Souderton, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Borough of Souderton
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Souderton Historic District
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Location of Souderton in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
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 Borough of Souderton
Location in Pennsylvania
Borough of Souderton
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Pennsylvania | |
| County | Montgomery | |
| Incorporated | 1887 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Council-manager | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 1.12 sq mi (2.90 km2) | |
| • Land | 1.12 sq mi (2.90 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | |
| Elevation | 400 ft (100 m) | |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 6,618 | |
| • Estimate
(2019)
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7,082 | |
| • Density | 6,317.57/sq mi (2,438.39/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
18964
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| Area code(s) | 215, 267 and 445 | |
| FIPS code | 42-71856 | |
| Website | www.soudertonborough.org | |
Souderton is a small town, also called a borough, located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. In 2022, about 7,246 people lived there. Souderton used to be the finish line for the annual Bucks County Classic, a professional bicycle race.
Contents
History of Souderton
The land where Souderton is today was once home to the Lenape people for thousands of years. Around 1710, the first Welsh settlers, John Mathias and Thomas Morgan, started a community nearby. This area was first called Welshtown because of its Welsh roots.
The first person to own land in what is now Souderton was George Stuart. He built a log cabin around the area known as West Street Park today. Stuart owned a lot of land and began selling it off. In 1734, he sold 1,000 acres to George Cressman. This land eventually became the Borough of Souderton.
In 1755, a German immigrant named Johannes 'John' Benner bought 225 acres. He built a log house near a stream that flows into the Skippack Creek.
In 1835, Henry O. Souder and his wife Hannah built their first home at what is now Main and Chestnut Streets. Henry Souder was a businessman who owned a lumber mill on Main Street. Because of his lumber mill, an 1847 map showed the area as Souder's Lumberyard. This is how the town got its name, Souderton.
Souderton first grew as a farming community. But when the railroad arrived, it helped the town grow even more. New industries like textile (cloth) making and cigar factories brought more jobs and people to Souderton.
On June 6, 1887, the people of Souderton asked the Montgomery County Court to officially make their town a borough. This request was approved on December 15, 1887. At that time, about 600 people lived in Souderton.
The Souderton Historic District, which includes many old buildings, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.
Geography of Souderton
Souderton is located at 40°18′37″N 75°19′18″W / 40.31028°N 75.32167°W.
The borough covers about 1.1 square miles (2.9 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the borough. The land has gentle rolling hills. Some areas in the downtown part have steeper hills, while other parts are flat.
Neighboring Towns
Souderton shares its borders with these nearby towns:
- Franconia Township to the east, southeast, and south.
- Telford borough to the northwest.
- Hilltown Township in Bucks County to the northeast, across County Line Road.
Some areas in Hilltown Township, like Calvary Church, use a Souderton mailing address.
Souderton's Climate
Souderton has a climate with hot summers. The average monthly temperatures range from about 29.5°F (-1.4°C) in January to 74.1°F (23.4°C) in July. The area is in a plant hardiness zone called 6b.
Arts and Culture
Souderton is home to the Montgomery Theater. This is one of only three professional theaters in Montgomery County. The theater is located in a historic firehouse on Main Street. It puts on five main shows each year and offers acting classes for students aged 8 to 18. The Montgomery Theater brings many visitors to Souderton.
Souderton also hosts an annual Art Jam every September. This event brings artists and craftspeople to the borough park. It also offers tastings of craft beer and wine. Souderton-Telford Main Streets, a non-profit group, organizes this event to help improve Souderton.
The band Fall River was formed in Souderton. This band went on to release seven albums.
Sports in Souderton
Souderton used to host the Univest Grand Prix. This was a one-day professional road bicycle racing event. It was part of the USA Cycling Professional Tour and took place in early September. Many cyclists from the United States and other countries, especially Europe, came to race. Besides the professional race, there were also amateur races for kids and adults earlier in the morning. The Univest Grand Prix was officially stopped in Souderton in 2012.
Souderton is also well-known for its strong baseball community. Two former players from Souderton, Jamie Moyer and Erik Kratz, went on to play in Major League Baseball (MLB). The American Legion baseball team in Souderton is highly ranked. In 2018, they were ranked #18 in the country and placed second in the state. Their main rival is Doylestown in nearby Bucks County.
