Northampton Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Northampton Township is a township in Bucks County
, Pennsylvania
, United States, about 12 miles northeast of Philadelphia. The population was 39,726 at the 2010 census.
on his voyage to Pennsylvania. They named it after Northampton
, the county town of Northamptonshire
, England. Northampton Township was incorporated in 1722.
, the township has a total area of 26.1 square miles (67.6 km²), of which, 25.8 square miles (66.9 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.7 km²) of it (1.07%) is water. It is drained by the Neshaminy Creek
, which forms its entire NE boundary, into the Delaware River
.
The township is made up of the following unincorporated communities and census-designated places:
. Service was "temporarily" suspended due to failing train equipment resulting in poor ridership. While Churchville Station has been restored, Holland station was demolished in 2000.
In the ensuing years (particularly post-1995), there has been heavy interest in resuming passenger service by Bucks County officials. Several housing booms throughout the 1980s and 1990s have resulted in homes being situated directly adjacent to the dormant rail line. Though there is overwhelming support from a majority of residents looking for better public transportation options, several residents along Old Jordan Road in Holland have voiced NIMBY
opposition to the reactivation of regular passenger service.
Though rail service was initially replaced with a Fox Chase-Newtown shuttle bus, patronage remained light. The replacement bus service was far slower and less convenient than the train service it replaced, resulting in the shuttle bus being very unpopular. The travelling public never saw a bus service as a suitable replacement for a rail service.
The five Supervisors are:
which includes Northampton Township, Newtown Township
, Newtown Borough
, Wrightstown Township and Upper Makefield. Northampton Township is represented on the Council Rock School Board in 5 single seat School Director regions. (Listed in order of when each joined the board.)
As of the census
of 2000, there were 39,384 people, 13,014 households, and 10,957 families residing in the township. The population density
was 1,524.7 people per square mile (588.7/km²). There were 13,138 housing units at an average density of 508.6/sq mi (196.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.01% White, 0.41% African American, 0.04% Native American, 1.80% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races
, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.83% of the population.
There were 13,014 households out of which 43.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 76.0% were married couples
living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.8% were non-families. 13.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.33.
In the township the population was spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $82,655, and the median income for a family was $91,477. Males had a median income of $60,368 versus $38,969 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $33,028. About 1.4% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.
.
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, about 12 miles northeast of Philadelphia. The population was 39,726 at the 2010 census.
History
Northampton Township was originally settled by English colonists who came with William PennWilliam Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
on his voyage to Pennsylvania. They named it after Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
, the county town of Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
, England. Northampton Township was incorporated in 1722.
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 26.1 square miles (67.6 km²), of which, 25.8 square miles (66.9 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.7 km²) of it (1.07%) is water. It is drained by the Neshaminy Creek
Neshaminy Creek
Neshaminy Creek is a stream that runs southeast through Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Neshaminy Creek proper rises south of the borough of Chalfont, where North Branch Neshaminy Creek and West Branch Neshaminy Creek meet. Neshaminy Creek flows lastly between Bristol Township and Bensalem Township...
, which forms its entire NE boundary, into 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...
.
The township is made up of the following unincorporated communities and census-designated places:
- ChurchvilleChurchville, PennsylvaniaChurchville is a census-designated place in Northampton Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,128 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Churchville is located at ....
- HollandHolland, PennsylvaniaHolland is an unincorporated community in Northampton Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located next to Newtown, Richboro, and Churchville. One of its communities is Village Shires, which has approximately 4,000 residents.-History:...
- RichboroRichboro, PennsylvaniaRichboro is a census-designated place in Northampton Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,563 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Richboro is located at ....
- Village ShiresVillage Shires, PennsylvaniaVillage Shires is a community within Northampton Township, Bucks County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place for statistical purposes and does not have any legal status as a separately incorporated municipality...
Passenger trains
The communities of Holland and Churchville had commuter train service until January 1983 via SEPTA's Fox Chase-Newtown Rapid Transit LineFox Chase-Newtown Rapid Transit Line
The Fox Chase Rapid Transit line was an experimental transit operation spearheaded by SEPTA from 1981 to 1983, utilizing Philadelphia city transit operators instead of traditional railroad workers...
