ABOUT US
HISTORY
Brecknock Township, named after the cathedral town of Brecon, capitol of Breconshire (or Brecknockshire), Wales, was founded in 1740 as a part of Lancaster County. The Township was divided at the founding of Berks County in 1752. The earliest permanent settlers on the Berks County side were three Bowman brothers, namely Jacob, John, and Christian, who moved up from Pequea about 1735 to occupy land along the upper part of the Allegheny Creek. The first tax collector for Brecknock (Berks) was Jeremiah Ziemer who immigrated from Germany in 1738. The first tax list in 1752 contained 36 names, all of German, Alsatian, and Swiss origin. The first federal census in 1790 reported that there were 60 households in the Township. By 1870 there were four churches in Brecknock – two Mennonite churches, one Lutheran-Reformed Union church, and one independent church.
By 1893 there were three U.S. Post Offices – Knauers, Alleghenyville, and Hummel’s Store, all of which were closed by 1913, after which postal service was provided from Mohnton. There were six one-room public schools operating in the Township by 1895 – Allegheny, Maple Grove, Stafford, Trostel’s, Gebhart (Union), and Remp’s, all of which were closed by Fall of 1955 when the new Brecknock School opened.
In 1900 there were 203 property owners, 54 tenant families, and seven single men on the tax list. Total tax receipts for the year ending March 24, 1900 amounted to $1,355.00, nearly all of which went for road maintenance. Throughout its history Brecknock Township has been almost entirely agricultural. Until recent times, nearly all of its residents were engaged in dairy and related farming, or fruit and vegetable truck farming. Also several residents were employed in related occupations such as harness-making, blacksmithing, charcoal making for nearby iron furnaces, timbering, and the operation of sawmills and gristmills. Taverns were operated at various times at Knauers and Hummel’s Store.
BRECKNOCK DEMOGRAPHICS
As of the census
of 2000, there were 4,459 people, 1,558 households, and 1,282 families residing in the
township. The population density
was 250.0 people per square mile (96.5/km²). There were 1,611 housing
units at an average density of 90.3/sq mi (34.9/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.85%
White, 0.61% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.25% from other races, and
0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 0.92% of the population.
There were 1,558 households out of which 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them,
74.8% were married couples living together, 4.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and
17.7% were non-families. 13.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.9% had someone
living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average
family size was 3.17.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24,
30.5% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 103.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over,
there were 100.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $65,903, and the median income for a family
was $79,143. Males had a median income of $46,495 versus $27,307 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $42,712. About 2.0% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty
line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of that age 65 or over.
GOVERNOR MIFFLINJOINT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Brecknock Township, Cumru Township, Kenhorst Borough, Mohnton Borough, Shillington Borough, and the Governor Mifflin School District comprise a Joint Comprehensive Plan which provides for a larger geographical region for all of the required land uses that by law must be provided for every municipality. Without joint planning, each municipality is required to provide for all of those same land uses within the much smaller confines of the respective municipal areas.
Township Staff
Secretary/Treasurer
Kate Mcintyre-Hannigan
Assistant Secretary
Dorothy L. Martin
Roadmaster
Charles S. Keifer
(717) 445-6683
Chief of Police
Erik P. Grunzig
(610) 655-4911 or (717) 445-0656 (Office)