Upper Merion Township, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Upper Merion Township, Pennsylvania
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Township
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Upper Merion Township municipal building and public library
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 Upper Merion Township, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Upper Merion Township, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States of America |
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| State |  Pennsylvania |
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| County | Montgomery | ||
| Incorporated | 1713 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 17.27 sq mi (44.74 km2) | ||
| • Land | 16.96 sq mi (43.91 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.32 sq mi (0.82 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 171 ft (52 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 33,613 | ||
| • Estimate
(2016)
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28,640 | ||
| • Density | 1,689.08/sq mi (652.17/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||
| Area code(s) | 610 and 484 | ||
| FIPS code | 42-091-79136 | ||
Upper Merion Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is home to over 33,000 people, based on the 2020 U.S. Census. This area is about 16 miles (26 km) from Philadelphia.
Upper Merion Township includes several small communities. These are Gulph Mills, King of Prussia, Swedeland, Swedesburg, and parts of Radnor and Wayne.
A large part of the famous Valley Forge National Historical Park is in the western area of the township. Upper Merion is also known for the King of Prussia mall. This is one of the biggest shopping malls in the United States. King of Prussia also has a major office area. Big companies like Lockheed Martin and GlaxoSmithKline have offices there.
The name "Merion" comes from a county called Merioneth in north Wales. This Welsh name means "Meirionnydd," named after an old leader.
Contents
History of Upper Merion Township
Upper Merion Township was officially formed in 1713. At that time, local inns like the King of Prussia Inn had to pay a fee to the Pennsylvania government.
The King of Prussia Inn was built in 1719. It was named after Frederick the Great, a king of Prussia. During the American Revolutionary War, it was a popular spot for food and drinks. Some people say the inn was first called Berry's Tavern. It might have changed its name to attract Prussian soldiers who spent a lot of money.
Upper Merion Township is governed by a group of five leaders called the Board of Supervisors. These leaders are elected by the people and serve for six years. They make the laws and set the rules for the township. A professional manager helps run the daily activities. This manager oversees about 250 full-time and part-time workers.
Several places in Upper Merion Township are very old and important. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the King of Prussia Inn, Poplar Lane, the Washington Memorial Chapel, Hanging Rock, and Gulph Mills Bridge.
Geography and Climate
Upper Merion Township covers about 17.2 square miles (44.7 km2). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water. The Schuylkill River forms the northern and eastern borders of the township.
The climate in Upper Merion is known as a hot-summer humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and cold winters. The area is in hardiness zone 7a, which helps people know what plants can grow there.
| Climate data for King of Prussia, Pennsylvania | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 76 (24) |
75 (24) |
83 (28) |
98 (37) |
98 (37) |
100 (38) |
108 (42) |
106 (41) |
102 (39) |
90 (32) |
85 (29) |
76 (24) |
108 (42) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 40 (4) |
44 (7) |
53 (12) |
64 (18) |
74 (23) |
83 (28) |
87 (31) |
86 (30) |
78 (26) |
67 (19) |
57 (14) |
45 (7) |
65 (18) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 22 (−6) |
24 (−4) |
31 (−1) |
41 (5) |
51 (11) |
61 (16) |
66 (19) |
64 (18) |
56 (13) |
44 (7) |
35 (2) |
27 (−3) |
44 (6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −12 (−24) |
−5 (−21) |
8 (−13) |
15 (−9) |
29 (−2) |
28 (−2) |
48 (9) |
40 (4) |
35 (2) |
26 (−3) |
14 (−10) |
−10 (−23) |
−12 (−24) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.40 (86) |
3.17 (81) |
4.00 (102) |
4.03 (102) |
4.21 (107) |
3.98 (101) |
4.76 (121) |
4.37 (111) |
4.87 (124) |
3.73 (95) |
3.80 (97) |
4.17 (106) |
48.49 (1,233) |
| Source: The Weather Channel | |||||||||||||
Fun Places to Visit
Upper Merion Township has many interesting places. One of the most famous is Valley Forge National Historical Park. This park is where General George Washington and his army stayed during the cold winter of 1777–78. This happened during the American Revolutionary War.
