Amity Gardens, Pennsylvania Explained

Amity Gardens
Settlement Type:Census-designated place
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Pennsylvania
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Berks
Subdivision Type3:Township
Subdivision Name3:Amity
Pushpin Map:USA Pennsylvania#USA
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of Amity Gardens in Pennsylvania
Coordinates:40.2703°N -75.7347°W
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:3.08
Area Total Sq Mi:1.19
Area Land Sq Mi:1.19
Area Water Sq Mi:0.00
Elevation Ft:243
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:3715
Population Density Km2:1208.07
Population Density Sq Mi:3129.74
Timezone1:EST
Utc Offset1:-5
Timezone1 Dst:EDT
Utc Offset1 Dst:-4
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:19518[2]
Area Code:610
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:42-02349
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Land Km2:3.08
Area Water Km2:0.00

Amity Gardens is a census-designated place (CDP) in Amity Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the CDP had a total population of 3,715. The town lends its name to a Fountains of Wayne song.

Geography

Amity Gardens is located at (40.270155, -75.734834).[3] According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Amity Gardens has a total area of 0.9sqmi, all land.

Etymology

Derivation of the name "Amity"

In the "History of Montgomery County", the author records the settlement of some Swedes at Douglassville a few years after 1699 and the connection of this settlement with a group of Germans at New Hanover. A road was laid out from New Hanover to Germantown. Along these roads, the word "Amity" was used to designate a locality. The name was adopted by the inhabitants of the area to symbolize their relations with the Indians. Although Sweden lost the colony in 1638, the Swedish settlers sent a letter to their homeland in 1693 asking for ministers and religious books. In this letter they stated, "We live in great amity with the Indians, who have not done us harm for many years." From this incident, those Swedish settlers who migrated up the Schuylkill beyond the Manatawny called their settlement, Amity.

Demographics

At the 2000 census, there were 3,370 people, 1,243 households, and 948 families living in the CDP. The population density was 3543.8sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 1,269 housing units at an average density of 1334.4sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.01% White, 2.58% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 1.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.31%.[4]

There were 1,243 households, 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.4% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.7% were non-families. 18.7% of households were made up of individuals, and 8.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.12.

The age distribution was 27.1% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.

The median household income was $60,586 and the median family income was $70,250. Males had a median income of $48,000 versus $32,234 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $27,614. About 2.1% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.

References

  1. Web site: ArcGIS REST Services Directory. United States Census Bureau. October 12, 2022.
  2. Web site: Amity Gardens PA ZIP Code. zipdatamaps.com. 2023. May 13, 2023.
  3. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. 2011-04-23. 2011-02-12.
  4. Web site: U.S. Census website . . 2008-01-31 .