Elverson, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Elverson is a borough in Chester County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 1,225 at the 2010 census.
Settled near the region's early iron mines, Elverson is close to Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
, an example of a 19th century "iron plantation".
, who would later donate a stained glass window to a church there. The Borough of Elverson was officially incorporated on April 17, 1911, from land annexed from West Nantmeal Township, and it remained the commercial center of northwestern Chester County through the first half of the 20th century. In 1953 the borough annexed additional land, resulting in its current size of about one square mile.
Elverson's building styles follow the periods of its commercial growth and range from early 19th century stone or log buildings to post-railroad Queen Anne
structures and 20th century craftsman
and Foursquare
-style houses. Commercial and residential development since the 1950s has occurred largely on the outskirts of the borough's historic center. The Wilmington and Northern Railroad line, later incorporated into the Reading Railroad
system, was abandoned and removed in 1983.
, the borough has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land. The city of Reading
is approximately 18 miles (29 km) north of the borough.
of 2000, there were 959 people, 412 households, and 313 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 961.2 people per square mile (370.3/km²). There were 460 housing units at an average density of 461.1 per square mile (177.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.08% White, 0.31% African American, 1.36% Asian, 0.42% from other races
, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.63% of the population.
There were 412 households out of which 21.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.2% were married couples
living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.8% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.68.
In the borough the population was spread out with 17.7% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 32.1% from 45 to 64, and 23.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 86.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $57,813, and the median income for a family was $62,273. Males had a median income of $40,000 versus $31,953 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $27,162. About 0.6% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,225 at the 2010 census.
Settled near the region's early iron mines, Elverson is close to Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site in southeastern Berks County, near Elverson, Pennsylvania, is an example of an American 19th century rural "iron plantation"...
, an example of a 19th century "iron plantation".
History
Elverson's earliest settlers arrived in the late 18th century when the area was known as Springfield. Later dubbed Blue Rock after a deposit of peculiar rocks not far from the town, it remained largely rural until the arrival of the Wilmington and Northern Railroad in 1870. By 1883, the town's population had more than doubled. In 1899, the settlement was named Elverson after James Elverson, owner of The Philadelphia InquirerThe Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily newspaper that serves the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area of the United States. The newspaper was founded by John R. Walker and John Norvell in June 1829 as The Pennsylvania Inquirer and is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the...
, who would later donate a stained glass window to a church there. The Borough of Elverson was officially incorporated on April 17, 1911, from land annexed from West Nantmeal Township, and it remained the commercial center of northwestern Chester County through the first half of the 20th century. In 1953 the borough annexed additional land, resulting in its current size of about one square mile.
Elverson's building styles follow the periods of its commercial growth and range from early 19th century stone or log buildings to post-railroad Queen Anne
Queen Anne Style architecture
The Queen Anne Style in Britain means either the English Baroque architectural style roughly of the reign of Queen Anne , or a revived form that was popular in the last quarter of the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th century...
structures and 20th century craftsman
American Craftsman
The American Craftsman Style, or the American Arts and Crafts Movement, is an American domestic architectural, interior design, landscape design, applied arts, and decorative arts style and lifestyle philosophy that began in the last years of the 19th century. As a comprehensive design and art...
and Foursquare
American Foursquare
The American Foursquare or American Four Square is an American house style popular from the mid-1890s to the late 1930s. A reaction to the ornate and mass produced elements of the Victorian and other Revival styles popular throughout the last half of the 19th century, the American Foursquare was...
-style houses. Commercial and residential development since the 1950s has occurred largely on the outskirts of the borough's historic center. The Wilmington and Northern Railroad line, later incorporated into the Reading Railroad
Reading Company
The Reading Company , usually called the Reading Railroad, officially the Philadelphia and Reading Rail Road and then the Philadelphia and Reading Railway until 1924, operated in southeast Pennsylvania and neighboring states...
system, was abandoned and removed in 1983.
Geography
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 borough has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land. The city of Reading
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
is approximately 18 miles (29 km) north of the borough.
Adjacent municipalities
- Caernarvon Township, Berks CountyCaernarvon Township, Berks County, PennsylvaniaCaernarvon Township is a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,312 at the 2000 census. It is often referred to as Morgantown, the township's largest village.-History:...
- north - West Nantmeal Township, Chester CountyWest Nantmeal Township, PennsylvaniaWest Nantmeal Township is a township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,170 at the 2010 census. It and East Nantmeal Township were originally part of a single Nantmeal Township, which was divided in 1739.-Geography:...
- east, south, and west
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 959 people, 412 households, and 313 families residing in the borough. 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 961.2 people per square mile (370.3/km²). There were 460 housing units at an average density of 461.1 per square mile (177.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.08% White, 0.31% African American, 1.36% Asian, 0.42% 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 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.63% of the population.
There were 412 households out of which 21.4% 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, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.8% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.68.
In the borough the population was spread out with 17.7% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 32.1% from 45 to 64, and 23.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 86.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $57,813, and the median income for a family was $62,273. Males had a median income of $40,000 versus $31,953 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 borough was $27,162. About 0.6% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.