Womelsdorf, Pennsylvania

History

The area had been occupied by Native American peoples before European colonization. German immigrant John Womelsdorf founded the community in 1762. It was originally named Middletown, as it was halfway between the cities of Lebanon and Reading, but roughly 50 years later the name was changed to Womelsdorf in honor of its founder.

Conrad Weiser, another German immigrant, settled here with his family as a young adult. Due to his importance as an interpreter and diplomat to the Iroquois and other Native American nations in the colonial period, the Conrad Weiser Homestead has been preserved as a Pennsylvania state historic site. It has materials to interpret his life and important aspects of 18th-century colonial Pennsylvania.

The Womelsdorf Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Geography

Womelsdorf is located at (40.365201, -76.187815).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.9 sqmi, all land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,599 people, 1,061 households, and 691 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,995.8 PD/sqmi. There were 1,112 housing units at an average density of 1,281.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the borough was 96.46% White, 0.65% African American, 1.42% Asian, 0.96% from other races, and 0.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.19% of the population.

There were 1,061 households, of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 28.5% of all households consisted of individuals, and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 24.3% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $45,082, and the median income for a family was $53,456. Males had a median income of $38,309 versus $24,514 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $22,133. About 2.2% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

• George Nicholas Eckert (1802-1865), U.S. Congressman
• Conrad Weiser, 1696–1760, built his homestead just outside what is now the borough limits.

Attractions

Womelsdorf is home to the Stouch Tavern. Dating to 1785, the Stouch Tavern is locally famous for having been visited by President George Washington while he was serving his first term as leader of the new United States. Washington spent one night at the tavern in 1793 as he traveled from Reading to Lancaster.

Transportation

As of 2007, there were 10.66 mi of public roads in Womelsdorf, of which 3.06 mi were maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and 7.60 mi were maintained by the borough.

U.S. Route 422 and Pennsylvania Route 419 are the numbered highways serving Womelsdorf. US 422 follows Conrad Weiser Parkway along a northwest-to-southeast alignment through the northeastern portion of the borough. PA 419 follows Second Street, High Street and Third Street along a north-south alignment through the center of the borough.

References

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
2. (Jun 28, 1933). "Womelsdorf to celebrate 100th anniversary event". Reading Eagle.
3. Kenny, Hamill. (1945). "West Virginia Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning, Including the Nomenclature of the Streams and Mountains". The Place Name Press.
4. {{NRISref
5. (2011-02-12). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
6. (May 24, 2020). "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau.
7. "Census of Population and Housing". U.S. Census Bureau.
8. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
9. "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". U.S. Census Bureau.
10. "About the Stouch".
11. "History Book: Mr. Washington goes to Womelsdorf". Reading Eagle.
12. "Womelsdorf Borough map". PennDOT.