New Hope, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
New Hope, formerly known as Coryell's Ferry, is a borough
in Bucks County, Pennsylvania
, USA. The population was 2,528 at the 2010 census. The borough lies on the west bank of the Delaware River
at its confluence with Aquetong Creek. A two-lane bridge carries automobile and foot traffic across the Delaware to Lambertville, New Jersey
on the east bank. New Hope's main industry is tourism.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), of which 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) (11.19%) is water. Much of the water is the Delaware River
.
The borough is located at the confluence of the Delaware River and Aquetong Creek, which begins its two-mile course in neighboring Solebury Township at Ingham Springs, the most productive spring in Southeastern Pennsylvania. The name Aquetong comes from a local Indian word meaning "place of the pine trees," while Ingham refers to Samuel D. Ingham
, an industrialist, congressman and advocate of the canal that would run through the town. Near its end in New Hope, the creek forms a scenic millpond and waterfall near the Bucks County Playhouse
, a former mill.
The surrounding area features low, rolling hills, and consists largely of preserved forest and farmland. Many people whose mailing addresses are in New Hope actually live outside the borough in Solebury.
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission
operates two bridges over the Delaware River
between New Hope and Lambertville
, New Jersey
. One is a free, two-lane bridge, and the other, which carries U.S. Highway 202, is a modern toll bridge.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 2,252 people, 1,160 households, and 506 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 1,770.9 people per square mile (684.6/km²). There were 1,251 housing units at an average density of 983.8 per square mile (380.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.94% White, 1.11% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 1.87% from other races
, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.55% of the population.
There were 1,160 households out of which 16.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.5% were married couples
living together, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 56.3% were non-families. 41.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.94 and the average family size was 2.74.
In the borough the population was spread out with 15.5% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 37.3% from 25 to 44, 30.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 115.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 121.7 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $60,833, and the median income for a family was $87,868. Males had a median income of $49,750 versus $46,700 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $45,309. About 6.1% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.
New Hope's primary industry is tourism
. On weekends the streets are crowded with tourists visiting the many restaurants, antique shops and art galleries, or taking the popular walk along the river and the Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal
. Compared to surrounding communities, New Hope has a vibrant night life.
The former Bucks County Playhouse
featured a constant stream of plays and musical productions. New Hope was once a popular spot for Broadway shows to be tested and fine tuned, and many notable stage actors bought weekend homes in the area. In December 2010, the Playhouse was shuttered after lenders foreclosed the property. As of June 2011, the Bucks County Playhouse Conservancy, a public/private partnership, is attempting to raise funds to re-open the theatre.
It was also home to an art colony, founded by Edward Redfield
and William L. Lathrop
, that produced important regional work. Other members or associates with the colony included George Sotter
. The area later grew to become a popular gay
resort
in the 1950s and today New Hope still has an active and large gay community
. New Hope also attracts motorcyclists (bikers) on weekends in the warmer months.
New Hope is also a terminal point on the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad. On weekends, tourists can ride the historic and scenic line through Bucks County.
Union Camp Corporation
had a bag production facility in New Hope until the late 1980s, which employed around one hundred people total and was located uphill from the New Hope Ivyland railroad. The former factory complex, now known as Union Square, has been recycled as a series of shops and businesses aimed at the teeming tourist industry.
In August 2007, Forbes.com named New Hope Borough as one of the best places in the Northeast of the USA to buy a summer vacation home.
. It was generally regarded as the half way point, where travelers would stay overnight and be ferried across the river the next morning. Though this route is largely obsolete, the section of U.S. Route 202 that passes just north of town still bears the name York Road. The original route is now known as Bridge St. (PA 179).
During these early days, the town was known as Coryell's Ferry, after the owner of this business. The current name came into use following a large fire that burned down several mills in the area—their reconstruction was considered a "new hope" for the area.
The night prior to his famous crossing of the Delaware several miles to the south, George Washington
is said to have lodged in New Hope. Historic former residents include James A. Michener
and Aaron Burr
.
New Hope was in the news in 1983 when NBC network anchorwoman Jessica Savitch
and her boyfriend drowned after their car overturned into the Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal
. The canal passes by Odette's Restaurant, where the couple had dined on a rainy evening when visibility was poor and warning signs were easily missed.
