| Borough of Lansdale | |
| Borough | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Montgomery |
| Elevation | 361 ft (110 m) |
| Coordinates | 40°14′31″N 75°17′03″W / 40.24194°N 75.28417°W |
| Area | 3.1 sq mi (8 km2) |
| - land | 3.1 sq mi (8 km2) |
| - water | 0.0 sq mi (0 km2), 0% |
| Population | 16,269 (2010) |
| Density | 5,245.8 / sq mi (2,025.4 / km2) |
| Government | Council-manager |
| Mayor | Andrew Szekely |
| Timezone | EST (UTC-5) |
| - summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Area code | 215 |
 Location of Lansdale in Montgomery County
|
|
  Location of Lansdale in Pennsylvania
|
|
 Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
|
|
| Website: http://www.lansdale.org | |
Lansdale is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 28 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Early in the 20th century, its industries included agricultural implement works, a canning factory, foundries, brickyards, a silk mill, and manufacturers of cigars, stoves, shirts, rope, iron drain pipe, and glue.[citation needed] In 1900, 2,754 people lived here; in 1910, 3,551; and in 1940, 9,316 people were inhabitants of Lansdale. The population was 16,269 at the time of the 2010 census. Lansdale is also one of the many place that has a Kugel Ball. The ball is made completely out of granite and weighs 1,000 lbs. The ball rotates around in a layer of water.
Contents |
Geography [edit]
Lansdale is located at 40°14′31″N 75°17′3″W / 40.24194°N 75.28417°W (40.241956, -75.284083)[1] on the east coast.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8.0 km2), all land.
Demographics [edit]
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 8,379 |
|
|
| 1940 | 9,316 | 11.2% | |
| 1950 | 9,762 | 4.8% | |
| 1960 | 12,612 | 29.2% | |
| 1970 | 18,451 | 46.3% | |
| 1980 | 16,526 | −10.4% | |
| 1990 | 16,362 | −1.0% | |
| 2000 | 16,071 | −1.8% | |
| 2010 | 16,269 | 1.2% | |
| www.dvrpc.org/data/databull/rdb/db82/appedixa.xls.</ref> | |||
As of the 2010 census, the borough was 75.9% White, 5.9% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 13.3% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian, and 2.7% were two or more races. 5.0% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.[2]
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 16,071 people, 6,620 households, and 4,051 families residing in the borough. The population density was 5,245.8 people per square mile (2,027.8/km²). There were 6,893 housing units at an average density of 2,250.0 per square mile (869.7/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 85.40% White, 3.94% African American, 0.09% Native American, 7.98% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 0.73% from other races, and 1.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.90% of the population.
There were 6,620 households out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.8% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the borough the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $46,232, and the median income for a family was $54,891. Males had a median income of $40,009 versus $29,825 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $22,096. About 4.1% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
Politics and government [edit]
Lansdale has a city manager form of government with a mayor and a nine-member borough council. On Wednesday June 4, 2008, local chiropractor G. Andrew Szekely was appointed by council resolution to serve the remaining 18 months of the term of Mayor Michael DiNunzio. Szekely won a full four-year term in November 2009.
The borough is part of the Thirteenth Congressional District (represented by Rep. Allyson Schwartz), Pennsylvania's 53rd Representative District (represented by Rep. Robert Godshall) and the 24th State Senate District (represented by Sen. Bob Mensch).
Council members [edit]
Ward I:
- Jason Van Dame
- Mary Fuller
- Steven Malagari
Ward II:
- Richard DiGregorio
- Jack Hansen
- Michael Sobel
Ward III:
- Daniel Dunigan
- Denton Burnell
- Matthew West, President
Schools [edit]
The community is a part of the North Penn School District. K-6 public elementary schools in Lansdale include Gwynedd Square Elementary, Knapp Elementary, Oak Park Elementary, Inglewood Elementary, Walton Farm Elementary, and York Avenue Elementary. Penndale Middle School serves grades 7-9. The area public high school is North Penn High School in Towamencin Township.
The borough is also home to St. Stanislaus School of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia. In January 2012 the archdiocese announced that St. Rose of Lima School in North Wales is merging with St. Stanislaus, with students attending classes in Lansdale.[4] The newly combined school will be known as Mater Dei, Latin for "Mother of God."
Calvary Baptist School is a pre-K-12th grade Christian school. Lansdale area private high schools include Lansdale Catholic High School and Christopher Dock Mennonite High School. Dock is in Towamencin Township.
