Willow Grove, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Willow Grove
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North York Road in downtown Willow Grove
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| Nickname(s):
The Grove
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 Willow Grove, Pennsylvania
Location in Pennsylvania
Willow Grove, Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Montgomery |
| Township | Abington, Upper Dublin, Upper Moreland |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.6 sq mi (9 km2) |
| • Land | 3.6 sq mi (9 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 269 ft (82 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 15,726 |
| • Density | 4,370/sq mi (1,687/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
19090
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| Area code(s) | 215, 267, and 445 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1193673 |
Willow Grove is a community in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It's often called a "census-designated place" (CDP), which means it's a specific area counted by the government.
Willow Grove is located just north of Philadelphia. In 2020, about 13,730 people lived here. The community is spread across three townships: Upper Dublin, Abington, and Upper Moreland.
Long ago, Willow Grove was famous for the Willow Grove Park, a fun amusement park that was open from 1896 to 1976. Today, that same spot is home to the Willow Grove Park Mall. Willow Grove is also seen as an "edge city" of Philadelphia. This means it has lots of stores and offices, acting like a smaller city center outside the main big city.
A military base, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove, used to be near Willow Grove. In 2011, it changed into the Horsham Air National Guard Station. Willow Grove is about 37 miles (60 km) southeast of Allentown and 13 miles (21 km) north of Philadelphia.
Contents
Where is Willow Grove Located?
Willow Grove is found at coordinates 40.146109 degrees North and -75.116641 degrees West.
What is the Climate Like?
Willow Grove has a climate that gets hot in the summer. It's known as a humid continental climate, which means it has warm, wet summers and cold winters. The average temperature in January is about 31.8°F (-0.1°C), while in July it's around 75.9°F (24.4°C).
Who Lives in Willow Grove?
In 2010, the people living in Willow Grove came from many different backgrounds. Most residents were White (81.4%), with smaller groups of Black or African American (8.2%), Asian (4.9%), and people from two or more races (2.3%). About 3.5% of the population had Hispanic or Latino family roots.
How Many People Live Here?
The number of people living in Willow Grove has changed over the years:
- 1990: 16,325 people
- 2000: 16,234 people
- 2010: 15,726 people
- 2020: 13,730 people
What Businesses are in Willow Grove?
Willow Grove is home to some important companies.
- Asplundh Tree Expert Company, a big company that takes care of trees, has its main office here.
- China Airlines also has a local office in Willow Grove.
How Do People Get Around?
Roads and Highways
Willow Grove is easy to reach by car. The Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 276) has an exit (Exit 343) right in Willow Grove. Major roads like Pennsylvania Route 611 (Old York Road/Easton Road) and Pennsylvania Route 263 (York Road) also pass through the community.
Public Transportation Options
Willow Grove has a train station called Willow Grove station. You can catch a SEPTA Regional Rail train here on the Warminster Line, which connects to Center City Philadelphia.
There are also several SEPTA bus routes that serve Willow Grove, with a main stop at the Willow Grove Park Mall. These buses can take you to places like North Philadelphia and Doylestown.
Freight Rail Services
A freight train line, the Norfolk Southern Railway's Morrisville Line, also runs through Willow Grove. It carries goods and materials, usually parallel to the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
What About Utilities?
- Electricity and Natural Gas: These services are provided by PECO Energy Company.
- Water: Water for Willow Grove comes from Aqua Pennsylvania.
- Trash and Recycling: These services are handled by the local townships.
- Internet and Phone: You can get cable, phone, and internet from companies like Xfinity and Verizon.
- Area Codes: The phone area codes for Willow Grove are 215, 267, and 445.
Where Do Kids Go to School?
Children in Willow Grove attend public schools in one of these districts:
- Abington School District
- Upper Dublin School District
- Upper Moreland School District
For Catholic school, students can go to Queen of Angels Regional Catholic School. This school was created in 2012 when two older schools, St. David and Our Lady Help of Christians, joined together.
Famous People from Willow Grove
Many notable people have connections to Willow Grove:
- Jill Biden: The current First Lady of the United States.
- Stewart Greenleaf: A former State Senator for the 12th district.
- Edwin Hallowell: A Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives, who was born in Willow Grove.
- Enolia McMillan: The first woman to become the national president of the NAACP, an important civil rights organization. She was also born here.
- Bud Powell: A famous jazz pianist who had a home in Willow Grove and even named a song after the area.
- Chris Raab: A professional stuntman and actor.
- Miles J. Jones: An American pathologist.
- Cal Schenkel: An American artist.
Willow Grove in Pop Culture
Willow Grove has appeared in songs and TV shows:
- A pop punk band called Pet Symmetry has a song about Willow Grove.
- The American comedy-drama TV show "The Goldbergs" often shows the main characters visiting the Willow Grove Park Mall.
- The U.S. First Cat, Willow, is named after the town!
See also
In Spanish: Willow Grove (Pensilvania) para niños
