Nippenose Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania |
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Township | |
A Nippenose Township vista
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Map of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania highlighting Nippenose Township |
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Map of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania |
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Coordinates: 41°11′34″N 77°13′43″W / 41.19278°N 77.22861°WCoordinates: 41°11′34″N 77°13′43″W / 41.19278°N 77.22861°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Pennsylvania |
County | Lycoming |
Settled | 1769 |
Incorporated | 1786 |
Area | |
• Total | 11.2 sq mi (29.1 km2) |
• Land | 10.7 sq mi (27.7 km2) |
• Water | 0.5 sq mi (1.4 km2) |
Elevation | 1,467 ft (447 m) |
Population (2000) | |
• Total | 729 |
• Density | 68.2/sq mi (26.3/km2) |
Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
• Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
FIPS code | 42-54504 |
GNIS feature ID | 1216765 |
Nippenose Township is a township in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 729 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Nippenose Township was formed as part of Northumberland County in 1786 by a session of the Northumberland County court that was held in Sunbury. It did not become part of Lycoming County until Lycoming County was also formed from Northumberland County in 1795. Nippenose Township was originally much larger than it is today. It spread over parts of what are now, Clinton, Centre and Lycoming Counties. The population of Nippenose Township was 588, in 1890, compared to the slightly higher population of 729 as of the 2000 census.
The story behind the name of Nippenose Township is unclear. There are two competing stories. One states that it is named for the Indian phrase, "Nippeno-wi", meaning a warm and genial summerlike place. The other story behind the name is traces back an old Indian named Nippenose. The early settlers told the story of the old man who lingered in the valley after it was settled by whites. Apparently this man's nose had been "nipped" by exposure to the frost, hence the name "Nippenose." An additional source of the name is that there is only one way into and out of the valley without going over a mountain. This gap is bordered on the west by a mountain with nip in the end of it, like a nipped nose.
The first colonial settlers arrived in the Nippenose area in 1769. Henry Clark was the first to arrive with a "warrant" to the land from the colonial Pennsylvania government. One of the most prominent early settlers was Colonel John Henry Antes. He is thought to have arrived as early as 1772. His last name is featured prominently in place names in Nippenose Township. Antes Creek the main creek in the valley and Antes Fort a small village both bear his name. Antes built around his home, his neighbors came to call it "Antes Fort" and the name has lived on to today. Colonel Antes also built a grist mill at the mouth of Antes Creek on the West Branch Susquehanna River in 1777. This mill was burned during the Revolutionary war.