Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Blue Bell is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Whitpain Township
in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
, in the United States
. As of the 2010 census, its population was 6,067.
Blue Bell was originally known as Pigeontown, after the large flocks of the now-extinct passenger pigeon
s that once gathered there. The town was renamed in 1840 after the historically prominent Blue Bell Inn.
Blue Bell is known for its large executive-style homes, major business parks, small community shopping facilities, and small businesses. It is one of the most affluent areas outside of the Main Line communities in the Philadelphia area. In July 2005, Money
magazine ranked Blue Bell 14th on its list of the "100 Best Places to Live in the United States".
, the CDP has a total area of 5.4 square miles (14 km²), all of it land.
While the CDP of Blue Bell proper consists of an area roughly centered upon the namesake Inn, in recent years the name "Blue Bell" has become informally synonymous with the larger surrounding area within the 19422 ZIP code, including the communities of Center Square and Belfry.
The boundary between area codes 215 and 610 runs through Blue Bell's center.
of 2000, there were 6,395 people, 1,424 households, and 1,827 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 1,183.0 people per square mile (456.4/km²). There were 2,503 housing units at an average density of 463.0/sq mi (178.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 90.32% White, 6.52% Asian, 2.42% African American, 0.02% Native American, 0.22% from other races
, and 0.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.14% of the population.
There were 1,434 households of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.2% were married couples
living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.9% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.03.
\ 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $94,160, and the median income for a family was $106,617. Males had a median income of $75,462 versus $50,481 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $43,813. About 1.8% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.1% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.
For the population which consists of peoples 25 years and older; 95.6% of residents have a high school diploma or higher, 61.7% has their bachelor's degree or higher, and 23.5% has their graduate or professional degree.
, a provider of information technology services and products. Aetna
, an insurance provider, also maintains an office in Blue Bell. It also is home to the Montgomery County Community College
, Wings Field Airport
, and Meadowlands Country Club
.
The most common industries for men in Blue Bell include professional, scientific, and technical services (18%), finance and insurance (10%), health care (7%), real estate and rental and leasing (6%), construction (5%), chemicals (5%), and educational services (4%). The most common industries for women in Blue Bell include professional, scientific and technical services (11%), educational services (11%), finance and insurance (7%), chemicals (5%), real estate and rental and leasing (4%), and accommodation and food services (3%).
The two nearest major shopping malls are the Montgomery Mall
in North Wales
and the Plymouth Meeting Mall
in Plymouth Meeting
.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Whitpain Township
Whitpain Township, Pennsylvania
Whitpain Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1701, it has grown to a total population of 18,875 as of the 2010 census.-Geography:...
in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2010 census, its population was 6,067.
Blue Bell was originally known as Pigeontown, after the large flocks of the now-extinct passenger pigeon
Passenger Pigeon
The Passenger Pigeon or Wild Pigeon was a bird, now extinct, that existed in North America and lived in enormous migratory flocks until the early 20th century...
s that once gathered there. The town was renamed in 1840 after the historically prominent Blue Bell Inn.
Blue Bell is known for its large executive-style homes, major business parks, small community shopping facilities, and small businesses. It is one of the most affluent areas outside of the Main Line communities in the Philadelphia area. In July 2005, Money
Money (magazine)
Money is published by Time Inc. Its first issue was published in October 1972. Its articles cover the gamut of personal finance topics ranging from investing, saving, retirement and taxes to family finance issues like paying for college, credit, career and home improvement...
magazine ranked Blue Bell 14th on its list of the "100 Best Places to Live in the United States".
Geography
Blue Bell is located at 40°8′41"N 75°16′8"W (40.144759, -75.268752). According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 5.4 square miles (14 km²), all of it land.
While the CDP of Blue Bell proper consists of an area roughly centered upon the namesake Inn, in recent years the name "Blue Bell" has become informally synonymous with the larger surrounding area within the 19422 ZIP code, including the communities of Center Square and Belfry.
