Alsace Township (pronounced "ALL-siss") is a

township A township is a kind of human settlement or administrative subdivision, with its meaning varying in different countries. Although the term is occasionally associated with an urban area, that tends to be an exception to the rule. In Australia, Ca ...

Berks County Berks County ( Pennsylvania German: ''Barricks Kaundi'') is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 428,849. The county seat is Reading. The Schuylkill River, a tributary of the Delaware River ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

. The population was 3,848 at the 2020 census.

History

Alsace Township was established on March 3, 1745, following a petition to the

Court of Quarter Sessions The courts of quarter sessions or quarter sessions were local courts traditionally held at four set times each year in the Kingdom of England from 1388 (extending also to Wales following the Laws in Wales Act 1535). They were also established in ...

. The township was given its name in deference to the original settlers who came from

Alsace Alsace (, ; ; Low Alemannic German/ gsw-FR, Elsàss ; german: Elsass ; la, Alsatia) is a cultural region and a territorial collectivity in eastern France, on the west bank of the upper Rhine next to Germany and Switzerland. In 2020, it had ...

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

(now

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

). The township's settlers were predominantly industrious farmers and millers. Large areas of land were cleared for agricultural production, streams were harnessed for milling, and churches were built for spiritual and social needs.

Geography

According to the

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the township has a total area of , all land. Adjacent townships * Muhlenberg Township (west) * Ruscombmanor Township (north) * Oley Township (east) * Exeter Township (southeast) * Lower Alsace Township (south)

Demographics

At the 2000 census, there were 3,689 people, 1,433 households, and 1,060 families living in the township. The population density was 302.3 people per square mile (116.7/km). There were 1,503 housing units at an average density of 123.2/sq mi (47.6/km). The

racial makeup A race is a categorization of humans based on shared physical or social qualities into groups generally viewed as distinct within a given society. The term came into common usage during the 1500s, when it was used to refer to groups of variou ...

of the township was 98.43% White, 0.43% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 0.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98%. There were 1,433 households, 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.2% were married couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 20.1% of households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.96. The age distribution was 21.8% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.8 males. The median household income was $46,500 and the median family income was $52,621. Males had a median income of $39,866 versus $25,808 for females. The per capita income for the township was $21,385. About 2.5% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

Notable person

Conrad Feger Jackson Conrad Feger Jackson (September 11, 1813 – December 13, 1862) was a businessman and soldier from the state of Pennsylvania. He served as a brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War and was killed in action during the ...

, born in Alsace in 1813, was killed at the

Battle of Fredericksburg The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. The combat, between the Union Army of the Potomac commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnsi ...

in 1862 while serving as a

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

in the

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...

References

* Ludwig, Gary. ''Mexico Road''. . Hodge Podge USA. 2006.

External links

* {{authority control Townships in Berks County, Pennsylvania Townships in Pennsylvania