New Hope has also recently been in the news regarding major flooding of the community when the Delaware River
overflowed its banks in 2004 and 2006. Each time, the downtown businesses reopened within several days; however, many riverside homes remained severely damaged for quite a while longer.
Borough (Pennsylvania)
In the U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a borough is a self-governing municipal entity that is usually smaller than a city. There are 958 boroughs in Pennsylvania. All municipalities in Pennsylvania are classified as either cities, boroughs, or townships...
in Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
- Industry and commerce :The boroughs of Bristol and Morrisville were prominent industrial centers along the Northeast Corridor during World War II. Suburban development accelerated in Lower Bucks in the 1950s with the opening of Levittown, Pennsylvania, the second such "Levittown" designed by...
, USA. The population was 2,528 at the 2010 census. The borough lies on the west bank of the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
at its confluence with Aquetong Creek. A two-lane bridge carries automobile and foot traffic across the Delaware to Lambertville, New Jersey
Lambertville, New Jersey
Lambertville is a city in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 3,906.Lambertville was originally incorporated as a town by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 1, 1849, from portions of West Amwell Township...
on the east bank. New Hope's main industry is tourism.
Geography
New Hope is located at 40°21′37"N 74°57′26"W (40.360312, -74.957203).According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), of which 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) (11.19%) is water. Much of the water is the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
.
The borough is located at the confluence of the Delaware River and Aquetong Creek, which begins its two-mile course in neighboring Solebury Township at Ingham Springs, the most productive spring in Southeastern Pennsylvania. The name Aquetong comes from a local Indian word meaning "place of the pine trees," while Ingham refers to Samuel D. Ingham
Samuel D. Ingham
Samuel Delucenna Ingham was a U.S. Congressman and U.S. Treasury Secretary under President Andrew Jackson.-Early life and education:...
, an industrialist, congressman and advocate of the canal that would run through the town. Near its end in New Hope, the creek forms a scenic millpond and waterfall near the Bucks County Playhouse
Bucks County Playhouse
The Bucks County Playhouse is the State Theater of Pennsylvania, and is located in New Hope, Pennsylvania.When the Hope Mills burnt in 1790, the grist mills were rebuilt as the New Hope Mills by Benjamin Parry. ....
, a former mill.
The surrounding area features low, rolling hills, and consists largely of preserved forest and farmland. Many people whose mailing addresses are in New Hope actually live outside the borough in Solebury.
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission
Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission is a bistate, public agency charged with providing safe, dependable and efficient river crossings between Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The DRJTBC was established under legislation enacted in the two states in 1934. The federal Compact for the...
operates two bridges over the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
between New Hope and Lambertville
Lambertville, New Jersey
Lambertville is a city in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 3,906.Lambertville was originally incorporated as a town by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 1, 1849, from portions of West Amwell Township...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. One is a free, two-lane bridge, and the other, which carries U.S. Highway 202, is a modern toll bridge.
Demographics
As of the 2010 census, the borough was 88.6% Non-Hispanic White, 1.1% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.9% Asian, and 1.5% were two or more races. 7.3% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/profile/PA.As of the census
Census
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 2,252 people, 1,160 households, and 506 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 1,770.9 people per square mile (684.6/km²). There were 1,251 housing units at an average density of 983.8 per square mile (380.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.94% White, 1.11% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 1.87% 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 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.55% of the population.
There were 1,160 households out of which 16.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.5% 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, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 56.3% were non-families. 41.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.94 and the average family size was 2.74.
In the borough the population was spread out with 15.5% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 37.3% from 25 to 44, 30.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 115.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 121.7 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $60,833, and the median income for a family was $87,868. Males had a median income of $49,750 versus $46,700 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 $45,309. About 6.1% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.
Industry and attractions
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
. On weekends the streets are crowded with tourists visiting the many restaurants, antique shops and art galleries, or taking the popular walk along the river and the Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal
Pennsylvania Canal (Delaware Division)
The Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal, more commonly called the Delaware Canal, runs from the Lehigh River at Easton south to Bristol...
. Compared to surrounding communities, New Hope has a vibrant night life.
