Warminster Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Warminster Township, Pennsylvania
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Township
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Craven Hall
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Location of Warminster Township in Bucks County
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 Warminster Township, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Warminster Township, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Pennsylvania | |
| County | Bucks | |
| Founded | 1685 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Council-manager | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 10.18 sq mi (26.4 km2) | |
| • Land | 10.16 sq mi (26.3 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) | |
| Elevation | 315 ft (96 m) | |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 32,682 | |
| • Estimate
(2016)
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32,460 | |
| • Density | 3,210.4/sq mi (1,239.5/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
18974
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| Area code(s) | 215, 267 and 445 | |
| FIPS code | 42-017-80952 | |
Warminster Township (also referred to as Warminster) is located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States and was formally established in 1711. It is 13.7 miles north of Philadelphia and had a population of 32,682 according to the 2010 U.S. census.
Contents
History
The town was called Warminster Township as early as 1685, before its borders were formally established in 1711. It was originally part of Southampton Township, which was founded in 1682 by William Penn. Warminster was named after a small town in the county of Wiltshire, at the western extremity of Salisbury Plain, England. Warminster, Pennsylvania was mostly settled by English and Scotch-Irish after William Penn received a grant of land in the area from King Charles, II.
Warminster began as a small farming community and remained that way throughout most of its history. As recently as 1955, the township had no residential subdivisions and only one housing complex, Lacey Park on Street Road, the site where the Battle of Crooked Billet occurred during the Revolutionary War that resulted in a resounding defeat for George Washington's troops.
Warminster's Craven Hall is included in the National Register of Historic Places listings in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Warminster's most significant historical figure was William Tennent, an outspoken religious leader and educator.
Warminster's Naval Air Warfare Center, previously called the Johnsville Naval Air Development Center and then the Naval Air Development Center, operated from World War II until it closed in 1996. Its site was acquired by the U.S. Navy from the Brewster Aeronautical Corporation in 1943. The Center initially served as a weapons development and airplane testing facility. It then became a training center for the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs. The facility developed a prototype "black box," best known as the indestructible recorder of cockpit conversations and information in the event of a crash.
Geography
Warminster Township is 3.7 miles northwest of Philadelphia at their closest points and has a total area of 10.2 square miles (26.5 km²), all of it land. Warminster is drained by the Delaware River tributaries of the Neshaminy Creek and the Pennypack Creek.
Neighboring municipalities
- Warrington Township (northwest)
- Warwick Township (north)
- Ivyland (northeast)
- Northampton Township (northeast)
- Upper Southampton Township (southeast)
- Upper Moreland Township, Montgomery County (south)
- Hatboro, Montgomery County (southwest)
- Horsham Township, Montgomery County (southwest)
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, Warminster has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.
| Climate data for Warminster, Pennsylvania | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 73 (22.8) |
75 (23.9) |
85 (29.4) |
95 (35) |
96 (35.6) |
99 (37.2) |
102 (38.9) |
100 (37.8) |
102 (38.9) |
89 (31.7) |
83 (28.3) |
75 (23.9) |
102 (38.9) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 38.9 (3.83) |
42.1 (5.61) |
51.0 (10.56) |
62.3 (16.83) |
72.1 (22.28) |
80.8 (27.11) |
84.9 (29.39) |
82.9 (28.28) |
75.5 (24.17) |
64.2 (17.89) |
54.3 (12.39) |
42.7 (5.94) |
62.7 (17.06) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 25.5 (-3.61) |
27.6 (-2.44) |
34.0 (1.11) |
43.6 (6.44) |
53.0 (11.67) |
62.5 (16.94) |
67.4 (19.67) |
65.7 (18.72) |
58.0 (14.44) |
46.7 (8.17) |
38.5 (3.61) |
30.0 (-1.11) |
46.1 (7.83) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −9 (-22.8) |
−6 (-21.1) |
0 (-17.8) |
18 (-7.8) |
29 (-1.7) |
39 (3.9) |
49 (9.4) |
43 (6.1) |
34 (1.1) |
25 (-3.9) |
13 (-10.6) |
−2 (-18.9) |
−9 (-22.8) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 3.6 (91) |
2.8 (71) |
4.2 (107) |
4.0 (102) |
4.2 (107) |
4.1 (104) |
4.9 (124) |
4.1 (104) |
4.7 (119) |
3.5 (89) |
3.8 (97) |
4.3 (109) |
48.2 (1,224) |
| Snowfall inches (cm) | 8.0 (20.3) |
8.0 (20.3) |
4.5 (11.4) |
0.9 (2.3) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0.6 (1.5) |
2.7 (6.9) |
24.7 (62.7) |
| % Humidity | 61.2 | 56.4 | 57.9 | 57.6 | 63.2 | 67.1 | 67.3 | 69.6 | 70.5 | 68.4 | 63.5 | 63.5 | 64.0 |
| Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 10.5 | 9.1 | 10.4 | 12.4 | 12.1 | 10.3 | 9.9 | 8.3 | 8.9 | 8.4 | 9.8 | 10.3 | 120.4 |
| Avg. snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 4.0 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 10.6 |
| Source: Weatherbase | |||||||||||||
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 1,452 | — | |
| 1940 | 1,977 | 36.2% | |
| 1950 | 7,127 | 260.5% | |
| 1960 | 15,994 | 124.4% | |
| 1970 | 34,900 | 118.2% | |
| 1980 | 35,463 | 1.6% | |
| 1990 | 32,832 | −7.4% | |
| 2000 | 31,383 | −4.4% | |
| 2010 | 32,682 | 4.1% | |
| 2020 | 33,603 | 2.8% | |
As of the 2010 U.S. census, Warminster Township had a population of 32,682 people. The racial makeup of the township was 89.3% White, 3.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.7% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.7% of the population.
