Millbourne, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Millbourne is a borough in Delaware County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 1159 at the 2010 census. Millbourne borders Philadelphia along Cobbs Creek
. Some people believe, incorrectly, the Borough is part of neighboring Upper Darby, as Millbourne students attend Upper Darby School District
schools.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²), all land, making it the smallest municipality in Delaware County, Pennsylvania
by area.
The borough is small enough that it is entirely within walking distance of its elevated station
on the Market-Frankford Line
. The Millbourne station, newly rebuilt and rededicated in mid 2008, offers an 11-minute commute to University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University and a 15-minute commute to Center City. Millbourne is also within easy walking distance of the 69th Street Terminal
in Upper Darby and the 63rd Street Station in West Philadelphia
, both of which are on the Market-Frankford Line
. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported in the early 21st century that, according to U.S. Census data, only about one-third of Millbourne workers commuted by car. There is a PhillyCarShare shared car "node" at 69th Street Station, easily accessible from Millbourne or by commuters exiting the Market Frankford El at 69th Street.
The Borough is approximately bounded on the north and east by Cobbs Creek, and on the south by Market Street. The creek is graced by an historic mill dam and a bridge said to be eligible for placement on national historic registries. Across Cobbs Creek to the north lies an extension of Fairmount Park and the Cobbs Creek Golf Course. Against all odds, snowy egrets have been seen in this very urban creek environment. In the 1990s what was apparently a pet cougar got loose in the park. Despite police efforts to catch it (and the neighborhood's efforts to keep it well fed with Big Macs) the cougar was last seen loping west on the median strip of West Chester Pike—free.
Cobbs Creek originally hosted the Millbourne Mills (wheat), and slightly further south in Upper Darby the first mill in the country, established by Ben Franklin at the corner of 63rd Street and Walnut Street. In the 19th century the Cardington Mill (cotton) was built nearby along Naylor's Run. A paper mill existed around the time of the Civil War somewhat farther north-west on Cobbs Creek, near the current site of the 69th Street Station repair yard. The paper was used to wrap guns for the war.
As of the 2010 census, the borough was 13.7% White, 20.1% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 56.3% Asian, 0.9% Native Hawaiian, and 4.2% were two or more races. 8.5% of the population were of two or more races http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/profile/PA.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 943 people, 366 households, and 214 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 16,557 people per square mile (5,201.3/km²). There were 420 housing units at an average density of 6,123.7 per square mile (2,316.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 21.31% White, 17.18% African American, 0.21% Native American, 54.29% Asian, 2.55% from other races
, and 4.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.04% of the population.
There were 366 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.1% were married couples
living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.5% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.43.
In the borough the population was widely distributed with 23.5% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 35.2% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 113.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.6 males.
of 2000, the median income for a household in the borough was $30,185, and the median income for a family was $39,063. Males had a median income of $22,188 versus $21,458 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $15,752. About 7.8% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.0% of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over.
Millbourne was the home of the Millbourne Mills, a grain mill originally established in the 18th century by the Sellers family, and closed in 1927. The old mill dam is still visible on the creek today, as is an arch that covered a rail line serving the Mill.
Later, a Sears department store was located on a plot of land at the north eastern end of Millbourne on what is commonly thought to be a flood plain for Cobbs Creek. The Sears department store, through mercantile tax, provided approximately half of the Borough's revenues. It was relocated to the corner of Walnut Street and 69th Street in Upper Darby in 1992. This relocation has caused significant financial difficulties for the Borough, which now has one of the top two tax rates in Delaware County.
Millbourne was designated a financially distressed municipality
in 1993 by the state of Pennsylvania. The Borough requested removal from distressed status in approximately 2006, but has since applied for status as a "blighted" community. A blight certification request was completed by the Delaware County Planning Department in 2006.
s of any place in the United States. One source estimates that , Millbourne's percentage of Indian American residents had increased to 63%. Millbourne is also the only community in Pennsylvania, and the only community outside California
and Hawaii
with an Asian American
majority. Millbourne is home to a gurudwara, where the Philadelphia Sikh Society holds services.. There is a mosque
about a quarter mile away in Upper Darby, PA. A number of residents originate from Kerala, a south-western state of India and there is a major Keralite arts and culture fair held annually nearby in Upper Darby. The Borough boasts an expert in the ancient art of Cambodian court dance.
