44-568: Swatara State Park is a 3,515-acre (1,422 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Bethel , Swatara and Union Townships, Lebanon County and Pine Grove Township , Schuylkill County in Pennsylvania in the United States. 8 miles (13 km) of Swatara Creek lie within the park's boundaries, which are roughly formed by Pennsylvania Route 443 to the north and Interstate 81 to the south. The park
88-508: 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. Lebanon bologna was first made here, since before the 1780s. The Union Canal , which operated from 1828 to 1885, flowed through the city's north side. San Giorgio pasta has been manufactured in Lebanon since 1914, and was acquired by nearby Hershey Foods Corporation in 1966. Lebanon
132-618: A 150-pound (68 kg) Lebanon bologna for the annual festivity. It is encased in a metal frame and suspended from a fire department ladder truck, and donated to a local rescue mission after the celebration. In December 2008, the TV show Dirty Jobs , hosted by Mike Rowe , visited the Seltzer's Smokehouse Meats to film production of Lebanon bologna. In 2008 the show featured the Wertz Candy Shop. In 2010, an independent film drama Lebanon, PA
176-476: A brief history of their development since the first park opened in 1893. State parks range in size from 3 acres (1.2 ha) to 21,122 acres (8,548 ha) and comprise one percent of Pennsylvania's total land area. According to Dan Cupper (1993), "Pennsylvania is the thirty-third largest state, but only Alaska and California have more park land". There are state parks in 62 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties , which nearly reaches Pennsylvania's goal of having
220-636: A division of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), is the governing body for all these parks, and directly operates 116 of them. The remaining parks are operated in cooperation with other public and private organizations. The first Pennsylvania state park, at Valley Forge , opened in 1893 and was given to the National Park Service (NPS) for the United States Bicentennial in 1976. There are
264-469: A state park within 25 miles (40 km) of every resident in the Commonwealth. Eleven parks do not have "State Park" in their name. Three are " Conservation Areas ": Boyd Big Tree Preserve , Joseph E. Ibberson , and Varden ; four are "Environmental Education Centers": Jacobsburg , Jennings , Kings Gap (also a "Training Center") and Nolde Forest ; White Clay Creek is a "Preserve"; Norristown
308-822: A total of seventeen former Pennsylvania state parks: four former parks have been transferred to the NPS, four to the Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission , two to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers , one to both the Corps and the Pennsylvania Game Commission , five to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry , and one has ceased to exist. Nine current and two former state parks have had major name changes or have been known under alternate names. The list gives an overview of Pennsylvania state parks and
352-571: A transportation route. This region of Pennsylvania was first settled by Europeans in the 1750s. Anthracite coal was soon discovered in the area of Tremont . Coal mines were opened and by the 1820s the demand for coal was such that a canal was built to connect the Susquehanna River with the Schuylkill River . This canal was known as the Union Canal . It stretched from Middletown on
396-731: A varsity sports department and an elementary, junior high, and senior high. Students in Lebanon School District also may attend the Lebanon County Career and Technology Center. The city is home to Harrisburg Area Community College 's Lebanon Campus. Lebanon, Pennsylvania is thought to be named after the ancient Middle Eastern nation of Lebanon , however. Locals consistently pronounce the Pennsylvania city's name / ˈ l ɛ b ə n ən / ("Leb-a- nin ") and many shorten it to two syllables—"Leb-nin" or even "Lep-nin." The latter
440-657: Is a "Farm Park"; and Big Spring is a "State Forest Picnic Area". Seven parks are undeveloped with no facilities: Allegheny Islands , Benjamin Rush , Bucktail , Erie Bluffs , Prompton , Swatara , and Varden ; the last four of these are in the process of being developed. Five state parks are small picnic areas: Laurel Summit , Patterson , Prouty Place , Sand Bridge , and Upper Pine Bottom . Five state parks have major U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dams and/or lakes: Bald Eagle , Beltzville , Elk , Kettle Creek , and Sinnemahoning . Three former parks now belong, at least partly, to
484-412: Is a city in and the county seat of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania , United States. The population was 26,814 at the 2020 census . Lebanon was founded by George Steitz in 1740 and was originally named Steitztown. Lebanon is located 61 miles (98 km) southwest of Allentown , 26 miles (42 km) east of Harrisburg , and 88 miles (142 km) northwest of Philadelphia . Indigenous nations in
