Pennsylvania's 16th congressional district
| Pennsylvania's 16th congressional district | |
|---|---|
Pennsylvania's 16th congressional district - since January 3, 2013.
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| Current Representative | Lloyd Smucker (R–West Lampeter Township) |
| Distribution |
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| Population (2000) | 646,328 |
| Median income | 45,943 |
| Ethnicity |
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| Cook PVI | R+6 |
Pennsylvania’s 16th congressional district is located in the southeastern part of the state, just west of Philadelphia. Created after the 2000 Census, the district is composed of a large portion of southern Chester County, most of Lancaster County, and a sliver of Berks County, including the city of Reading. The 16th stretches from the southwestern suburbs of Philadelphia in the east to the Susquehanna River in the west, and north to include areas around Reading.
In 2000, the 16th Congressional District was home to 646,328 residents, according to the U.S. Census, and its population has increased since that year. Residents of Lancaster County make up the majority of the district's population, followed by Chester County and Berks County. The district is one of the Pennsylvania districts accused of being the result of gerrymandering.
The district can be characterized as predominantly suburban and rural, with some urban pockets of cities and towns. This has produced one of the main dilemmas facing the district: suburban sprawl and economic development versus the need for the preservation of farmland. Chester County, for example, has been simultaneously the fourth most agriculturally active county in the state and the fastest-growing county in the state. Lancaster County also shares the predicament of being a fast-growing county with pressure to preserve agricultural land.
The eastern parts of the district are characterized as suburbs of Philadelphia and of Wilmington, Delaware. Suburbanizing Lancaster County has also seen a tremendous amount of development over the past 15 years in the form of rapidly growing new housing developments and shopping centers. Areas of northwestern Lancaster County border on the suburbs of Harrisburg, and have many commuters to the capital city.
While development in the district continues at a high pace along the access routes to Philadelphia, Lancaster and Reading, the district is home to large tracts of agricultural land. Much of the land is devoted to commercial farming, but a large portion is also devoted to raising horses for steeplechase, fox hunting, and lately flat racing, especially in Chester County. Lancaster and Chester Counties have traditionally been home to many Amish and Mennonite farming communities.
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