Millbourne students attend Upper Darby School District schools. Upper Darby High School recently reported 73 native languages spoken at home among its students.
Fire protection is provided by the Millbourne Fire Company in partnership with the Upper Darby Fire Department. The Borough also maintains its own police department, which provides frequent coverage of each street. Millbourne has a Town Watch, a volunteer organization run in cooperation with the police department.
The Upper Darby/Sellers Memorial Free Library Municipal Branch is within easy walking distance of Millbourne. A library card from the Upper Darby system allows access to the county-wide libraries, and offers an excellent inter-library loan program as well as many local resources. A myriad of ethnic grocery stores are also within easy walking distance, allowing residents to buy home-made tofu, a wide range of Punjabi and other Indian foods, Halal chicken and lamb, a wide range of Asian greens, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean-made foods, Central American foods, and mainstream American foods within minutes of their homes.
Korean, Mexican, Peruvian, Colombian, Vietnamese, Caribbean, southern rib, Punjabi and an award-winning pizza restaurant (and, until recently, a Filipino-owned restaurant where adobo was served) are all within walking distance.
The Cobbs Creek Bikeway runs from a corner at the eastern end of Millbourne, 63rd and Market Streets, to approximately 86th and Cobbs Creek Parkway. It is used by walkers and bicyclists as well as occasional all terrain vehicles. Plans exist to eventually connect this bikeway to the John Heinz Wildlife Refuge. These plans got a boost from a TIGER grant allowing planning for the 58th Street Connector. There is some support for a rail-with-trail bike path along SEPTA's Route 100 line from Radnor to 69th Street. The adjacent town, Upper Darby, is studying feasibility of a walking path on another old rail right of way, the Newtown Line, which might eventually feed into Millbourne. For bicyclists, it is feasible outside of rush hour to take a bicycle on the Market Frankford Line to reach 30th Street, and bicycle along the Schuylkill River Path to Valley Forge, and the Perkiomen Creek trail to Collegeville or beyond.
The Millbourne Borough Council re-established a paper recycling program in approximately 2009, which was discontinued due to vandalism of the paper bins. County "igloos" for recycling glass are located behind the auto parts store approximately at the corner of Powell Lane and Market Street. The county offers recycling of electronics periodically.
Across Market Street, just inside Upper Darby on the eastern end of town, there's a community garden. There's a bit of a wait for a plot. Farther east of the garden, also in Upper Darby, is the Life Center of Eastern Delaware County. This is a 50-bed homeless shelter for individual adults. Many residents of Millbourne volunteer serving or making food at this facility, which is quiet, well-run and well maintained.
Community clean-ups are held a few times a year on a volunteer basis, often followed by a barbecue or pot-luck.
Health care services are available about a mile away at the ChesPenn Family Health Center of Upper Darby, whether or not a patient has health insurance, and hospitals abound in the Philadelphia area easily accessible by car or the Market Frankford El. Delaware County Memorial Hospital (accessible by car or by the Route 101 or 102 trolleys) is a few miles away.
After decades of Republican majority, the Borough has recently become majority Democratic in terms of registration. As of January 4, 2010 the Borough leadership is bi-partisan, consisting of 4 Democrats and 1 Independent on Council, and a Republican Mayor.
Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 558,979, making it Pennsylvania's fifth most populous county, behind Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, and Bucks counties....
, 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 1159 at the 2010 census. Millbourne borders Philadelphia along Cobbs Creek
Cobbs Creek
Cobbs Creek is an tributary of Darby Creek in Delaware County, Pennsylvania in the United States. It forms an approximate border between Montgomery County and Delaware County. After Cobbs Creek passes underneath Township Line Road , it forms the border between Philadelphia County and Delaware County...
. Some people believe, incorrectly, the Borough is part of neighboring Upper Darby, as Millbourne students attend Upper Darby School District
Upper Darby School District
Upper Darby School District is a school district of approximately 12,000 students in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania.It consists of an area including Upper Darby Township, Clifton Heights borough, and Millbourne borough...
schools.
Geography
Millbourne Borough is located at 39°57′48"N 75°15′14"W (39.963412, -75.253998).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 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²), all land, making it the smallest municipality in Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 558,979, making it Pennsylvania's fifth most populous county, behind Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, and Bucks counties....
by area.
