Upland, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Upland is a borough in Delaware County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. Upland is governed by an elected seven member borough council. The population was 2,977 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²), all of it land.
. They arrived in the area in 1643 and built a permanent settlement at Tinicum Island
. The settlement of Upland was built around the point where the Chester Creek
flows into the Delaware River
, which is part of the city of Chester
. The colonists had plantations devoted to the cultivation of tobacco
for export to Sweden. Upland was reflected on the early map of New Sweden made by Peter Lindstrom in 1654.
During this period three governments were competing for colonial supremacy in the mid-Atlantic coastal area: the Dutch, the Swedish and the English. The Swedish settlement was incorporated into Dutch New Netherland on September 15, 1655. In 1664 the English captured New Netherlands from the Dutch. In 1676 the Duke of York
's laws were promulgated as the rule of conduct on the Delaware River, and courts were established, one of which was the Upland.
The borough of Upland, as opposed to the historic town of Upland (which was later renamed Chester), was founded June 28, 1869.
of 2000, there were 2,977 people, 1,116 households, and 765 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 4,439.0 people per square mile (1,715.6/km²). There were 1,216 housing units at an average density of 1,813.2 per square mile (700.7/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 77.23% White, 19.68% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.81% from other races
, and 1.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.08% of the population.
There were 1,116 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% were married couples
living together, 20.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.28.
In the borough the population was spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.3 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $28,869, and the median income for a family was $35,640. Males had a median income of $31,188 versus $26,723 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $15,391. About 20.1% of families and 25.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.3% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
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...
. Upland is governed by an elected seven member borough council. The population was 2,977 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Upland is located at 39°51′24"N 75°22′46"W (39.856762, -75.379429).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 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²), all of it land.
History
The first European settlers in this area were from the Swedish colony of New SwedenNew Sweden
New Sweden was a Swedish colony along the Delaware River on the Mid-Atlantic coast of North America from 1638 to 1655. Fort Christina, now in Wilmington, Delaware, was the first settlement. New Sweden included parts of the present-day American states of Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania....
. They arrived in the area in 1643 and built a permanent settlement at Tinicum Island
Tinicum Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Tinicum Township, more popularly known as "Tinicum Island" or "The Island", a census-designated place and township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,353 at the 2000 census. Included within the township's boundaries are the communities of Essington and Lester...
. The settlement of Upland was built around the point where the Chester Creek
Chester Creek
thumb|upright=1.45|Chester Creek near [[Upland, Pennsylvania]]Chester Creek is a tributary of the Delaware River in Delaware County, Pennsylvania in the United States.-East Branch:...
flows 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...
, which is part of the city of Chester
Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a population of 33,972 at the 2010 census. Chester is situated on the Delaware River, between the cities of Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware.- History :...
. The colonists had plantations devoted to the cultivation of tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
for export to Sweden. Upland was reflected on the early map of New Sweden made by Peter Lindstrom in 1654.
During this period three governments were competing for colonial supremacy in the mid-Atlantic coastal area: the Dutch, the Swedish and the English. The Swedish settlement was incorporated into Dutch New Netherland on September 15, 1655. In 1664 the English captured New Netherlands from the Dutch. In 1676 the Duke of York
Duke of York
The Duke of York is a title of nobility in the British peerage. Since the 15th century, it has, when granted, usually been given to the second son of the British monarch. The title has been created a remarkable eleven times, eight as "Duke of York" and three as the double-barreled "Duke of York and...
's laws were promulgated as the rule of conduct on the Delaware River, and courts were established, one of which was the Upland.
The borough of Upland, as opposed to the historic town of Upland (which was later renamed Chester), was founded June 28, 1869.
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 2,977 people, 1,116 households, and 765 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 4,439.0 people per square mile (1,715.6/km²). There were 1,216 housing units at an average density of 1,813.2 per square mile (700.7/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 77.23% White, 19.68% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.81% 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 1.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.08% of the population.
There were 1,116 households out of which 33.3% 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, 20.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.28.
In the borough the population was spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.3 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $28,869, and the median income for a family was $35,640. Males had a median income of $31,188 versus $26,723 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 $15,391. About 20.1% of families and 25.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.3% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Residents in Upland are zoned to the Chester-Upland School District.Main Street Elementary School is the elementary school in Upland. Residents are also zoned to Smedley Middle School and Chester High School.Other sources
- Jordan, John W. A History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania (Lewis Historical Publishing Company, New York. 1914)
- Ward, Christopher L. New Sweden on the Delaware (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1938)
- Armstong, Edward; William H. Denny The Record of the Court at Upland, in Pennsylvania. 1676 to 1681 (Kessinger Pub Company. 2007) ISBN 0548292493