SECTION 10
#1732859444391528-432: Is in a valley in the ridge and valley region of Pennsylvania between Second Mountain (north) and Blue Mountain (south). Swatara State Park is a fairly new park for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It was opened in 1987 and is still largely undeveloped. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is working on plans to further develop the lands of Swatara State Park. The original plans called for
572-1035: Is now Cherry Springs , "Codorus Creek" is now Codorus , "Kooser Lake" is now Kooser , "Laurel Hill Summit" is now Laurel Summit , and "Promised Land Lake" is now Promised Land ). Such minor name changes are not included in this table. The following eighteen were once Pennsylvania state parks, but have been transferred to federal ( National Park Service , U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ) or state ( Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission , Pennsylvania Game Commission , Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry ) agencies, or ceased to exist. The following are significantly different former or alternate names for two former Pennsylvania state parks. One former park dropped one word from its name ("Colerain Forge" became "Colerain" sometime between 1924 and 1937). Such minor name changes are not included in this table. Lebanon, Pennsylvania Lebanon ( / ˈ l ɛ b ən ə n / LEB -ən-ən ; Pennsylvania German : Lebnen [ˈlɛbnən] )
616-528: Is particularly identified with Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. An infamous 1878 murder near Fort Indiantown Gap resulted in a trial of six defendants who all had blue eyes. They were given the moniker the Blue-eyed Six by a newspaper reporter who attended the trial, held in the Lebanon county courthouse. Five of the six defendants were hanged at the county jail. The trial received worldwide publicity and provided inspiration to Arthur Conan Doyle in writing
660-615: Is provided by the Lebanon School District . There are five elementary schools in the district along with Lebanon Middle School and Lebanon High School. Beginning with the 2024-25 school year the middle school will be replaced by an intermediate school (5th & 6th grades) and a junior high school (7th & 8th Grades). Nearby private institutions include Blue Mountain Christian School, New Covenant Christian School and Lebanon Christian Academy. All three private institutions have
704-625: The Sherlock Holmes short story " The Red-Headed League " (1891). At one point in history the Lebanon County courthouse and jail became the home of the popular Lebanon Farmers Market. After a time as a textile manufacturer, the market returned to the original 30,000 square foot Market House on South 8th street in 2003. Lebanon is one of several Pennsylvania towns to drop or raise a unique item at midnight on New Year's Eve. Godshall's Quality Meats, owners of Weaver's Famous Lebanon Bologna, donates
748-523: The 1930s, some mere camping and picnic areas in state forests, while others preserved unique sites. The 1930s saw a great expansion of parks and their facilities under Governor Gifford Pinchot , who cooperated with President Franklin Roosevelt , despite their being of different political parties. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) established 113 CCC camps in Pennsylvania (second only to California). Using CCC and Works Progress Administration (WPA) labor,
792-442: The 1960s when Interstate 81 was completed. The branch was abandoned east of Suedberg in 1965, and the remainder between 1978 and 1981. Conrail abandoned the line, with the former roadbed being transferred to the state. The waters of Swatara Creek were heavily polluted by runoff from the coal mines and sewage from the nearby municipalities. Over the years the water quality has gradually improved and there are now some fish living in
836-652: The DCNR, the state parks in Pennsylvania are on more than 300,000 acres (120,000 ha) with some 606 full-time and more than 1,600 part-time employees serving approximately 36 million visitors each year. Admission to all Pennsylvania state parks is free, although there are fees charged for use of cabins, marinas, etc. Pennsylvania's state parks offer "over 7,000 family campsites, 286 cabins, nearly 30,000 picnic tables, 56 major recreational lakes, 10 marinas, 61 beaches for swimming, 17 swimming pools" and over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of trails. Pennsylvania's first state park
880-492: The NPS built five Recreation Demonstration Areas , which became Pennsylvania state parks in 1945 and 1946: Blue Knob , French Creek , Hickory Run , Laurel Hill , and Raccoon Creek . The CCC also "fought forest fires, planted trees, built roads, buildings, picnic areas, swimming areas, campgrounds and created many state parks". In 1956, there were forty-four state parks in Pennsylvania, mostly in rural areas. Forty-five parks had been added by 1979, mostly near urban areas, and
