Akron, Pennsylvania

Akron is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It is a mid-sized town with two main roads going through it: Main Street and 7th Street Pennsylvania Route 272. The town is mostly residential with a number of small businesses. The American headquarters of the Mennonite-related relief organizations, the Mennonite Central Committee and Mennonite Disaster Service, are located in the town. The town features the Roland Park which has baseball fields, pavilions, a pond, a gazebo, tennis courts, a playground, a beach volleyball court, a basketball court, and an 18 target Disc golf course.

Akron, Pennsylvania
Main Street at Pennsylvania Route 272
Location of Akron in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Akron Location of Akron in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Akron Akron (the United States) Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 40°09′23″N 76°12′14″W
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Lancaster
Government
• Mayor	John McBeth
Area [1]
• Total	1.23 sq mi (3.19 km^2)
• Land	1.23 sq mi (3.18 km^2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.02 km^2)
Elevation	509 ft (155 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	3,876
• Estimate  (2019)[2]	4,015
• Density	3,272.21/sq mi (1,263.90/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	17501
Area code(s)	717

History

Akron was incorporated as a borough in 1895.[3] A railroad used to run through Akron and served a railroad station in the town. A trolley also used to run in parts of the borough. The railroad has since been abandoned and is now the Warwick to Ephrata Rail Trail.

Geography

Akron is located at 40°9′23″N 76°12′14″W (40.156472, -76.204000).[4]

The borough is located on a hill. According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	284		—
1890	606		113.4%
1900	653		7.8%
1910	719		10.1%
1920	723		0.6%
1930	747		3.3%
1940	877		17.4%
1950	1,028		17.2%
1960	2,167		110.8%
1970	3,149		45.3%
1980	3,471		10.2%
1990	3,869		11.5%
2000	4,046		4.6%
2010	3,876		−4.2%
Est. 2019	4,015	[2]	3.6%
Sources:[5][6]

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 4,046 people, 1,622 households, and 1,138 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,199.8 people per square mile (1,239.8/km²). There were 1,687 housing units at an average density of 1,334.2 per square mile (516.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.42% White, 0.54% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 1.38% Asian, 0.79% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. 2.22% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,622 households, out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.5% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% 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 2.86.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 21.7% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $45,407, and the median income for a family was $53,365. Males had a median income of $37,061 versus $24,545 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $19,983. About 3.4% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

Schools

Elementary

• Akron Elementary (Ephrata Area School District)

Police, government, and fire protection

Akron borough is an independent local government unit located in Lancaster County. It is run by an elected borough council and an elected mayor. The current Mayor of Akron is John McBeth. The Borough Council is currently run by President John Williamson. The Chief of Police is Thomas Zell. The Borough of Akron also has a Fire Company established in 1893 the Akron Volunteer Fire Company Lancaster County Station 12 , which has approximately 50 active members and 3 pieces of Current Operating Fire Apparatus; 1 Engine, 1 Rescue-Engine, and 1 Squad.

Economy

The economy is mostly made up of small businesses. There are very few large businesses because the town is small and mostly residential. The largest business headquartered in Akron is the non-profit Mennonite Central Committee, which operates the Fair Trade retailer Ten Thousand Villages. Also, the locally well known Weisers Market is in Akron.

Recreation

Loyd H. Roland Memorial Park (also known as Akron Park),[8] is a 70 plus acre park located on Main Street on the East side of Akron. The park has a playground, hiking trails, pond, 18 hole disc golf course, picnic pavilions and more.

Culture

Akron is one of the many Pennsylvania towns to drop or raise a unique item at midnight on New Year's Eve. The "Shoe-In" begins several hours before midnight with children's activities, carriage rides, music, and a bonfire. People donate children's shoes which are passed on to the needy. In honor of the area's former shoe making industry (that used to be located where the Ten-Thousand Villages Corporate Offices are currently located) a giant sneaker is lowered at midnight.[9]

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
3. "Akron PA - A Brief History". www.akron-pa.com. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
5. "Census of Population and Housing: Decennial Censuses". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-03-04.
6. "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 11 June 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
7. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
8. "Parks". www.akron-pa.com. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
9. "Permanent pole for Akron's New Year's Eve shoe drop - Lititz Record Express". Lititz Record Express. 2016-12-21. Retrieved 2017-01-26.