Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Abington Township
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Township
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Abington Township High School
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Location of Abington Township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
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 Abington Township
Location in Pennsylvania
Abington Township
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Pennsylvania | ||
| County | Montgomery | ||
| First Established | 1704 | ||
| Incorporated | 1704 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 15.52 sq mi (40.2 km2) | ||
| • Land | 15.52 sq mi (40.2 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 282 ft (86 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 58,502 | ||
| • Estimate
(2022-07-01)
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58,460 | ||
| • Density | 3,769.5/sq mi (1,455.4/km2) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Abingtonian | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP Codes |
19001, 19006, 19027, 19038, 19046, 19090
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| Area codes | 215, 267, and 445 | ||
| FIPS code | 42-091-00156 | ||
| Website | abingtonpa.gov | ||
Abington Township is a community in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is very close to the northern edge of Philadelphia. In 2020, about 58,502 people lived here. This makes it the second most populated township in Montgomery County.
Abington Township is one of the oldest communities in Montgomery County. It was started before the year 1700 and officially became a township in 1704. It has some of the county's oldest roads, businesses, and churches. Today, Abington is home to the Willow Grove Park Mall, many small businesses, and some of the biggest employers in Montgomery County.
Contents
- History of Abington Township
- Geography of Abington Township
- Communities in Abington Township
- People of Abington Township
- Economy in Abington Township
- Parks and Fun in Abington Township
- Transportation in Abington Township
- Utilities in Abington Township
- Education in Abington Township
- Notable People from Abington Township
- See Also
History of Abington Township
The land that is now Abington was bought from the native Lenape people by William Penn in the 1680s. By the 1690s, some European settlers built homes in an area called Hill Township. This was near where Susquehanna Street Road and Old York Road met.
After being called other names for a short time, the township became Abington in 1704. The name likely comes from old towns in England like those in Northamptonshire or Cambridgeshire. A count in 1734 showed 42 landowners living there. During the American Revolutionary War, a small battle happened at Edge Hill.
Some important places have been in Abington for a long time. The first Abington Friends School started even before the township was official. Parts of its original building are still used today. The Abington Presbyterian Church also opened early in the township's history. Its first building is gone, but its graveyard is still used.
The railroad came to Abington in 1855. The first train station was built in 1873 where today's Noble Station stands.
Two important places, Abington Township High School and Fox Chase Farm, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are recognized for their historical value.
Geography of Abington Township
Abington Township covers about 15.5 square miles (40.1 square kilometers) of land.
Communities in Abington Township
Abington Township is made up of seventeen different "communities." These are like smaller neighborhoods within the township.
- Abington
- Ardsley
- Crestmont
- Elkins Park
- Fitzwatertown
- Fox Chase
- Glenside
- Hollywood
- Huntingdon Valley
- Jenkintown (part of this community is next to the separate town of Jenkintown)
- McKinley
- Meadowbrook
- Noble
- North Hills
- Roslyn
- Roychester
- Rydal
- Willow Grove
These communities are not official towns, but they help people feel a sense of local identity. They are also used for postal addresses. For example, you might send a letter to "Glenside, Pennsylvania" instead of "Abington Township, Pennsylvania." Some parts of these communities also extend into neighboring townships.
Local groups called civic associations work to improve their neighborhoods. They hold meetings to discuss things like traffic and local businesses.
| Climate data for Abington Township, Pennsylvania | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 37 (3) |
42 (6) |
50 (10) |
62 (17) |
72 (22) |
81 (27) |
85 (29) |
84 (29) |
77 (25) |
65 (18) |
54 (12) |
43 (6) |
63 (17) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 21 (−6) |
42 (6) |
32 (0) |
41 (5) |
51 (11) |
63 (17) |
67 (19) |
65 (18) |
56 (13) |
43 (6) |
34 (1) |
26 (−3) |
45 (7) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.44 (87) |
3.01 (76) |
4.32 (110) |
4.12 (105) |
4.37 (111) |
4.60 (117) |
5.05 (128) |
3.98 (101) |
4.53 (115) |
3.82 (97) |
3.94 (100) |
4.23 (107) |
49.41 (1,254) |
| Source: The Weather Channel | |||||||||||||
People of Abington Township
| Historical population | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1890 | 2,703 | — |
| 1900 | 3,803 | +40.7% |
| 1910 | 5,896 | +55.0% |
| 1920 | 8,684 | +47.3% |
| 1930 | 18,648 | +114.7% |
| 1940 | 20,857 | +11.8% |
| 1950 | 28,988 | +39.0% |
| 1960 | 55,831 | +92.6% |
| 1970 | 63,625 | +14.0% |
| 1980 | 58,836 | −7.5% |
| 1990 | 56,322 | −4.3% |
| 2000 | 56,103 | −0.4% |
| 2010 | 55,310 | −1.4% |
| 2020 | 58,502 | +5.8% |
| Source: | ||
In 2010, most people in the township were White (79.7%). About 12.4% were Black or African American, and 4.9% were Asian. About 3.2% of the population had Hispanic or Latino family backgrounds.
The average household in Abington Township had about 2.56 people. The average family had about 3.11 people. The median age of people in the township was 42 years old.
The median income for a household was $77,363. For a family, it was $94,473. A small percentage of families and people lived below the poverty line.
Economy in Abington Township
Abington Township's economy includes making things like pressed steel, chemicals, and products from metal and plastic.
