Millbourne, Pennsylvania
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Borough of Millbourne | |
|---|---|
| Borough | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Delaware |
| Area | 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km²) |
| - land | 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km²) |
| - water | 0.0 sq mi (0 km²), 0% |
| Center | |
| - coordinates | Coordinates: |
| - elevation | 128 ft (39 m) |
| Population | 943 (2000) |
| Density | 13,749.1 /sq mi (5,308.6 /km²) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| - summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Area code | 610 |
 Location of Millbourne in Delaware County
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  Location of Millbourne in Pennsylvania
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 Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
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Millbourne (pronounced /ˈmɪlbɚn/) is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 943 at the 2000 census. Millbourne borders Philadelphia along Cobbs Creek. Many people believe the borough to be part of neighboring Upper Darby, as Millbourne students attend Upper Darby School District schools.
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[edit] Geography
Millbourne is located at (39.963412, -75.253998)[1].
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. While the Millbourne station usually offers a 15-minute commute to Center City, it is not currently in use as a new station is under construction and scheduled for completion in approximately June, 2008. Millbourne is within walking distance of the 69th Street Terminal in Upper Darby and the 63rd Street Station in West Philadelphia, both of which are also on the Market-Frankford Line. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported in the early 2000's that, according to U.S. Census data, only about one-third of Millbourne workers commuted by car.
The Borough is approximately bounded on the north and east by Cobbs Creek, and on the south by Market Street. 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 1990's what was apparently a pet cougar got lose 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, 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. The paper was used to wrap guns for the war.
[edit] Demographics
The borough is the most densely populated municipality in Pennsylvania with 13,749 people living per square mile. [2]
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 943 people, 366 households, and 214 families residing in the borough. The population density was 13,749.1 people per square mile (5,201.3/km²). There were 420 housing units at an average density of 6,123.7/sq mi (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 spread out 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.
[edit] Economy
As of the census[3] 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 1700's 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. It was removed 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.
[edit] Culture
In 2000, 40.2% of Millbourne residents identified themselves as being of Asian Indian heritage. This was the highest percentage of Indian Americans of any place in the United States. One source [4] estimates that as of 2006, 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.[citation needed] Millbourne is home to a gurudwara, home of the Philadelphia Sikh Society. There is a mosque about a quarter mile away in Upper Darby, PA. A number of members of the local chapter of Kalaa, the Keralite Art and Literary Association of America, live in Millbourne. The Borough also boasts an expert in the ancient art of Cambodian court dance.
Fire protection is provided by the Millbourne Fire Company in partnership with the Upper Darby Fire Department.
The Upper Darby/Sellers Memorial Free Library Municipal Branch is within easy walking distance of Millbourne. A myriad of ethnic grocery stores also exist 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, Columbian, Vietnamese, Caribbean, southern rib, Punjabi and an award-winning pizza restaurants (and, until recently, a Filipino-owned restaurant where adobo was served) all exist 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. For bicyclists, it is also 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.
[edit] References
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ The Center for Rural Pennsylvania
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ http://www.littleindia.com/october2005/IndianMajority.htm "Indian Majority,"
