Bristol Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania

Bristol Township, Pennsylvania
Township

Phineas Pemberton House, built starting 1687

Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
Coordinates: 40°07′00″N 74°51′59″W / 40.11667°N 74.86639°W / 40.11667; -74.86639Coordinates: 40°07′00″N 74°51′59″W / 40.11667°N 74.86639°W / 40.11667; -74.86639
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Bucks
Formed 1692
Area
 • Total 17.2 sq mi (45 km2)
 • Land 16.1 sq mi (42 km2)
 • Water 1.1 sq mi (3 km2)
Elevation 16 ft (5 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 54,582
 • Estimate (2016)[1] 53,771
 • Density 3,439.4/sq mi (1,328.0/km2)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Area code(s) 215
FIPS code 42-017-08768
Website http://www.bristoltwp.com

Bristol Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 54,582 at the 2010 census, making it the 13th largest municipality in the state. Bristol Township, along with Bristol Borough, is a cultural hub for Lower Bucks County, hosting celebrations of African and Latino heritage. Parts of the township consist of the neighborhoods of Fairless Hills and Levittown, Pennsylvania.

History

Before Bristol Township was settled, it was populated by Delaware Indians. It was formed as Buckingham Township in 1692 and was renamed Bristol Township in 1702. The springs at Bath, in Bristol Township, were popular among wealthy Philadelphians for a while, but lost popularity to the ones in Saratoga, New York. The Delaware Canal was built in 1831 and connected Bristol to Easton, 60 miles to the north. Still, until the 1950s Bristol Township was largely agricultural. In 1952 William Levitt began construction of his Levittown, which was located partly in Bristol Township.

The Phineas Pemberton House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.[2]

The War Dog Memorial, located in front of the Bristol Township Municipal Building, was dedicated in 2006.[3]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 17.2 square miles (45 km2), of which, 16.1 square miles (42 km2) of it is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2) of it (6.33%) is water.

Bristol Township is located at a crossroads of U.S. Route 13, Pennsylvania Route 413, the Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 276), and Interstate 95. Some of these roads mentioned originated as Lenni Lenape river trails along the Delaware River. This has made Bristol Township an ideal location.

Named places, past and present, in Bristol Township include Bath, Croydon, Edgely, Emilie, part of Levittown, Midway, Newportville, Pickpocket, and Pine Grove.[4]

Natural features include Mill Creek, Neshaminy Creek, and Queen Anne Creek.[4]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18901,591—
19001,397−12.2%
19101,99242.6%
19205,027152.4%
19304,381−12.9%
19405,85733.7%
195012,184108.0%
196059,298386.7%
197067,49813.8%
198058,733−13.0%
199057,129−2.7%
200055,521−2.8%
201054,582−1.7%
Est. 201653,771[1]−1.5%
[5]

As of the 2010 census, the township was 77.3% Non-Hispanic White, 10.2% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 2.8% Asian, and 2.8% were two or more races. 7.4% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.[6]

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 55,521 people, 19,733 households, and 14,503 families residing in the township. The population density was 3,439.4 people per square mile (1,328.2/km²). There were 20,486 housing units at an average density of 1,269.1/sq mi (490.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 86.13% White, 8.45% African American, 0.21% Native American, 2.14% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.55% from other races, and 1.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.85% of the population.

There were 19,733 households, out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the township the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $48,090, and the median income for a family was $54,308. Males had a median income of $38,112 versus $28,797 for females. The per capita income for the township was $19,090. About 5.4% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.

Climate

During the summer months, frequent episodes of high humidity occur. Occasionally, heat index values exceed 100°F (38°C). On average, the wettest month of the year is July which corresponds with the annual peak for thunderstorm activity. During the winter months, wind chill values occasionally fall below 0°F (-18°C). On average, the snowiest month of the year is February which corresponds with the annual peak for nor'easter activity.

Climate data for Bristol Township, Pennsylvania (1981 – 2010 averages). Elevation 33 ft (10 m).
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 40.7
(4.8)		 44.0
(6.7)		 52.1
(11.2)		 64.1
(17.8)		 73.5
(23.1)		 82.7
(28.2)		 86.9
(30.5)		 85.3
(29.6)		 78.5
(25.8)		 67.2
(19.6)		 56.3
(13.5)		 45.1
(7.3)		 64.7
(18.18)
Average low °F (°C) 24.1
(−4.4)		 25.9
(−3.4)		 32.3
(0.2)		 41.6
(5.3)		 50.7
(10.4)		 60.5
(15.8)		 65.6
(18.7)		 64.2
(17.9)		 56.9
(13.8)		 45.2
(7.3)		 36.8
(2.7)		 28.4
(−2)		 44.4
(6.9)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.59
(91.2)		 2.72
(69.1)		 4.27
(108.5)		 3.85
(97.8)		 4.21
(106.9)		 4.21
(106.9)		 5.01
(127.3)		 4.34
(110.2)		 4.06
(103.1)		 3.72
(94.5)		 3.43
(87.1)		 3.93
(99.8)		 47.34
(1,202.4)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 7.7
(19.6)		 8.6
(21.8)		 3.7
(9.4)		 0.7
(1.8)		 0.0
(0)		 0.0
(0)		 0.0
(0)		 0.0
(0)		 0.0
(0)		 0.0
(0)		 0.5
(1.3)		 3.8
(9.7)		 25
(63.6)
Source: PRISM [8]

Education

Bristol Township students attend schools in the Bristol Township School District, and the notable public high school is Harry S. Truman High School.

Until 1990, for a period of over 12 years, the Lower Bucks Christian Academy leased the Benjamin Franklin Junior High School facility. That year the school district denied renewal of the lease since it wished to repurpose the building as an elementary school.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  2. ↑ National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  3. ↑ War Dog Memorial, Bristol Township, PA
  4. 1 2 MacReynolds, George, Place Names in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Doylestown, Bucks County Historical Society, Doylestown, PA, 1942
  5. ↑ "CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 8 February 2006. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  6. ↑ Census 2010: Pennsylvania. Usatoday.Com. Retrieved on 2013-07-21.
  7. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  8. ↑ [http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/
  9. ↑ Gallagher, David F. "School's Prospects More Dim" (Archive). Philadelphia Inquirer. June 27, 1991. Retrieved on November 29, 2015.
Adjacent places of Bristol Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
 Middletown Falls Bordentown Township
Hulmeville Tullytown, Florence
   Bristol Township  
Bensalem Bristol Burlington Township
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