West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
West Conshohocken is a borough in Montgomery County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 1,462 in 1880; 2,482 in 1950; 1,516 in 1980; 1,294 in 1990; and 1,320 at the 2010 census.
Its sister community is Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
, located across the Schuylkill River
. Montgomery County's seat, Norristown
, is located approximately one mile north of West Conshohocken.
Today, with its proximity to highways I-76 and I-476 (Blue Route), this small borough and its sister Conshohocken Borough have experienced moderate office and retail development.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), of which, 1 square miles (2.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (4.49%) is water.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 1,446 people, 600 households, and 342 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 1,701.4 people per square mile (656.8/km²). There were 633 housing units at an average density of 744.8 per square mile (287.5/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 93.91% White, 2.84% African American, 0.07% Native American, 1.80% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races
, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.04% of the population.
There were 600 households out of which 17.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.7% were married couples
living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.0% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the borough the population was spread out with 17.6% under the age of 18, 12.6% from 18 to 24, 35.2% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 102.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.0 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $56,111, and the median income for a family was $62,708. Males had a median income of $40,833 versus $31,696 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $30,627. About 3.5% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.
form of government with a mayor
and a seven-member borough council. The mayor is Donna M. Frankenfield.
The borough is part of the Seventh Congressional District (represented by Rep. Pat Meehan
), the 149th State House District (represented by Rep. Tim Briggs
) and the 17th State Senate District (represented by Sen. Daylin Leach
).
Public water and sewer facilities and service are provided by the borough as is residential trash pickup. A full-time police force serves the community, but fire protection is provided by volunteer companies. SEPTA bus lines provide access to the Norristown Transportation Center, and bus and rail lines connect the borough to other portions of Montgomery County and Philadelphia.
. Residents have access to the Conshohocken Free Library.
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 1,462 in 1880; 2,482 in 1950; 1,516 in 1980; 1,294 in 1990; and 1,320 at the 2010 census.
Its sister community is Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
Conshohocken is a borough on the Schuylkill River in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in suburban Philadelphia. Historically a large mill town and industrial and manufacturing center, after the decline of industry in recent years Conshohocken has developed into a center of riverfront commercial and...
, located across the Schuylkill River
Schuylkill River
The Schuylkill River is a river in Pennsylvania. It is a designated Pennsylvania Scenic River.The river is about long. Its watershed of about lies entirely within the state of Pennsylvania. The source of its eastern branch is in the Appalachian Mountains at Tuscarora Springs, near Tamaqua in...
. Montgomery County's seat, Norristown
Norristown, Pennsylvania
Norristown is a municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, northwest of the city limits of Philadelphia, on the Schuylkill River. The population was 34,324 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County...
, is located approximately one mile north of West Conshohocken.
History
West Conshohocken Borough was incorporated October 6, 1874 from land taken almost equally from the Townships of Lower and Upper Merion. As a river borough, there existed a large number of mills and other industries utilizing water power. The Dougherty Quarry was a prosperous business, producing stone of superior quality known as Conshohocken or Merion Blue. It was much sought after for public buildings, and was shipped by rail throughout the East before supplies were exhausted in the mid-twentieth century.Today, with its proximity to highways I-76 and I-476 (Blue Route), this small borough and its sister Conshohocken Borough have experienced moderate office and retail development.
Geography
West Conshohocken is located at 40°4′10"N 75°18′57"W (40.069509, -75.315755).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 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), of which, 1 square miles (2.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (4.49%) is water.
Demographics
As of the 2010 census, the borough was 90.1% White, 3.6% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 3.3% Asian, and 1.7% were two or more races. 3.6% 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 1,446 people, 600 households, and 342 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 1,701.4 people per square mile (656.8/km²). There were 633 housing units at an average density of 744.8 per square mile (287.5/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 93.91% White, 2.84% African American, 0.07% Native American, 1.80% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.21% 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 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.04% of the population.
There were 600 households out of which 17.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.7% 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, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.0% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the borough the population was spread out with 17.6% under the age of 18, 12.6% from 18 to 24, 35.2% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 102.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.0 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $56,111, and the median income for a family was $62,708. Males had a median income of $40,833 versus $31,696 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 $30,627. About 3.5% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.
Politics and government
West Conshohocken has a city managerCity manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
form of government with a mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
and a seven-member borough council. The mayor is Donna M. Frankenfield.
The borough is part of the Seventh Congressional District (represented by Rep. Pat Meehan
Pat Meehan
Patrick Leo "Pat" Meehan is a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing since January 3, 2011. The district includes most of Delaware County and parts of Chester and Montgomery Counties...
), the 149th State House District (represented by Rep. Tim Briggs
Tim Briggs
Tim Briggs is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.-External links:* official PA House website* official Party website...
) and the 17th State Senate District (represented by Sen. Daylin Leach
Daylin Leach
Daylin Leach is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania State Senate who has represented the 17th senatorial district since 2009. He was previously a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 149th district from 2003 to 2009.-Biography:Leach graduated from Parkland High...
).
Public water and sewer facilities and service are provided by the borough as is residential trash pickup. A full-time police force serves the community, but fire protection is provided by volunteer companies. SEPTA bus lines provide access to the Norristown Transportation Center, and bus and rail lines connect the borough to other portions of Montgomery County and Philadelphia.
Education
West Conshohocken pupils are assigned to schools in the Upper Merion Area School DistrictUpper Merion Area School District
The Upper Merion Area School District serves Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Bridgeport, Pennsylvania, and West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania...
. Residents have access to the Conshohocken Free Library.
Companies and organizations
- ASTM InternationalASTM InternationalASTM International, known until 2001 as the American Society for Testing and Materials , is an international standards organization that develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services...
- Collectables RecordsCollectables RecordsCollectables is a reissue record label founded in 1980 by Jerry Greene. Greene was previously associated with New York City's Times Square Record Shop, Philadelphia's Record Museum retail chain, and the Lost Nite and Crimson record labels....
and Alpha VideoAlpha VideoAlpha Video is an entertainment company, based near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that specializes in the manufacturing and marketing of public domain movies and TV shows on DVD... - Connelly FoundationConnelly FoundationThe Connelly Foundation is a Philadelphia philanthropic organization based in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. The organization was founded in 1955 by businessman and entrepreneur John F. Connelly, most commonly known for founding Connelly Containers, based just outside Philadelphia on the...
- Cheswold Lane Asset ManagementCheswold Lane Asset ManagementCheswold Lane Asset Management is a mutual fund company founded in 2006 by Colleen Quinn Scharpf, Eric Scharpf and Matthew Taylor and headquartered in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, United States. They offer an international high dividend strategy, focused on developed markets in Europe and Asia...