Morrisville, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Morrisville is a borough
in Bucks County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 8,728 at the 2010 census.
directly across from Trenton, New Jersey
. It is one of the eastern-most places in Pennsylvania (second only to Matamoras
), and is part of a geographical salient that is mostly surrounded by New Jersey.
Originally a village located in Falls Township
, until it was partitoned as a borough by the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1804. Morrisville is bordered by Falls Township
to the south, Lower Makefield Township to the north and the Delaware River
to the east.
Its name is the default city name in the 19067 ZIP code
, which covers an area that includes Yardley, Lower Makefield, Morrisville, and part of Falls Township.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.1 km²), of which, 1.8 square miles (4.6 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it (10.15%) is water. U.S. 1
traverses Morrisville and crosses into New Jersey
via the Trenton-Morrisville Toll Bridge
.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 10,023 people, 4,154 households, and 2,612 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 5,659.0 people per square mile (2,186.4/km²). There were 4,313 housing units at an average density of 2,435.1/sq mi (940.8/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 75.98% White, 19.14% African American, 0.18% Native American, 1.20% Asian, 2.08% from other races
, and 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.82% of the population.
There were 4,154 households out of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% were married couples
living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the borough the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 34.3% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $43,095, and the median income for a family was $53,316. Males had a median income of $40,204 versus $30,110 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $21,404. About 8.9% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.
. His home "Summerseat" still stands in town.
baseball team defeated Merchantville, NJ to claim the Little League World Series
title. It is one of four Pennsylvania teams to have won the tournament since its inception in 1947.
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
in 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...
, 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 8,728 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Morrisville is located at 40°12′27"N 74°46′48"W (40.207458, -74.779918). It is situated on the Delaware RiverDelaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
directly across from Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
. It is one of the eastern-most places in Pennsylvania (second only to Matamoras
Matamoras, Pennsylvania
Matamoras is a borough in Pike County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,469 at the 2010 census. It is the easternmost town in Pennsylvania.-History:...
), and is part of a geographical salient that is mostly surrounded by New Jersey.
Originally a village located in Falls Township
Falls Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Falls Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 34,300 at the 2010 census. Portions of Fairless Hills and Levittown, Pennsylvania, are located in the township...
, until it was partitoned as a borough by the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1804. Morrisville is bordered by Falls Township
Falls Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Falls Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 34,300 at the 2010 census. Portions of Fairless Hills and Levittown, Pennsylvania, are located in the township...
to the south, Lower Makefield Township to the north and the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
to the east.
Its name is the default city name in the 19067 ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
, which covers an area that includes Yardley, Lower Makefield, Morrisville, and part of Falls Township.
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 2.0 square miles (5.1 km²), of which, 1.8 square miles (4.6 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it (10.15%) is water. U.S. 1
U.S. Route 1 in Pennsylvania
U.S. Route 1 is a major north–south U.S. Highway, extending from the Florida Keys in the south to the Canadian border in the north. In the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, US 1 runs for from the Maryland state line near Oxford to the New Jersey state line near Trenton.-Maryland to Interstate...
traverses Morrisville and crosses into New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
via the Trenton-Morrisville Toll Bridge
Trenton-Morrisville Toll Bridge
The Trenton–Morrisville Toll Bridge is one of three road bridges connecting Trenton, New Jersey with Morrisville, Pennsylvania. Opened in 1952, it carries U.S. Route 1 and is owned and operated by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. This bridge's toll plaza was originally configured to...
.
Demographics
As of the 2010 census, the borough was 70.6% Non-Hispanic White, 15.4% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 2.0% Asian, and 2.7% were two or more races. 10.2% 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 10,023 people, 4,154 households, and 2,612 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 5,659.0 people per square mile (2,186.4/km²). There were 4,313 housing units at an average density of 2,435.1/sq mi (940.8/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 75.98% White, 19.14% African American, 0.18% Native American, 1.20% Asian, 2.08% 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 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.82% of the population.