The borough is small enough that it is entirely within walking distance of its elevated station
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
on the Market-Frankford Line
Market-Frankford Line
The Market–Frankford Line is a rapid transit line in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority .-Route:The Market–Frankford Line begins at 69th Street Transportation Center, in Upper Darby...
. The Millbourne station, newly rebuilt and rededicated in mid 2008, offers an 11-minute commute to University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University and a 15-minute commute to Center City. Millbourne is also within easy walking distance of the 69th Street Terminal
69th Street Terminal
69th Street Transportation Center is a SEPTA terminal in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. It is also the southwestern terminus of Philadelphia's EL, the Market-Frankford Line ....
in Upper Darby and the 63rd Street Station in West Philadelphia
West Philadelphia
West Philadelphia, nicknamed West Philly, is a section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Though there is no official definition of its boundaries, it is generally considered to reach from the western shore of the Schuylkill River, to City Line Avenue to the northwest, Cobbs Creek to the southwest, and...
, both of which are on the Market-Frankford Line
Market-Frankford Line
The Market–Frankford Line is a rapid transit line in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority .-Route:The Market–Frankford Line begins at 69th Street Transportation Center, in Upper Darby...
. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported in the early 21st century that, according to U.S. Census data, only about one-third of Millbourne workers commuted by car. There is a PhillyCarShare shared car "node" at 69th Street Station, easily accessible from Millbourne or by commuters exiting the Market Frankford El at 69th Street.
The Borough is approximately bounded on the north and east by Cobbs Creek, and on the south by Market Street. The creek is graced by an historic mill dam and a bridge said to be eligible for placement on national historic registries. Across Cobbs Creek to the north lies an extension of Fairmount Park and the Cobbs Creek Golf Course. Against all odds, snowy egrets have been seen in this very urban creek environment. In the 1990s what was apparently a pet cougar got loose in the park. Despite police efforts to catch it (and the neighborhood's efforts to keep it well fed with Big Macs) the cougar was last seen loping west on the median strip of West Chester Pike—free.
Cobbs Creek originally hosted the Millbourne Mills (wheat), and slightly further south in Upper Darby the first mill in the country, established by Ben Franklin at the corner of 63rd Street and Walnut Street. In the 19th century the Cardington Mill (cotton) was built nearby along Naylor's Run. A paper mill existed around the time of the Civil War somewhat farther north-west on Cobbs Creek, near the current site of the 69th Street Station repair yard. The paper was used to wrap guns for the war.
Demographics
The borough is the most densely populated municipality in Pennsylvania with 16,557 people living per square mile.As of the 2010 census, the borough was 13.7% White, 20.1% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 56.3% Asian, 0.9% Native Hawaiian, and 4.2% were two or more races. 8.5% of the population were of two or more races 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 943 people, 366 households, and 214 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 16,557 people per square mile (5,201.3/km²). There were 420 housing units at an average density of 6,123.7 per square mile (2,316.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 21.31% White, 17.18% African American, 0.21% Native American, 54.29% Asian, 2.55% 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 4.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.04% of the population.
There were 366 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.1% 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, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.5% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.43.
In the borough the population was widely distributed with 23.5% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 35.2% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 113.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.6 males.
Economy
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, the median income for a household in the borough was $30,185, and the median income for a family was $39,063. Males had a median income of $22,188 versus $21,458 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 $15,752. About 7.8% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.0% of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over.
Millbourne was the home of the Millbourne Mills, a grain mill originally established in the 18th century by the Sellers family, and closed in 1927. The old mill dam is still visible on the creek today, as is an arch that covered a rail line serving the Mill.
Later, a Sears department store was located on a plot of land at the north eastern end of Millbourne on what is commonly thought to be a flood plain for Cobbs Creek. The Sears department store, through mercantile tax, provided approximately half of the Borough's revenues. It was relocated to the corner of Walnut Street and 69th Street in Upper Darby in 1992. This relocation has caused significant financial difficulties for the Borough, which now has one of the top two tax rates in Delaware County.
Millbourne was designated a financially distressed municipality
Financially Distressed Municipalities Act
The Financially Distressed Municipalities Act , also known as Act 47, empowers the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to declare certain municipalities as financially distressed...
in 1993 by the state of Pennsylvania. The Borough requested removal from distressed status in approximately 2006, but has since applied for status as a "blighted" community. A blight certification request was completed by the Delaware County Planning Department in 2006.