Souderton's Population
As of the 2020 United States census, Souderton borough had a population of 7,191 people living in 2,737 homes. This means there were about 2.60 people per household.
Most of the population, 84.7%, were white. About 2.1% were Black or African American, and 5.2% were Asian. About 2.6% of the people were of two or more races. Also, 18.1% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino. There were 286 veterans living in the borough. About 13.6% of the people living in Souderton were born in other countries.
From 2017 to 2021, about 60.1% of homes were owned by the people living in them. The average value of these owned homes was $238,900. For homeowners with a mortgage, the average monthly cost was $1,747. For those without a mortgage, it was $705. The average monthly rent was $1,086.
Most households (94.1%) had a computer, and 89.4% had a high-speed internet connection. About 87.5% of people aged 25 and older had graduated from high school or higher. Also, 25.7% of people in that age group had a bachelor's degree or higher.
About 10.6% of the population under 65 years old had a disability. Also, 6.3% of people under 65 years old did not have health insurance.
The average household income was $72,448. The average income per person for 12 months was $34,345. About 8.7% of the population lived below the poverty line.
Notable People from Souderton
Many interesting people have connections to Souderton:
- Henry Gerhard Appenzeller was a missionary who brought Protestant Christianity to Korea in 1884. He was born in Souderton.
- Robert Godshall, a Pennsylvania state representative, was born in Souderton.
- Steven Grasse is an artist.
- Donald Haldeman won a gold medal in trap shooting at the 1976 Olympics. He is from Souderton.
- Donald Hunsberger was a conductor for the Eastman Wind Ensemble. He also recorded music with Wynton Marsalis. He is from Souderton.
- Erik Kratz is a professional baseball catcher in Major League Baseball.
- Jamie Moyer was a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. He was born nearby and grew up in Souderton.
- Jeff Turzo, the guitar player for the band God Lives Underwater, graduated from Souderton Area Senior High School in 1989.
- Jared Hasselhoff, the bass player for the band Bloodhound Gang, also graduated from Souderton Area Senior High in 1989.
Souderton's Infrastructure
Transportation in Souderton
Roads and Highways
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As of 2006, Souderton had about 19.50 miles of public roads. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) maintained 2.59 miles, and the borough maintained 16.91 miles.
Pennsylvania Route 113 goes through Souderton along Main Street and Broad Street. It heads southwest towards Harleysville and northeast towards Silverdale. PA 113 connects with the Pennsylvania Route 309 freeway northeast of Souderton. PA 309 goes north to Quakertown and south to Montgomeryville.
Railroads
A train line, originally from the Reading Company, runs through Souderton. It connects to towns like Telford, Perkasie, Quakertown, and Bethlehem to the north. To the south, it connects to Hatfield and Lansdale. This line used to carry passengers until 1981.
Today, the Pennsylvania Northeastern Railroad uses these tracks for freight trains. Every August, this railroad works with the New Hope and Ivyland Railroad to offer special train trips to Souderton Station. The trains only use the station as a place to turn around and do not pick up or drop off passengers there.
Old Trolley System
From 1901 to 1951, an electric trolley system called the Lehigh Valley Transit ran through Souderton. It offered hourly service north to Allentown and south to Philadelphia. The Souderton trolley station was at the corner of Broad and Main streets. The trolley ran north in the middle of Main Street, then turned onto Summit Street. It crossed the Reading railroad line on the Summit Street bridge.
The Lehigh Valley Transit had a large building for maintaining and storing trolleys. This building later became a supermarket before it burned down in the 1990s. During World War II, many people used the trolley because gas was rationed. But after the war, fewer people rode the trolley, and the service stopped, replaced by buses.
On September 21, 1915, a freight trolley lost control and went off its tracks at Penn Street and Broad in Souderton. One person, conductor Harry W. Utt, sadly died in this accident.
Bus Service
The SEPTA Suburban Bus Route 132 serves Souderton. It travels north to Telford and south to Hatfield, Lansdale, and the Montgomery Mall in Montgomeryville.
Utilities
PPL Corporation provides electricity to Souderton. Natural gas in Souderton is supplied by PECO Energy Company. The North Penn Water Authority provides water to Souderton and nearby areas. The borough's Sewer Department handles sewer services for Souderton. Trash and recycling collection in Souderton is managed by J.P. Mascaro & Sons.
See also
In Spanish: Souderton para niños
