Perkasie, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Perkasie is a borough
in Bucks County
, Pennsylvania
, 35 miles (56.3 km) north of Philadelphia
. Establishments in the borough early in the twentieth century included silk mills, baseballs, brickyards, lumber mills, tile works, a stone crusher, and manufacturies of cigars, tags and labels, wire novelties, etc. The population in 1900 was 1,803; in 1910, 2,779 people lived in Perkasie. The population was 8,511 at the 2010 census. Perkasie is part of Pennridge School District
.
of 2010, there were 8,511 people residing in the borough. The racial makeup of the borough was 95.8% White, 1.0% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.5% from other races
, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 8,828 people, 3,294 households, and 2,338 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 3,408.9 people per square mile (1,316.0/km²). There were 3,378 housing units at an average density of 1,304.4 per square mile (503.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.77% White, 0.59% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.36% from other races
, and 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.36% of the population.
There were 3,294 households out of which 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% were married couples
living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the borough the population was spread out with 29.6% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 34.3% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.4 males.
The median income for a household in the borough is $52,000, and the median income for a family is $59,413. Males have a median income of $42,388 versus $28,323 for females. The per capita income
for the borough is $21,986. 4.7% of the population and 4.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.3% of those under the age of 18 and 7.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
The main school district of Perkasie is Pennridge School District.
is located just north of the center of town, and is actually just on the other side of the East Rockhill Township border. Pennridge Airport
is a public general aviation airport with one 4200 feet (1,280.2 m)-long runway.
Perkasie was once served by the Reading Railroad apart of the North Penn Division, Bethlehem Branch
. That main line is now owned by SEPTA, however, passenger service was terminated in the early 1980s. The last SEPTA, Philadelphia bound passenger train through Perkasie occurred on July 29, 1981. After passenger service was terminated, Conrail continued operations out of Lansdale up to Quakertown until the mid 90's. The East Penn Railroad
formally known as East Penn Railway (EPRY) leased a portion of this railroad from SEPTA saving the line from abandonment from Telford through to Quakertown.
SEPTA has recently issued a formal proposal to perform maintenance on the line and run passenger service back on it, but they have not decided between installing an electric wire for electric trains and using diesel trains that would connect to the Lansdale/Doylestown Line in Landsdale. The project is estimated to take at least five years.
Currently as of the end of 2009, unmarked freight cars particularly covered hoppers are now parked and being stored along the southbound track in Perkasie between Market Street and Park Avenue, from Park Avenue to the Old Bethlehem Pike Bridge, and so on to Meetinghouse Road in Telford. East Penn through Perkasie with ex-Conrail B23-7 3153 runs about two to three times a week passing through Perkasie to Telford during a work day, and later again passing through Perkasie while heading back up to Quakertown. Times may vary in between but an average time between 10:00am and 4:00pm during the week.
The borough is bordered by a state road on each side: PA 563
to the north; PA 313
to the east; PA 113
to the south; and PA 309
to the west. PA 152
runs right through the middle. I-476, I-276, and I-78 are the nearest interstates.
At the same time, Borough Council turned over to the Fire Company a Hand Pumper purchased from Newtown Fire Association, and a hose cart purchased from Philadelphia with 800 feet of hose. One month later the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad presented the Fire Company with a locomotive tire iron for use as a fire alarm. This was installed in a cupola of the Groover building (now in front of Silverdale Fire Company).
Perkasie is home to a former major league baseball factory, now out of business. Between 1920 and 1950, the factory produced millions of baseballs through the Hubbert/Spalding
contract. The factory still stands today, at 815 Chestnut Street, but had been converted into the Senior Citizens Center. http://www.pennridge.org/p/P-baseballfcty.html The Senior Center has since moved to the neighboring borough of Silverdale. The old Senior Center is scheduled to be converted to six two-bedroom condominiums by Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County. The goal of this project is to keep the exterior integrity intact and combine old world charm with green building techniques the new living space.
