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New Britain, Pennsylvania
Pine Valley Covered Bridge
Pine Valley Covered Bridge
Official seal of New Britain, Pennsylvania
Seal
Motto(s): 
"A Friendly Place to Live"
Location of New Britain in Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Location of New Britain in Bucks County, Pennsylvania
New Britain, Pennsylvania is located in Pennsylvania
New Britain, Pennsylvania
New Britain, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
New Britain, Pennsylvania is located in the United States
New Britain, Pennsylvania
New Britain, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Bucks
Government
 • Body Borough Council
Area
 • Total 1.21 sq mi (3.13 km2)
 • Land 1.21 sq mi (3.13 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
276 ft (84 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 2,836
 • Density 2,349.63/sq mi (907.10/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code
18901
Area codes 215, 267 and 445
FIPS code 42-53296

New Britain is a small town, called a borough, located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. In 2020, about 2,836 people lived there. It's known for its friendly atmosphere.

Exploring New Britain's Location

New Britain is found at specific coordinates: 40.299256 degrees North and -75.178224 degrees West. This helps us pinpoint its exact spot on a map.

Natural Features Around New Britain

The borough is home to some lovely natural spots. These include Cooks Run and the Neshaminy Creek. New Britain covers about 1.3 square miles (3.4 square kilometers) of land.

A Glimpse into New Britain's Past

New Britain has a rich history, dating back to the 1700s.

Early Settlements and Important Buildings

Around 1731, a man named Eugene James built a large estate. This estate included the Mathews homestead, a beautiful old house built in 1744. The village of James Manor started on this estate. Other nearby villages were Jamestown, New Britain, and Vauxtown.

The Delaware Valley University, which was once called the National Farm School, was built close to James Manor.

Historic Events and Famous Visitors

An old tavern called "The Sign of the Horses and Wagon" was a significant place. It was here that Marquis de Lafayette, a French hero who helped America, stayed. This was when the Continental Army marched from Valley Forge to Monmouth, New Jersey, during the American Revolutionary War.

The very first home in the village of New Britain was built before 1760. It was located where West Butler Avenue (U.S. Route 202) and Almshouse Road meet.

How New Britain Got Its Name

For a short time, the village was known as Bittings Store or Bittings Corner. Many early residents were part of the Montgomery Baptist Church. Around 1740, they formed their own church, calling it the Society Meeting House. By 1813, its name changed to the New Britain Baptist Church.

Becoming an Official Borough

The North Pennsylvania Railroad station opened in 1856, with the name "New Brittain" on its sign. A post office was set up in 1829. New Britain officially became a borough on May 21, 1928. It brought together the villages of James Manor, Jamestown, New Britain, and part of Vauxtown.

Who Lives in New Britain?

The number of people living in New Britain has changed over the years.

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 119
1930 417
1940 476 14.1%
1950 581 22.1%
1960 1,109 90.9%
1970 2,428 118.9%
1980 2,519 3.7%
1990 2,174 −13.7%
2000 3,125 43.7%
2010 3,152 0.9%
2020 2,836 −10.0%
Sources:

In 2010, most people living in New Britain were White (92.7%). There were also smaller groups of Black or African American, Asian, Native American, and Pacific Islander residents. About 2.7% of the population had Hispanic or Latino family backgrounds.

In 2000, there were 3,125 people living in the borough. About 32.7% of homes had children under 18. The average home had about 2.58 people. The median age of residents was 28 years old.

Understanding New Britain's Weather

New Britain has a climate with hot summers. This type of climate is called a Humid continental climate.

Summer Weather in New Britain

Even though most summer days are a bit humid, it can get very hot and sticky. The highest temperature recorded since 1981 was 102.7°F (39.3°C) on July 22, 2011. July is usually the wettest month, with many thunderstorms. The most rain in one day was 6.93 inches (176 mm) on September 16, 1999.

Winter Weather in New Britain

During winter, the average coldest temperature is around -0.6°F (-18.1°C). The coldest temperature recorded since 1981 was -12.1°F (-24.5°C) on January 22, 1984. Sometimes, it can feel even colder due to strong winds. New Britain usually gets between 30 and 36 inches (76 to 91 cm) of snow each winter. Big snowstorms with more than 12 inches (30 cm) of snow happen every few years.

Climate data for New Britain, Elevation 289 ft (88 m), 1981-2010 normals, extremes 1981-2018
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 70.9
(21.6)
77.9
(25.5)
86.9
(30.5)
93.8
(34.3)
94.7
(34.8)
95.7
(35.4)
102.7
(39.3)
99.6
(37.6)
97.4
(36.3)
89.2
(31.8)
80.8
(27.1)
75.2
(24.0)
102.7
(39.3)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 39.2
(4.0)
42.4
(5.8)
50.8
(10.4)
62.8
(17.1)
72.8
(22.7)
81.6
(27.6)
85.7
(29.8)
84.0
(28.9)
77.1
(25.1)
65.7
(18.7)
54.7
(12.6)
43.3
(6.3)
63.4
(17.4)
Daily mean °F (°C) 30.4
(−0.9)
33.2
(0.7)
40.9
(4.9)
51.6
(10.9)
61.3
(16.3)
70.5
(21.4)
75.0
(23.9)
73.5
(23.1)
66.1
(18.9)
54.3
(12.4)
44.7
(7.1)
34.8
(1.6)
53.1
(11.7)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 21.7
(−5.7)
24.1
(−4.4)
30.9
(−0.6)
40.4
(4.7)
49.8
(9.9)
59.4
(15.2)
64.3
(17.9)
62.9
(17.2)
55.1
(12.8)
42.9
(6.1)
34.7
(1.5)
26.3
(−3.2)
42.8
(6.0)
Record low °F (°C) −12.1
(−24.5)
−4.4
(−20.2)
2.4
(−16.4)
16.5
(−8.6)
32.8
(0.4)
40.6
(4.8)
47.2
(8.4)
41.9
(5.5)
34.7
(1.5)
23.4
(−4.8)
10.9
(−11.7)
−2.8
(−19.3)
−12.1
(−24.5)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.24
(82)
2.63
(67)
3.72
(94)
3.92
(100)
4.34
(110)
4.30
(109)
4.97
(126)
4.05
(103)
4.46
(113)
4.21
(107)
3.63
(92)
3.91
(99)
47.38
(1,203)
Average relative humidity (%) 66.6 63.4 58.8 58.0 62.3 67.2 67.5 69.7 71.2 70.2 68.9 68.5 66.0
Average dew point °F (°C) 20.6
(−6.3)
22.1
(−5.5)
27.6
(−2.4)
37.3
(2.9)
48.3
(9.1)
59.1
(15.1)
63.5
(17.5)
63.0
(17.2)
56.5
(13.6)
44.8
(7.1)
35.1
(1.7)
25.5
(−3.6)
42.0
(5.6)
Source: PRISM

Getting Around New Britain

New Britain has a good network of roads and public transport.

Roads in New Britain

As of 2018, New Britain had about 12.30 miles (19.79 kilometers) of public roads. Some roads are kept up by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), and others by the borough itself.

The main highway that goes through New Britain is U.S. Route 202 Business. It runs from the southwest to the northeast along Butler Avenue.

2022-11-01 14 32 22 View north along U.S. Route 202 Business (Butler Avenue) just north of Tamanend Avenue in New Britain, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
US 202 Business heading north in New Britain.

Public Transportation Options

New Britain is served by the New Britain station on SEPTA Regional Rail's Lansdale/Doylestown Line. This train line connects New Britain to Doylestown and Center City Philadelphia.

Bucks County Transport also runs a bus called the DART West bus. This bus operates on weekdays and can take you from Chalfont to a connection with another bus, the Doylestown DART bus, which goes to Doylestown.

Nature and Plants in New Britain

New Britain's natural environment is mostly covered by Oak trees. This type of forest is called an Eastern Hardwood Forest.

Plant Life and Seasons

The area is in a plant hardiness zone where the average coldest temperature is about -0.6°F (-18.1°C). This means certain plants can grow well here. Spring flowers usually start to bloom around April 11. The beautiful fall colors in the trees typically reach their peak around October 30.

Famous People from New Britain

  • Samuel Aaron was an American educator and a Baptist minister.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: New Britain (Pensilvania) para niños

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