Major Employers
Here are some of the biggest employers in Abington Township:
| # | Employer | # of Employees | Community |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson Abington Hospital | 4,163 | Abington |
| 2 | Holy Redeemer Health System | 2,129 | Huntingdon Valley |
| 3 | Willow Grove Park Mall | 2,099 | Willow Grove |
| 4 | Abington School District | 1,154 | Abington |
| 5 | SarahCare | 1,087 | Jenkintown (mailing address) |
| 6 | Penn State Abington | 696 | Abington |
| 7 | SPS Technologies | 574 | Abington |
| 8 | Abington Township | 561 | Abington |
| 9 | Philadelphia Presbyterian Home | 402 | |
| 10 | The Giant Company | 362 | Roslyn and Huntingdon Valley |
Parks and Fun in Abington Township
The Abington Township Parks and Recreation Department manages over 20 parks. These parks are great places for outdoor activities.
- Alverthorpe Park is only for people who live in the township and their guests. It has sports fields, walking trails, picnic areas, a playground, a lake, and even a mini-golf course.
- Other parks and natural areas include Ardsley Community Center, Briar Bush Nature Center, and Lorimer Park.
- The township has two public swimming pools: Crestmont Pool and Penbryn Pool.
- The Parks and Recreation Department also offers discounted tickets to fun places like amusement parks, aquariums, zoos, and museums.
Transportation in Abington Township
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Abington Township has many public roads, totaling about 212 miles. Some are kept up by the state, and most are maintained by the township.
Major roads include:
- Pennsylvania Route 611 (Old York Road) runs north-south through the middle of the township.
- Pennsylvania Route 63 runs through the northern part, near Willow Grove.
- Pennsylvania Route 73 runs along the southern border with Cheltenham Township.
- Pennsylvania Route 152 (Limekiln Pike) runs north-south in the western part.
- Pennsylvania Route 232 (Huntingdon Pike) runs north-south in the eastern part.
Other important roads are Easton Road, Susquehanna Road, and Jenkintown Road. Abington Township uses red light cameras at some busy intersections to help improve safety.
Several train stations are in Abington Township. These SEPTA Regional Rail stations connect people to Center City Philadelphia.
- The Lansdale/Doylestown Line stops at North Hills station.
- The Warminster Line stops at Crestmont, Roslyn, and Ardsley.
- The West Trenton Line stops at Meadowbrook, Rydal, and Noble.
- The Glenside station is just outside the township.
SEPTA also provides bus service throughout Abington Township. These buses help people get to shopping centers, hospitals, and jobs. They also connect to Philadelphia and other nearby towns.
Utilities in Abington Township
- Electricity and natural gas are provided by PECO Energy Company.
- Water is supplied by Aqua Pennsylvania.
- The township's Wastewater Utilities Department handles sewer service.
- The Refuse/Recycling Department collects trash and recycling.
- Cable, phone, and internet services are available from Xfinity and Verizon.
- The phone area codes 215, 267, and 445 serve Abington Township.
Education in Abington Township
Public Schools
Abington Township is served by the Abington School District. There are seven elementary schools:
- Copper Beech (about 1,156 students)
- McKinley (about 754 students)
- Rydal (about 636 students)
- Highland (about 500 students)
- Overlook (about 587 students)
- Roslyn (about 511 students)
- Willow Hill (about 425 students)
Students in grades 6-8 attend Abington Middle School. Students in grades 9-12 go to Abington Senior High School.
In the 1960s, the Abington School District was part of a famous court case called Abington School District v. Schempp. The Supreme Court decided that schools could not require students to read the Bible.
Many of the schools in the Abington School District have been updated or rebuilt. This has given students more modern learning spaces.
Other Schools
There are also several private schools in the township, such as Meadowbrook and Abington Friends School. Penn State's Abington campus is located in the Rydal area.
Catholic schools in the area include Saint Luke Catholic School in Glenside, Queen of Angels Regional Catholic School in Willow Grove, and Good Shepherd Regional Catholic School in Ardsley.
Manor College is also located in the township.
Notable People from Abington Township
Many interesting people have lived in or are from Abington Township:
- Polly Apfelbaum – a visual artist.
- Amar Gopal Bose – the founder of the audio company Bose Corporation.
- Michael Buffer – a famous ring announcer.
- Ashton Carter – a professor and former United States Secretary of Defense.
- Bradley Cooper – a well-known actor.
- Madeleine Dean – a current U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania.
- Matthew Fox – an actor famous for his role in Lost.
- Jason Garrett – a retired NFL quarterback and coach.
- Eddie George – a retired NFL running back.
- Reggie Jackson – a professional baseball player in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
- Katalin Karikó – a Nobel Prize winner for her work on mRNA, which helped create the first COVID-19 vaccine.
- Bil Keane – the cartoonist who created The Family Circus.
- Joey Lawrence – an actor.
- Stephen Lynch – an actor, comedian, and musician.
- Mike Richter – a retired NHL goaltender.
- Bob Saget – a famous actor and comedian.
- Ellery Schempp – a physicist known for his role in the school prayer court case.
- Josh Shapiro – the current Governor of Pennsylvania.
- Ala Stanford – a pediatric surgeon who founded the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium.
- Mike Vogel – an actor known for his roles in movies like Grind.
- ZZ Ward – a musician and singer/songwriter.
- Danny Woodburn – an actor and comedian.
See Also
- Abington School District v. Schempp