There were 4,154 households out of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% 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, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the borough the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 34.3% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $43,095, and the median income for a family was $53,316. Males had a median income of $40,204 versus $30,110 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 $21,404. About 8.9% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.
Etymology
The borough is named for Pennsylvania merchant and banker Robert Morris, financier of the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. His home "Summerseat" still stands in town.
Sports
In 1955 the Morrisville Little LeagueLittle League
Little League Baseball and Softball is a non-profit organization in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States which organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the U.S...
baseball team defeated Merchantville, NJ to claim the Little League World Series
Little League World Series
The Little League Baseball World Series is a baseball tournament for children aged 11 to 13 years old. It was originally called the National Little League Tournament and was later renamed for the World Series in Major League Baseball. It was first held in 1947 and is held every August in South...
title. It is one of four Pennsylvania teams to have won the tournament since its inception in 1947.
Trivia
- A sunshine-filled Morrisville was featured in a TV commercial on how PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe 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...
locals have the right to choose their own Electric company. - Morrisville was actually considered a location to house the capital of the United States. However, due to a rational argument from southern representatives, it was voted down due to geographical issues.
- The Olympic torch has passed through Morrisville twice via the "Trenton Makes" bridge and Bridge Street. The first occasion was in May 1984 on its way to the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. The second occasion was in June 1996 when it passed through on its way to the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. - On the afternoon of Sunday, May 25, 1986 Hands Across AmericaHands Across AmericaHands Across America was a benefit event and publicity campaign staged on Sunday May 25, 1986 in which approximately 6.5 million people held hands in a human chain for fifteen minutes along a path across the continental United States...
crossed over the "Trenton Makes" Bridge and into Morrisville. "More than five million people joined hands to form a line that stretched 4,152 miles – from New York City's Battery Park to a pier in Long Beach, California. This nationwide event, called Hands Across America, was intended to raise money to fight hunger and homelessness". - The movie SignsSigns (film)Signs is a 2002 American science fiction horror film directed by M. Night Shyamalan. It was adapted from a screenplay also written by Shyamalan. Executive producers for the film comprised Shyamalan, Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy and Sam Mercer. The story focuses on a former preacher named Graham...
included a scene at Burn's Pharmacy, which is located in Morrisville borough. - Morrisville is the only town in America to have two signers of both the Declaration of IndependenceUnited States Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. John Adams put forth a...
and the ConstitutionUnited States ConstitutionThe Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
. (Robert Morris and George ClymerGeorge ClymerGeorge Clymer was an American politician and founding father. He was one of the first Patriots to advocate complete independence from Britain. As a Pennsylvania representative, Clymer was, along with five others, a signatory of both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution...
) - Graystones, which is in Morrisville, is the site of the first land purchase in Pennsylvania.
Notable people
Morrisville is the birthplace or home to a number of famous Americans, including:- Robert MorrisRobert Morris (merchant)Robert Morris, Jr. was a British-born American merchant, and signer of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution...
- George ClymerGeorge ClymerGeorge Clymer was an American politician and founding father. He was one of the first Patriots to advocate complete independence from Britain. As a Pennsylvania representative, Clymer was, along with five others, a signatory of both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution...
- Asher RothAsher RothAsher Paul Roth is an American rapper.-Early life:Asher Roth was born and raised in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, a small town about 20 miles northeast of Philadelphia. His mother, Elizabeth , is a yoga instructor, and his father, David Roth, is the executive director of a design firm...
- Thomas Story KirkbrideThomas Story KirkbrideThomas Story Kirkbride was a physician, advocate for the mentally ill, and founder of the Association of Medical Superintendents of American Institutions for the Insane , a precursor to the American Psychiatric Association.-Early career:Born into a Quaker family in Morrisville, Pennsylvania,...
- Dick Hart—Former NFL player—Philadelphia Eagles
- Willard Curtin- Lawyer and US Congessman.