Prospect Park, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Prospect Park is a borough
in Delaware County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 6,594 at the 2000 census. It originated as a bedroom community of Philadelphia. It is located within ten miles of Center City, Philadelphia
, with convenient rail access (SEPTA, and connection to Amtrak
).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 6,594 people, 2,577 households, and 1,600 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 8,859.7 people per square mile (3,440.5/km²). There were 2,683 housing units at an average density of 3,604.9 per square mile (1,399.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 95.44% White, 1.38% African American, 0.12% Native American, 1.74% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races
, and 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.91% of the population.
There were 2,577 households out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples
living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the borough the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $45,244, and the median income for a family was $51,966. Males had a median income of $38,914 versus $30,717 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $19,801. There are 3.6% of families living below the poverty line and 4.3% of the population, including 2.6% of under eighteens and 12.1% of those over 64.
, which consists of Prospect Park and its neighboring regions Glenolden
, Norwood
, and Tinicum Township
.
The school district's administration offices are located within the borough, as is Interboro High School
.
" on United States coins and currency. A former Pastor Mark R. Watkinson felt that the civil war was going to leave the country with a bad name, "brother fighting brother in a civil war", and wrote a letter to then Sam Chase, Secretary of the Treasury, suggesting "God, Liberty, Law," be put on the coins. Salmon P. Chase acted on Watkinson's letter by referring the matter to James B. Longacre, Mint Engraver. A Committee later settled on "In God we Trust" and the words first appeared on a 2 Cent coin. A plaque on the outside of the Church announces the birthplace of the phrase.
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
in Delaware County
Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 558,979, making it Pennsylvania's fifth most populous county, behind Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, and Bucks counties....
, 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 6,594 at the 2000 census. It originated as a bedroom community of Philadelphia. It is located within ten miles of Center City, Philadelphia
Center City, Philadelphia
Center City, or Downtown Philadelphia includes the central business district and central neighborhoods of the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. As of 2005, its population of over 88,000 made it the third most populous downtown in the United States, after New York City's and Chicago's...
, with convenient rail access (SEPTA, and connection to Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
).
Geography
Prospect Park is located at 39°53′9"N 75°18′26"W (39.885712, -75.307166).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 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.
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 6,594 people, 2,577 households, and 1,600 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 8,859.7 people per square mile (3,440.5/km²). There were 2,683 housing units at an average density of 3,604.9 per square mile (1,399.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 95.44% White, 1.38% African American, 0.12% Native American, 1.74% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.39% 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 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.91% of the population.
There were 2,577 households out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% 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, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the borough the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $45,244, and the median income for a family was $51,966. Males had a median income of $38,914 versus $30,717 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 $19,801. There are 3.6% of families living below the poverty line and 4.3% of the population, including 2.6% of under eighteens and 12.1% of those over 64.
Education
Students living in Prospect Park attend classes within the Interboro School DistrictInterboro School District
Interboro School District is a school district in southeastern Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia in Delaware County.-Background:The district is made up of four communities: the boroughs of Glenolden, Norwood, and Prospect Park, and Tinicum Township...
, which consists of Prospect Park and its neighboring regions Glenolden
Glenolden, Pennsylvania
Glenolden is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 7,476 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Glenolden is located at ....
, Norwood
Norwood, Pennsylvania
Norwood is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,985 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Norwood is located at ....
, and Tinicum Township
Tinicum Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Tinicum Township, more popularly known as "Tinicum Island" or "The Island", a census-designated place and township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,353 at the 2000 census. Included within the township's boundaries are the communities of Essington and Lester...
.
The school district's administration offices are located within the borough, as is Interboro High School
Interboro High School
Interboro High School is a high school located in Prospect Park, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia in Delaware County.As the sole high school in the Interboro School District, students from surrounding communities Glenolden, Norwood, Prospect Park itself, and the two towns of Tinicum Township ...
.
History
Prospect Hill Baptist Church in Prospect Park claims a prominent role in instituting the phrase "In God We TrustIn God We Trust
"In God We Trust" was adopted as the official motto of the United States in 1956. It is also the motto of the U.S. state of Florida. The Legality of this motto has been questioned because of the United States Constitution forbidding the government to make any law respecting the establishment of a...
" on United States coins and currency. A former Pastor Mark R. Watkinson felt that the civil war was going to leave the country with a bad name, "brother fighting brother in a civil war", and wrote a letter to then Sam Chase, Secretary of the Treasury, suggesting "God, Liberty, Law," be put on the coins. Salmon P. Chase acted on Watkinson's letter by referring the matter to James B. Longacre, Mint Engraver. A Committee later settled on "In God we Trust" and the words first appeared on a 2 Cent coin. A plaque on the outside of the Church announces the birthplace of the phrase.