The boundary between area codes 215 and 610 runs through Blue Bell's center.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 6,395 people, 1,424 households, and 1,827 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,183.0 people per square mile (456.4/km²). There were 2,503 housing units at an average density of 463.0/sq mi (178.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 90.32% White, 6.52% Asian, 2.42% African American, 0.02% Native American, 0.22% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.14% of the population.
There were 1,434 households of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.9% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.03.
\ 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $94,160, and the median income for a family was $106,617. Males had a median income of $75,462 versus $50,481 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $43,813. About 1.8% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.1% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.
For the population which consists of peoples 25 years and older; 95.6% of residents have a high school diploma or higher, 61.7% has their bachelor's degree or higher, and 23.5% has their graduate or professional degree.
Economy
Blue Bell is home to the global headquarters of UnisysUnisys
Unisys Corporation , headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, United States, and incorporated in Delaware, is a long established business whose core products now involves computing and networking.-History:...
, a provider of information technology services and products. Aetna
Aetna
Aetna, Inc. is an American health insurance company, providing a range of traditional and consumer directed health care insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmaceutical, dental, behavioral health, group life, long-term care, and disability plans, and medical management...
, an insurance provider, also maintains an office in Blue Bell. It also is home to the Montgomery County Community College
Montgomery County Community College
Montgomery County Community College, also known as MCCC, Montco, or MC3, is a 2-year community college offering associate degrees, technical certificates and non-credit courses to the general public...
, Wings Field Airport
Wings Field
Wings Field is a general aviation airport located in Blue Bell which is in Whitpain Township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States...
, and Meadowlands Country Club
Meadowlands Country Club
Meadowlands Country Club , located in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, was founded in 1950 by a group of like minded individuals looking for a respite from their daily grind for themselves and their families....
.
The most common industries for men in Blue Bell include professional, scientific, and technical services (18%), finance and insurance (10%), health care (7%), real estate and rental and leasing (6%), construction (5%), chemicals (5%), and educational services (4%). The most common industries for women in Blue Bell include professional, scientific and technical services (11%), educational services (11%), finance and insurance (7%), chemicals (5%), real estate and rental and leasing (4%), and accommodation and food services (3%).
The two nearest major shopping malls are the Montgomery Mall
Montgomery Mall (Pennsylvania)
Montgomery Mall is a two-story shopping mall located in Montgomery Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania near North Wales. The mall, owned by Simon Property Group, is located along Pennsylvania Route 309 at the intersection with U.S. Route 202 , amidst other commercial development...
in North Wales
North Wales, Pennsylvania
North Wales is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is one of the three historic population centers that make up the North Penn Valley...
and the Plymouth Meeting Mall
Plymouth Meeting Mall
The Plymouth Meeting Mall is an shopping mall located in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, approximately west of Philadelphia. The mall is located on Germantown Pike near the Mid-County Interchange, where the Pennsylvania Turnpike crosses the Northeast Extension/Blue Route .Built in 1966, Plymouth...
in Plymouth Meeting
Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania
Plymouth Meeting is a census-designated place in the Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the northern terminus of the "Blue Route" and the southern terminus of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension . The population was 6,177 at the 2010 census...
.
Notable residents
- Gerald HendersonGerald HendersonJerome McKinley "Gerald" Henderson, Sr. is a retired American basketball player. He was a shooting guard who had a 13-year career in the NBA from 1979 until 1992. He played for the Boston Celtics, Seattle SuperSonics, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, and...
, former basketball player and current analyst on the 76ers' post game live show - Ryan HowardRyan HowardRyan James Howard is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies. Nicknamed "The Big Piece", Howard stands and weighs . He bats and throws left-handed....
, All-Star first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies - Kurt Hugo SchneiderKurt Hugo SchneiderKurt Hugo Schneider is an American film director, producer, singer and songwriter, who is noted for his production of YouTube music videos in collaboration with other musicians...
, YouTube musician and producer - Sam TsuiSam TsuiSamuel "Sam" Tsui is an American musician and Internet celebrity who rose to fame on YouTube. He is best known for covering and performing songs by popular artists, as well as original medleys and mashups...
, YouTube musician