Skippack Township, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Skippack Township is a township in Montgomery County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 13,715 at the 2010 census. This represents a 110.5% increase from the 2000 count of 6,516 residents.
, the township has a total area of 14.0 square miles (36.2 km²), of which, 13.8 square miles (35.8 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (1.14%) is water. The 2006 Skippack Township Municipal Directory lists the population as 9,920 (including 3,404 at Graterford Prison.) The Perkiomen Creek
forms its natural western boundary and drains it into the Schuylkill River
. Its villages include Creamery, Lucon, Providence Square (also in Worcester Township,) and Skippack.
The main attractions to Skippack are Evansburg State Park
, the Central Montgomery Park and the historic shopping village, Skippack Village. The State Park offers a variety of recreational opportunities including hunting, fishing, horse back riding and a 18 hole golf course.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 6,516 people, 2,353 households, and 1,828 families residing in the township. The population density
was 471.0 people per square mile (181.9/km²). There were 2,477 housing units at an average density of 179.0/sq mi (69.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.75% White, 2.16% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.40% from other races
, and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.20% of the population.
There were 2,353 households out of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.0% were married couples
living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the township the population was spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 36.7% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $71,566, and the median income for a family was $78,043. Males had a median income of $52,423 versus $40,081 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $30,199. About 1.1% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.6% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
operates the State Correctional Institution - Graterford
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...
. The population was 13,715 at the 2010 census. This represents a 110.5% increase from the 2000 count of 6,516 residents.
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 14.0 square miles (36.2 km²), of which, 13.8 square miles (35.8 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (1.14%) is water. The 2006 Skippack Township Municipal Directory lists the population as 9,920 (including 3,404 at Graterford Prison.) 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...
forms its natural western boundary and drains it into the Schuylkill River
Schuylkill River
The Schuylkill River is a river in Pennsylvania. It is a designated Pennsylvania Scenic River.The river is about long. Its watershed of about lies entirely within the state of Pennsylvania. The source of its eastern branch is in the Appalachian Mountains at Tuscarora Springs, near Tamaqua in...
. Its villages include Creamery, Lucon, Providence Square (also in Worcester Township,) and Skippack.
Neighboring municipalities
- Lower Salford Township (northeast)
- Towamencin Township (east)
- Worcester Township (southeast)
- Upper Providence TownshipUpper Providence Township, Montgomery County, PennsylvaniaUpper Providence Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2010 census, the township population was 21,219.- History :...
(south) - CollegevilleCollegeville, PennsylvaniaCollegeville is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 30 miles northwest of Philadelphia on the Perkiomen Creek. Collegeville was incorporated in 1896. It is the seat of Ursinus College, opened in 1869...
(tangent to the southwest) - Perkiomen Township (west)
Institutions
The main industry is the State Correctional Institution – Graterford. Situated on over 1700 acres (6.9 km²) of state land, the facility, built in 1929, is Pennsylvania's largest maximum-security prison, holding about 3,500 prisoners. SCI Graterford has an extensive prison farm on its 1730 acres (7 km²) and the 62 acres (250,905.3 m²) prison compound itself lies within 30 feet (9.1 m) high walls surmounted by nine manned towers. Prison factories and industries employ 21 civilian staff and 315 inmate staff. An example is the Garment Factory which provides inmates with shirts, trousers, insulated coveralls, baseball caps, bibs, and handkerchiefs.The main attractions to Skippack are 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...
, the Central Montgomery Park and the historic shopping village, Skippack Village. The State Park offers a variety of recreational opportunities including hunting, fishing, horse back riding and a 18 hole golf course.
Demographics
As of the 2010 census, the township was 75.0% White, 16.6% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 3.6% Asian, and 1.2% were two or more races. 4.7% 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 6,516 people, 2,353 households, and 1,828 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 471.0 people per square mile (181.9/km²). There were 2,477 housing units at an average density of 179.0/sq mi (69.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.75% White, 2.16% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.40% 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 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.20% of the population.
There were 2,353 households out of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.0% 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, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the township the population was spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 36.7% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $71,566, and the median income for a family was $78,043. Males had a median income of $52,423 versus $40,081 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 $30,199. About 1.1% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.6% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
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 | 50.3% 2,809 | 49.0% 2,737 |
| 2004 | 56.2% 2,522 | 43.4% 1,948 |
| 2000 | 56.1% 1,643 | 41.4% 1,211 |
| 1996 | 47.4% 1,010 | 37.8% 805 |
| 1992 | 43.4% 962 | 31.0% 687 |
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections is the Pennsylvania state agency that is responsible for the confinement, care and rehabilitation of approximately 51,000 inmates at state correctional facilities funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania...
operates the State Correctional Institution - Graterford
State Correctional Institution - Graterford
The Pennsylvania State Correctional Institution at Graterford, also known variously as SCI Graterford , Eastern Correctional Institution, Graterford Prison, Graterford Penitentiary, and the Graterford Prison Farm, is a Pennsylvania Department of Corrections prison located in Skippack Township,...
in the township.