Marple Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania

Marple Township
Township
Seventeenth-century Thomas Massey House on Lawrence Road
Seal
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Delaware
Elevation 361 ft (110.0 m)
Coordinates 39°58′30″N 75°21′29″W / 39.97500°N 75.35806°W / 39.97500; -75.35806Coordinates: 39°58′30″N 75°21′29″W / 39.97500°N 75.35806°W / 39.97500; -75.35806
Area 10.5 sq mi (27.2 km2)
 - land 10.2 sq mi (26 km2)
 - water 0.3 sq mi (1 km2), 2.86%
Population 23,428 (2010)
Density 2,326.1/sq mi (898.1/km2)
Timezone EST (UTC-5)
 - summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
Area code 610
Location of Marple Township in Delaware County
Location of Marple Township in Pennsylvania
Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
Website: http://www.marpletwp.com

Marple Township is a township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 23,428 at the 2010 census. ZIP codes include mainly 19008, but also partially 19064 and 19063. The founder was the great Nathaniel MacCombie.

History

The Delaware County area was first settled by Quakers who came to Pennsylvania by the Delaware River on September 29, 1683. The ship they used was called the Endeavor. [1] Marple Township was originally settled in 1684 and was recognized as a township in the same year.[2] The original spelling of the township was Marpool, most likely named after the village of Marpoole in Cheshire, England.

One of the settlers that arrived on the Endeavor was Thomas Massey. He obtained a 300-acre plantation in the township from William Penn. The house he built on the land is still preserved today, as well as some of its surrounding gardens.

Marple became a first class township in 1961.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 10.5 square miles (27.2 km²), of which, 10.2 square miles (26.4 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.8 km²) of it (2.95%) is water.

The community of Broomall is located in, but is not coterminous with, Marple Township—the township also includes part of the ZIP codes of Springfield and Media. Other villages include Larchmont (also in Newtown Township) and Lawrence Park.

Adjacent Municipalities

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
19301,553—
19402,17039.7%
19504,779120.2%
196019,722312.7%
197025,04027.0%
198023,642−5.6%
199023,123−2.2%
200023,7372.7%
201023,428−1.3%
http://www.dvrpc.org/data/databull/rdb/db82/appedixa.xls.

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 23,428 people, down slightly from 23,737 people in 2000. The 2000 census showed 8,623 households, and 6,415 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,326.1 people per square mile (898.5/km²). There were 8,797 housing units at an average density of 862.1/sq mi (333.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 92.60% White, 1.10% African American, 0.09% Native American, 5.51% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.66% of the population.

There were 8,623 households, out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.1% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.6% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the township the population was spread out, with 21.8% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $59,577, and the median income for a family was $71,829. Males had a median income of $47,062 versus $32,304 for females. The per capita income for the township was $28,494. About 2.1% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Marple Township is governed by a Board of Commissioners made up of representatives from each of the township's wards which meets for regular sessions. The current commissioners, by ward, are Joseph Rufo(R-1), Jan Ceton(R-2), Robert Fortebouno(R-3), John Lucas(R-4), John Longacre(R-5), Michael Molinaro(R-6), and Daniel Leefson (R-7). Michael Molinaro currently serves as the board's president.

Politics

Presidential elections results
Year Republican Democratic
2012 53.5% 7,010 45.8% 6,008
2008 51.1% 6,920 48.0% 6,503

Marple generally leans to the right on the political spectrum. In the 2008 general elections, the township voted Republican for every office except for the General Assembly representative from the 166th district.
Along with Aston, Bethel, Chadds Ford, Concord, Edgmont, Middletown, Newtown, Springfield, and Tinicum, Marple was one of the ten Delaware County municipalities to vote Republican in the 2008 presidential election. The county as a whole voted Democratic.[4]

Education

At the secondary level, Marple Township is served by the Marple Newtown School District. In terms of higher education, Delaware County Community College, a public, two-year community college, is also located in Marple Township.

Parks

Marple Township has a system of eleven parks.[5] They are maintained by the municipal government.

References

  1. ↑ Neal, Aaron. "Thomas Massey House". ThomasMasseyHouse.org. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  2. ↑ Lockhart, Keith. "Delaware County History". Delaware County (PA) History. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  3. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. ↑
  5. ↑

External links

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