Lower Makefield Township, Pennsylvania
Lower Makefield Township | |
---|---|
EDT) | |
Area codes | 215, 267, and 445 |
FIPS code | 42-017-44968 |
Website | www |
Lower Makefield Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. Lower Makefield Township is located in the Delaware Valley and borders the Delaware River and New Jersey to its north and east. Most addresses in the township have a Yardley address; the township surrounds the borough of Yardley on its north, south, and west.
Neighboring towns and cities in New Jersey are Hopewell Township, Ewing Township, and Trenton. Additionally, the township borders Upper Makefield Township, Newtown Township, Pennsylvania, Middletown Township, Pennsylvania, Falls Township, and Morrisville, and as mentioned above, surrounds Yardley Borough on three sides.
As of the
Lower Makefield is the largest municipality (by population) in North America without its own municipal court or post office.[citation needed] The municipal court serving Lower Makefield is in Morrisville (the town bordering the township to the southeast), and there are no plans to change the arrangements with Morrisville. The post office, while retaining the name of Morrisville, is located within Falls Township in which some of the township is served by the same ZIP code (19067). Previously Morrisville had a higher population, but with the growth in Lower Makefield over the past 30 years, Morrisville is now a much smaller place by both land area and population.[citation needed]
Lower Makefield Township has been a top finisher in the MONEY Magazine and CNN/Money "Best Places to Live" rankings for the Eastern region of the United States in the under 100,000 population category.[citation needed]
History
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The Dolington Village Historic District, John and Phineas Hough House, Amos Palmer House, Slate Hill Cemetery, Benjamin Taylor Homestead, and Village of Edgewood Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[3]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 18.3 square miles (47.4 km2), of which 17.9 square miles (46.5 km2) is land and 0.4 square mile (0.9 km2) (1.97%) is water. Past and present villages include Schammels Corner, and Woodside.[4]
Natural features include Brock Creek, Common Creek, Core Creek, Edge Hill, and Jericho Creek.[4]
Development and growth
Lower Makefield has experienced explosive growth[clarification needed] over the past decades; however, the housing crisis severely hit the township during the 2000s, and development slowed considerably, resulting in a slight population decrease. The decrease is credited to the many college-aged students leaving the township bound for college. The housing boom of the nineties resulted in a large increase in the adolescent population, who have since reached adulthood and left the township.[5] Still many smaller housing developments and some corporate centers have been constructed since 2000, the latter especially the Stony Hill Road corridor around I-295, beginning with office complexes 1000 to 1040 Stony Hill Road in 1998, followed by 600 to 800 Township Line Road (at Township Line and Stony Hill), 777 Township Line Road (the first green building in Bucks County), and a new age-restricted housing complex under construction at 645 Stony Hill Road, near the township's retail district. However, the township has been well-planned and maintains a strong balance[clarification needed] between growth and preservation, and is considered[by whom?] to be very desirable for the high quality of life it offers residents.
On December 19, 2007, a committee was formed to work to bring a veterans' monument to Lower Makefield Township. On October 15, 2008, the Lower Makefield Supervisors unanimously approved designating the site of the farmers' market (known as Pocket Park) as a veterans' monument. On November 9, Pocket Park was officially renamed Veterans Square. The veterans committee has committed to not taking township tax dollars to build the monument and relies on contributions.[6] The park will remain open space for use as a community farmers' market, playground, and monument.
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1930 | 1,723 | — | |
1940 | 1,841 | 6.8% | |
1950 | 3,211 | 74.4% | |
1960 | 8,604 | 168.0% | |
1970 | 14,804 | 72.1% | |
1980 | 17,351 | 17.2% | |
1990 | 25,083 | 44.6% | |
2000 | 32,681 | 30.3% | |
2010 | 32,559 | −0.4% | |
2021 (est.) | 33,196 | [7] | |
[8] |
As of the 2010 census, the township was 87.7% Non-Hispanic White, 2.3% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 6.3% Asian, and 1.3% were two or more races. 2.4% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.[9]
As of the
There were 11,706 households, out of which 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.5% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.8% were non-families. 16.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the township, the population was spread out, with 27.6% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $98,090, and the median income for a family was $106,908 (these figures had risen to $112,677 and $128,314 respectively as of a 2007 estimate
Transportation
As of 2018 there were 175.27 miles (282.07 km) of public roads in Lower Makefield Township, of which 37.07 miles (59.66 km) were maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and 138.20 miles (222.41 km) were maintained by the township.[12]
Other
In addition to Lower Makefield and Yardley, postal ZIP code 19067 includes the borough of Morrisville, located southeast of Lower Makefield Township along the Delaware River. However, Morrisville is a distinctly separate town entity and has its own government, school system, police department, fire department, and sports programs.
Lower Makefield is part of the Pennsbury School District, which is a top-ranked Blue Ribbon school district in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.[citation needed]
In the
On October 28, 2004, President George W. Bush visited with a crowd of 23,000 at Ruth Wright's 84-acre (340,000 m2) Broadmeadows Farm in Lower Makefield during a campaign rally for the 2004 presidential election.
Lower Makefield Township developed its own 18-hole golf course, Makefield Highlands Golf Club, which opened in 2004, and it is considered the only true links-style golf course in the Tri-State area.[citation needed] The club includes a par-72 course designed by Rick Jacobson, The Highlands Grille restaurant, Pro Shop, golf instruction, and full practice facility (driving range with both mat and grass areas, putting green, and chipping green with bunkers).
