Center Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania

Center Township is located at the geographic center of Butler County, just north of Butler Township and the city of Butler, the county seat. It contains the unincorporated communities of Unionville and Shanor-Northvue, both census-designated places.

Pennsylvania Route 8 is the main road through the township, leading south into Butler and north to Franklin. Connoquenessing Creek flows through the southeastern part of the township.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 24.4 square miles (63.3 km²), of which 24.4 square miles (63.2 km²) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²), or 0.17%, is water.[3]

At the 2000 census there were 8,182 people in 3,333 households, including 2,346 families, in the township. The population density was 334.7 people per square mile (129.2/km²). There were 3,482 housing units at an average density of 142.4/sq mi (55.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.1% White, 0.4% African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 0.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.3%.[5]

There were 3,333 households, 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.7% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 26.3% of households were made up of individuals, and 13.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.93.

The age distribution was 22.0% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.

The median household income was $42,406 and the median family income was $50,731. Males had a median income of $42,443 versus $25,473 for females. The per capita income for the township was $21,790. About 2.9% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

Center Township is served by the Clearview Mall, featuring 70+ stores and anchored by Boscov's.

• Township website