Willistown Township, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Willistown Township is a township in Chester County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The population was 10,497 at the 2010 census. At the 1860 census, the population of Willistown was 1,521, and in 1980 it was 8,269.
s, Willistown Township was part of the 50000 acres (202.3 km²) Welsh Tract
surveyed for William Penn
in 1684. The Holmes Map of 1681 is the first reference to Willistown, calling it "Willeston". In 1704, Willistown was organized as a township.
A Native American reservation was located here and is memorialized by a monument.
The first roads in Willistown Township were Native American trails. In 1710, three cowpaths were established here: Goshen, Sugartown, and Boot. Those roads are still in existence, under the same names.
The Paoli Massacre
was located in Willistown Township.
The Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad, later to be known as the Pennsylvania Railroad
, had its eastern terminus in this township. The terminus was moved to Frazer
in 1870.
, the township has a total area of 18.2 square miles (47.1 km²), all of it land.
Willistown Township borders Easttown Township
, Newtown Township
, Edgmont Township
, Westtown Township
, East Goshen Township
, East Whiteland Township
, Tredyffrin Township
, and the borough of Malvern
. Most of Willistown Township's addresses are in ZIP codes
19355 and 19073, with small areas in ZIP codes 19382, 19380, 19301, and 19312.
Willistown Township is a part of the suburban area west of Philadelphia known as the Main Line.
of 2000, there were 10,011 people, 3,806 households, and 2,850 families residing in the township. The population density
was 549.0 people per square mile (212.0/km²). There were 3,932 housing units at an average density of 215.6/sq mi (83.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.85% White, 2.14% African American, 0.05% Native American, 1.27% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races
, and 0.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.81% of the population.
There were 3,806 households out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.7% were married couples
living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 30.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $77,555, and the median income for a family was $93,057. Males had a median income of $62,398 versus $39,468 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $45,010. About 1.7% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
, 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 10,497 at the 2010 census. At the 1860 census, the population of Willistown was 1,521, and in 1980 it was 8,269.
History
Originally settled by Lenni Lenape Native AmericanIndigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
s, Willistown Township was part of the 50000 acres (202.3 km²) Welsh Tract
Welsh Tract
The Welsh Tract, also called the Welsh Barony, was a portion of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania settled largely by Welsh-speaking Quakers. It covers 40,000 acres to the west of Philadelphia...
surveyed for William Penn
William Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
in 1684. The Holmes Map of 1681 is the first reference to Willistown, calling it "Willeston". In 1704, Willistown was organized as a township.
A Native American reservation was located here and is memorialized by a monument.
The first roads in Willistown Township were Native American trails. In 1710, three cowpaths were established here: Goshen, Sugartown, and Boot. Those roads are still in existence, under the same names.
The Paoli Massacre
Paoli massacre
The Battle of Paoli was a battle in the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War fought on September 21, 1777, in the area surrounding present-day Malvern, Pennsylvania...
was located in Willistown Township.
The Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad, later to be known as 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....
, had its eastern terminus in this township. The terminus was moved to Frazer
Frazer, Pennsylvania
Frazer, Pennsylvania is a community in East Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania, United States....
in 1870.
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 18.2 square miles (47.1 km²), all of it land.
Willistown Township borders Easttown Township
Easttown Township, Pennsylvania
Easttown Township is a township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 10,477 at the 2010 census.-History:The land that eventually became Easttown Township was once part of the Welsh Tract, a large expanse of land promised by William Penn to a group of Welsh Quaker...
, Newtown Township
Newtown Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Newtown Township is a township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States . Newtown Township is the oldest township in Delaware County. The population was 11,700 as of the 2000 census.-History:...
, Edgmont Township
Edgmont Township, Pennsylvania
Edgmont Township is a township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,918 at the 2000 census.-History and Socioeconomics:...
, Westtown Township
Westtown Township, Pennsylvania
Westtown Township is a township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 10,827 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which is land and , or 0.23%, is water.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000,...
, East Goshen Township
East Goshen Township, Pennsylvania
East Goshen Township is a township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,026 at the 2010 census.- History :...
, East Whiteland Township
East Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania
East Whiteland Township is a township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 10,650 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, Tredyffrin Township
Tredyffrin Township, Pennsylvania
Tredyffrin Township + Dyffryn ) is a township located in eastern Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 29,332 at the 2010 census. Originally settled in the late 17th century, Tredyffrin is bounded by Delaware and Montgomery counties...
, and the borough of Malvern
Malvern, Pennsylvania
Malvern is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,998 at the 2010 census. The main road through the borough is King Street, although the borough is also bordered by Paoli Pike on the south, and is near US 30 on the north. The primary cross street is Warren...
. Most of Willistown Township's addresses are in ZIP codes
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
19355 and 19073, with small areas in ZIP codes 19382, 19380, 19301, and 19312.
Willistown Township is a part of the suburban area west of Philadelphia known as the Main Line.
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 10,011 people, 3,806 households, and 2,850 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 549.0 people per square mile (212.0/km²). There were 3,932 housing units at an average density of 215.6/sq mi (83.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.85% White, 2.14% African American, 0.05% Native American, 1.27% Asian, 0.10% 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 0.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.81% of the population.
There were 3,806 households out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.7% 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, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 30.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $77,555, and the median income for a family was $93,057. Males had a median income of $62,398 versus $39,468 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 $45,010. About 1.7% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.