Culture
In 2000, 40.2% of Millbourne residents identified themselves as being of Asian Indian heritage. This was the highest percentage of Indian AmericanIndian American
Indian Americans are Americans whose ancestral roots lie in India. The U.S. Census Bureau popularized the term Asian Indian to avoid confusion with Indigenous peoples of the Americas who are commonly referred to as American Indians.-The term: Indian:...
s of any place in the United States. One source estimates that , Millbourne's percentage of Indian American residents had increased to 63%. Millbourne is also the only community in Pennsylvania, and the only community outside California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
with an Asian American
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,...
majority. Millbourne is home to a gurudwara, where the Philadelphia Sikh Society holds services.. There is a mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
about a quarter mile away in Upper Darby, PA. A number of residents originate from Kerala, a south-western state of India and there is a major Keralite arts and culture fair held annually nearby in Upper Darby. The Borough boasts an expert in the ancient art of Cambodian court dance.
Millbourne students attend Upper Darby School District schools. Upper Darby High School recently reported 73 native languages spoken at home among its students.
Fire protection is provided by the Millbourne Fire Company in partnership with the Upper Darby Fire Department. The Borough also maintains its own police department, which provides frequent coverage of each street. Millbourne has a Town Watch, a volunteer organization run in cooperation with the police department.
The Upper Darby/Sellers Memorial Free Library Municipal Branch is within easy walking distance of Millbourne. A library card from the Upper Darby system allows access to the county-wide libraries, and offers an excellent inter-library loan program as well as many local resources. A myriad of ethnic grocery stores are also within easy walking distance, allowing residents to buy home-made tofu, a wide range of Punjabi and other Indian foods, Halal chicken and lamb, a wide range of Asian greens, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean-made foods, Central American foods, and mainstream American foods within minutes of their homes.
Korean, Mexican, Peruvian, Colombian, Vietnamese, Caribbean, southern rib, Punjabi and an award-winning pizza restaurant (and, until recently, a Filipino-owned restaurant where adobo was served) are all within walking distance.
The Cobbs Creek Bikeway runs from a corner at the eastern end of Millbourne, 63rd and Market Streets, to approximately 86th and Cobbs Creek Parkway. It is used by walkers and bicyclists as well as occasional all terrain vehicles. Plans exist to eventually connect this bikeway to the John Heinz Wildlife Refuge. These plans got a boost from a TIGER grant allowing planning for the 58th Street Connector. There is some support for a rail-with-trail bike path along SEPTA's Route 100 line from Radnor to 69th Street. The adjacent town, Upper Darby, is studying feasibility of a walking path on another old rail right of way, the Newtown Line, which might eventually feed into Millbourne. For bicyclists, it is feasible outside of rush hour to take a bicycle on the Market Frankford Line to reach 30th Street, and bicycle along the Schuylkill River Path to Valley Forge, and the Perkiomen Creek trail to Collegeville or beyond.
The Millbourne Borough Council re-established a paper recycling program in approximately 2009, which was discontinued due to vandalism of the paper bins. County "igloos" for recycling glass are located behind the auto parts store approximately at the corner of Powell Lane and Market Street. The county offers recycling of electronics periodically.
Across Market Street, just inside Upper Darby on the eastern end of town, there's a community garden. There's a bit of a wait for a plot. Farther east of the garden, also in Upper Darby, is the Life Center of Eastern Delaware County. This is a 50-bed homeless shelter for individual adults. Many residents of Millbourne volunteer serving or making food at this facility, which is quiet, well-run and well maintained.
Community clean-ups are held a few times a year on a volunteer basis, often followed by a barbecue or pot-luck.
Health care services are available about a mile away at the ChesPenn Family Health Center of Upper Darby, whether or not a patient has health insurance, and hospitals abound in the Philadelphia area easily accessible by car or the Market Frankford El. Delaware County Memorial Hospital (accessible by car or by the Route 101 or 102 trolleys) is a few miles away.
After decades of Republican majority, the Borough has recently become majority Democratic in terms of registration. As of January 4, 2010 the Borough leadership is bi-partisan, consisting of 4 Democrats and 1 Independent on Council, and a Republican Mayor.