Folcroft, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Folcroft, Pennsylvania
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Folcroft Station
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Location in Delaware County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
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 Folcroft, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Folcroft, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Delaware |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.42 sq mi (3.68 km2) |
| • Land | 1.25 sq mi (3.23 km2) |
| • Water | 0.18 sq mi (0.46 km2) |
| Elevation | 33 ft (10 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,792 |
| • Density | 5,455.42/sq mi (2,105.89/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
19032
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| Area codes | 610 and 484 |
| FIPS code | 42-26408 |
Folcroft is a small town, called a borough, located in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. In 2020, about 6,792 people lived there.
Contents
History of Folcroft
The story of Folcroft began in the mid-1600s with early settlements by people from New Sweden. One of its old roads, Delmar Drive, was once part of Calcon Hook Road. The word Calcon means "turkey" in Swedish, and Hook means "road". This original path was a Leni Lenape trail, known as "Turkey's Neck Trail". It was very narrow, only about 4 feet wide.
Folcroft was originally a place with many farms. It grew into a residential area, a suburb of Philadelphia, after the Pennsylvania Railroad was built through the area in 1874. A train stop was added and named Folcroft, which means "leafy fields". Folcroft used to be part of Darby Township, but it became its own borough in 1922.
In August 1963, the Baker family became the first African-American family to buy a house in the Delmar village area of Folcroft. When they tried to move in, they faced difficulties from some local residents. A large crowd gathered, and 100 Pennsylvania State Troopers were needed to help the Bakers enter their new home. Despite this help, the family continued to face challenges and eventually decided to sell their home and move away in 1966.
On January 3, 2022, something special happened for Folcroft: Franny DiCicco became the first female Mayor in the borough's 100-year history. She won the election along with other Democratic candidates in 2021.
Geography and Climate
Folcroft is located in the southeastern part of Delaware County. It is bordered by Darby Creek to the south and Muckinipattis Creek to the west. Nearby towns include Norwood, Glenolden, Collingdale, and Sharon Hill. The big city of Philadelphia is also close by, to the east.
The United States Census Bureau says that Folcroft covers about 1.42 square miles (3.7 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but about 0.18 square miles (0.5 square kilometers) is water, mainly from the creeks.
A branch of the Delaware County Courthouse is located in Folcroft. The town also has a train stop, Folcroft Station, which is part of the SEPTA Regional Rail system. This makes it easy for people to travel to and from Folcroft.
Folcroft's Climate
Folcroft has a climate with hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. This type of weather is known as a humid subtropical climate.
People of Folcroft (Demographics)
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 1,432 | — | |
| 1940 | 1,592 | 11.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,909 | 19.9% | |
| 1960 | 7,013 | 267.4% | |
| 1970 | 9,610 | 37.0% | |
| 1980 | 8,231 | −14.3% | |
| 1990 | 7,506 | −8.8% | |
| 2000 | 6,978 | −7.0% | |
| 2010 | 6,606 | −5.3% | |
| 2020 | 6,792 | 2.8% | |
| Sources: | |||
Based on information from 2019, the people living in Folcroft come from many different backgrounds. The community includes people who identify as White, Black or African American, Asian, and those from two or more races. In recent years, more people from Hispanic and African backgrounds have moved to Folcroft. Many naturalized citizens living here are originally from Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
In 2000, there were about 6,978 people living in Folcroft. The average household had about 2.76 people, and the average family had about 3.24 people. About 26.8% of the population was under 18 years old, and 13.4% were 65 years or older. The average age in Folcroft was 36 years.
Getting Around (Transportation)
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Folcroft has about 10.76 miles of public roads. Some of these roads are kept up by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), and others are maintained by the borough itself.
U.S. Route 13, also known as Chester Pike, is an important highway that runs through the northwest part of Folcroft.
The Folcroft Station is a train station that is part of the SEPTA train system. It's on the Wilmington/Newark Line, which helps people travel to and from Folcroft by train.
Caring for the Environment
Thanks to the efforts of local people, groups, and politicians, a special area called Tinicum Marsh along Darby Creek was made a National Wildlife Refuge in 1972. This refuge, called the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, is managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. It's a great place to see nature, even though it's close to Philadelphia. Visitors can spot different animals like pintail ducks, red-bellied turtles, butterflies, and foxes.
Even though it's only about 1,200 acres, this refuge is very important for nature. The marshes here, along with other wetlands in the Delaware estuary, act like a nursery for fish that are important for fishing in the Delaware River, Delaware Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) added the Lower Darby Creek Area to its list of important cleanup sites in 2001. This area includes two old landfills: the Clearview Landfill and the Folcroft Landfill and Annex. These landfills were used from the 1950s to the 1970s for different types of trash, including household waste and hospital waste.
The Folcroft Landfill/Annex is actually part of the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service owns this part and is in charge of cleaning it up. The EPA is working with groups to plan how to clean up the Folcroft Landfill/Annex.
Media
Trinity Broadcasting Network has a TV station for the Delaware Valley area, WGTW-TV (Channel 48), which broadcasts from its studios on Columbia Avenue in Folcroft.
Education
The Southeast Delco School District is responsible for the public schools in Folcroft. Most students in kindergarten through 8th grade in Folcroft go to Delcroft School. Some students might go to Sharon Hill School. All high school students in the school district attend Academy Park High School.
Images for kids
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A robot for kids.
See also
In Spanish: Folcroft para niños