Culture [edit]
Lansdale is home to the Lansdale Center for the Performing Arts, which opened its inaugural season on September 25, 2009 with a performance by the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia. The first phase of the center is a 240-seat chamber music hall. The reception area also serves as an art gallery. A second phase is planned, which would include a second hall that would be twice as large as the existing hall. The center is located in the building that once served as Lansdale's Masonic Temple. [5]
An episode of the Fox television series Fringe, which aired on September 24, 2009, was set in Lansdale. The scenes that took place in Lansdale were filmed in British Columbia, and the town was depicted as a rural area consisting primarily of corn fields and not as the densely populated suburban town that it actually is.[6]
The beginning of the episode "Changes" of Season 7 of the Fox television series House, which aired on May 2, 2011, was set in Lansdale.[7]
In the 1981 novel A Natural Weapon by Garry Mitchelmore, Lansdale is one of two towns (the other being Cache, Louisiana) that has its natural gas supply poisoned by terrorists.
Lansdale is served by the daily newspaper The Reporter, owned by the Journal Register Company and having a circulation of 16,364 throughout Lansdale, Hatfield, Souderton and Harleysville[8] , and the online Montgomeryville-Lansdale Patch.[9]
According to the book "Weird Pennsylvania," Lansdale was also once home to one of the world's three "H Trees," which are believed to mark portals to Hell. An individual had only to circle the trees a certain number of times and jump off a small cliff, on the ledge of which the trees grew. Upon doing so, the portal would open and transport the individual to Hell.
Lansdale is known for its many popular events held throughout the year including: Lansdale Bike Night, the Under the Lights Car Show, Lansdale Day, Founder's Day, Oktoberfest and The Lansdale Beer Tasting Festival.
Kugel ball [edit]
Lansdale is home to a Kugel ball, which is a dark grey granite sphere supported by a very thin film of water pumped from beneath its base.[10] The Kugel Ball is located in Railroad Plaza, adjacent to the SEPTA Lansdale/Doylestown Line train station in downtown Lansdale. The plaza consists of a bricked patio with benches centered around the Kugel Ball and closes at 11:00 pm. An annual 5k race is held in June, respectively named the Kugel Ball race, which starts and ends at the actual kugel ball in Railroad Plaza.
History [edit]
The earliest known settlers in Lansdale were members of the Jenkins family. At the peak of its growth, the Jenkins homestead occupied approximately 120 acres of land. The construction of the North Pennsylvania Railroad during the 1850's contributed to rapid growth and expansion in Lansdale. Employment opportunities generated by the railroad brought settlers, housing, and local businesses to the area. By 1872, Lansdale Borough was officially incorporated and named after Phillip Lansdale Fox, chief surveyor of the North Penn Railroad. By the naming conventions of the time, it should have been called Jenkintown, since the land immediately surrounding the train station was owned by the Jenkins family, but there was already a town by that name along the rail line[citation needed].
The Jenkins Homestead and Lansdale Silk Hosiery Compy-Interstate Hosiery Mills, Inc. are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[11]
Notable people [edit]
- Ralph F. Hirschmann (1922–2009), biochemist who led synthesis of the first enzyme.[12]
- Liza Weil (1977-), actress known for her portrayal of Paris Geller on the television series Gilmore Girls; was born in New Jersey but her family has resided in the borough since 1984.
- Margaret Battavio (Little Peggy March) (1948-), American pop singer. Her song I Will Follow Him was number one in April 1963.
- Best-selling personal finance author Eric Tyson (Personal Finance for Dummies) grew up in Lansdale.
- Cult writer Russell Hoban, author of Riddley Walker and the Frances the Badger children's books, was born and grew up in Lansdale.
- The Wonder Years, a pop-punk band signed to Hopeless Records
- Dave Cunningham (of the Dave Cunninghamm Band), an angelic singer who is continuing to warm the hearts of millions.
References [edit]
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/profile/PA#locality-tab
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Di Domizio, Tony. "St. Rose Goes and Goretti, Gone." Montgomeryville-Lansdale Patch. January 6, 2012. Retrieved on January 7, 2012.
- ^ Stearns, David Patrick "Lansdale's new place for an array of arts", The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 29, 2009. Accessed September 29, 2009.
- ^ Stanley, Chris "TV's Lansdale ", The Reporter Blogs, September 24, 2009. Accessed September 29, 2009.
- ^ vicpei [1] "LiveJournal," May 19, 2011. Accessed December 28, 2012.
- ^ The Reporter, Lansdale - Racial Diversity "Racial Diversity" Accessed February 22, 2010.
- ^ Di Domizio, Tony [2], Montgomeryville-Lansdale Patch, December 31, 2010. Accessed December 28, 2012.
- ^ Kugel Ball FAQ Retrieved on 18 September 2007
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09.
- ^ Hevesi, Dennis "Ralph F. Hirschmann, Leading Scientist on Early Enzyme Research, Dies at 87", The New York Times, July 18, 2009. Accessed July 19, 2009.
http://thewonderyearsband.com/
External links [edit]
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A portion of the proceeds from advertising on Digplanet goes to supporting Wikipedia.