The Pearl S. Buck
House at Green Hills Farm
, a registered National Historic Landmark
, is located near Perkasie.
On June 26, 1988, about 15 percent of the town, including many historic buildings, was burned down in what became known as The Great Perkasie Fire. This massive fire was started by two 12-year-old boys who were playing with a lighter near the coal bins behind the Shelley & Sons lumberyard at Seventh and Market Streets. The fire was fought by about 300 firefighters who came from over 50 fire companies in three counties. Among the historic buildings lost were the American House and the Moyer-Kantner Funeral Home, both dating from 1870, and the Herstine Building. Despite the size of the fire, no fatalities were reported.
Immediately after the fire, a group of concerned business owners, residents and Borough Officials formed a Downtown Restoration Task Force. The Task Force was given the name of the Perkasie Towne Improvement Association (PTIA). This group was the forerunner to the Perkasie Olde Towne Association. The PTIA along with Perkasie's local government were responsible for the three phase town improvement plan that was completed over the next five intervening years. The PTIA's focus was to oversee the reconstruction of not only the area of the town center affected by the fire, but also other retail and residential areas in the central part of the Borough. As a result of these efforts, streetscape enhancements of decorative street lights, underground utilities, new sidewalks with decorative brick borders were built and new benches, trash receptacles and street trees were placed throughout the focus area.
Taking into consideration the two major fires in the Perkasie area, there may have been complications related to the fires itself that resulted in deaths afterwords.
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
in Bucks County
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
- Industry and commerce :The boroughs of Bristol and Morrisville were prominent industrial centers along the Northeast Corridor during World War II. Suburban development accelerated in Lower Bucks in the 1950s with the opening of Levittown, Pennsylvania, the second such "Levittown" designed by...
, 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...
, 35 miles (56.3 km) north of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. Establishments in the borough early in the twentieth century included silk mills, baseballs, brickyards, lumber mills, tile works, a stone crusher, and manufacturies of cigars, tags and labels, wire novelties, etc. The population in 1900 was 1,803; in 1910, 2,779 people lived in Perkasie. The population was 8,511 at the 2010 census. Perkasie is part of Pennridge School District
Pennridge School District
Pennridge School District is located approximately north of Philadelphia in Bucks County, Southeast Pennsylvania.-The District:Pennridge School District, covers approximately with a total population of 45,000 and encompasses eight municipalities including the boroughs of Dublin, Perkasie,...
.
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 2010, there were 8,511 people residing in the borough. The racial makeup of the borough was 95.8% White, 1.0% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.5% 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 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.
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 8,828 people, 3,294 households, and 2,338 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 3,408.9 people per square mile (1,316.0/km²). There were 3,378 housing units at an average density of 1,304.4 per square mile (503.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.77% White, 0.59% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.36% 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 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.36% of the population.
There were 3,294 households out of which 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% 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 29.0% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the borough the population was spread out with 29.6% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 34.3% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.4 males.
The median income for a household in the borough is $52,000, and the median income for a family is $59,413. Males have a median income of $42,388 versus $28,323 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 borough is $21,986. 4.7% of the population and 4.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.3% of those under the age of 18 and 7.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
The main school district of Perkasie is Pennridge School District.
Transportation
The borough's nearest airportAirport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
is located just north of the center of town, and is actually just on the other side of the East Rockhill Township border. Pennridge Airport
Pennridge Airport
Pennridge Airport is a public use airport located one nautical mile north of the central business district of Perkasie, a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is privately owned by Pennridge Development Ent., Inc. The airport is situated in East Rockhill Township.The airport...
is a public general aviation airport with one 4200 feet (1,280.2 m)-long runway.
Perkasie was once served by the Reading Railroad apart of the North Penn Division, Bethlehem Branch
North Pennsylvania Railroad
North Pennsylvania Railroad was a railroad company formed in 1855, and served Philadelphia, Montgomery County, Bucks County and Northampton County, Pennsylvania.-History:...
