Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Whitemarsh Township is a Home Rule Municipality
in Montgomery County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. However, it maintains its former classification of "Township
" in its official name. The population was 17,349 at the 2010 census.
in nearby Oreland
drew settlers to Whitemarsh. Whitemarsh Township was incorporated in 1704 as part of Philadelphia County and was one of the 28 original communities that comprised Montgomery County when it was erected in 1784.
During the American Revolutionary War
, both the Battle of White Marsh
and the Battle of Barren Hill
took place within the township.
, the township has a total area of 14.7 square miles (38.1 km²), of which, 14.6 square miles (37.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (0.68%) is water.
Adjacent to the Andorra section of Philadelphia, Whitemarsh is bordered in Montgomery County by Springfield
, Upper Dublin
, Whitpain
, and Plymouth Township
s and Conshohocken Borough
. It is also bordered by the Schuylkill River
, which separates it from Lower Merion Township
.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 16,702 people, 6,179 households, and 4,597 families residing in the township. The population density
was 1,143.5 people per square mile (441.4/km²). There were 6,372 housing units at an average density of 436.3 per square mile (168.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 93.29% White
, 2.21% African American
, 0.02% Native American
, 3.70% Asian
, 0.14% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos
of any race were 0.99% of the population.
There were 6,179 households out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.4% were married couples
living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.6% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.06.
The age distribution was 24.3% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $78,630, and the median income for a family was $91,731. Males had a median income of $58,774 versus $41,977 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $39,785. About 1.6% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.
Whitemarsh Township is governed by a five member Board of Supervisors. The current Board is three Democrats and two Republicans. The Chairperson is Leslie Richards, and the Vice-Chairperson is Sara Erlbaum.
is a 483 acres (2 km²) site located in the middle of the township, along the Wissahickon Creek
.
Miles Park Which is located on Germantown Pike at the intersection of Joshua Road includes basketball courts, baseball fields and a walking track. It also has a snack bar and has vending machines.
The Philadelphia Cricket Club
has two golf course
s in Whitemarsh Township.
provides public education to the children of Whitemarsh Township.
(Interstate 276) and the Route 309 Expressway (Pennsylvania Route 309
) run through the township. Although neither have an interchange in Whitemarsh, the turnpike has an interchange in nearby Plymouth Township, and the Route 309 expressway also has an interchange in Fort Washington
which also connects with the turnpike. Arterial roads in the township include Ridge, Germantown, Butler, Skippack, and Bethlehem Pike
s, Stenton and Pennsylvania Avenues, and Joshua and Morris Roads.
.
Home Rule Municipality (Pennsylvania)
A Home Rule Municipality in Pennsylvania is one incorporated under its own unique charter, created pursuant to the state's Home Rule and Optional Plans Law and approved by referendum. "Local governments without home rule can only act where specifically authorized by state law; home rule...
in Montgomery County
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...
. However, it maintains its former classification of "Township
Township (Pennsylvania)
A township in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a state of the United States of America, is one of four types of municipalities in the state . Townships were established based on convenient geographical boundaries and vary in size from six to forty square miles...
" in its official name. The population was 17,349 at the 2010 census.
History
Whitemarsh was originally inhabited by the Lenni Lenape tribe of Native Americans. It was first settled by the colonists in 1683, as part of a tract of land stolen by Major Jasper Farmar. Shortly after its founding, in 1683, the discovery of limestoneLimestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
in nearby Oreland
Oreland, Pennsylvania
Oreland is a United States census-designated place in Springfield and Upper Dublin townships, just outside of the Chestnut Hill and Mount Airy areas of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
drew settlers to Whitemarsh. Whitemarsh Township was incorporated in 1704 as part of Philadelphia County and was one of the 28 original communities that comprised Montgomery County when it was erected in 1784.
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...
, both the Battle of White Marsh
Battle of White Marsh
The Battle of White Marsh or Battle of Edge Hill was a battle of the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War fought December 5–8, 1777, in the area surrounding Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania...
and the Battle of Barren Hill
Battle of Barren Hill
The Battle of Barren Hill was a minor engagement during the American Revolution. On May 20, 1778, a British force attempted to encircle a smaller Continental force under the Marquis de Lafayette...
took place within the township.
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 14.7 square miles (38.1 km²), of which, 14.6 square miles (37.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (0.68%) is water.
Adjacent to the Andorra section of Philadelphia, Whitemarsh is bordered in Montgomery County by Springfield
Springfield Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Springfield Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 19,418 at the 2010 census. It includes the villages of Wyndmoor, Erdenheim, Flourtown, and Oreland...
, Upper Dublin
Upper Dublin Township, Pennsylvania
Upper Dublin Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 25,569 at the 2010 census.Upper Dublin is made up of several community areas, many of which are unincorporated areas in Montgomery County with no legal status, and are used primarily by the US...
