Willow Grove, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Willow Grove is a census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...

 (CDP) in Montgomery County
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...

. A community in Philadelphia's northern suburbs, the population was 15,726 at the 2010 census. It is located in Abington Township
Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Abington Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 55,310 in as of the 2010 census.Abington Township is one of Montgomery County's oldest communities dating back to before 1700 and being incorporated in 1704. It is home to some of the county's...

 and Upper Moreland Township. Willow Grove was once known for Willow Grove Park
Willow Grove Park
Willow Grove Park was an amusement park located in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania , United States, that operated for eighty years from 1896 until the 1975 season. The park operated under the name Six Gun Territory from 1972...

, an amusement park that was open from 1896 to 1976, now the site of Willow Grove Park Mall
Willow Grove Park Mall
Willow Grove Park Mall is a three-story shopping mall located in the unincorporated community of Willow Grove in Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania at the intersection of Easton Road and Moreland Road...

.

Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove is located northwest of the Willow Grove CDP in Horsham Township. NAS JRB Willow Grove will continue operating through 2010, and closure will occur by September 2011.

Geography

Willow Grove is located at 40.146109°N 75.116641°W (40.146109, -75.116641).

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 CDP has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²), of which 0.28% is water.

Demographics

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 16,234 people, 6,389 households, and 4,255 families residing in the CDP. 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 4,485.7 people per square mile (1,731.5/km²). There were 6,582 housing units at an average density of 1,818.7/sq mi (702.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 88.57% White, 6.58% African American, 0.09% Native American, 3.06% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.48% 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 1.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.57% of the population.

There were 6,389 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% 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, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $50,378, and the median income for a family was $62,163. Males had a median income of $40,393 versus $32,451 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 CDP was $24,740. About 2.8% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.

History

Willow Grove's history spans nearly three centuries. Following a land grant established by William Penn
William 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...

, known as the Manor of Moreland, the first home was built in 1719. The colonial farmstead slowly grew into a small rural community. By the mid-19th century, Willow Grove served as a summer vacation retreat for Philadelphia residents.

Economy

China Airlines
China Airlines
China Airlines is both the flag carrier and the largest airline of Republic of China . Although not directly state-owned, the airline is owned by China Airlines Group, which is owned by the China Aviation Development Foundation...

 operates the Philadelphia Mini Office (Chinese: 費城營業所 Fèichéng Yíngyèsuǒ) in Building 39G at 2300 Computer Avenue in the Willow Grove CDP and in Upper Moreland Township
Upper Moreland Township, Pennsylvania
Upper Moreland Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 24,015 at the 2010 census. Upper Moreland Township is primarily a residential community with distinctive neighborhoods that are complemented by several thriving business, industrial, and...

.

Notable people from Willow Grove

  • Jill Biden
    Jill Biden
    Jill Tracy Biden is an American educator and, as the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, is the Second Lady of the United States....

    , an educator and the wife of Vice President
    Vice President of the United States
    The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...

     Joe Biden
    Joe Biden
    Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. is the 47th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President Barack Obama...

  • Stewart Greenleaf
    Stewart Greenleaf
    Stewart J. Greenleaf is a Republican member of the Pennsylvania State Senate, representing the 12th District since 1979. His district includes portions of Montgomery and Bucks Counties.-Biography:...

    , State Senator, 12th district
  • Edwin Hallowell
    Edwin Hallowell
    Edwin Hallowell was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.-Biography:...

    , Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives; born in Willow Grove
  • Enolia McMillan
    Enolia McMillan
    Enolia Pettigen McMillan was the first female national president of the NAACP.Born Enolia Virginia Pettigen in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Elizabeth Fortune Pettigen and John Pettigen, Enolia Pettigen attended Frederick Douglass High School and later Howard University with the help...

    , first female national president of the NAACP; born in Willow Grove
  • Chris Raab
    Chris Raab
    Christian Joseph Raab, , better known by his stage name Raab Himself, is an American television personality, known as a former member of the CKY Crew featured in the MTV series Viva La Bam and Jackass ....

    , member of the CKY Crew
    CKY Crew
    The Camp Kill Yourself Crew are a group of friends and relatives centered around Bam Margera, many of whom are from or located in and around West Chester, Pennsylvania...

     and a friend of professional skateboarder Bam Margera
    Bam Margera
    Brandon Cole "Bam" Margera is an American professional skateboarder, television and radio personality, actor and daredevil. He released a series of videos under the CKY banner and came to prominence after being drafted into MTV's Jackass crew...

    . He has been featured in the CKY Trilogy and starred in Jackass
    Jackass (TV series)
    jackass is an American reality series, originally shown on MTV from 2000 to 2002, featuring people performing various dangerous, crude, ridiculous, self-injuring stunts and pranks...

     and Viva La Bam
    Viva La Bam
    Viva La Bam is an American reality television series that stars Bam Margera and his friends and family. The show was a spin-off from MTV's Jackass, in which Margera and most of the main cast had appeared...

    .


James A Wermuth FAIC - Former principal and owner of CTG Inc. an international conservation firm. Presently Executive Director of the John Clarke Society: John Clarke Society - The origin of separation of church and state, Newport, Rhode Island.

External links

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