By Eileen Godin

egodin@timesleader.com

DALLAS TWP. — One Back Mountain community is gearing up to celebrate its bicentennial by holding a public meeting to gather ideas for festivities.

Township supervisors want to earmark the occasion with a series of events scheduled throughout 2017, said Elizabeth Martin, supervisor.

Residents are invited to attend the first planning meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 10 in the municipal building to brainstorm on celebratory ideas and possibly form a bicentennial committee.

The festivities may be called “Dallas Days,” according to a written news release.

Martin would like to see several small events scheduled through the year such as a movie night or a Christmas tree lighting ceremony with the goal of bringing the community together.

Dallas Township separated from Kingston Township and established itself as a municipality in 1817.

The township was named after Alexander J. Dallas, the sixth United States Secretary of the Treasury and George M. Dallas, vice president to James Polk, the 11th U.S. president, according to the township’s website.

The municipality underwent another transition in 1879 when Dallas Borough separated from the township, Martin said.

“I hope they (Dallas Borough residents) will participate in the celebration,” she said.

Currently, Dallas Township is a mix of residential, business and agricultural spanning over 18 miles. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, 8,994 residents call the Back Mountain community home.

Dallas Township’s 200th-anniversary planning meeting

Time: 7 p.m.

Date: Feb. 10

Where: Dallas Township Municipal Building,

2919 SR 309 Highway, in Dallas.

Phone: 570-674-2000

Reach Eileen Godin at 570-991-6387 or on Twitter @TLNews.