Shady Brook Farm is a popular location for area residents, and is located in Lower Makefield. Shady Brook Farm has a large Farm Market and Garden Center, and hosts many events, including Pumpkin Fest and HorrorFest in the fall, Santa's Village and the Holiday Light Show during the Christmas season, and the Annual
In June 2006 at the 88th Annual Bucks County Fireman's Association Parade in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, the all-volunteer Yardley-Makefield Fire Company won best overall fire department, as well as first place awards in the following categories: marine unit, deputy or chief's vehicle, aerial tower, over 1,500 gallon-a-minute engine, light rescue pumper, 1965 and older motorized apparatus, and best marching unit with music.
The Slate Hill Cemetery, located at Yardley-Morrisville Rd. at Mahlon Dr. in Lower Makefield Township, is open to the public and is possibly the oldest burying grounds in Bucks County. It was established in 1690 and the earliest gravestone is dated 1698. There are a number of unmarked graves, for which dates are unknown. These unmarked graves are believed to be the final resting-places of a number of the early settlers in Lower Makefield.
The township's recreational facilities include 92-acre Macclesfield Park, which opened in 1989.[14]
Climate
According to the
Climate data for Lower Makefield Township, elevation 138 ft (42 m), 1981-2010 normals, extremes 1981-2018 | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 71.4 (21.9) |
77.6 (25.3) |
87.4 (30.8) |
94.2 (34.6) |
95.2 (35.1) |
96.5 (35.8) |
103.5 (39.7) |
100.0 (37.8) |
98.1 (36.7) |
89.1 (31.7) |
80.9 (27.2) |
75.7 (24.3) |
103.5 (39.7) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 39.8 (4.3) |
43.0 (6.1) |
51.3 (10.7) |
63.4 (17.4) |
72.8 (22.7) |
82.1 (27.8) |
86.4 (30.2) |
84.6 (29.2) |
77.7 (25.4) |
66.4 (19.1) |
55.5 (13.1) |
44.3 (6.8) |
64.0 (17.8) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 31.6 (−0.2) |
34.3 (1.3) |
41.7 (5.4) |
52.5 (11.4) |
61.8 (16.6) |
71.4 (21.9) |
76.1 (24.5) |
74.5 (23.6) |
67.2 (19.6) |
55.6 (13.1) |
46.1 (7.8) |
36.3 (2.4) |
54.2 (12.3) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 23.4 (−4.8) |
25.6 (−3.6) |
32.1 (0.1) |
41.6 (5.3) |
50.9 (10.5) |
60.7 (15.9) |
65.7 (18.7) |
64.3 (17.9) |
56.7 (13.7) |
44.8 (7.1) |
36.6 (2.6) |
28.2 (−2.1) |
44.3 (6.8) |
Record low °F (°C) | −10.3 (−23.5) |
−2.5 (−19.2) |
4.1 (−15.5) |
18.0 (−7.8) |
33.8 (1.0) |
41.8 (5.4) |
47.9 (8.8) |
42.7 (5.9) |
36.0 (2.2) |
25.3 (−3.7) |
12.1 (−11.1) |
0.0 (−17.8) |
−10.3 (−23.5) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.55 (90) |
2.80 (71) |
4.24 (108) |
3.96 (101) |
4.24 (108) |
4.36 (111) |
5.26 (134) |
4.28 (109) |
4.41 (112) |
3.76 (96) |
3.59 (91) |
4.09 (104) |
48.54 (1,233) |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
65.9 | 62.2 | 58.0 | 57.0 | 62.4 | 66.1 | 66.2 | 68.6 | 70.0 | 68.8 | 67.1 | 67.0 | 65.0 |
Average dew point °F (°C) | 21.5 (−5.8) |
22.7 (−5.2) |
28.0 (−2.2) |
37.7 (3.2) |
48.8 (9.3) |
59.5 (15.3) |
64.0 (17.8) |
63.5 (17.5) |
57.1 (13.9) |
45.5 (7.5) |
35.8 (2.1) |
26.4 (−3.1) |
42.6 (5.9) |
Source: PRISM[16] |
Ecology
According to the
References
- ^ "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
- ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ a b MacReynolds, George, Place Names in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Doylestown, Bucks County Historical Society, Doylestown, PA, 1942, P1.
- ^ "Census 2010: Pennsylvania - USATODAY.com". USA Today. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
- ^ "Veterans Square Monument - L ower M akefield T ownship". Retrieved July 20, 2016.
- ^ "QuickFacts". Retrieved August 18, 2022.
- ^ "DVRPC > Site Search". Archived from the original on April 9, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 15, 2012. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "American FactFinder - Results". Archived from the original on February 10, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2009.
- ^ "Lower Makefield Township map" (PDF). PennDOT. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- ^ SEPTA Official Transit & Street Map Suburban (PDF) (Map). SEPTA. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
- ^ LMT 2015 Park and Recreation - Presentation to the Lower Makefield Township Board of Supervisors - May 20, 2009, lmt.org, Retrieved 27 October 2014
- ^ a b "USDA Interactive Plant Hardiness Map". United States Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on July 4, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
- ^ "PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University". Retrieved October 25, 2019.
- ^ "U.S. Potential Natural Vegetation, Original Kuchler Types, v2.0 (Spatially Adjusted to Correct Geometric Distortions)". Retrieved October 25, 2019.