Lackawaxen Township, Pike County, Pennsylvania

Lackawaxen Township
Township
Roebling's Delaware Aqueduct, spanning the Delaware River
570
FIPS code	42-103-40776
Website	Lackawaxen Township, Pennsylvania

Lackawaxen Township is the largest and northernmost township in Pike County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,066 at the 2020 census.^[3] The Delaware River, which marks the eastern boundary of the township, joins the Lackawaxen River at Lackawaxen Village. The housing communities Fawn Lake Forest and Masthope Mountain are in the township.

History

The European-American settlement in 1798 adopted the Lenape name Lackawaxen, meaning "swift waters," after the river that flows twelve miles through the township.^[4]

Bands of both

lived in the area through the early 19th century. Neither tribe had any substantial villages in the area, and they used the land as hunting grounds. Their tools, pot shards and bone fragments have been found at Native American rock shelters and camp sites.

The first permanent European settlers in the area were Jonathan Conkling and John Barnes, who built in 1770. In the

who commanded forces for the British.

During the early part of the 19th century, logging was the principal commercial activity in the area. It produced as much as 50 million board feet (120,000 m³) of lumber annually. Workers floated logs downriver on the Delaware to markets in Easton or Trenton.

In 1829, the

(NPS).

The canal linked

New York and Erie Railroad

was built through the area; although the canal continued to operate for another fifty years, railroads eventually made canals obsolete.

At the same time, the railroad brought tourism to the area and new sources of revenue; the rugged countryside of the upper Delaware Valley became a popular destination for urban tourists. Stations were built at Lackawaxen, West Colang and Mast Hope, and elaborate resort hotels soon were developed nearby. They often provided guides to visitors for fishing, hiking and riding in the area.

became a major enterprise in the area, starting in the mid-19th century. It was used extensively in the construction of the region's buildings and sidewalks.

From 1905 to 1918, western author

area. Grey was buried nearby in the local Union Cemetery.

Physician Orvan Hess was born here.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 81.2 square miles (210 km²), of which 78.4 square miles (203 km²) is land and 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²) (3.45%) is water. A scenic area within the Upper Delaware River National Park, Lackawaxen is located about a two-hour drive from New York City. It is also located approximately twenty-two miles northwest of Milford, the county seat of Pike County.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2000	4,154		—
2010	4,994		20.2%
2020	5,066		1.4%
2021 (est.)	5,215	[3]	2.9%

As of the

of any race were 4.2% of the population.

There were 2,099 households, out of which 22.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 26% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the township the population was spread out, with 19.1% under the age of 18, 58.5% from 18 to 64, and 22.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48.8 years.

The median income for a household in the township was $38,090, and the median income for a family was $46,856. Males had a median income of $35,758 versus $20,268 for females. The

, including 14.5% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.

References

External links

• Lackawaxen Township