Warminster Township, 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 |
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| State |  Pennsylvania |
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| County | Bucks | |
| Founded | 1711 | |
| 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, often called Warminster, is a community in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was officially created in 1711. The township is about 13.7 miles north of Philadelphia. In 2020, about 33,603 people lived there.
Contents
- A Look Back: Warminster's History
- Where is Warminster? Geography and Neighbors
- Who Lives in Warminster? Demographics
- Companies and Businesses in Warminster
- Keeping Warminster Safe: Emergency Services
- Learning in Warminster: Education
- Fun in Warminster: Parks and Recreation
- Getting Around Warminster: Transportation
- Utilities and Services
- Law Enforcement
- Weather in Warminster: Climate
- Nature in Warminster: Ecology
- Famous People from Warminster
A Look Back: Warminster's History
Warminster Township was known by its name as early as 1685. Its official boundaries were set in 1711. It was originally part of Southampton Township, which was founded in 1682 by William Penn.
How Warminster Got Its Name
The town was named after a small town in England. This English town is located in the county of Wiltshire. Most of the early settlers in Warminster, Pennsylvania, came from England and Scotland-Ireland. They moved here after William Penn received land from King Charles II.
Warminster During the Revolutionary War
Warminster was the site of the Battle of Crooked Billet during the Revolutionary War. In this battle, George Washington's colonial troops faced a difficult challenge.
Important Historical Places and People
The historic Craven Hall in Warminster is listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. A very important historical figure from Warminster was William Tennent. He was a well-known religious leader and teacher.
From Farms to Inventions
Warminster started as a small farming community. Farming was a big part of its history for a long time. Interestingly, the very first steamboat model was designed and built in Warminster Township. John Fitch and Steven Pagano were the inventors. They successfully tested their model steamboat on the Delaware River.
During World War II, the U.S. Navy took over an industrial site in Warminster in 1943. This center was first used for developing weapons and testing airplanes. The Naval Air Warfare Center Warminster, which had other names before, operated in Warminster from World War II until it closed in 1996.
Space Exploration and Technology
In the 1960s, the naval site became a training center. It was used for the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs. This facility also helped create a prototype "black box." This device is famous for recording cockpit conversations and flight information in case of an airplane crash.
Where is Warminster? Geography and Neighbors
Warminster Township is about 3.7 miles northwest of Philadelphia at its closest point. It covers a total area of 10.2 square miles (26.5 km2). All of this area is land. Water from the Neshaminy Creek and the Pennypack Creek drains Warminster. These creeks flow into the Delaware River.
Local Communities in Warminster
Warminster Township includes several smaller communities. These are Babytown, Breadysville, Casey Highlands, Davisville, Hartsville, Johnsville, Rosewood Park, Warminster, and Warminster Heights.
Towns Near Warminster
Warminster Township shares its borders with several other towns:
- Warrington Township (to the northwest)
- Warwick Township (to the north)
- Ivyland (to the northeast)
- Northampton Township (to the northeast)
- Upper Southampton Township (to the southeast)
- Upper Moreland Township, Montgomery County (to the south)
- Hatboro, Montgomery County (to the southwest)
- Horsham Township, Montgomery County (to the southwest)
Who Lives in Warminster? 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% | |
In 2010, the U.S. census showed that 32,682 people lived in Warminster Township. Most residents, about 89.3%, were White. About 3.1% were African American, and 1.9% were Asian. People from Hispanic or Latino backgrounds made up 7.7% of the population.
Companies and Businesses in Warminster
Many companies have a presence in Warminster Township. Some of the major ones include:
- ABB
- Burpee Seeds
- CRC Industries, started in 1958
- Havis, Inc.
- Hurst Performance, which was based in Warminster from the 1950s to the 1970s
- Naval Air Warfare Center Warminster
- V. La Rosa and Sons Macaroni Company
Keeping Warminster Safe: Emergency Services
Warminster Township has several groups that help keep everyone safe.
- Warminster Fire Department (Stations 90, 91, and 92)
- Warminster Police Department (74PD)
- Central Bucks EMS, which provides emergency medical services (like ambulances) for Warminster. They took over from the Warminster Volunteer Ambulance Corps in 2017.
