Upper Gwynedd Township, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Upper Gwynedd Township is a township in Montgomery County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 15,552 at the 2010 census. North Wales Borough
is surrounded by Upper Gwynedd Township on all sides, and many homes and businesses with North Wales addresses are actually in Upper Gwynedd. Many properties with Lansdale
addresses are in Upper Gwynedd as well.
Station Square, one of the first new transit oriented developments in the Philadelphia suburb
s, is located in Upper Gwynedd on the border with Lansdale
. It is across the street from Pennbrook Station
with SEPTA rail service to Philadelphia.
, the township has a total area of 8.1 square miles (21.1 km²), all of it land. It is in the Schuylkill watershed and is drained by the Towamencin and Wissahickon Creek
s. Its villages include Gwynedd Heights, Gwynedd Square, Penbrook, and West Point.
Upper Gwynedd Township surrounds the borough of North Wales
.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 14,243 people, 5,341 households, and 4,005 families residing in the township. The population density
was 1,750.4 people per square mile (675.6/km²). There were 5,496 housing units at an average density of 675.4/sq mi (260.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 86.77% White, 3.97% African American, 0.08% Native American, 7.84% Asian, 0.41% from other races
, and 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.45% of the population.
There were 5,341 households out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.3% were married couples
living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $71,078, and the median income for a family was $81,371. Males had a median income of $52,430 versus $37,729 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $32,806. About 1.4% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.
and other parts of north Wales
in the 17th and 18th Centuries. For several generations the main language used in the township was Welsh
.
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...
, 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 15,552 at the 2010 census. North Wales Borough
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...
is surrounded by Upper Gwynedd Township on all sides, and many homes and businesses with North Wales addresses are actually in Upper Gwynedd. Many properties with Lansdale
Lansdale, Pennsylvania
Lansdale is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 28 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Early in the 20th century, its industries included agricultural implement works, a canning factory, foundries, brickyards, a silk mill, and manufacturers of cigars, stoves, shirts, rope, iron drain pipe,...
addresses are in Upper Gwynedd as well.
Station Square, one of the first new transit oriented developments in the Philadelphia suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
s, is located in Upper Gwynedd on the border with Lansdale
Lansdale, Pennsylvania
Lansdale is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 28 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Early in the 20th century, its industries included agricultural implement works, a canning factory, foundries, brickyards, a silk mill, and manufacturers of cigars, stoves, shirts, rope, iron drain pipe,...
. It is across the street from Pennbrook Station
Pennbrook (SEPTA station)
Pennbrook is a station along the SEPTA Lansdale/Doylestown Line, north of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. The station is located at Church Road and Cherry Street in the Pennbrook section of the borough of Lansdale and features a 284 space parking lot. Most of these parking spaces are located on...
with SEPTA rail service to Philadelphia.
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 township has a total area of 8.1 square miles (21.1 km²), all of it land. It is in the Schuylkill watershed and is drained by the Towamencin and Wissahickon Creek
Wissahickon Creek
Wissahickon Creek is a stream in southeastern Pennsylvania. Rising in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, it runs about 23 miles passing through and dividing Northwest Philadelphia before emptying into the Schuylkill River at Philadelphia...
s. Its villages include Gwynedd Heights, Gwynedd Square, Penbrook, and West Point.
Neighboring municipalities
- LansdaleLansdale, PennsylvaniaLansdale is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 28 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Early in the 20th century, its industries included agricultural implement works, a canning factory, foundries, brickyards, a silk mill, and manufacturers of cigars, stoves, shirts, rope, iron drain pipe,...
(north) - Montgomery TownshipMontgomery Township, Montgomery County, PennsylvaniaMontgomery Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 24,790 at the 2010 census. It is the location of the Montgomery Mall, a regional shopping mall serving the Route 309 corridor of the Philadelphia suburbs. Much of Montgomery Township's...
(east) - Lower Gwynedd Township (southeast)
- Whitpain Township (south)
- Worcester Township (west)
- Towamencin Township (northwest)
Upper Gwynedd Township surrounds the borough of 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...
.
Demographics
As of the 2010 census, the township was 81.1% White, 4.2% Black or African American, 12.3% Asian, and 1.5% were two or more races. 2.2% 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 14,243 people, 5,341 households, and 4,005 families residing in the township. 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 1,750.4 people per square mile (675.6/km²). There were 5,496 housing units at an average density of 675.4/sq mi (260.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 86.77% White, 3.97% African American, 0.08% Native American, 7.84% Asian, 0.41% 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 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.45% of the population.
There were 5,341 households out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.3% 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, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $71,078, and the median income for a family was $81,371. Males had a median income of $52,430 versus $37,729 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 township was $32,806. About 1.4% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.
Government and Politics
| Year | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
Democrat Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 45.4% 3,991 | 53.6% 4,709 |
| 2004 | 50.5% 4,116 | 48.9% 3,982 |
| 2000 | 52.3% 3,568 | 45.1% 3,076 |
| 1996 | 46.6% 2,811 | 42.6% 2,569 |
| 1992 | 43.7% 1,921 | 36.4% 1,599 |
Supervisors
Upper Gwynedd Township elects five at-large supervisors to four-year terms.- Kenneth Kroberger, President
- M. Clare Edelmayer, Vice-President
- Thomas Duffy
- James Santi
- Eugene Ziemba
Legislators
- State Senator Stewart GreenleafStewart GreenleafStewart J. Greenleaf is a Republican member of the Pennsylvania State Senate, representing the 12th District since 1979. His district includes portions of Montgomery and Bucks Counties.-Biography:...
, 12th district, Republican - State Representative Kate Harper, 61st district, Republican
- US Representative Allyson SchwartzAllyson SchwartzAllyson Young Schwartz is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes parts of Montgomery County and Northeast Philadelphia...
, 13th district, Democrat
History
The township is so named because it was originally settled largely by migrants from GwyneddGwynedd
Gwynedd is a county in north-west Wales, named after the old Kingdom of Gwynedd. Although the second biggest in terms of geographical area, it is also one of the most sparsely populated...
and other parts of north Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
in the 17th and 18th Centuries. For several generations the main language used in the township was Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
.