The former Bucks County Playhouse
Bucks County Playhouse
The Bucks County Playhouse is the State Theater of Pennsylvania, and is located in New Hope, Pennsylvania.When the Hope Mills burnt in 1790, the grist mills were rebuilt as the New Hope Mills by Benjamin Parry. ....
featured a constant stream of plays and musical productions. New Hope was once a popular spot for Broadway shows to be tested and fine tuned, and many notable stage actors bought weekend homes in the area. In December 2010, the Playhouse was shuttered after lenders foreclosed the property. As of June 2011, the Bucks County Playhouse Conservancy, a public/private partnership, is attempting to raise funds to re-open the theatre.
It was also home to an art colony, founded by Edward Redfield
Edward Willis Redfield
Edward Willis Redfield was an American Impressionist landscape painter and member of the art colony at New Hope, Pennsylvania. He is best known today for his impressionist scenes of the New Hope area, often depicting the snow-covered countryside.Redfield was born in 1869 in Bridgeville, Delaware...
and William L. Lathrop
William Langson Lathrop
William Langson Lathrop was an American Impressionist landscape painter and founder of the art colony at New Hope, Pennsylvania. He is sometimes referred to as a "Pennsylvania Impressionist". Lathrop was a member of the National Academy of Design and served on numerous exhibition juries during his...
, that produced important regional work. Other members or associates with the colony included George Sotter
George Sotter
George W. Sotter was an American painter best known for Impressionist-style works. He was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania but eventually made his name in Philadelphia. He is also known for his work in stained glass, some of which are still installed in numerous churches...
. The area later grew to become a popular gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
resort
Resort
A resort is a place used for relaxation or recreation, attracting visitors for holidays or vacations. Resorts are places, towns or sometimes commercial establishment operated by a single company....
in the 1950s and today New Hope still has an active and large gay community
Gay community
The gay community, or LGBT community, is a loosely defined grouping of LGBT and LGBT-supportive people, organizations and subcultures, united by a common culture and civil rights movements. These communities generally celebrate pride, diversity, individuality, and sexuality...
. New Hope also attracts motorcyclists (bikers) on weekends in the warmer months.
New Hope is also a terminal point on the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad. On weekends, tourists can ride the historic and scenic line through Bucks County.
Union Camp Corporation
Union Camp Corporation
Union Camp Corporation was an American pulp and paper company and a private owner of timberland in the United States. In 1999 it was acquired by International Paper.-Company creation:...
had a bag production facility in New Hope until the late 1980s, which employed around one hundred people total and was located uphill from the New Hope Ivyland railroad. The former factory complex, now known as Union Square, has been recycled as a series of shops and businesses aimed at the teeming tourist industry.
In August 2007, Forbes.com named New Hope Borough as one of the best places in the Northeast of the USA to buy a summer vacation home.
History
New Hope is located along the route of York Road, the former main highway between Philadelphia and New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. It was generally regarded as the half way point, where travelers would stay overnight and be ferried across the river the next morning. Though this route is largely obsolete, the section of U.S. Route 202 that passes just north of town still bears the name York Road. The original route is now known as Bridge St. (PA 179).
During these early days, the town was known as Coryell's Ferry, after the owner of this business. The current name came into use following a large fire that burned down several mills in the area—their reconstruction was considered a "new hope" for the area.
The night prior to his famous crossing of the Delaware several miles to the south, George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
is said to have lodged in New Hope. Historic former residents include James A. Michener
James A. Michener
James Albert Michener was an American author of more than 40 titles, the majority of which were sweeping sagas, covering the lives of many generations in particular geographic locales and incorporating historical facts into the stories...
and Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr, Jr. was an important political figure in the early history of the United States of America. After serving as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Burr became a successful lawyer and politician...
.
New Hope was in the news in 1983 when NBC network anchorwoman Jessica Savitch
Jessica Savitch
Jessica Beth Savitch was an American television broadcaster and news reporter, host of PBS' Frontline and New York weekend anchor of NBC Nightly News during the short-lived Roger Mudd/Tom Brokaw era....
and her boyfriend drowned after their car overturned into the Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal
Pennsylvania Canal (Delaware Division)
The Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal, more commonly called the Delaware Canal, runs from the Lehigh River at Easton south to Bristol...
. The canal passes by Odette's Restaurant, where the couple had dined on a rainy evening when visibility was poor and warning signs were easily missed.
New Hope has also recently been in the news regarding major flooding of the community when the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
overflowed its banks in 2004 and 2006. Each time, the downtown businesses reopened within several days; however, many riverside homes remained severely damaged for quite a while longer.