924-545: The Pennsylvania State Game Commission. The most common game species are ruffed grouse , squirrels , turkey , white-tailed deer , waterfowl and pheasant . There are also some black bears , opossum , muskrats and raccoons . Boating in Swatara State Park is limited to canoes and kayaks . This type of boating is popular at the park and there are several easily accessible launch points along
SECTION 20
#1732859444391968-613: The Susquehanna through Lebanon and to Reading on the Schuylkill River. A 672-acre (272 ha) reservoir was built on the land that is now Swatara State Park. A branch canal was built from Lebanon through Pine Grove and on to the reservoir. This canal provided water for the main branch of the Union Canal. Barges filled with anthracite coal traveled down the canal to the industrial centers of central Pennsylvania. The dam holding
1012-422: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Seven parks preserve the industrial past: Canoe Creek is the site of a former lime kiln , and Caledonia , French Creek , Greenwood Furnace , Kings Gap , Mont Alto , and Pine Grove Furnace (plus one former park) are all former iron furnace sites. Eight current parks and one former park contain at least part of eight different National Natural Landmarks . According to
1056-475: The area of what is now Lebanon included the Shawnee , Susquehannock , Gawanese , Lenape (or Delaware), and Nanticoke peoples . Lebanon was settled by European colonists in 1720, many with the family names of "Steitz" and "Light", along a creek that was then named "Steitz Creek". The Light patriarchs built a fort to protect against Indians and named it "Light's Fort". The town was laid out in 1753, incorporated as
1100-403: 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
1144-490: The banks of Swatara Creek. The Appalachian Trail passes through Swatara State Park for 2 miles (3.2 km) at the southern end of the park. The trail crosses Swatara Creek at the historic Waterville Bridge . This unique bridge was moved from Waterville in Lycoming County (where it crossed Little Pine Creek ) to Swatara State Park in the 1980s. The bridge is too narrow for modern use, so instead of being destroyed, it
1188-508: The building of a dam and reservoir for recreational fishing and boating as well as to provide drinking water for the City of Lebanon . The PADCNR explored plans for developing the park without the recreational lake/reservoir, and in 2012 started developing the park with infrastructure improvements to increase access to biking, hiking, canoeing, fishing and picnicking opportunities in the park. Improvements include installing 10 miles of crushed stone along
1232-406: The building, which has been preserved by them including the installation of new roofing materials, but the cabin no longer has utilities or windows. The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Swatara State Park: List of Pennsylvania state parks As of 2024 , there are 124 state parks in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania . The Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks ,
1276-613: The city westward into the Susquehanna River via the Swatara Creek . Average monthly temperatures in center city Lebanon range from 29.4 °F in January to 74.3 °F in July. The city and vicinity have a hot-summer humid continental climate ( Dfa ) and the local hardiness zone is 6b. As of the 2020 census , the city was 60.8% White, 5.4% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.3% Asian, and 5.6% were two or more races. 43.8% of
1320-501: The former state parks were also chiefly historic. In addition to preserving historic sites, Pennsylvania also sought to preserve natural beauty and offer opportunities for recreation in its state parks. In 1902 Mont Alto State Forest Park was the second park established, a year after the state "Bureau of Forestry" was set up to purchase, preserve, and restore Pennsylvania's forests, which had been ravaged by lumbering, charcoal production, and wild fires. Parks were added sporadically until
1364-573: The land that was used during central Pennsylvania's industrial past. Swatara State Park's Rail Trail , a bike trail, follows the old railroad bed of the Lebanon & Tremont Branch of the Reading Railroad . This branch connected the West End coalfields of Schuylkill County with the town of Lebanon , paralleling the derelict branch canal below Pine Grove. The railroad was dominant in transportation until
Swatara State Park - Misplaced Pages Continue
1408-472: The old DER during creation of the park and was allowed to remain at the cabin for the remainder of his life, paying a token rent to DCNR each year. The cabin was then leased to the Boy Scouts of America for several years, and then was returned to DCNR control. After a proposal to raze the historic building, Swatara Watershed Association, led by Jo Ellen Litz , a Lebanon County commissioner, took over control of
