Warminster Heights, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Warminster Heights is a census-designated place
and part of Warminster Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania
, USA
. It is located near the east border of Hatboro
, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
. The population was 4,124 at the 2010 census. This neighborhood formerly served as the civilian housing area for the long-defunct Brewster Aeronautical Corporation
, established in 1941, while the area was still referred to as Johnsville. It later became the Naval Air Development Center and was finally known as the NAWC, Aircraft Division, Warminster prior to its being decommissioned and closed by the US federal government in the mid-1990s. The community was previously named Lacey Park, for Pennsylvania Militia General John Lacey
, who fought during the American Revolutionary War
at the Battle of Crooked Billet
, which took place near the neighborhood.
In the mid-1970s, Lacey Park was renamed Warminster Heights, although to this day many older area residents prefer the former name when referring to the neighborhood. Deserved or not, it had a somewhat odious reputation among the local population as it was a lower middle class, blue collar, low-rent housing district during the 1960s and '70s up to the mid-1980s. Built in the 1940s by the US federal government, most of the housing units consisted of cinder block on slab construction, in units of four dwellings per structure (similar to Philadelphia row homes), in either one or two stories, generally with central heating via coal or heating oil furnaces with mostly electric appliances. Between 1957 and 1975 the housing units were under private ownership; in 1975 a Bucks County
government entity was created to take over and manage the properties, and in 1986 ownership was turned over to a housing cooperative
called the Warminster Heights Home Owners' Association.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 4,191 people, 1,523 households, and 1,009 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 6,802.0 people per square mile (2,609.9/km²). There were 1,647 housing units at an average density of 2,673.1/sq mi (1,025.7/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 65.35% White, 13.08% African American, 0.43% Native American, 3.96% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 12.60% from other races
, and 4.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.03% of the population.
There were 1,523 households out of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.4% were married couples
living together, 22.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.30.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 12.1% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 15.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $32,196, and the median income for a family was $37,056. Males had a median income of $28,493 versus $24,423 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $14,610. About 15.7% of families and 19.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.2% of those under age 18 and 18.1% of those age 65 or over.
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...
and part of Warminster Township 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
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is located near the east border of Hatboro
Hatboro, Pennsylvania
Hatboro is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 7,360 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hatboro is located at ....
, 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...
. The population was 4,124 at the 2010 census. This neighborhood formerly served as the civilian housing area for the long-defunct Brewster Aeronautical Corporation
Brewster Aeronautical Corporation
The Brewster Aeronautical Corporation was a North American defense contractor that operated from the 1930s until the end of World War II.It started existence as an aircraft division of Brewster & Co., a company that originally sold carriages and had branched into automobile bodies and airplane parts...
, established in 1941, while the area was still referred to as Johnsville. It later became the Naval Air Development Center and was finally known as the NAWC, Aircraft Division, Warminster prior to its being decommissioned and closed by the US federal government in the mid-1990s. The community was previously named Lacey Park, for Pennsylvania Militia General John Lacey
John Lacey
John Lacey was an American military officer during the American Revolutionary War. He was appointed a brigadier general in the Pennsylvania militia by the Pennsylvania Supreme Executive Council in January 1778....
, who fought during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
at the Battle of Crooked Billet
Battle of Crooked Billet
The Battle of Crooked Billet was a battle in the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War fought on May 1, 1778 near the Crooked Billet Tavern...
, which took place near the neighborhood.
In the mid-1970s, Lacey Park was renamed Warminster Heights, although to this day many older area residents prefer the former name when referring to the neighborhood. Deserved or not, it had a somewhat odious reputation among the local population as it was a lower middle class, blue collar, low-rent housing district during the 1960s and '70s up to the mid-1980s. Built in the 1940s by the US federal government, most of the housing units consisted of cinder block on slab construction, in units of four dwellings per structure (similar to Philadelphia row homes), in either one or two stories, generally with central heating via coal or heating oil furnaces with mostly electric appliances. Between 1957 and 1975 the housing units were under private ownership; in 1975 a Bucks County
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...
government entity was created to take over and manage the properties, and in 1986 ownership was turned over to a housing cooperative
Housing cooperative
A housing cooperative is a legal entity—usually a corporation—that owns real estate, consisting of one or more residential buildings. Each shareholder in the legal entity is granted the right to occupy one housing unit, sometimes subject to an occupancy agreement, which is similar to a lease. ...
called the Warminster Heights Home Owners' Association.
Geography
Warminster Heights is located at 40°11′10"N 75°5′6"W (40.186208, -75.085070).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 CDP has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 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 4,191 people, 1,523 households, and 1,009 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 6,802.0 people per square mile (2,609.9/km²). There were 1,647 housing units at an average density of 2,673.1/sq mi (1,025.7/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 65.35% White, 13.08% African American, 0.43% Native American, 3.96% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 12.60% 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 4.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.03% of the population.
There were 1,523 households out of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.4% 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, 22.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.30.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 12.1% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 15.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $32,196, and the median income for a family was $37,056. Males had a median income of $28,493 versus $24,423 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 $14,610. About 15.7% of families and 19.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.2% of those under age 18 and 18.1% of those age 65 or over.