- Hartsville Fire Company (Station 93) [1] - this company also helps parts of Warwick Township.
Learning in Warminster: Education
Warminster Township offers many schools for students.
Public Schools
These schools are part of the Centennial School District:
- Davis Elementary School
- Klinger Middle School
- McDonald Elementary School
- Willow Dale Elementary School
- Log College Middle School
- William Tennent High School
Parochial Schools
- Archbishop Wood Catholic High School
- Nativity of Our Lord School
Private Schools
- ATG Learning Academy
- Middle Earth Academy
Higher Education
- Pennsylvania State University Applied Research Laboratory Navigation Research & Development Building Center
Fun in Warminster: Parks and Recreation
Warminster Township's Recreation Services Division helps manage many fun activities and community services. They look after and maintain 420 acres of recreation areas across 13 parks.
Sports and Activities
Many sports teams are available for both adults and young people. These include soccer, football, basketball, swimming, wrestling, baseball, and softball. Since 2015, the Central Bucks YMCA has partnered with the township to offer many recreational programs. The Parks and Recreation Department also offers discounted tickets to places like amusement parks, attractions, ski resorts, and movie theaters.
Warminster Community Park
Warminster Community Park is the largest park in the township, covering 243 acres. It has over five miles of walking trails. You can also find nature areas, basketball courts, a playground, and picnic spots. There's even a pond and soccer fields.
Bark Park
Inside Warminster Community Park is Bark Park, a special fenced-in area where dogs can run and play off-leash.
Safety Town
Also at Warminster Community Park is Safety Town. This is a miniature version of Warminster Township. Children can ride tricycles and big wheels here. It has signs and road markings to teach kids about road safety. Local businesses sponsor the miniature town, and their names appear on the buildings.
Smaller Parks in Warminster
Warminster Township has many smaller neighborhood parks. Here are a few:
- Barness Park: A 14-acre park with a walking trail and nature area.
- The Crossing: A 14-acre park with a walking trail, playground, and open space.
- Crooked Billet Green: An 8.2-acre park with basketball courts, a playground, and a softball field.
- Devonshire Court: A 6.8-acre park with open space and a nature trail.
- Ivy Woods: A 12-acre park that is undeveloped.
- Kemper Park: A 30-acre park with walking trails, nature areas, picnic spots, and a playground.
- Log College Park: A 26.6-acre park with basketball and tennis courts, nature areas, a playground, and grass volleyball courts.
- Maple Street Park: A small 0.6-acre park with a basketball court and playground.
- Meadow Run Park: A 2.9-acre park with a picnic area and playground.
- Munro Park: A 36-acre park with baseball and lighted soccer fields, picnic areas, playgrounds, and a skate park.
- Szymanek Park: A 10.8-acre park with basketball courts, a football field, and a playground.
- Werner Park: A 6.8-acre park with a lighted football field, picnic areas, and a playground.
Five Ponds Golf Club
The township also has a public golf course called Five Ponds Golf Club. It is known as the best public golf course in Bucks County. Warminster Township owns the golf course, and it is managed by a private company.
Getting Around Warminster: Transportation
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As of 2018, Warminster Township had 113.97 miles of public roads. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) maintained 13.14 miles, and the township maintained 100.83 miles.
Main Roads
Important roads in Warminster Township include:
- Pennsylvania Route 132 (Street Road): Runs northwest–southeast through the township.
- Pennsylvania Route 263 (York Road): Runs north–south through the township.
- Pennsylvania Route 332 (Jacksonville Road): Runs southwest–northeast through the township.
Other key roads are County Line Road, Bristol Road, Davisville Road, and Mearns Road.
Public Transportation
SEPTA provides both train and bus services in Warminster Township. The Warminster station is the last stop for SEPTA Regional Rail's Warminster Line commuter train. This train goes into Center City Philadelphia.
The SEPTA City Bus Route 22 starts in Warminster and travels south to the Olney Transportation Center in North Philadelphia. TMA Bucks also runs the Richboro-Warminster Rushbus. This shuttle service helps people get between the Warminster train station and certain businesses in Warminster and nearby areas.
