On March 20, 1753 a number of persons living in the territory along the Lehigh River above Bethlehem signed a petition to the Court of Quarter Sessions of Northampton County asking that a new Township be created. On June 9th of that same year, the Court of Easton approved the request. So was created the Township of Salisbury, 23 years before the Declaration of Independence, in the same year that the Liberty Bell was completed, and 16 years after the first official settlement.

A lively debate occasionally springs up over the correct name of the Township! It has been variously called Saltzberg, Salsberg, Saltzburg, Salsburg, Salisburg, and, of course, Salisbury, its official name today.

Salisbury Township is a township in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The township borders Allentown (the third largest municipality in Pennsylvania), Bethlehem, and Emmaus, in the Lehigh Valley region.

The population of Salisbury Township was 13,505 at the 2010 census.

The township is home of the South Mall.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 11.3 square miles (29.2 km2), of which 11.2 square miles (28.9 km2) are land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km2), or 0.87%, are water.[1] It is drained by the Lehigh River, which separates it from Bethlehem and the east side of Allentown, and its border with Upper Saucon is on South Mountain. Elevations range from approximately 220 feet (67 m) above sea level on the river to 1,030 feet (310 m) in Big Rock County Park.

Emmaus and Allentown share a border, separating Salisbury into two demographically-distinct non-contiguous portions. The township's villages of Farmington, Gauff Hill, and Summit Lawn (also in Upper Saucon Township) are in the eastern portion. The CDP of Dorneyville is in both the extreme northwestern part of the township and in South Whitehall Township.

Salisbury Township has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) and is in hardiness zone 6b. The average monthly temperature in the vicinity of South Mall ranges from 29.0 °F (−1.7 °C) in January to 73.7 °F (23.2 °C) in July.

Adjacent municipalities
Fountain Hill (northeast)
Bethlehem (northeast)
Allentown (north and northwest)
South Whitehall Township (west)
Lower Macungie Township (southwest)
Emmaus (south)
Upper Milford Township (south)
Upper Saucon Township (southeast)
Lower Saucon Township, Northampton County 

Demographics

As of the census[4] of 2010, there were 13,505 people, 5,595 households, and 3,832 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,224.9 people per square mile (472.9/km2). There were 5,595 housing units at an average density of 495.1 per square mile (191.0/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 91.39% White, 2.93% African American, 0.03% Native American, 1.60 Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.40% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.14% of the population.

There were 5,333 households, out of which 24.79% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.25% were married couples living together, 7.61% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.15% were non-families. 23.53% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.11% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the township the population was spread out, with 18.84% under the age of 18, 7.02% from 18 to 24, 21.22% from 25 to 44, 32.90% from 45 to 64, and 20.01% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.

The estimated median income for a household in the township in 2014 was $69,685, and the estimated median income for a family was $84,429. Males had an estimated median income of $54,869 versus $39,024 for females. The estimated per capita income for the township was $35,133. In 2014 it was estimated that 4.1% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The township is served by the Salisbury Township School District. Salisbury High School serves grades 9 through 12.