Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania
|
|
|---|---|
The Clifton–Aldan station
|
|
Location in Delaware County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
|
|
 Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Delaware |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.63 sq mi (1.63 km2) |
| • Land | 0.63 sq mi (1.63 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 157 ft (48 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 6,863 |
| • Density | 10,893.65/sq mi (4,203.85/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
19018
|
| Area code(s) | 610 and 484 |
| FIPS code | 42-14264 |
Clifton Heights is a small town, called a borough, in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. It's located about 5 miles (8 km) west of downtown Philadelphia. A creek called Darby Creek runs through it. In 2020, about 6,863 people lived there.
Contents
History of Clifton Heights
The area where Clifton Heights is located has a long history. Before European settlers arrived, Native American groups lived here. By the mid-1700s, many Native Americans had moved away from this region.
Tin Kettle Hill and Early Settlers
An old story says that early settlers put a large tin kettle on a high spot. This spot was on what is now Oak Avenue. If people who were not friendly were seen nearby, they would bang on the kettle. This would warn everyone.
This high spot was called "Tin Kettle Hill." It became an important landmark. Surveyors used it to measure land, along with two other points. Many people believe this "hill" is why the town is called "Heights."
In 1839, a man named Thomas Kent moved to the area. He started a company called J. and T. Kent Company. They made carpet yarn. Workers for the company built houses around the factory. Some of these old factory buildings and houses are still standing today.
Growth and Famous Products
In the early 1950s, a company called Clifton Precision built a factory in Clifton Heights. This company made parts for defense equipment. They designed and built motors and other electronic parts. The factory was later sold and is now used for offices and storage.
The number of people living in Clifton Heights grew over time. In 1890, there were 1,820 residents. The population reached its highest point in 1960, with 10,268 people.
Clifton Heights is also known for some fun things! It's the birthplace of the glam rock band Cinderella. It's also home to Rosati Water Ice, which was the first Italian ice company in the country. And guess what? The famous Slinky toy was also invented here!
Geography of Clifton Heights
Clifton Heights is in the eastern part of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. It's located at coordinates 39°55′45″N 75°17′45″W / 39.92917°N 75.29583°W.
Neighboring Towns
The borough is surrounded by other towns. To the northeast, it borders Lansdowne. To the southeast, it's next to Aldan. On its west, north, and other southeast sides, it borders Upper Darby Township.
Darby Creek forms the western border of Clifton Heights. The borough covers a total area of about 0.63 square miles (1.6 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Transportation in Clifton Heights
Clifton Heights has many public roads. As of 2015, there were about 12.51 miles (20.13 km) of public roads. Some roads are kept up by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). Most roads are maintained by the borough itself.
No major highways go directly through Clifton Heights. The two main roads are Baltimore Avenue and Springfield Road. Baltimore Avenue runs from southwest to northeast. Springfield Road runs from northwest to southeast. These two roads meet near the center of the borough. Baltimore Avenue connects Clifton Heights to Philadelphia and to Media.
Population and People
Clifton Heights has seen its population change over the years.
Population Changes Over Time
| Census | Pop. | %± |
|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 1,820 | — |
| 1900 | 2,330 | 28.0% |
| 1910 | 3,155 | 35.4% |
| 1920 | 3,469 | 9.9% |
| 1930 | 5,057 | 45.8% |
| 1940 | 8,162 | 61.4% |
| 1950 | 8,443 | 3.4% |
| 1960 | 10,268 | 21.6% |
| 1970 | 8,348 | −18.7% |
| 1980 | 7,320 | −12.3% |
| 1990 | 7,111 | −2.9% |
| 2000 | 6,779 | −4.6% |
| 2010 | 6,652 | −1.9% |
| 2020 | 6,863 | 3.2% |
In 2020, the population was 6,863 people. The town is quite dense, meaning many people live in a small area.
Who Lives in Clifton Heights?
In 2015, about 67.6% of the people were non-Hispanic White. About 21.4% were African American. Around 6.9% were Asian. Other groups made up smaller percentages. About 3.4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
In 2000, there were 2,714 households in the borough. About 31.1% of these households had children under 18. The average household had about 2.49 people. The average age of people in Clifton Heights was 36 years old.
Education
Students in Clifton Heights attend schools in the Upper Darby School District.
Local Schools
Most students go to Westbrook Park Elementary School. Some students attend Primos Elementary School. All students in Clifton Heights go to Drexel Hill Middle School. After that, they attend Upper Darby High School.
Notable People
Many interesting people have come from Clifton Heights!
- Lena Blackburne – A baseball player, manager, and inventor.
- Eric Brittingham – The bassist for the glam rock band Cinderella.
- Jim Goad – An author.
- Johnny Hannon – A racing car driver.
- Tom Keifer – The singer and songwriter for the glam rock band Cinderella.
- Dan Morgan – A professional football player.
- Vinnie Paz – A rapper and owner of a record label.
- Tom Savage – A professional football player.
See also
In Spanish: Clifton Heights (Pensilvania) para niños
