About Swatara Township

In 1799, just twenty-three years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a court order divided Lower Paxton Township into two equal parts. Swatara was the name chosen for the southern part of the area. The word is thought to be from an Iroquois Indian word meaning "Where we fed on eels." Swatara Township is comprised of 14.6 square miles, equivalent to 9,344 acres.

An atlas of 1875 shows Churchville, New Benton, and Highland Village as population centers. Today we know them as Oberlin, Bressler, and Enhaut, respectively. Wheat and corn fields have become Lawnton, Lenker Manor, Harrisburg Estates, Rutherford Heights. Georgian Manor, Lawnford Acres and Chambers Hill. On April 1, 1911 Swatara obtained First Class Township status with a population of 5,630. According to the 2000 census, 22,611 residents now make up the Township.

Swatara Township is governed by a nine-member Board of Commissioners. Each Ward (established by population) of the Township elects its own representative to serve a four-year term on the Board.

The Township Highway Department consists of fourteen full-time employees who maintain 311 lane miles (roadways that are ten feet wide by one mile) of Township roadway. The Township's thirty-five police officers and three K-9 officers maintain the safety and welfare of residents as well as one thousand-plus businesses. In addition, the Health Department inspects 153 food establishments throughout the year. Our Code Enforcement Department enforces the BOCA Codes for one and two-family residential dwellings and the National Building Codes for construction of industrial and commercial properties. The Recreation Department maintains eleven parks throughout the Township, a total of fifty acres.

All businesses, home occupations and services either located in Swatara Township, or not located in the Township but doing business in the Township, are liable for the business privilege license and tax. The cost of a license is $20.00 annually. The tax is based on 1/2 mill for wholesale and 3/4 mill for retail, service and rental. The following forms are available on-line for your convenience: Application for Business Privilege License and Business Privilege Tax Form. Please contact the Business Privilege Department at (717) 564-2551, or [email protected] for more information on use of forms and filing procedures.