Notable people
- Christian BaumanChristian BaumanChristian Bauman is an American novelist, essayist, and lyricist. A former soldier, Bauman is arguably best known for his critically acclaimed 2002 debut novel The Ice Beneath You, about the return of a young American soldier from Somalia...
, novelist and essayist - Becky BlasbandBecky BlasbandRebecca "Becky" Blasband is a singer-songwriter and screenwriter known as a cast member on The Real World: New York, the first season of MTV's reality television show The Real World.-Early life:...
, singer, songwriter, and screenwriter - Aaron BurrAaron BurrAaron Burr, Jr. was an important political figure in the early history of the United States of America. After serving as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Burr became a successful lawyer and politician...
, Revolutionary War soldier and Vice President - Gregg CagnoGregg CagnoGregg Cagno is an American songwriter and touring performer in the singer/songwriter and folk genres. -Career:Born in 1969, Gregg grew up in Clinton, New Jersey, and now lives in New Hope, Pennsylvania. He is a 2006 ASCAP award winner in the folk category, and was a finalist in the Kerrville Folk...
, singer, songwriter - Sim CainSim CainSim Cain is an American drummer probably best known as a member of the hard rock group Rollins Band from 1987 to 2000...
, former Rollins Band Drummer - Aaron FreemanGene WeenAaron Freeman , best known as Gene Ween, is a musician and a founding member of the experimental alternative rock group Ween...
(Gene WeenGene WeenAaron Freeman , best known as Gene Ween, is a musician and a founding member of the experimental alternative rock group Ween...
) - Chad Ginsburg of CKYCKY (band)CKY is an American alternative metal band that formed in West Chester, Pennsylvania in 1998. Centred around core members Deron Miller , Chad I Ginsburg and Jess Margera , the band shares its name with a skateboarding and stunt video series produced by Bam Margera, brother of drummer Jess...
- Abbie HoffmanAbbie HoffmanAbbot Howard "Abbie" Hoffman was a political and social activist who co-founded the Youth International Party ....
, political activist who committed suicide in his apartment in the community - Mickey Melchiondo (Dean WeenDean WeenDean Ween is the stage name of Michael "Mickey" Melchiondo, Jr., American guitarist and half of the alternative rock group Ween.-Biography:...
) - James A. MichenerJames A. MichenerJames Albert Michener was an American author of more than 40 titles, the majority of which were sweeping sagas, covering the lives of many generations in particular geographic locales and incorporating historical facts into the stories...
, novelist - Odette MyrtilOdette MyrtilOdette Myrtil was an American actress, singer, and violinist of French birth. She began her career as a violinist on the vaudeville stage in Paris at the age of 14. She expanded out into acting and singing, and had her first major success at the age of 18 on the London stage in the 1916 musical...
, actress, singer, and violinist and the namesake of Odette's Restaurant - George NakashimaGeorge NakashimaGeorge Katsutoshi NakashimaGeorge Katsutoshi NakashimaGeorge Katsutoshi Nakashima( was a Japanese-American woodworker, architect, and furniture maker who was one of the leading innovators of 20th century furniture design and a father of the American craft movement...
, artist, furniture maker - Ted TallyTed TallyTed Tally is an American playwright and screenwriter.-Screenwriter:Born William Theodore Tally in North Carolina, Tally was educated at Yale College and the Yale School of Drama, and has also taught at each of them...
, Oscar-winning screenwriter - WeenWeenWeen is an American alternative rock group. They formed in 1984 in New Hope, Pennsylvania when central members Aaron Freeman and Mickey Melchiondo met in an eighth grade typing class. Ween has a large cult underground fanbase despite being generally unknown in American pop music...
, Alternative Rock Group
Points of interest
- Bowman's Hill Wildflower PreserveBowman's Hill Wildflower PreserveBowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve is a nature preserve, botanical garden, and accredited museum located at 1635 River Road , New Hope, Pennsylvania. It is open daily except for major holidays; an admission fee is charged to nonmembers...
- Washington Crossing Historic ParkWashington Crossing Historic ParkWashington Crossing Historic Park is a 500-acre site operated by The Friends Of Washington Crossing Historic Park. The park is headquartered in the village of Washington Crossing located in Upper Makefield Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania...