Marple Township, Pennsylvania
Marple Township | |
---|---|
610 | |
FIPS code | 42-045-47616 |
Website | www |
Marple Township is a
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.[3] Marple Township was originally settled in 1684 and was recognized as a township in the same year.[4] The original spelling of the township was Marpool, but the spelling was changed to Marple in the Thomas Holme map of 1687. The Marpool spelling may have been an error.[5]
One of the settlers who arrived on the Endeavor was
In 1948 Marple Township got its first police station. Before, there was no local branch, no patrols of the police, and only a county sheriff. Crimes were mostly settled between victims and perpetrators themselves.[6]
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) is land and 0.3 square mile (0.8 km2; 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.
Waterways in Marple Township include
Adjacent municipalities
- Radnor Township- north
- Haverford Township- east
- Nether Providence Township - south
- Springfield Township - southeast
- Upper Providence Township - southwest
- Newtown Township - northwest
Climate
Marple Township straddles the boundary between a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) and a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). The average monthly temperature in Broomall ranges from 31.9 °F in January to 77.1 °F in July. [1] The hardiness zone is 7a and the annual average absolute minimum temperature in Broomall is 1.9 °F. [2]
Demographics
As of the
The 2000 census showed 8,623 households, and 6,415 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,326.1 inhabitants per square mile (898.1/km2). There were 8,797 housing units at an average density of 862.1 per square mile (332.9/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 92.60%
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
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[when?] 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). Rufo currently serves as the board's president.
Politics
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
Along with
Education
Marple Township lies within the Marple Newtown School District. The district has four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.
Delaware County Community College, a public, two-year community college, is also located in Marple Township; this campus has a Media mailing address.[12]
The township is also served by the Marple Public Library.
Parks
Marple Township has a system of eleven parks.[13] They are maintained by the municipal government.
- Broomall Fields - contains Little League Baseball fields for Marple Little League
- Green Bank Farm - a large field with a walking and hiking trail
- Highland Avenue Park - a small park with a roller hockey rink, basketball court, and tennis backboard
- Kent Park - contains a playground area, a picnic area with barbecues, a gazebo with picnic benches, a stream, a paved walking trail, and tennis courts
- Malin Road Tot Lot - same features as Kent Park
- Marple Gardens - features a playground, picnic area with barbecues, basketball court, and a kids baseball / softball field which is used for Marple Tee-Ball
- New Ardmore Avenue Park - playground, picnic area with barbecues, basketball court, large fields, and creek
- Old Marple School Park - playground, picnic area, walking trail, and sledding hill
- South Marple Little League - tennis courts, roller hockey rink, and snack bar
- Thomas Fields - two Little League baseball fields, a Babe Ruth baseball field, two snack bars, a small playground, and trail to Kent Park
- Veteran's Memorial Park - large playground, walking trail, large field, entertainment gazebo, restrooms, and soda machines
Transportation
As of 2021, there were 106.26 miles (171.01 km) of public roads in Marple Township, of which 25.81 miles (41.54 km) were maintained by Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and 80.45 miles (129.47 km) were maintained by the township.[14]
Roads serving Marple Township include U.S. Route 1, which passes north–south through the southern part of the township along a freeway; Pennsylvania Route 3, which passes east–west through the northern part of the township along West Chester Pike; Pennsylvania Route 252, which passes north–south through the western part of the township along Newtown Street Road; Pennsylvania Route 320, which passes north–south through the township along Sproul Road; and Interstate 476, which passes north–south through the eastern part of the township along the Blue Route and has interchanges with US 1 and PA 3.[15]
Notable people
- Bernardhus Van Leer (1687-1790), Early settler of the Province of Pennsylvania
- Samuel Van Leer (1747-1825), Captain in the Continental Army during the American Revolution
References
- ^ "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Aug 13, 2017.
- ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
- ^ Neal, Aaron. "Thomas Massey House". ThomasMasseyHouse.org. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
- ^ Lockhart, Keith. "Delaware County History". Delaware County (PA) History. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
- ^ Ashmeade, Henry Graham (1884). History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & Co. p. 579. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ Marple Township Police Department: Brief Department History
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2017-10-26.
- ^ "DVRPC > Site Search". Archived from the original on 2019-04-09. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
- ^ "Census 2020".
- ^ "Official General Election Results".
- ^ "Locations". Delaware County Community College. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
Marple Campus Marple Township (Media mailing address)
- ^ "Marple Township Park System". Archived from the original on 2011-09-18. Retrieved 2011-07-20.
- ^ "Marple Township map" (PDF). PennDOT. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
- ^ Delaware County, Pennsylvania Highway Map (PDF) (Map). PennDOT. 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
- ^ SEPTA Official Transit & Street Map Suburban (PDF) (Map). SEPTA. Retrieved May 2, 2016.