1452-598: The population were of Hispanic of Latino ancestry [1] . As of the census 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 inhabitants per square mile (2,256.7/km ). There were 11,220 housing units at an average density of 2,681.0 per square mile (1,035.1/km ). 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
1496-410: 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
1540-483: The rail-trail and work on abandoned Old State Road. The early history of Swatara State Park is tied to the Susquehannock people, Native Americans that once inhabited the ridge and valley region of Pennsylvania. This region of Pennsylvania is very mountainous, with the mountains located in close proximity to each other with narrow valleys between. Swatara Creek is in one of these valleys. The Susquehannock used it as
1584-464: The reservoir was washed away in the Flood of 1862. The dam was never rebuilt and the branch canal was never reopened. The Union Canal was closed in 1885, as did most canals during this era as they simply could not compete with the efficiency of the railroads . Remains of the dam and five canal locks can still be seen on the grounds of Swatara State Park, providing an example of how nature has taken back some of
1628-436: The slow process in which nature reclaims the land previously used by man. Fossil hunters can find ancient marine fossils at a site along Old State Route 443. A log cabin, built in 1939 by local industrial-arts teacher Armar Bordner (1904-1994) and members of his class using materials found on-site next to the picturesque Acrigg's Falls, is preserved within the park. Bordner opposed the taking of his home by eminent domain by
1672-434: The system had increased by 130,000 acres (53,000 ha). This was thanks largely to the efforts of Maurice K. Goddard , who served as director of the precursors to the DCNR for twenty-four years under six administrations. The number of visitors to parks more than tripled in this time and two voter approved bond issues (Projects 70 and 500) raised millions of dollars for park expansions and improvements. All this expansion
1716-515: The waters of Swatara Creek. Smallmouth bass and panfish can be caught in Swatara Creek. Irving's Pond is the home to largemouth bass and some panfish. Cold water species of fish such as rainbow trout and brown trout can be caught in Trout Run and other tributaries of Swatara Creek. Hunting is permitted in most of Swatara State Park. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of
1760-685: Was Valley Forge State Park , purchased by the Commonwealth on May 30, 1893, to preserve Valley Forge . It was transferred to the National Park Service (NPS) on the Bicentennial of the United States , July 4, 1976. Many state parks still preserve history: as of 2012, forty-two Pennsylvania state park sites are on the National Register of Historic Places , including two National Historic Landmarks ( Delaware Canal and Point ), twenty-eight Civilian Conservation Corps sites in nineteen parks, and twelve other parks' historic sites and districts. Eight of
1804-399: 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. Public education in the city of Lebanon and West Lebanon Township
Swatara State Park - Misplaced Pages Continue
1848-497: Was formerly home to a major steel mill operated by Bethlehem Steel . According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 4.2 square miles (11 km ), all land. Lebanon is bordered to its north and east by North Lebanon Township (4.5 mi), to its south and east by South Lebanon Township (3.22 mi), to its west by West Lebanon Township (1.07 mi), and to its south and west by North Cornwall Township (4.38 mi). The Quittapahilla Creek drains
1892-475: Was moved to be used on the Appalachian Trail. The bridge is a parabolic structure known as a lenticular truss . The Swatara Rail Trail and Old State Route 443 combine to make a 10 miles (16 km) loop to provide less strenuous hiking at the park. Forests are overtaking the land formerly used by farmers, miners, canalmen and railroadmen. Woodlands are plentiful at Swatara State Park. Visitors can observe
1936-748: Was not without costs and by 1988 there was an estimated $ 90 million in deferred maintenance. In 1993, as the park system celebrated its one-hundredth anniversary, new tax and bond revenues were earmarked for the parks. Since 2000, parks are being improved through the state's Growing Greener and Growing Greener II and bond programs. The following are significantly different former or alternate names for nine current Pennsylvania state parks. Note that many parks were originally "State Forest Parks" or were state public camping or picnic areas in Pennsylvania state forests. In modern times, some "State Parks" have become "Environmental Education Centers", while other parks have dropped one word from their name ("Cherry Springs Drive"
#390609