As of the 2000 U.S. census, Warminster Township had a population of 31,383 people. The racial makeup of the township was 91.00% White, 3.31% African American, 0.11% Native American, 1.99% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.21% from other races, and 1.32% from two or more races. 4.63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
The population density was 3,061.0 people per square mile (1,182.2/km2). There were 11,644 housing units at an average density of 1,135.7/sq mi (438.6/km2).
There were 11,350 households, out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.1% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 20.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.16.
Of all township residents, 24.5% were under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.
The median household income was $54,375, while the median family income was $60,907. Males had a median income of $41,033 versus $30,302 for females. The per capita income for the township was $22,285. About 4.1% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.
Parks and recreation centers
Warminster Township's Recreation Services Division provides many events and community services, including overseeing and maintaining 420 acres of recreation areas within 13 parks. Warminster Community Park is the largest at 240 acres, with over five miles of trails. Small neighborhood parks make up the bulk of the others. Sports teams, including soccer, football, basketball, swimming, wrestling, baseball, and softball, are provided by various adult and youth sports organizations throughout their respective seasons. The township is also home to the best-reviewed public golf course in Bucks County.
Infrastructure
Transportation
Numbered routes in Warminster Township include Pennsylvania Route 132 (Street Road), which runs northwest–southeast through the township between Warrington and Southampton; Pennsylvania Route 263 (York Road), which runs north–south through the township between Hatboro and Jamison; and Pennsylvania Route 332 (Jacksonville Road), which runs southwest–northeast through the township between Hatboro and Ivyland. Other important roads include County Line Road, which runs northwest–southeast along the southwestern border with Montgomery County; Bristol Road, which runs northwest–southeast along the northeastern border of the township; Davisville Road, which runs southwest–northeast along the southeastern border of the township; and Mearns Road, which begins at Street Road in the center of the township and heads northeast.
SEPTA provides train and bus service in Warminster Township. The Warminster station serves as the terminus of SEPTA Regional Rail's Warminster Line commuter rail service into Center City Philadelphia. SEPTA City Bus Route 22 begins in Warminster and heads south to Olney Transportation Center in North Philadelphia via Willow Grove. TMA Bucks operates the Richboro-Warminster Rushbus, which offers peak-hour shuttles between a connection with the Warminster Line train and the Route 22 bus at the Warminster station and certain businesses in Warminster and surrounding areas in Ivyland, Northampton Township, and Richboro. Two cab companies also operate within the township.
Freight rail service to Warminster Township is provided by the Pennsylvania Northeastern Railroad (which operates along SEPTA trackage) and the New Hope Railroad. Both railroads have an interchange point in the township.
Utilities
Electricity and natural gas in Warminster Township is provided by PECO Energy Company, a subsidiary of Exelon. Trash and recycling collection in Warminster Township is provided under contract by J.P. Mascaro & Sons. Cable, telephone, and internet service to the area is provided by Xfinity and Verizon. Warminster Township is served by area codes 215, 267, and 445.
Water and sewer service in the township is provided by the Warminster Municipal Authority, which serves 10,300 customers. The Warminster Municipal Authority receives water from groundwater wells in the township along with water purchased from the North Wales Water Authority. Multiple groundwater wells in the township are contaminated with perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) from the former Naval Air Warfare Center Warminster site, leading to the authority having to close wells to install treatment systems to decontaminate the water. The United States Navy paid for the treatment systems for the wells. As a result, the Warminster Municipal Authority has increased the amount of water it purchases from the North Wales Water Authority to ensure safe drinking water.
Notable people
- Kermit Cintron, boxer
- John Fitch, inventor
- Paul Hipp, actor and musician who grew up in Warminster.
- Robert Ramsey, U.S. Congressman
- Milton Santiago, boxer
- Gerald Shur (1933-2020), founder of the United States Federal Witness Protection Program
- William Tennent, clergyman and educator
- Mike Vogel, actor
- David Wharton, 1988 Olympic swimmer
Education
Kindergarten through grade 12
Public schools (part of the Centennial School District):
- Davis Elementary School
- McDonald Elementary School
- Willow Dale Elementary School
- Klinger Middle School
- Log College Middle School
- William Tennent High School
Parochial schools:
- Nativity of Our Lord School
- Archbishop Wood Catholic High School
Private Schools:
- ATG Learning Academy
- Delaware Valley Private School (closed)
- Middle Earth Academy
University
- Pennsylvania State University Applied Research Laboratory Navigation Research & Development Building Center
Images for kids
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Jamison Street in Warminster Heights
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Warminster Community Park is located on part of the former site of Naval Air Warfare Center Warminster
See also
In Spanish: Municipio de Warminster (condado de Bucks, Pensilvania) para niños
