Worcester Township, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Worcester Township is a township in Montgomery County
, Pennsylvania
, United States. It is pronounced "WOR-ses-ter." The population was 9,750 at the 2010 census.
, the township has a total area of 16.2 square miles (42 km²), of which 0.06% is water. It is in the Schuylkill River
watershed and is drained via Skippack Creek
, which is a tributary of Perkiomen Creek
, and Stony Creek. Its villages include Bethel Hill, Cedars, Center Point, Heebnerville, Providence Square, and Worcester.
of 2000, there were 7,789 people, 2,896 households, and 2,145 families residing in the township. The population density
was 480.2 people per square mile (185.4/km²). There were 3,026 housing units at an average density of 72.0/km² (186.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the township was 92.14% White, 2.32% African American, 0.03% Native American, 4.43% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. 0.87% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,896 households out of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.8% were married couples
living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $77,200, and the median income for a family was $87,107. Males had a median income of $61,280 versus $42,281 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $34,264. About 0.5% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.
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. It is pronounced "WOR-ses-ter." The population was 9,750 at the 2010 census.
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 16.2 square miles (42 km²), of which 0.06% is water. It is in 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...
watershed and is drained via Skippack Creek
Skippack Creek
Skippack Creek is a tributary of Perkiomen Creek in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania in the United States.A portion of the creek flows through Evansburg State Park and passes by the census-designated place of Skippack....
, which is a tributary of Perkiomen Creek
Perkiomen Creek
Perkiomen Creek is a tributary of the Schuylkill River in Berks, Lehigh and Montgomery counties in Pennsylvania in the United States.Perkiomen Creek begins in Hereford Township, Berks County, initially flows eastward into Upper Milford Township, Lehigh County, and turns southward to reenter...
, and Stony Creek. Its villages include Bethel Hill, Cedars, Center Point, Heebnerville, Providence Square, and Worcester.
Neighboring municipalities
- Lower Providence Township (southwest)
- Skippack Township (northwest)
- Towamencin Township (north)
- Upper Gwynedd Township (northeast)
- Whitpain Township (southeast)
- East Norriton Township (south)
- West Norriton Township (tangent to the south)
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 7,789 people, 2,896 households, and 2,145 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 480.2 people per square mile (185.4/km²). There were 3,026 housing units at an average density of 72.0/km² (186.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the township was 92.14% White, 2.32% African American, 0.03% Native American, 4.43% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. 0.87% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,896 households out of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.8% 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, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $77,200, and the median income for a family was $87,107. Males had a median income of $61,280 versus $42,281 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 $34,264. About 0.5% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 3.3% 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 | 53.4% 2,793 | 45.8% 2,392 |
| 2004 | 58.4% 2,873 | 40.9% 2,012 |
| 2000 | 61.6% 2,350 | 36.0% 1,375 |
| 1996 | 57.7% 1,702 | 32.4% 956 |
| 1992 | 52.9% 1,486 | 27.8% 780 |
Legislators
- State Representative Matthew BradfordMatthew BradfordMatthew Bradford is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He serves the 70th district in Montgomery County.-External links:* official PA House website* official Party website...
, Democrat, 70th district - State Senator John C. Rafferty Jr., Republican, 44th district
- US Representative Jim GerlachJim GerlachJames "Jim" Gerlach is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.- Early life, education and career :...
, Republican, 6th district
Trivia
- Founded in 1733, and named after WorcesterWorcesterThe City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
, England. - Worcester is home to the Peter Wentz Farmstead, a preserved eighteenth century Pennsylvania German farm which was Washington'sGeorge WashingtonGeorge Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
headquarters in 1777. - It incorporated three earlier villages: Center Point, Cedars Village, and Fairview Village.
- It contains the central Schwenkfelder churchSchwenkfelder ChurchThe Schwenkfelder Church is a small American Christian body rooted in the 16th century Protestant Reformation teachings of Caspar Schwenkfeld von Ossig .-History:...
. - It is served by the Methacton School DistrictMethacton School DistrictMethacton School District is a public school district located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The school district includes residents the townships of Lower Providence and Worcester...
.