Maxatawny Township, Pennsylvania
Maxatawny Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 7,906 at the 2010 census.
History[edit]
Maxatawny is a name derived from a Native American language purported to mean "bear's path creek".[3]
The Boyer-Mertz Farm, Hottenstein Mansion, Kemp's Hotel, and Siegfried's Dale Farm are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[4]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 26.3 square miles (68.0 km2), of which 26.2 square miles (68.0 km2) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1 km2) (0.15%) is water. Its villages include Bowers, Hinterleiter, Maxatawny, Mill Creek Corner, and Monterey. The township is in the Delaware River watershed and most of it is drained by the Sacony Creek into the Schuylkill River. An area in the eastern portion is drained by the Little Lehigh Creek into the Lehigh River.
Maxatawny Township has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) and the hardiness zone is 6b, except in some areas north of 222, where it is 6a. The average monthly temperatures in Monterey range from 28.5 °F in January to 73.0 °F in July.[5]
Adjacent townships
Maxatawny Township surrounds the borough of Kutztown, and touches Lyons to the south and Topton to the east.
Culture[edit]
There is a notable presence of Pennsylvania Dutch culture in the township, despite growing diversity in from those relocated from regional metropolitan areas. A significant numbers of Mennonites continue to farm some of the township's land. Renninger's Antique and Farmers' Market and the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania are located in Maxatawny Township. Bowers Chili Pepper Festival is held annually each September in DeLong Park.