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Schwenksville, Pennsylvania facts for kids

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Borough of Schwenksville
Buildings on Main Street
Buildings on Main Street
Location of Schwenksville in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
Location of Schwenksville in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
Borough of Schwenksville is located in Pennsylvania
Borough of Schwenksville
Borough of Schwenksville
Location in Pennsylvania
Borough of Schwenksville is located in the United States
Borough of Schwenksville
Borough of Schwenksville
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Montgomery
Government
 • Type Council-manager
Area
 • Total 0.40 sq mi (1.04 km2)
 • Land 0.40 sq mi (1.04 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
213 ft (65 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 1,385
 • Estimate 
(2019)
1,379
 • Density 3,447.50/sq mi (1,330.30/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code
19473
Area code(s) 610 and 484
FIPS code 42-68328

Schwenksville is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,385 at the 2010 census. It is notable for being located near the site of the Philadelphia Folk Festival. The borough was founded in 1684, when the Lenni-Lenape Indians ceded to William Penn the land along the Perkiomen Creek; it was incorporated in 1903. The borough was named for George Schwenk, whose son, Jacob Schwenk, served in George Washington's army.

The town was the inspiration for the protagonist in Catherine Gilbert Murdock's novel Dairy Queen (2006).

The Hall & Oates song "Perkiomen" was written about the Perkiomen Creek, which constitutes Schwenksville's eastern border. "Perkiomen" is Lenape for "muddy waters" and "where the cranberries grow."

Schwenksville is also the gateway to the Perkiomen Trail, a nineteen-mile section of the former Reading Railroad's Perkiomen Valley corridor. It now serves as a multi-use rail trail and was completed in 2003.

Geography

Schwenksville is located at 40°15′23″N 75°27′54″W / 40.25639°N 75.46500°W / 40.25639; -75.46500 (40.256418, -75.465012).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2), of which, 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2) of it is land and 2.38% is water.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Schwenksville has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

History

General George Washington and the Continental Army camped in and around Schwenksville – September 26 to 29 and October 4 to 8, 1777 – prior to and immediately following the October 4 Battle of Germantown. Washington's headquarters probably was at the Henry Kelly House (demolished), just southwest of the town that he called "Pawling's Mill." The bulk of the Army camped on the opposite side of the Perkiomen Creek, at Pennypacker Mills.

The Borough was originally part of Perkiomen Township and home to the first copper mine in Pennsylvania. Ice harvesting was a major industry in the area. Several large icehouses were located along the creek, and ice was regularly shipped to Philadelphia. Mills devoted to grain and textiles were also very prominent which is evident by the existing historic structures. Its location along the Perkiomen Creek made the Borough a great summer resort community during its early existence, and Schwenksville was once home to The Perkiomen Inn, Spring Mountain House, and The Woodside Inn.

It was home to the Schwenksville Union School District until amalgamation with the Perkiomen Joint School District to form Perkiomen Valley School District in 1969.

Today the Borough is a residential community. Commercial and industrial businesses are located along the Main Street corridor. Schwenksville Elementary School; the Perkiomen Valley Branch of the Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library; the Schwenksville post office; two banks; three churches - Heidelberg United Church of Christ, Jerusalem Lutheran, and Eden Mennonite; and a 6.47 acre park along the Perkiomen Creek are located within the Borough.

The Pennypacker Mansion and Sunrise Mill are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 303
1910 381
1920 337 −11.5%
1930 405 20.2%
1940 483 19.3%
1950 563 16.6%
1960 620 10.1%
1970 809 30.5%
1980 1,041 28.7%
1990 1,326 27.4%
2000 1,693 27.7%
2010 1,385 −18.2%
2020 1,296 −6.4%

As of the 2010 census, the borough was 94.9% White, 2.5% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian, and 1.4% were two or more races. 2.7% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry [1].

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,693 people, 626 households, and 326 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,198.5 people per square mile (1,634.2/km2). There were 662 housing units at an average density of 1,641.7 per square mile (639.0/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.21% White, 2.84% African American, 1.12% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.59% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.13% of the population.

There were 626 households, out of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.0% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.8% were non-families. 40.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.91.

In 2000, 17.7% of the population under the age of 18, with 26.5% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 15.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $44,514, and the median income for a family was $55,000. Males had a median income of $37,566 versus $31,200 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $19,679. About 3.3% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 12.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Schwenksville is part of the Perkiomen Valley School District.

Residents are zoned to Schwenksville Elementary School, Middle School West, and Perkiomen Valley High School.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Schwenksville para niños

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