Utilities and Services
PECO Energy Company provides electricity and natural gas in Warminster Township. Trash and recycling services are handled by J.P. Mascaro & Sons. Xfinity and Verizon offer cable, telephone, and internet services. Warminster Township uses area codes 215, 267, and 445.
Water and Sewer Services
The Warminster Municipal Authority provides water and sewer services to over 10,300 customers. They get water from wells in the township and also buy water from the North Wales Water Authority. Some groundwater wells in the township have had issues with certain chemicals from the former Naval Air Warfare Center Warminster site. Because of this, the authority has closed some wells to install special systems to clean the water. The United States Navy paid for these cleaning systems. To make sure there is always safe drinking water, the Warminster Municipal Authority has increased the amount of water it buys from the North Wales Water Authority.
Law Enforcement
The Warminster Police Department works to keep the community safe. They have special units, including:
- K-9 (police dogs)
- Bike Patrol
- Highway Safety Unit (HSU)
- SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics)
Weather in Warminster: Climate
According to climate experts, Warminster Township, Pennsylvania, has a humid continental climate. This means it has hot summers and gets rain all year. During summer, it can get very hot and humid. In winter, it can get very cold and windy. The average snowfall each year is between 24 and 30 inches (61 and 76 cm). February is usually the snowiest month.
| Climate data for Warminster Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania (1981 – 2010 averages) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 39.5 (4.2) |
42.7 (5.9) |
50.9 (10.5) |
62.6 (17.0) |
72.5 (22.5) |
81.5 (27.5) |
85.6 (29.8) |
84.1 (28.9) |
77.2 (25.1) |
65.9 (18.8) |
55.0 (12.8) |
43.7 (6.5) |
63.5 (17.5) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 31.2 (−0.4) |
33.9 (1.1) |
41.4 (5.2) |
52.1 (11.2) |
61.7 (16.5) |
71.1 (21.7) |
75.6 (24.2) |
74.1 (23.4) |
66.8 (19.3) |
55.2 (12.9) |
45.6 (7.6) |
35.7 (2.1) |
53.8 (12.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 23.0 (−5.0) |
25.2 (−3.8) |
31.9 (−0.1) |
41.5 (5.3) |
50.9 (10.5) |
60.6 (15.9) |
65.5 (18.6) |
64.2 (17.9) |
56.5 (13.6) |
44.5 (6.9) |
36.1 (2.3) |
27.6 (−2.4) |
44.0 (6.7) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.42 (87) |
2.70 (69) |
3.95 (100) |
4.00 (102) |
4.31 (109) |
4.22 (107) |
5.14 (131) |
4.32 (110) |
4.37 (111) |
3.75 (95) |
3.69 (94) |
3.96 (101) |
47.83 (1,215) |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 66.7 | 62.9 | 58.9 | 57.8 | 62.1 | 66.3 | 67.3 | 69.5 | 70.8 | 69.8 | 67.9 | 68.4 | 65.7 |
| Average dew point °F (°C) | 21.4 (−5.9) |
22.6 (−5.2) |
28.1 (−2.2) |
37.7 (3.2) |
48.6 (9.2) |
59.3 (15.2) |
64.0 (17.8) |
63.5 (17.5) |
57.0 (13.9) |
45.5 (7.5) |
35.6 (2.0) |
26.3 (−3.2) |
42.6 (5.9) |
| Source: PRISM Climate Group | |||||||||||||
Nature in Warminster: Ecology
Warminster Township, Pennsylvania, would naturally have an Appalachian Oak forest. This type of forest is part of the Eastern Hardwood Forest.
Famous People from Warminster
Many notable people have connections to Warminster:
- Kermit Cintrón, a boxer
- John Fitch, an inventor
- Paul Hipp, an actor and musician who grew up in Warminster
- Robert Ramsey, a U.S. Congressman
- Milton Santiago, a boxer
- Gerald Shur (1933-2020), who started the United States Federal Witness Protection Program
- William Tennent, a clergyman and educator
- Mike Vogel, an actor
- David Wharton, an Olympic swimmer in 1988
