Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania
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Borough
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Penn Avenue in the commercial district
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Location in Berks County, Pennsylvania
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 Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Berks |
| Incorporated | March 13, 1913 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.24 sq mi (3.22 km2) |
| • Land | 1.24 sq mi (3.21 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 338 ft (103 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,286 |
| • Density | 3,453.67/sq mi (1,333.80/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
19608
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| Area code(s) | 610 & 484 |
Sinking Spring is a small town, called a borough, in Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. In 2020, about 4,286 people lived there. The town got its unique name from a special spring in the middle of town. Sometimes, the water in this spring would seem to disappear into the ground, making it look like it was "sinking." Kids in Sinking Spring go to schools in the Wilson School District.
Contents
History of Sinking Spring
The very first people to live in this area were the Indigenous people called the Lenni Lenape. Their name means "the original people." The specific group living here was the Minsi, also known as the Wolf tribe. It is said that these early inhabitants called the main spring the "sunken spring." Later, white settlers started calling it the "sinking spring."
Penn Avenue is the main road that runs through Sinking Spring. You can find a stone monument in the 3800 block of Penn Avenue. The borough officially became a town on March 13, 1913. Sinking Spring has many underground streams. These streams carve out the limestone rock, which can create holes in the ground called sinkholes.
Geography and Climate
Sinking Spring is about 1.4 square miles (3.6 square kilometers) in size. All of this area is land.
The borough has a climate where summers are hot and winters are cold, but not extremely cold. The average temperature in January is about 30.4 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 0.9 degrees Celsius). In July, the average temperature is around 75.6 degrees Fahrenheit (24.2 degrees Celsius).
Population Changes
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 517 | — | |
| 1920 | 1,270 | — | |
| 1930 | 1,771 | 39.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,861 | 5.1% | |
| 1950 | 1,982 | 6.5% | |
| 1960 | 2,244 | 13.2% | |
| 1970 | 2,862 | 27.5% | |
| 1980 | 2,617 | −8.6% | |
| 1990 | 2,467 | −5.7% | |
| 2000 | 2,639 | 7.0% | |
| 2010 | 4,008 | 51.9% | |
| 2020 | 4,286 | 6.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Let's look at how the number of people living in Sinking Spring has changed over time.
- In 1880, only 517 people lived here.
- By 1920, the population grew to 1,270.
- In 2000, there were 2,639 people.
- The population continued to grow, reaching 4,008 in 2010.
- Most recently, in 2020, the population was 4,286 people.
In 2000, about 19.6% of the people living in Sinking Spring were under 18 years old. About 22.5% were 65 years old or older. The average age of people in the borough was 40 years old.
Businesses and Industries
Sinking Spring is home to several companies that work with oil and gas. These companies have pipelines, storage areas, and distribution centers. They are located near a small village called Montello.
Sunoco Logistics has a big complex in Montello. This is where they manage their Eastern Pipeline System. It's also a place where trucks pick up and deliver fuel. This complex is a major hub for refined products like gasoline, diesel fuel, and heating oil. These products come from refineries in Philadelphia and Marcus Hook. From Montello, Sunoco's pipelines send fuel to big cities like Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Rochester. They also serve smaller areas in Pennsylvania and New York.
Another important company in Sinking Spring is "Alcon Precision Device." This facility makes special medical devices that doctors use for eye surgeries around the world. These devices include tiny scalpels and sutures (stitches) used for operations like cataract and vitrectomy surgeries. Alcon is part of Novartis, which is one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies.
Transportation
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As of 2007, Sinking Spring had about 13.58 miles (21.85 kilometers) of public roads. Some of these roads are kept up by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). The rest are maintained by the borough itself.
The main highways that go through Sinking Spring are U.S. Route 422 and Pennsylvania Route 724. US 422 runs east and west along Penn Avenue, right through the middle of town. PA 724 starts from US 422 and heads southeast along Shillington Road.
Sinking Spring also has public transportation. The BARTA bus Route 14 serves the area, helping people get around.
Notable People
Here are some interesting people who have connections to Sinking Spring:
- John H. Addams was a politician and a businessman.
- Kenny Brightbill was a professional race car driver, famous in NASCAR and dirt modified racing.
- Lori and George Schappell, who were conjoined twins, were born here.
- Paul Specht was a popular American dance bandleader in the 1920s.
- Shane Stafford was a professional arena football quarterback.
See also
In Spanish: Sinking Spring (Pensilvania) para niños
