Christiana, Pennsylvania

Christiana is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,100 at the 2020 census. In 1851. it was the site of the Battle of Christiana, also called the Christiana riot.

Geography

Christiana is located in eastern Lancaster County at (39.955262, -75.996208). It is bordered to the north, west, and south by Sadsbury Township and to the east by West Sadsbury Township in Chester County.

Pennsylvania Route 372 passes through the center of the borough, leading east to Parkesburg and west to Quarryville. Lancaster is to the northwest via Pennsylvania Route 41, and U.S. Route 30.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of , all of it recorded as land. The borough is in the valley of Pine Creek, which forms the Lancaster County/Chester County line, and which flows south to form Octoraro Creek, a south-flowing tributary of the Susquehanna River.

History

Present-day Christiana was once known as Nobleville. The present name is after Christiana Noble, the wife of a first settler.

On September 11, 1851, Christiana was the site of the Battle of Christiana (also called the Christiana Riot), in which the local residents defended with firearms a fugitive slave, killing the slaveowner. Southerners demanded the hanging of those responsible, who were accused of treason and making war on the United States, but after the first defendant was acquitted, the government dropped the case. The trial was the first nationally covered challenge to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.James M. McPherson, '' Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era'' (New York: Bantam Books, 1989), pp. 84-85.

Demographics

Christiana is the least populous borough in Lancaster County.

As of the 2000 census, there were 1,124 people, 383 households, and 284 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,121.6 people per square mile (818.8/km²). There were 391 housing units at an average density of 738.0 per square mile (284.8/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.09% White, 1.87% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.27% from other races, and 1.60% from two or more races. 4.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 383 households, out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.6% were non-families. 22.2% 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 2.55 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the borough, the population was spread out, with 22.8% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 22.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.2 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $48,333, and the median income for a family was $50,583. Males had a median income of $35,125 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $18,764. About 3.8% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.5% of those under age 18 and 1.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The borough is served by the Octorara Area School District.

Notable people

*William Walton Griest, Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives

References

External links

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1833 establishments in Pennsylvania
Boroughs in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Populated places established in 1833
Underground Railroad locations