The King of Prussia mall is also in Upper Merion Township. It is one of the largest malls in the United States. It has more than 450 stores! Other fun spots include the Valley Forge Casino Resort and the King of Prussia Town Center. There is also the King of Prussia Volunteer Fire Company 9/11 Memorial.
The Old Swedes Church (Christ Church) in Swedesburg was opened in 1760. It replaced an older log cabin church from 1735. The first church was used as both a church and a school. The beautiful stained glass windows in Christ Church tell stories about the history of the Swedish colony called New Sweden.
After crossing the Schuylkill River in 1777, General George Washington and his soldiers visited Old Swedes Church. They stayed there before moving on to Valley Forge.
People and Population
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 5,889 | — | |
| 1940 | 6,143 | 4.3% | |
| 1950 | 6,404 | 4.2% | |
| 1960 | 17,096 | 167.0% | |
| 1970 | 23,743 | 38.9% | |
| 1980 | 26,138 | 10.1% | |
| 1990 | 25,722 | −1.6% | |
| 2000 | 26,863 | 4.4% | |
| 2010 | 28,395 | 5.7% | |
| 2020 | 33,613 | 18.4% | |
In 2020, Upper Merion Township had 33,613 people. Most residents were White (69.1%). About 19.6% were Asian, and 6.5% were Black or African American. About 4.0% of the people were of Hispanic or Latino background.
In 2000, there were about 11,575 households in the township. Many households (52.3%) were married couples living together. About 23.1% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.30 people.
The median age of people in the township was 38 years old. This means half the people were younger than 38 and half were older. About 18.7% of the population was under 18 years old.
Economy and Jobs
Upper Merion Township has a strong economy with many job opportunities. Here are some of the top employers in the area, based on a 2022 report:
| # | Employer | # of Employees | % of Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lockheed Martin | 2,757 | 5.7% |
| 2 | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia | 1,146 | 2.4% |
| 3 | FedEx Ground Package System | 1,131 | 2.3% |
| 4 | United States Liability Ins Co. | 1,027 | 2.1% |
| 5 | GlaxoSmithKline | 989 | 2.0% |
| 6 | Valley Forge Casino Resort | 889 | 1.8% |
| 7 | CSL Behring LLC | 873 | 1.8% |
| 8 | Vertex Inc | 819 | 1.7% |
| 9 | UHS of Delaware Inc. | 812 | 1.7% |
| 10 | Arkema | 673 | 1.4% |
Education for Kids
Students in Upper Merion Township go to public schools in the Upper Merion Area School District.
- Upper Merion Area High School (for grades 9-12)
- Upper Merion Area Middle School (for grades 5-8)
- Bridgeport Elementary School (for grades K-4)
- Caley Road Elementary School (for grades K-4)
- Candlebrook Elementary School (for grades K-4)
- Gulph Elementary School (for grades K-4)
- Roberts Elementary School (for grades K-4)
There is also a private school called Mother Teresa Regional Catholic School. It was formed in 2012 when two other schools joined together. The Armenian Sisters Academy, an Armenian school, is also located in Upper Merion Township.
Some colleges and universities have had a presence in Upper Merion. The Penn State Great Valley campus was here for some years before moving. The American College of Financial Services is currently located in the King of Prussia part of the township.
Getting Around Upper Merion
_from_the_overpass_for_Goddard_Boulevard_in_Upper_Merion_Township,_Montgomery_County,_Pennsylvania.jpg)
Upper Merion Township has many important roads. The Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-276) and the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) meet here. These are major highways for the Philadelphia area. The Pennsylvania Turnpike goes across the middle of the township. The Schuylkill Expressway connects with the turnpike and also with U.S. Route 202.
Other important roads include U.S. Route 422, Pennsylvania Route 23, Pennsylvania Route 320, and Pennsylvania Route 252. These roads help people travel throughout the township and to nearby areas.
SEPTA provides bus services in Upper Merion Township. You can catch bus routes 92, 95, 99, 123, 124, 125, and 139. SEPTA also runs the Norristown High Speed Line. This train line goes through Upper Merion Township and has stops at Gulph Mills and Hughes Park.
There is also a community shuttle called The Rambler. It helps people get around Upper Merion Township from Monday to Saturday. It goes to homes, shopping centers, the King of Prussia mall, medical places, and the township building.
See also
In Spanish: Municipio de Upper Merion para niños
