Quick Facts

Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Border detail of Lebanon and surrounding municipalities
Coordinates: 40°20′30″N 76°25′15″W / 40.34167°N 76.42083°W / 40.34167; -76.42083
State Pennsylvania
County Lebanon
Laid out 1756
Incorporated 1821
Charter 1885

Area
- Total 4.2 sq mi (10.9 km2)
Population (2000)
- Total 24,461
- Density 5,812.3/sq mi (2,244.13/km2)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Lebanon, formerly known as Steitztown[1], is a city in and the county seat of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States.[2] The population was 24,461 at the 2000 census. Lebanon is located in the central part of the Lebanon Valley, 26 miles (42 km) east of Harrisburg and 29 miles (47 km) west of Reading in Pennsylvania.


Lebanon was first settled in 1720 by early settlers, many with the family names of "Steitz" and "Light", along a creek that was then named "Steitz Creek". The Light patriarchs built an Indian Fort and named it "Light's Fort" during this time. The town was laid out in 1753. The town was incorporated as a borough on February 20, 1821 and became a city on November 25, 1885. It adopted the commission form of government, consisting of four councilmen and a mayor.

In 1900, 17,628 people lived in Lebanon; in 1910, 19,240 people lived there; in 1920, 24,643 people lived there; and in 1940, 27,206 people lived in Lebanon, Pennsylvania.

Lebanon bologna was first made here. Lebanon was formerly home to a major steel mill operated by Bethlehem Steel.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.2 square miles (10.9 km²), all of it land.

Lebanon is bordered to the north and east by North Lebanon Township (4.5 mi), to the south and east by South Lebanon Township (3.22 mi), to the west by West Lebanon Township (1.07 mi), and to the south and west by North Cornwall Township (4.38 mi). The Quittapahilla Creek drains the city westward into the Susquehanna River via the Swatara Creek.


Demographics
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 24,461 people, 10,266 households, and 6,056 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,844.8 people per square mile (2,254.0/km²). There were 11,220 housing units at an average density of 2,681.0/sq mi (1,033.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.50% White, 3.23% African American, 0.28% Native American, 1.02% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 8.11% from other races, and 1.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.43% of the population.

There were 10,266 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.7% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.0% were non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,259, and the median income for a family was $34,045. Males had a median income of $26,957 versus $20,162 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,584. About 12.8% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.7% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.


Education
Public education is provided by the Lebanon School District and the Cornwall-Lebanon School District. Private institutions include Lebanon Catholic High School, New Covenant Christian School and Lebanon Christian Academy. All three private institutions have a varsity sports department and an elementary, junior high, and senior high. Students in the Cornwall-Lebanon and Lebanon School Districts also may attend the Lebanon County Career and Technology Center (LCCTC). The city is home to Harrisburg Area Community College's Lebanon Campus.


Culture
Lebanon is one of the many Pennsylvania towns to drop or raise a unique item at midnight on New Year's Eve. A local manufacturer donates a Lebanon Bologna for the annual festivity. It is encased in a metal frame and suspended from a fire department ladder truck. After the celebration it is donated to the local rescue mission.[5]

An infamous 19th century murder in Fort Indiantown Gap resulted in a trial of six defendants who all had blue eyes. They became known as the Blue Eyed Six, given the moniker by a newspaper reporter who was attending the trial. Their murder trial, held in the county courthouse in Lebanon, received worldwide publicity and inspired Arthur Conan Doyle while he was writing "The Red-Headed League". Five of the six defendants were hanged at the county jail.[6]

Wertz Candy Shop was featured in Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe.[7]


Notable people from Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Thomas Albert, composer
Sam Bowie, NBA center
Ann Coleman, landscaper
Kerry Collins, NFL quarterback
Bobby Gerhart, NASCAR/ARCA driver
Joe Frazier, of The Chad Mitchell Trio
Frank Reich, former NFL quarterback
George S. Rentz, World War II Navy Cross recipient and United States Navy Chaplain