. That main line is now owned by SEPTA, however, passenger service was terminated in the early 1980s. The last SEPTA, Philadelphia bound passenger train through Perkasie occurred on July 29, 1981. After passenger service was terminated, Conrail continued operations out of Lansdale up to Quakertown until the mid 90's. The East Penn Railroad
East Penn Railroad
The East Penn Railroad is a short-line railroad that operates a number of mostly-unconnected lines in the U.S. states of Pennsylvania and Delaware...
formally known as East Penn Railway (EPRY) leased a portion of this railroad from SEPTA saving the line from abandonment from Telford through to Quakertown.
SEPTA has recently issued a formal proposal to perform maintenance on the line and run passenger service back on it, but they have not decided between installing an electric wire for electric trains and using diesel trains that would connect to the Lansdale/Doylestown Line in Landsdale. The project is estimated to take at least five years.
Currently as of the end of 2009, unmarked freight cars particularly covered hoppers are now parked and being stored along the southbound track in Perkasie between Market Street and Park Avenue, from Park Avenue to the Old Bethlehem Pike Bridge, and so on to Meetinghouse Road in Telford. East Penn through Perkasie with ex-Conrail B23-7 3153 runs about two to three times a week passing through Perkasie to Telford during a work day, and later again passing through Perkasie while heading back up to Quakertown. Times may vary in between but an average time between 10:00am and 4:00pm during the week.
The borough is bordered by a state road on each side: PA 563
Pennsylvania Route 563
Pennsylvania Route 563 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The route runs from PA 63 in Upper Salford Township northeast to PA 412 in Nockamixon Township. The road runs through mostly rural areas in the northern parts of Montgomery and Bucks counties...
to the north; PA 313
Pennsylvania Route 313
Pennsylvania Route 313 is a mostly 2-lane, long state highway entirely within Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It is an east–west road, although it runs almost purely northwest/southeast through most of its course...
to the east; PA 113
Pennsylvania Route 113
Pennsylvania Route 113 is a long state route in eastern Pennsylvania. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 30 Business in Downingtown. Its northern terminus is at Pennsylvania Route 611 in Tinicum Township...
to the south; and PA 309
Pennsylvania Route 309
Pennsylvania Route 309 is a major highway which runs for 134 miles through Pennsylvania in the United States. It connects Philadelphia and its northern suburbs to Allentown, Hazleton, and Wilkes-Barre. A limited-access highway portion of PA 309 in the Wilkes-Barre area is known as the North...
to the west. PA 152
Pennsylvania Route 152
Pennsylvania Route 152 is a 25 mile long state highway located in the US state of Pennsylvania. The route, travels north–south from PA Route 309 located in Cedarbrook north to PA Route 309 located east of Telford.PA 152 is unique to other Pennsylvania Highways because it ends at two...
runs right through the middle. I-476, I-276, and I-78 are the nearest interstates.
History
On June 8, 1890, a disastrous fire began at the livery stable located at 7th and Chestnut Streets; twelve buildings were destroyed. Personal buckets and ladders were used to extinguish the fire. Less than a month later, on July 4, 1890, a committee appointed by Perkasie Borough Council met to form the Hope Fire Company. On September 8, 1890, the Hope Fire Company met at Groover's Hall (517 Chestnut Street) and adopted a constitution and by-laws; 32 members were present.At the same time, Borough Council turned over to the Fire Company a Hand Pumper purchased from Newtown Fire Association, and a hose cart purchased from Philadelphia with 800 feet of hose. One month later the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad presented the Fire Company with a locomotive tire iron for use as a fire alarm. This was installed in a cupola of the Groover building (now in front of Silverdale Fire Company).
