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Ridley Township, Pennsylvania facts for kids

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Ridley Township, Pennsylvania
Township
Township municipal building and library
Township municipal building and library
Location in Delaware County and the state of Pennsylvania.
Location in Delaware County and the state of Pennsylvania.
Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Delaware
Area
 • Total 5.31 sq mi (13.74 km2)
 • Land 5.12 sq mi (13.25 km2)
 • Water 0.19 sq mi (0.49 km2)
Elevation
102 ft (31 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 30,768
 • Estimate 
(2016)
 31,038
 • Density 6,064.48/sq mi (2,341.71/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code(s) 610
FIPS code 42-045-64800
GNIS feature ID 1216390

Ridley Township is a community in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. It's called a township, which is a type of local government area. In 2010, about 30,768 people lived here. Ridley Township includes several smaller communities like Folsom, Woodlyn, Crum Lynne, and Holmes. Part of Secane is also in the township.

History of Ridley Township

Ridley Township got its name from a place in England called Ridley, Cheshire. One of the first settlers, John Simcock, came from there. Records show that Ridley was first mentioned in court in 1684. This was when tax collectors were chosen for the area.

Revolutionary War Events

During the Revolutionary War, both American and British soldiers traveled through Ridley. George Washington, the leader of the American army, moved his troops through Ridley Township. He was on his way to Wilmington to face the British General Howe.

After the Battle of Brandywine, American soldiers camped along the roads in Ridley. George Washington even spent a night at the home of John McIlvain. Later, in 1777, British General Cornwallis marched 3,000 of his men through Ridley Township from Philadelphia. Another British general, General Howe, also passed through Ridley with his troops in December 1777.

Geography of Ridley Township

Ridley Township is located in the southeastern part of Delaware County. It is northeast of Chester and southeast of Media, which is the main town of the county. The small town of Rutledge is inside the northern part of Ridley Township, but it is its own separate town.

Land and Water

The U.S. Census Bureau says that Ridley Township covers about 13.8 square kilometers (5.3 square miles). Most of this area, about 13.3 square kilometers (5.1 square miles), is land. The rest, about 0.5 square kilometers (0.19 square miles), is water. A large part of this water area is in the Delaware River, which is at the very southern edge of the township.

Climate and Surroundings

Ridley Township has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and mild winters. The area is surrounded by many other towns and townships.

Population and People

The population of Ridley Township has changed over the years.

  • In 1930, there were 8,326 people.
  • By 1960, the population grew to 35,738.
  • In 2010, the population was 30,768.
  • In 2020, it was 31,053.

In 2010, most of the people living in the township were White (90.0%). There were also African American (5.7%), Asian (2.2%), and other groups. About 1.9% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Education in Ridley Township

Most students who live in Ridley Township go to schools that are part of the Ridley School District.

Catholic Schools

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia manages Catholic schools in the area. Our Lady of Angels Regional School is the local Catholic school. It was created in 2012 when two other schools, Our Lady of Fatima and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, joined together. In 2018, a fire damaged the school, so students temporarily went to Cardinal O'Hara. The Ridley School District helped with transportation for these students.

Transportation Around Ridley

2022-10-08 10 13 36 View south along Interstate 95 (Delaware Expressway) from the overpass for Stewart Avenue in Ridley Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania during a paving project
I-95 southbound in Ridley Township

Ridley Township has many public roads, totaling about 86.24 miles. The state of Pennsylvania maintains some of these roads, and the township maintains the rest.

Major Highways

  • Interstate 95 is a very important highway that runs through the southern part of the township.
  • Interstate 476 starts near I-95 and goes northwest through the southwestern part of Ridley.
  • U.S. Route 13 follows Chester Pike through the southern part of the township.
  • Pennsylvania Route 291 (Industrial Highway) goes through the southeastern corner.
  • Pennsylvania Route 420 (Kedron Avenue) runs through the northeastern part of the township.

Public Transit

SEPTA provides bus and train services for Ridley Township.

  • Buses: SEPTA City Bus Route 37 connects the Chester Transportation Center to South Philadelphia, passing by the Philadelphia International Airport. Suburban Bus Route 113 runs between Claymont station in Delaware and the 69th Street Transportation Center. Suburban Bus Route 114 goes between Wawa station and the Darby Transportation Center.
  • Trains: The SEPTA Regional Rail's Media/Wawa Line and Wilmington/Newark Line both pass through parts of Ridley Township. However, the closest train stations are in nearby towns.

Communities in Ridley Township

Ridley Township includes several smaller towns and communities. Locals often refer to all these areas simply as "Ridley" because they share the same taxes, school district, library, and police department. The police department is located in Folsom. While they share many services, many of these communities have their own fire department. They often help each other during big fires or other emergencies.

Here are some of the communities within Ridley Township:

Notable People from Ridley Township

Many interesting people have connections to Ridley Township. Here are a few:

  • Paul Felder – A professional mixed martial arts fighter.
  • Ethel Gabriel – A successful record producer and executive in the music industry.
  • Joe Hackett – A politician who served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
  • George Gray Leiper – A former United States Congressman.
  • John Morton – A very important historical figure who signed the United States Declaration of Independence.
  • Hack Wilson – A famous Major League Baseball player, known for setting a record for RBIs (runs batted in) in a single season.
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