PA". United States Census Bureau.
2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
4. [http://lebanoncountyhistoricalsociety.org/research-archives/lebanon-county Our County] {{webarchive. link. (July 9, 2013. Lebanon County Historical Society. Retrieved on July 23, 2013.)
5. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
6. {{Cite AmCyc
7. "PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State U".
8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
10. (March 24, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
11. (April 2, 2001). "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
12. "Census 2020".
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
14. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
15. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
16. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Lebanon County, Pennsylvania". [[United States Census Bureau]].
17. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Lebanon County, Pennsylvania".
18. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Lebanon County, Pennsylvania".
19. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
20. "Office of Management and Budget".
21. "2010 U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
22. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
23. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of State. "November 2022 Voter Registration Statistics".
24. (November 5, 2024). "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)".
25. "Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information".
26. "Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information".
27. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections - State Data".
28. (November 8, 2016). "Pennsylvania Election Results 2016: President Live Map by County, Real-Time Voting Updates".
29. "Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information".
30. [https://web.archive.org/web/20111007194743/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/memoriallake/ Memorial Lake State Park]
31. [http://www.stateparks.com/swatara_state_park_in_pennsylvania.html Swatara State Park]
32. [http://www.lebanoncountypages.com/listings/union-canal-tunnel-park Union Canal Tunnel Park]{{Dead link. (October 2025)
33. "Lions Lake Park".
34. [http://www.lebanoncountypages.com/listings/colemans-memorial-park Coleman's Memorial Park]{{Dead link. (October 2025)
35. [http://www.lebanoncountypages.com/listings/stoevers-dam-park-lebanon-pa Stoever's Dam Park]{{Dead link. (October 2025)
36. "South Hill's Park".
37. [http://www.lebanoncountypages.com/listings/mount-gretna-lake-mt-gretna-pa Mount Gretna Lake]{{Dead link. (October 2025)
38. [http://www.lebanoncountypages.com/listings/middle-creek-wildlife-management-area Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area]{{Dead link. (October 2025)
39. {{usurped
40. "Bordner Cabin".