. Service was "temporarily" suspended due to failing train equipment resulting in poor ridership. While Churchville Station has been restored, Holland station was demolished in 2000.
In the ensuing years (particularly post-1995), there has been heavy interest in resuming passenger service by Bucks County officials. Several housing booms throughout the 1980s and 1990s have resulted in homes being situated directly adjacent to the dormant rail line. Though there is overwhelming support from a majority of residents looking for better public transportation options, several residents along Old Jordan Road in Holland have voiced NIMBY
NIMBY
NIMBY or Nimby is an acronym for the phrase "not in my back yard". The term is used pejoratively to describe opposition by residents to a proposal for a new development close to them. Opposing residents themselves are sometimes called Nimbies...
opposition to the reactivation of regular passenger service.
Though rail service was initially replaced with a Fox Chase-Newtown shuttle bus, patronage remained light. The replacement bus service was far slower and less convenient than the train service it replaced, resulting in the shuttle bus being very unpopular. The travelling public never saw a bus service as a suitable replacement for a rail service.
Government
Northampton Township is a class two township under Pennsylvania State Code. It is governed by a five member Board of Supervisors.The five Supervisors are:
- Vincent Deon (R) Chairman
- George F. Komelasky (R) Vice Chairman
- Frank Rothermel (D) Treasurer
- Eileen Silver (R), Secretary
- James Cunningham (D), Assistant Secretary
Education
Northampton Township is part of the Council Rock School DistrictCouncil Rock School District
The Council Rock School District also known as CRSD is located in lower Bucks County, in southeastern Pennsylvania. Its administrative offices are located in the Borough of Newtown. It spends over US$ 9,000 per secondary student per year...
which includes Northampton Township, Newtown Township
Newtown Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Newtown Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 19,299 at the 2010 census.-History:Newtown Township traces its roots back to William Penn, who purchased from the Lenni Lenape Indians in 1683. He named this land my "New Township", which gradually...
, Newtown Borough
Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Newtown is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,248 at the 2010 census. It is located just west of the Trenton, New Jersey metropolitan area, and is part of the larger Philadelphia metropolitan area. It is entirely surrounded by Newtown Township, from which...
, Wrightstown Township and Upper Makefield. Northampton Township is represented on the Council Rock School Board in 5 single seat School Director regions. (Listed in order of when each joined the board.)
- Jerold Grupp, Region 5 (Voting Districts 9, 14, and 16) current term expires 12/2011
- Bernadette Heenan, Region 3 (Voting Districts 1, 11 and 15) current term expires 12/2013
- Patricia Sexton, Region 7 (Voting Districts 3, 5, 10 and 17) current term expires 12/2011
- Robert Donnelly, Region 6 (Voting Districts 4, 8, 13, and 18) current term expires 12/2013
- Wendy Thomas, Region 4 (Voting Districts 2, 6, 7, and 12) current term expire12/2013
Demographics
As of the 2010 census, the township was 93.2% Non-Hispanic White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 3.4% Asian, and 0.8% were two or more races. 3.5% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.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 39,384 people, 13,014 households, and 10,957 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 1,524.7 people per square mile (588.7/km²). There were 13,138 housing units at an average density of 508.6/sq mi (196.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.01% White, 0.41% African American, 0.04% Native American, 1.80% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.16% 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 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.83% of the population.
There were 13,014 households out of which 43.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 76.0% 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, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.8% were non-families. 13.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.33.
In the township the population was spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $82,655, and the median income for a family was $91,477. Males had a median income of $60,368 versus $38,969 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 $33,028. About 1.4% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.
Sports
Council Rock Northampton Little League made it to the 2007 Mid-Atlantic Regional Finals, where they lost 4-0 to Salisbury, MarylandSalisbury, Maryland
-Demographics:Salisbury is the principal city of the Salisbury-Ocean Pines CSA, a Combined Statistical Area that includes the Salisbury metropolitan area and the Ocean Pines micropolitan area , which had a combined population of 176,657 at the 2010 census.As of the census of 2000, there were...
.