Lower Gwynedd Township, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Lower Gwynedd Township is a township in Montgomery County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 11,405 at the 2010 census. The township comprises four villages: Gwynedd, Gwynedd Valley, Penllyn, and Spring House.
Local residents use the English pronunciation ˈɡwɛnɛd, rather than the Welsh ˈɡwɪnɛð.
Lower Gwynedd Township was founded in 1698.
, the township has a total area of 9.4 square miles (24.2 km²), of which, 9.3 square miles (24.2 km²) of it is land and 0.11% is water.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 10,422 people, 4,177 households, and 2,752 families residing in the township. The population density
was 1,115.9 people per square mile (430.8/km²). There were 4,360 housing units at an average density of 466.8/sq mi (180.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 86.80% White, 7.78% African American, 4.10% Asian, 1.05% Hispanic or Latino, 0.98% from two or more races, 0.26% from other races
, 0.08% Native American, and 0.01% Pacific Islander.
There were 4,177 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.6% were married couples
living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 22.0% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 22.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 81.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $74,351, and the median income for a family was $97,991. Males had a median income of $71,027 versus $44,541 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $41,868. About 1.2% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents: Craig C. Weiss, Brian J. Wheatman
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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 11,405 at the 2010 census. The township comprises four villages: Gwynedd, Gwynedd Valley, Penllyn, and Spring House.
Local residents use the English pronunciation ˈɡwɛnɛd, rather than the Welsh ˈɡwɪnɛð.
Lower Gwynedd Township was founded in 1698.
History
Gwynedd was founded in 1698 by Quakers. The township was then split into Lower Gwynedd and Upper Gwynedd with the help of William Penn in 1891. The name Gwynedd came from the Welsh meaning White Fields. When the 66 settlers from Wales came the land was covered in a blanket of snow hence Gwynedd.Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 township has a total area of 9.4 square miles (24.2 km²), of which, 9.3 square miles (24.2 km²) of it is land and 0.11% is water.
Demographics
As of the 2010 census, the township was 84.0 White, 6.9% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 7.1% Asian, and 1.5% were two or more races. 1.9% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/profile/PA.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 10,422 people, 4,177 households, and 2,752 families residing in the township. 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 1,115.9 people per square mile (430.8/km²). There were 4,360 housing units at an average density of 466.8/sq mi (180.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 86.80% White, 7.78% African American, 4.10% Asian, 1.05% Hispanic or Latino, 0.98% from two or more races, 0.26% 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...
, 0.08% Native American, and 0.01% Pacific Islander.
There were 4,177 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.6% 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, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 22.0% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 22.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 81.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $74,351, and the median income for a family was $97,991. Males had a median income of $71,027 versus $44,541 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 township was $41,868. About 1.2% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents: Craig C. Weiss, Brian J. Wheatman
Government and Politics
| Year | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
Democrat Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 44.8% 3,312 | 54.7% 4,037 |
| 2004 | 49.6% 3,557 | 50.0% 3,589 |
| 2000 | 52.4% 3,134 | 45.6% 2,726 |
| 1996 | 51.9% 2,725 | 40.6% 2,132 |
| 1992 | 51.2% 2,031 | 34.0% 1,348 |