Paxtang, Pennsylvania

Paxtang, Pennsylvania
Name	Paxtang, Pennsylvania
Settlement type	Borough
Pushpin label	Paxtang
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	United States
Subdivision type1	State
Subdivision name1	Pennsylvania
Subdivision type2	County
Subdivision name2	Dauphin County
Established title	Settled
Established date	1722
Established title1	Incorporated
Established date1	1914
Government type	Borough Council
Leader title	Mayor
Area total km2	0.78
Area total sq mi	0.30
Area land km2	0.78
Area land sq mi	0.30
Area water km2	0.00
Area water sq mi	0.00
Elevation m	122
Elevation ft	400
Population total	1561
Population as of	2020
Population density km2	2001.28
Population density sq mi	5203.33
Timezone	Eastern (EST)
Utc offset	-5
Timezone DST	EDT
Utc offset DST	-4
Postal code type	ZIP Code
Postal code	17111
Area code	717
Blank name	FIPS code
Blank info	42-58480
Blank1 name	GNIS feature ID
Blank1 info	1214828
Website	https://www.paxtangborough.com/

Paxtang, Pennsylvania. Paxtang is a borough in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, located just east of the city of Harrisburg. Incorporated in 1914, its history is deeply rooted in the early colonial period of Pennsylvania and the frontier conflicts of the 18th century. The borough is a residential community within the Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan statistical area.

History

The area of Paxtang was originally settled by European colonists in 1722, following the 1718 Treaty of Albany with the Iroquois Confederacy. It became a significant frontier outpost and the site of Paxtang Church, a key congregation of the Presbyterian Church. During the French and Indian War, the region was a flashpoint, leading to the formation of the Paxton Boys, a vigilante group from the area whose 1763 raids on the Conestoga people precipitated a political crisis in colonial Philadelphia. Throughout the American Revolutionary War, the community supplied troops to the Continental Army, including the Pennsylvania Line. In the 19th century, the construction of the Pennsylvania Canal and later the Northern Central Railway spurred development, connecting Paxtang to markets in Baltimore and Harrisburg. The borough formally incorporated during a period of suburban growth adjacent to the state capital.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Paxtang has a total area of 0.30 square miles, all of it land. It is bordered by the city of Harrisburg to the west and the borough of Penbrook to the north. The borough lies within the Ridge and Valley physiographic province of Pennsylvania. Paxton Creek, a tributary of the Susquehanna River, flows along the southern edge of the borough. Major transportation routes include Route 230 (Derry Street) and proximity to Interstate 283 and U.S. Route 322.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 1,561. The racial makeup was predominantly White, with smaller populations of African American, Asian, and Hispanic or Latino residents. The population density is among the highest in Dauphin County. Historically, the borough saw significant growth in the early 20th century as a streetcar suburb of Harrisburg. Household income and educational attainment levels are generally consistent with regional averages for the Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan statistical area.

Government

Paxtang operates under a borough form of government with a seven-member elected Borough Council and a mayor. The borough provides services including police protection through the Paxtang Police Department, public works, and zoning enforcement. It is part of Pennsylvania's 103rd Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the 15th Senatorial District in the Pennsylvania State Senate. At the federal level, Paxtang is within Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district.

Education

Public education for borough residents is provided by the Central Dauphin School District, which operates Central Dauphin High School, Central Dauphin Middle School, and Paxtang Elementary School. The district is governed by an elected school board and participates in athletic competitions within the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. Several private and parochial schools are also accessible in the surrounding area, including institutions affiliated with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg.

Notable people

Notable individuals associated with Paxtang include John Harris, Jr., son of the founder of Harrisburg, who was a prominent landowner; and Robert Whitehill, an Anti-Federalist delegate to the Pennsylvania Ratifying Convention of 1787. More recently, the borough was the birthplace of National Football League player Raleigh McKenzie.

Category:Boroughs in Pennsylvania Category:Populated places in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania