Quakertown, Pennsylvania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Quakertown, Pennsylvania
Borough
Broad Street in Quakertown
Etymology: the "Quakers"
Motto(s):  "The Heart of Upper Bucks County!"
Location of Quakertown in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Quakertown, Pennsylvania Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Quakertown, Pennsylvania Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Bucks
Government
• Type	Council-manager
Area
• Total	2.04 sq mi (5.27 km2)
• Land	2.04 sq mi (5.27 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	505 ft (154 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	8,979
• Estimate  (2019)	8,784
• Density	4,316.46/sq mi (1,666.76/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	18951
Area codes	215, 267, 445
Website	quakertown.org

Quakertown is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of 2020, it had a population of 9,359. The borough is 15 miles (24 km) south of Allentown and Bethlehem and 47 miles (76 km) north of Philadelphia, making Quakertown a border town of both the Delaware Valley and Lehigh Valley metropolitan areas. It is considered part of the United States Census Bureau's Philadelphia−Camden−Wilmington (PA−NJ−DE-MD) MSA and the Delaware Valley. Quakertown is surrounded by Richland Township.

History

Quakertown was originally settled by members of the Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers. The settlement was not officially known as Quakertown until its first post office opened in 1803.

On September 18, 1777, during the American Revolutionary War, a convoy of wagons carrying the Liberty Bell from Philadelphia to Allentown, under the command of Col. Thomas Polk of Charlotte, North Carolina, stopped in Quakertown. The Liberty Bell was stored overnight behind the home of Evan Foulke (1237 West Broad Street), and the entourage stayed at the Red Lion Inn. The John Fries' Rebellion was also started in the Red Lion Inn in 1799.

In 1854, Quakertown elected its first Burgess. The North Pennsylvania Railroad caused a great increase in population, and by 1880, the population of Quakertown had almost reached 1,800.

Liberty Hall, Quakertown Historic District, Quakertown Passenger and Freight Station, and Enoch Roberts House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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  Richland Friends Meeting House, the Quaker meeting house in Quakertown

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  Liberty Hall

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  West End Fire Company

Industry and population

The American Civil War along with national economic expansion changed Quakertown from a tiny village to a commercial manufacturing center. In the nineteenth century, local industrial establishments included cigar and cigar box factories, silk mills, harness factories, and stove foundries. Until 1969, Quakertown generated its own electrical power. The population of Quakertown in 1900 was 3,014; it rose to 3,801 in 1910. By 1940, the population had reached 5,150 people. At the 2010 census, the borough's population was 8,979.

Today, Quakertown has several restaurants, and businesses that line Pennsylvania Route 309.

Geography

Quakertown is located at 40°26′26″N 75°20′26″W / 40.44056°N 75.34056°W / 40.44056; -75.34056 (40.440440, −75.340477), at an elevation of 505 feet (154 m) above sea level.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.2 km²), all of it land.

Tohickon Creek, which drains into the Delaware River, flows past the northeastern edge of the borough.

Climate

Demographics

As of the census of 2020, there were 9,359 people living in the borough. The racial makeup of the borough was 88.3% White, 5.3% African American, 2.0% Asian, 2.7% from other races, 0% pacific islander, 0% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.4% of the population.

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,931 people, 3,421 households, and 2,251 families living in the borough. The population density was 4,424.7 people per square mile (1,707.1/km²). There were 3,631 housing units at an average density of 1,798.9 per square mile (694.0/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.46% White, 1.20% African American, 0.13% Native American, 1.51% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.58% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.88% of the population.

There were 3,421 households, out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $41,942, and the median income for a family was $51,194. Males had a median income of $33,697 versus $26,988 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $20,562. About 3.7% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Quakertown is directly served by four state highways. PA 309 passes through the western part of Quakertown as West End Boulevard and runs north to Allentown and south to Montgomeryville and Philadelphia. PA 313 begins at PA 309 in Quakertown and passes through the town on Broad Street, heading southeast to Doylestown. PA 663 heads west from Quakertown at the PA 309/PA 313 intersection and interchanges with I-476 (Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension) at the Quakertown interchange before heading southwest to Pottstown. PA 212 heads northeast from PA 313 in Quakertown and provides access to Riegelsville.

Quakertown has intercity bus service provided by multiple carriers. Trans-Bridge Lines provides service from a stop on Broad Street in downtown to Bethlehem, Doylestown, and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City. Fullington Trailways provides service from a stop on West End Boulevard to the Philadelphia Greyhound Terminal, Hazleton, Williamsport, and several other places in northern Pennsylvania. Martz Trailways provides service from the park and ride lot on PA 663 to Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, White Haven, Allentown, and Philadelphia. This is an Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach route, connecting to Amtrak trains at 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. OurBus provides service from a stop at a park and ride lot on PA 663 west of the borough near the interchange with the Northeast Extension to Camden, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Wescosville, Allentown, and Bethlehem.

Quakertown had passenger rail service from the Quakertown station along the Bethlehem Line to Bethlehem and Philadelphia until July 27, 1981, when SEPTA ended service on all its intercity diesel-powered lines. Due to the numerous industrial complexes in Quakertown, the borough currently has freight rail service provided by a branch of the East Penn Railroad along the former SEPTA tracks.

Quakertown has a public general aviation airport, simply named Quakertown Airport. The airport is not located in the Quakertown borough itself, but in neighboring Milford Township.

Utilities

The borough of Quakertown provides various utility services to businesses and residents. The Borough of Quakertown Electric Department provides electricity to the borough. The borough has operated its own electric department since the early 1890s and generated its own electricity until 1969, with electricity now purchased wholesale. The Borough of Quakertown Water Department provides water to the borough, operating ten wells and three storage facilities. The Borough of Quakertown Sewer Department provides sewer service to the borough, operating a wastewater treatment plant. Natural gas service in Quakertown is provided by UGI Utilities. The Borough of Quakertown Sanitation Department provides trash and recycling collection.

Education

Quakertown Community School District serves public school students in the borough. Quakertown Elementary School, a historic school, and Neidig Elementary School, both located within borough limits, serve students in grades K-5 based on where they live. The Sixth Grade Center serves borough students in 6th grade, Strayer Middle School serves grades 7-8, and Quakertown Community High School serves grades 9-12.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia operates St. Isidore school, located within borough limits, for many parochial school students.

The borough is also home to the United Friends School.

Notable people

• Megan Angelo, journalist and author
• Diane Bracalente, Olympic field hockey player
• Sabrina Carpenter, Actress, former role as Maya Hart in Girl Meets World
• Katlyn Chookagian, UFC Fighter
• Tim Lewis, former professional football player for the Green Bay Packers, head coach of the Birmingham Iron
• Bill Mensch, microcomputer pioneer
• Louis Riddick, former professional football player for the San Francisco 49ers, on-air talent for ESPN
• Ken Schroy, former professional football player for the New York Jets
• Jan Shepard, film and television actress.
• Hampton S. Thomas, Medal of Honor recipient in the American Civil War.

See also

In Spanish: Quakertown para niños