Area Overview

Situated in a picturesque valley between two mountains in east-central Pennsylvania, Rush Township is almost 24 square miles of farmland, hills, villages, residential developments, commercial property, and light industries in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Of that, 22.8 square miles is land, and 1.0 square mile (about 4.25 percent) is water.

Two public school districts serve the township, which is also home to a private high school. There are also numerous public parks and one of the most beautiful state parks in Pennsylvania.

As of the 2020 Census, there were 3,417 people, 1,501 households, and 1,007 families residing in the township. The population density was 173.2 people per square mile (66.9/square kilometer). There were 1,563 housing units at an average density of 68.4/sq. mi. (26.4/sq. km.). The racial makeup of the township was 96.1 percent white, .4 percent African-American, 0.00 percent Native American, 0.4 percent Asian, 0.00 percent Pacific Islander, 0.9 percent from other races, and 2.2 percent from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were .8 percent of the population.

There were 1,501 households, out of which 26.2 percent had children under the age of 18 living with them. More than 65 percent (65.3) were married couples living together, 6.8 percent had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4 percent were non-families. Just over 22 percent (22.3) of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.2 percent had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.90.

Seventeen percent (17.6) of the residents of Rush Township were under the age of 18; 2.3 percent were from 18 to 24; 13.70 percent were from 25 to 44; 32.40 percent were from 45 to 64; and 34 percent were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $62088, and the median income for a family was $78984. Males had a median income of $59375 versus $49250 for females. The per capita income for the township was $37417. About 4.3 percent of families and 6.8 percent of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8 percent of those under age 18 and 8.7 percent of those age 65 or over.

It is actually one of five Rush Townships in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; there are also Rush Townships in Centre, Dauphin, Northumberland, and Susquehanna counties.