Lower Gwynedd Township, Pennsylvania Explained

Lower Gwynedd Township
Settlement Type:Township
Flag Size:110px
Seal Size:90px
Etymology:Gwynedd in Welsh pronounced as /ˈɡʊɨnɛð/
Image Map1:File:Lower Gwynedd Township Montgomery County.png
Map Caption1:Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
Coordinates:40.2131°N -75.2836°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Pennsylvania
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Montgomery
Established Title:Founded
Leader Title:Mayor
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Sq Mi:9.31
Area Land Sq Mi:9.31
Area Water Sq Mi:0.01
Elevation Ft:348
Population As Of:2010
Population Total:11405
Pop Est As Of:2016
Pop Est Footnotes:[2]
Population Est:11558
Population Density Sq Mi:auto
Timezone1:EST
Utc Offset1:-5
Timezone1 Dst:EDT
Utc Offset1 Dst:-4
Area Codes:215, 267, and 445
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:42-091-44920
Blank2 Name Sec2:Wikimedia Commons

Lower Gwynedd Township (in Welsh pronounced as /ˈɡwɪnɛð/) is a township and equestrian community in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 11,405 at the 2010 census. The township comprises four villages: Gwynedd, Gwynedd Valley, Penllyn, and Spring House. The township is considered a haven for those seeking a country lifestyle, while still being in close proximity to nearby towns and Center City Philadelphia. While its postal address is in Ambler, Pennsylvania (19002), it is not associated with the Borough of Ambler.

Lower Gwynedd Township was founded in 1698.

History

Gwynedd was founded in 1698 by Welsh Quakers. The township was then split into Lower Gwynedd and Upper Gwynedd in 1891.

Gwynedd Hall and the Jacob Kastner Loghouse are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 9.4 square miles (24.2 km2), of which 9.3 square miles (24.2 km2) is land and 0.11% is water.

The township has twenty miles of trails and 120 acres of parkland.[3]

Transportation

As of 2018, there were of public roads in Lower Gwynedd Township, of which were maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and were maintained by the township.[4]

Several numbered highways traverse Lower Gwynedd Township. U.S. Route 202 follows Dekalb Pike on a northeast-southwest alignment across the northwestern portion of the township. Pennsylvania Route 63 follows Welsh Road along the northeastern border of the township. Finally, Pennsylvania Route 309 follows the Fort Washington Expressway northwestward across the eastern portion of the township to its terminus, then joins the Bethlehem Pike before exiting the township to the north.

SEPTA Regional Rail's Lansdale/Doylestown Line runs through Lower Gwynedd Township, with stations at Gwynedd Valley and Penllyn. SEPTA provides Suburban Bus service to Lower Gwynedd Township along Route 94, which runs between the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia and the Montgomery Mall, and Route 96, which runs between the Norristown Transportation Center in Norristown and Lansdale.[5]

Demographics

As of the 2010 census, the township was 84.0% White, 6.9% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 7.1% Asian, and 1.5% were two or more races. 1.9% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.[6]

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 10,422 people, 4,177 households, and 2,752 families residing in the township. The population density was 1115.9sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 4,360 housing units at an average density of 466.8sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the township was 86.80% White, 7.78% African American, 4.10% Asian, 1.05% Hispanic or Latino, 0.98% from two or more races, 0.26% from other races, 0.08% Native American, and 0.01% Pacific Islander.

There were 4,177 households, out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.6% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the township the population was spread out, with 23.1% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 22.0% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 22.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 81.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.4 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $74,351, and the median income for a family was $97,991. Males had a median income of $71,027 versus $44,541 for females. The per capita income for the township was $41,868. About 1.2% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Presidential elections results[8]
YearRepublicanDemocratic
202034.7% 2,95263.9% 5,434
-201637.4% 2,76658.8% 4,343
-201249.4% 3,57249.9% 3,603
200844.8% 3,31254.7% 4,037
200449.6% 3,55750.0% 3,589
200052.4% 3,13445.6% 2,726
199651.9% 2,72540.6% 2,132
199251.2% 2,03134.0% 1,348

Danielle Duckett currently fills the position of the chair of the Board of Supervisors of Lower Gwynedd Township.

Education

It is in the Wissahickon School District.[9] Wissahickon High School is the district's comprehensive high school.

References

http://www.montcopa.org/documentcenter/view/13404

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files . United States Census Bureau . August 14, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170824204429/https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2016_Gazetteer/2016_gaz_place_42.txt . August 24, 2017.
  2. Web site: Population and Housing Unit Estimates . June 9, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170529192346/https://census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2016.html . May 29, 2017.
  3. Web site: Lower Gwynedd Trail Map .
  4. Web site: Lower Gwynedd Township map . PennDOT . March 10, 2023.
  5. SEPTA Official Transit & Street Map Suburban . SEPTA . May 2, 2016.
  6. Web site: Census 2010: Pennsylvania - USATODAY.com . usatoday.com . April 25, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305075858/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/profile/PA . March 5, 2016.
  7. Web site: U.S. Census website. . January 31, 2008 .
  8. Web site: Montco Election Results .
  9. Web site: 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Montgomery County, PA . . June 18, 2024. - Text list