Morton, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Morton is a borough in Delaware County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 2,715 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 2,715 people, 1,145 households, and 687 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 7,502.4 people per square mile (2,911.9/km²). There were 1,209 housing units at an average density of 3,340.8 per square mile (1,296.7/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 86.87% White, 7.47% African American, 0.07% Native American, 3.90% Asian, 0.33% from other races
, and 1.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.14% of the population.
There were 110,234 households out of which 96% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 13% were married couples
living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the borough the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.7 males.
, a signer of the Declaration of Independence
and the delegate who cast the deciding vote in favor of American independence.
The borough houses the Morton train station
, built in 1880 by Joseph Wilson of the Wilson Brothers architectural firm
to serve the Morton stop on the Pennsylvania Railroad
West Chester line that originated in 1854. It is currently used on the SEPTA Regional Rail
Media/Elwyn Line
.
The Piasecki Helicopter Corporation opened a manufacturing plant in Morton in 1947. The Piasecki H-21
and the Piasecki HUP-1 were both manufactured there. Boeing
incorporated the company in 1960, and the company moved the manufacturing to a site along the Delaware River
. The original Piasecki building is now a BJ's Wholesale Club
, with the control tower on one corner.
Mike Scioscia
, manager of the Major League Baseball
team the Los Angeles Angels and former professional baseball player, is a native of Morton.
Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 558,979, making it Pennsylvania's fifth most populous county, behind Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, and Bucks counties....
, 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 2,715 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Morton is located at 39°54′38"N 75°19′38"W (39.910612, -75.327273).According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 borough has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
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 2,715 people, 1,145 households, and 687 families residing in the borough. 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 7,502.4 people per square mile (2,911.9/km²). There were 1,209 housing units at an average density of 3,340.8 per square mile (1,296.7/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 86.87% White, 7.47% African American, 0.07% Native American, 3.90% Asian, 0.33% 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 1.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.14% of the population.
There were 110,234 households out of which 96% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 13% 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, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the borough the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.7 males.
History and prominent residents
Morton was named after Sketchley Morton, son of John MortonJohn Morton (politician)
John Morton was a farmer, surveyor, and jurist from the Province of Pennsylvania. As a delegate to the Continental Congress during the American Revolution, he provided the swing vote that allowed Pennsylvania to vote in favor of the United States Declaration of Independence...
, a signer of the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
and the delegate who cast the deciding vote in favor of American independence.
The borough houses the Morton train station
Morton (SEPTA station)
Morton, also known as Morton-Rutledge, is a station along the SEPTA Regional Rail Media/Elwyn Line, the former Pennsylvania Railroad West Chester Line. It is located at Yale & Morton Avenues west of PA 420 in Morton, PA 19070. The south, in-bound platform of the station is in Morton Borough while...
, built in 1880 by Joseph Wilson of the Wilson Brothers architectural firm
Wilson Brothers & Company
A prominent Victorian-era architecture and engineering firm established in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Wilson Brothers & Company was especially noted for its structural expertise. The brothers designed or contributed engineering work to hundreds of bridges, railroad stations and industrial...
to serve the Morton stop on the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
West Chester line that originated in 1854. It is currently used on the SEPTA Regional Rail
SEPTA Regional Rail
The SEPTA Regional Rail system consists of commuter rail service on thirteen branches to over 150 active stations in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States and its suburbs. Service on most lines runs from 5:30 AM to midnight...
Media/Elwyn Line
Media/Elwyn Line
The Media/Elwyn Line is a SEPTA Regional Rail line running from Center City Philadelphia west to Elwyn in Delaware County.Originally known as the Media/West Chester Branch, service was truncated on September 19, 1986 from West Chester to its current terminus at Elwyn. Service expansion beyond Elwyn...
.
The Piasecki Helicopter Corporation opened a manufacturing plant in Morton in 1947. The Piasecki H-21
CH-21 Shawnee
The Piasecki H-21 Workhorse/Shawnee is an American helicopter, the fourth of a line of tandem rotor helicopters designed and built by Piasecki Helicopter . Commonly called the "flying banana", it was a multi-mission helicopter, utilizing wheels, skis, or floats.The H-21 was originally developed by...
and the Piasecki HUP-1 were both manufactured there. Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
incorporated the company in 1960, and the company moved the manufacturing to a site along the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
. The original Piasecki building is now a BJ's Wholesale Club
BJ's Wholesale Club
BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. , commonly referred to simply as BJ's, is a membership-only warehouse club chain operating on the United States East Coast, as well as in the state of Ohio...
, with the control tower on one corner.
Mike Scioscia
Mike Scioscia
Michael Lorri Scioscia is a former Major League Baseball catcher and current manager for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He has worked in that capacity since the 2000 season, and is the longest-tenured manager in Major League Baseball....
, manager of the Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
team the Los Angeles Angels and former professional baseball player, is a native of Morton.