Quakertown | |
Borough | |
Quakertown
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Official name: Borough of Quakertown | |
Named for: the "Quakers" | |
Country | United States |
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State | Pennsylvania |
County | Bucks |
Elevation | 505 ft (154 m) |
Coordinates | |
Area | 2.0 sq mi (5 km2) |
Population | 8,979 (2010) |
Density | 4,490 / sq mi (1,734 / km2) |
Timezone | EST (UTC-5) |
- summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
ZIP Code | 18951 |
Area code | 215 |
Location of Quakertown in Bucks County
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Location of Quakertown in Pennsylvania
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Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
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Website: www.quakertownboro.com | |
Quakertown is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 8,979.[1] The borough is 16 miles (26 km) south of Bethlehem and 29 miles (47 km) north of Philadelphia, making Quakertown a border town of both the Delaware Valley and Lehigh Valley metropolitan areas. Quakertown is considered part of the Allentown–Bethlehem urbanized area and the Philadelphia–Camden–Vineland (PA–NJ–DE) MSA.
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Quakertown was originally settled by the Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers. The settlement was not officially known as Quakertown until its first post office opened in 1803.[2]
On September 18, 1777, during the American Revolutionary War, a convoy of wagons carrying the Liberty Bell from Philadelphia to Allentown, under the command of Col. Thomas Polk (Charlotte, North Carolina), stopped in Quakertown. The Liberty Bell was stored overnight behind the home of Evan Foulke (1237 West Broad Street), and the entourage stayed at the Red Lion Inn. The John Fries' Rebellion was also started in the Red Lion Inn in 1799.
In 1854, Quakertown elected its first Burgess. The North Pennsylvania Railroad caused a great increase in population, and by 1880, the population of Quakertown had almost reached 1,800.[2]
The American Civil War along with national economic expansion changed Quakertown from a tiny village to a commercial manufacturing center. In the nineteenth century, local industrial establishments included cigar and cigar box factories, silk mills, harness factories, and stove foundries. Until 1969, Quakertown generated its own electrical power. The population of Quakertown in 1900 was 3,014; it rose to 3,801 in 1910. By 1940, the population had reached 5,150 people. At the 2010 census, the borough's population was 8,979. Today, Quakertown is considered a fast-growing bedroom community and regional shopping and service center for Bucks County and Philadelphia.
Quakertown is located at (40.440440, -75.340477)[3], at an elevation of 505 feet (154 m) above sea level.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2), all of it land.
Tohickon Creek, which drains into the Delaware River, flows past the northeastern edge of the borough. Major roads in Quakertown include Pennsylvania routes 309, 313, and 663.
Climate data for Quakertown | |||||||||||||
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Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Average high °F (°C) | 33 (1) |
35.9 (2.2) |
46.1 (7.8) |
58.3 (14.6) |
69.3 (20.7) |
77.5 (25.3) |
81.5 (27.5) |
80.3 (26.8) |
73.3 (22.9) |
61.5 (16.4) |
48.8 (9.3) |
37.7 (3.2) |
58.6 (14.8) |
Average low °F (°C) | 15.3 (−9.3) |
16.9 (−8.4) |
24.4 (−4.2) |
33.9 (1.1) |
44.2 (6.8) |
53.3 (11.8) |
57.1 (13.9) |
55.5 (13.1) |
48.3 (9.1) |
37.2 (2.9) |
29.9 (−1.2) |
21 (−6) |
36.42 (2.45) |
Precipitation inches (mm) | 3.1 (79) |
2.7 (69) |
3.7 (94) |
3.6 (91) |
4 (102) |
4.7 (119) |
4.5 (114) |
4.1 (104) |
4 (102) |
3 (76) |
3.7 (94) |
3.4 (86) |
44.5 (1,130) |
Source: Weatherbase [4] |
Historical populations | |||
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Census | Pop. | %± | |
1930 | 4,883 |
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1940 | 5,150 | 5.5% | |
1950 | 5,673 | 10.2% | |
1960 | 6,305 | 11.1% | |
1970 | 7,276 | 15.4% | |
1980 | 8,867 | 21.9% | |
1990 | 8,982 | 1.3% | |
2000 | 8,931 | −0.6% | |
2010 | 8,979 | 0.5% |
As of the census[5] of 2010, there were 8,979 people residing in the borough. The racial makeup of the borough was 90.6% White, 2.4% African American, 0.3% Native American, 2.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 2.7% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.0% of the population.
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 8,931 people, 3,421 households, and 2,251 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,424.7 people per square mile (1,707.1/km²). There were 3,631 housing units at an average density of 1,798.9 per square mile (694.0/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.46% White, 1.20% African American, 0.13% Native American, 1.51% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.58% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.88% of the population.
There were 3,421 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the borough the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $41,942, and the median income for a family was $51,194. Males had a median income of $33,697 versus $26,988 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $20,562. About 3.7% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.
Quakertown has a public general aviation airport, simply named Quakertown Airport. The airport is not located in the Quakertown borough itself, but in neighboring Milford Township.[6]
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