Perkasie is home to a former major league baseball factory, now out of business. Between 1920 and 1950, the factory produced millions of baseballs through the Hubbert/Spalding
Spalding (sports equipment)
Spalding is a sporting goods company founded by Albert Spalding in Chicago, Illinois, in 1876 and now headquartered in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The company specializes in the production of balls for many sports, but is most-known for its basketballs...
contract. The factory still stands today, at 815 Chestnut Street, but had been converted into the Senior Citizens Center. http://www.pennridge.org/p/P-baseballfcty.html The Senior Center has since moved to the neighboring borough of Silverdale. The old Senior Center is scheduled to be converted to six two-bedroom condominiums by Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County. The goal of this project is to keep the exterior integrity intact and combine old world charm with green building techniques the new living space.
The Pearl S. Buck
Pearl S. Buck
Pearl Sydenstricker Buck also known by her Chinese name Sai Zhenzhu , was an American writer who spent most of her time until 1934 in China. Her novel The Good Earth was the best-selling fiction book in the U.S. in 1931 and 1932, and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1932...
House at Green Hills Farm
Green hills farm
Green Hills Farm is the sixty-acre homestead in Bucks County, Pennsylvania where Nobel-prize-winning American author Pearl Buck lived for 40 years, raising her family, writing, pursuing humanitarian interests, and gardening. She purchased the house in 1933 and lived there until the late 1960s, when...
, a registered National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
, is located near Perkasie.
On June 26, 1988, about 15 percent of the town, including many historic buildings, was burned down in what became known as The Great Perkasie Fire. This massive fire was started by two 12-year-old boys who were playing with a lighter near the coal bins behind the Shelley & Sons lumberyard at Seventh and Market Streets. The fire was fought by about 300 firefighters who came from over 50 fire companies in three counties. Among the historic buildings lost were the American House and the Moyer-Kantner Funeral Home, both dating from 1870, and the Herstine Building. Despite the size of the fire, no fatalities were reported.
Immediately after the fire, a group of concerned business owners, residents and Borough Officials formed a Downtown Restoration Task Force. The Task Force was given the name of the Perkasie Towne Improvement Association (PTIA). This group was the forerunner to the Perkasie Olde Towne Association. The PTIA along with Perkasie's local government were responsible for the three phase town improvement plan that was completed over the next five intervening years. The PTIA's focus was to oversee the reconstruction of not only the area of the town center affected by the fire, but also other retail and residential areas in the central part of the Borough. As a result of these efforts, streetscape enhancements of decorative street lights, underground utilities, new sidewalks with decorative brick borders were built and new benches, trash receptacles and street trees were placed throughout the focus area.
Taking into consideration the two major fires in the Perkasie area, there may have been complications related to the fires itself that resulted in deaths afterwords.
Notable people
- Perkasie has produced one Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor 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...
player: Cincinnati RedsCincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
pitcherPitcherIn baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Jake EisenhartJake EisenhartJacob Henry Eisenhart was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who appeared in one game for the Cincinnati Reds in 1944. The 6'3½", 195 lb. left-hander was a native of Perkasie, Pennsylvania....
. (b. October 3, 1922) - A borough resident, Maureen Victoria Wimmer, was Miss PennsylvaniaMiss PennsylvaniaThe Miss Pennsylvania competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Pennsylvania in the Miss America Pageant. Pennsylvania, including early years' city representatives, has won the Miss American crown on 5 occasions....
and third runner-up in the 1971 Miss AmericaMiss AmericaThe Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
Pageant. - Tom FulpTom FulpThomas Michael "Tom" Fulp is the co-owner of video game company The Behemoth, and the creator and administrator of Newgrounds, a popular website for sharing Flash files...
, creator of the Flash animation site NewgroundsNewgroundsNewgrounds is an American entertainment and social media website. Founded on July 6, 1995 by Tom Fulp, the site primarily hosts Adobe Flash animations and games, but also features a music-oriented page, along with an art portal...
, lives in Perkasie. - Every twenty five years, Perkasie celebrates its anniversary by crowning a King and Queen. At the 125th anniversary in 2004 Joshua Hosier was crowned King, and Rebecca Day was crowned queen. They will pass on their crowns at the 150th anniversary in 2029.