, Whitpain
Whitpain Township, Pennsylvania
Whitpain Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1701, it has grown to a total population of 18,875 as of the 2010 census.-Geography:...
, and Plymouth Township
Plymouth Township, Pennsylvania
Plymouth Township is the name of some places in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania:*Plymouth Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania*Plymouth Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania...
s and Conshohocken Borough
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...
. It is also bordered by 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...
, which separates it from Lower Merion Township
Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania
Lower Merion Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania and part of the Pennsylvania Main Line. As of the 2010 census, the township had a total population of 57,825...
.
Demographics
As of the 2010 census, Whitemarsh Township was 90.7% White, 3.5% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 4.2% Asian, and 1.2% were two or more races. 1.7% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/profile/PA#locality-tab.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 16,702 people, 6,179 households, and 4,597 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 1,143.5 people per square mile (441.4/km²). There were 6,372 housing units at an average density of 436.3 per square mile (168.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 93.29% White
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
, 2.21% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.02% Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, 3.70% Asian
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
, 0.14% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
of any race were 0.99% of the population.
There were 6,179 households out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.4% 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, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.6% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.06.
The age distribution was 24.3% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $78,630, and the median income for a family was $91,731. Males had a median income of $58,774 versus $41,977 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 $39,785. About 1.6% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.
Government
| 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 | 40.5% 4,311 | 59.0% 6.275 |
| 2004 | 42.8% 4,336 | 56.9% 5,767 |
| 2000 | 42.4% 3,685 | 55.5% 4,822 |
| 1996 | 42.4% 3,173 | 49.4% 3,698 |
| 1992 | 43.3% 3,537 | 42.4% 3,495 |
Whitemarsh Township is governed by a five member Board of Supervisors. The current Board is three Democrats and two Republicans. The Chairperson is Leslie Richards, and the Vice-Chairperson is Sara Erlbaum.
Recreation
The Fort Washington State ParkFort Washington State Park
Fort Washington State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Springfield and Whitemarsh Townships, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is noted for the springtime flowering of dogwood trees, and is popular with families for picnics and hiking...
is a 483 acres (2 km²) site located in the middle of the township, along the 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...
.
Miles Park Which is located on Germantown Pike at the intersection of Joshua Road includes basketball courts, baseball fields and a walking track. It also has a snack bar and has vending machines.
The Philadelphia Cricket Club
Philadelphia Cricket Club
The Philadelphia Cricket Club, founded in 1854, is the oldest country club in the United States. It has two locations: Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, and Flourtown, Pennsylvania.-History:...
has two golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
s in Whitemarsh Township.
Education
The Colonial School DistrictColonial School District (Pennsylvania)
The Colonial School District covers the Borough of Conshohocken and Plymouth Township and Whitemarsh Township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania...
provides public education to the children of Whitemarsh Township.
Roadways
The Pennsylvania TurnpikePennsylvania Turnpike
The Pennsylvania Turnpike is a toll highway system operated by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. The three sections of the turnpike system total . The main section extends from Ohio to New Jersey and is long...
(Interstate 276) and the Route 309 Expressway (Pennsylvania Route 309
Pennsylvania Route 309
Pennsylvania Route 309 is a major highway which runs for 134 miles through Pennsylvania in the United States. It connects Philadelphia and its northern suburbs to Allentown, Hazleton, and Wilkes-Barre. A limited-access highway portion of PA 309 in the Wilkes-Barre area is known as the North...
) run through the township. Although neither have an interchange in Whitemarsh, the turnpike has an interchange in nearby Plymouth Township, and the Route 309 expressway also has an interchange in Fort Washington
Fort Washington, Pennsylvania
Fort Washington is an unincorporated census-designated place and suburb of Philadelphia in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,446 at the 2010 census.-Prior to the Revolutionary War:...
which also connects with the turnpike. Arterial roads in the township include Ridge, Germantown, Butler, Skippack, and Bethlehem Pike
Bethlehem Pike
Bethlehem Pike is a historic 41 mi long road in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, connecting Philadelphia and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It began as a Native American path called the Minsi Trail which evolved into a colonial highway called the King's Road in the 1760s. Most of the route...
s, Stenton and Pennsylvania Avenues, and Joshua and Morris Roads.
Rail
The most prominent of these are the Lansdale/Doylestown and Manayunk/Norristown Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) rail lines, both of which have stations in the township. The Lansdale/Doylestown Line, which connects Bucks, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties has a station in the Fort Washington section of the township. The Manayunk/Norristown Line, which runs along the Schuylkill River, has two stations located in Miquon and Spring Mill.Aviation
There are no airports in Whitemarsh Township. The closest airport is the Wings FieldWings Field
Wings Field is a general aviation airport located in Blue Bell which is in Whitpain Township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States...
.