Lower Providence Township, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Lower Providence Township is a township in Montgomery County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
, about 17 miles west of Philadelphia. The population was 25,436 at the 2010 census.
along the Perkiomen Creek
.
, the township has a total area of 15.6 square miles (40.3 km²), of which, 15.4 square miles (39.8 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it (1.29%) is water.
Lower Providence Township is home to a portion of Valley Forge National Historic Park and Evansburg State Park
. Evansburg State Park provides for a multitude of recreational opportunities such as horseback riding, hiking, picnicking, biking, fishing and hunting. Mill Grove
, the first home in America of painter John James Audubon
for which the community of Audubon
, Pennsylvania
is named, is maintained as a museum and wildlife sanctuary by Montgomery County.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 22,390 people, 7,446 households, and 5,606 families residing in the township. The population density
was 1,458.8 people per square mile (563.2/km²). There were 7,690 housing units at an average density of 501.0/sq mi (193.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 86.26% White, 7.25% African American, 0.11% Native American, 4.67% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.04% from other races
, and 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.10% of the population.
There were 7,446 households out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.0% were married couples
living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the township the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 33.7% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 112.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.3 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $66,250, and the median income for a family was $74,902. Males had a median income of $47,489 versus $35,896 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $26,186. About 2.9% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.
Lower Providence Township is a municipality that is governed as a Township of the Second Class with a Board of Supervisors consisting of five elected residents. The Board of Supervisors is responsible for the appointment of the Township Manager, who executes the policies of the Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors also appoints all advisory and regulatory boards. The current township manager is Joseph C. Dunbar. The members of the Board of Supervisors are Craig M. Dininny, Chairman (Term expires 2009); Piero A. Sassu, Vice-Chairman (Term expires 2009); Marie Altieri (Term expires 2011); Richard T. Brown (Term expires 2007); and Chris DiPaolo (Term expires 2011).
. The Woodland Elementary, Eagleville Elementary, Audubon Elementary, Arrowhead Elementary and Arcola Middle School are located in the township.
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...
, about 17 miles west of Philadelphia. The population was 25,436 at the 2010 census.
History
Upper Providence Township was established in 1805 by the division of the former Providence TownshipProvidence Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Providence Township was a township of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA from 1729 until it was divided in 1805.Originally the land was a major part of William Penn's Manor of Gilberts. In 1699, Penn sold off east of the Perkiomen Creek and leased the land to the west...
along the Perkiomen Creek
Perkiomen Creek
Perkiomen Creek is a tributary of the Schuylkill River in Berks, Lehigh and Montgomery counties in Pennsylvania in the United States.Perkiomen Creek begins in Hereford Township, Berks County, initially flows eastward into Upper Milford Township, Lehigh County, and turns southward to reenter...
.
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 15.6 square miles (40.3 km²), of which, 15.4 square miles (39.8 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it (1.29%) is water.
Lower Providence Township is home to a portion of Valley Forge National Historic Park and Evansburg State Park
Evansburg State Park
Evansburg State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Lower Providence, Lower Salford, Skippack, Towamencin, and Worcester Townships in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park has a variety of habitats including forests, meadows, old fields, and farmland...
. Evansburg State Park provides for a multitude of recreational opportunities such as horseback riding, hiking, picnicking, biking, fishing and hunting. Mill Grove
Mill Grove
Mill Grove is a historic stone house in Audubon, Pennsylvania on the National Register of Historic Places. It is the first home in America of painter John James Audubon for which the community is named. It is maintained as a museum and wildlife sanctuary by Montgomery County.Mill Grove was owned...
, the first home in America of painter John James Audubon
John James Audubon
John James Audubon was a French-American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter. He was notable for his expansive studies to document all types of American birds and for his detailed illustrations that depicted the birds in their natural habitats...
for which the community of Audubon
Audubon, Pennsylvania
Audubon is a census-designated place in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,433 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Audubon is located at in the township of Lower Providence....
, 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...
is named, is maintained as a museum and wildlife sanctuary by Montgomery County.
Demographics
As of the 2010 census, the township was 81.0% White, 7.1% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 9.7% Asian, and 1.3% were two or more races. 2.9% 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 22,390 people, 7,446 households, and 5,606 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 1,458.8 people per square mile (563.2/km²). There were 7,690 housing units at an average density of 501.0/sq mi (193.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 86.26% White, 7.25% African American, 0.11% Native American, 4.67% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.04% 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 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.10% of the population.
There were 7,446 households out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.0% 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, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the township the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 33.7% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 112.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.3 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $66,250, and the median income for a family was $74,902. Males had a median income of $47,489 versus $35,896 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 $26,186. About 2.9% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.
Government
| 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 | 46.1% 5,592 | 53.2% 6,450 |
| 2004 | 49.6% 5,465 | 49.9% 5,489 |
| 2000 | 50.1% 4,239 | 47.3% 4,003 |
| 1996 | 44.5% 3,215 | 42.4% 3,065 |
| 1992 | 41.8% 3,291 | 35.5% 2,797 |
Lower Providence Township is a municipality that is governed as a Township of the Second Class with a Board of Supervisors consisting of five elected residents. The Board of Supervisors is responsible for the appointment of the Township Manager, who executes the policies of the Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors also appoints all advisory and regulatory boards. The current township manager is Joseph C. Dunbar. The members of the Board of Supervisors are Craig M. Dininny, Chairman (Term expires 2009); Piero A. Sassu, Vice-Chairman (Term expires 2009); Marie Altieri (Term expires 2011); Richard T. Brown (Term expires 2007); and Chris DiPaolo (Term expires 2011).
Education
Lower Providence Township is served by the Methacton School DistrictMethacton School District
Methacton School District is a public school district located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The school district includes residents the townships of Lower Providence and Worcester...
. The Woodland Elementary, Eagleville Elementary, Audubon Elementary, Arrowhead Elementary and Arcola Middle School are located in the township.