Upper Chichester Township, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Upper Chichester Township is a civil township
in Delaware County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 16,842 at the 2000 census.
, the township has a total area of 6.7 square miles (17.4 km²), of which, 6.7 square miles (17.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.30%) is water.
. Children within the township usually attend Boothwyn Elementary School (Grades K-4) or Hilltop Elementary School (Grades K-4), Chichester Middle School (Grades 5-8), or Chichester High School
(Grades 9-12).
of 2000, there were 16,842 people, 6,500 households, and 4,439 families residing in the township. The population density
was 2,508.2 people per square mile (969.1/km²). There were 6,705 housing units at an average density of 998.5/sq mi (385.8/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 86.00% White, 10.36% African American, 0.18% Native American, 2.02% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races
, and 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.16% of the population.
There were 6,500 households out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples
living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $53,962, and the median income for a family was $63,125. Males had a median income of $43,159 versus $31,349 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $23,412. About 4.2% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.
Among the earliest settlers of the township was Walter Martin, the founder of St. Martin's Church, in the late 17th century. The road from Chichester to Aston traversing the township almost due north, was laid out 1688, while the Upper Chichester road was laid out on Oct. 25, 1687.
At the southwestern limit of the territory was a tract of two hundred and 50 acres (202,343 m²), which was located Sept. 5/6, 1681. The "The Twelve-Mile Circle
" (the circular northern boundary line of the State of Delaware
) traverses this tract.
The division of Chichester into Upper and Lower Chichester was made early in 1700 to facilitate public business. In 1753, an effort was made to have the division which had been made officially recognized. The movement was, however, met by sturdy opposition from the leading citizens and land-owners of Lower Chichester, stating that the townships as they currently stood were convenient enough and did not need any separation. They further argued that recent work to mend the highways in Lower Chichester, and the need to provide for several poor in the Township were more important uses of funds than the cost of the survey.
The matter was permitted to drag along for six years, during which time the reasons for the official recognition of the separation of the two townships became apparent to all. Hence in August of 1759, a petition to formally separate the two townships was presented, bearing the signatures of almost every freeholder in Upper and Lower Chichester as well as those in Nether Providence.
Civil township
A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to, and geographic divisions of, a county. Specific responsibilities and the degree of autonomy vary based on each state. Civil townships are distinct from survey townships, but in states that have both,...
in Delaware County
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 16,842 at the 2000 census.
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 6.7 square miles (17.4 km²), of which, 6.7 square miles (17.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.30%) is water.
Educational system
Upper Chichester is a part of Chichester School DistrictChichester School District
The Chichester School District covers the Boroughs of Marcus Hook and Trainer and Lower Chichester Township and Upper Chichester Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania...
. Children within the township usually attend Boothwyn Elementary School (Grades K-4) or Hilltop Elementary School (Grades K-4), Chichester Middle School (Grades 5-8), or Chichester High School
Chichester High School
Chichester High School is a four-year public high school in Boothwyn, Pennsylvania. It is currently the only high school in the Chichester School District and has an enrollment of about 1200.- Prominent alumni :...
(Grades 9-12).
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 16,842 people, 6,500 households, and 4,439 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 2,508.2 people per square mile (969.1/km²). There were 6,705 housing units at an average density of 998.5/sq mi (385.8/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 86.00% White, 10.36% African American, 0.18% Native American, 2.02% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.30% 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 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.16% of the population.
There were 6,500 households out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% 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, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $53,962, and the median income for a family was $63,125. Males had a median income of $43,159 versus $31,349 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 $23,412. About 4.2% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.
History
Upper Chichester Township was originally part of the section of Chester County called Chichester. Chichester comprised the area now known as Upper and Lower Chichester.Among the earliest settlers of the township was Walter Martin, the founder of St. Martin's Church, in the late 17th century. The road from Chichester to Aston traversing the township almost due north, was laid out 1688, while the Upper Chichester road was laid out on Oct. 25, 1687.
At the southwestern limit of the territory was a tract of two hundred and 50 acres (202,343 m²), which was located Sept. 5/6, 1681. The "The Twelve-Mile Circle
The Twelve-Mile Circle
The Twelve-Mile Circle is an approximately circular arc which forms most of the boundary between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of Delaware in the United States...
" (the circular northern boundary line of the State of Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
) traverses this tract.
The division of Chichester into Upper and Lower Chichester was made early in 1700 to facilitate public business. In 1753, an effort was made to have the division which had been made officially recognized. The movement was, however, met by sturdy opposition from the leading citizens and land-owners of Lower Chichester, stating that the townships as they currently stood were convenient enough and did not need any separation. They further argued that recent work to mend the highways in Lower Chichester, and the need to provide for several poor in the Township were more important uses of funds than the cost of the survey.
The matter was permitted to drag along for six years, during which time the reasons for the official recognition of the separation of the two townships became apparent to all. Hence in August of 1759, a petition to formally separate the two townships was presented, bearing the signatures of almost every freeholder in Upper and Lower Chichester as well as those in Nether Providence.