Royersford, Pennsylvania

Royersford, Pennsylvania
610 and 484
FIPS code	42-66576
Website	www.royersfordborough.org

Royersford is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States, 32 miles (51 km) northwest of Philadelphia, on the Schuylkill River.

History

The town drew its name from the location of a ford across the Schuylkill River, which happened to be adjacent to land owned by the Royer family. Early in the twentieth century, it had several stove factories, two glass and bottle works, hosiery and silk mills, a dye and bleaching plant, manufactories of bricks, gas meters, stockings, shirts, shafting parts, wagons, agricultural implements, etc. The population stood at 2,607 people in 1900, and at 3,073 in 1910. The population was 4,940 at the 2020 census. The borough was formed from the southeastern corner of Limerick Township in 1879. Royersford is served by the Spring-Ford Area School District.

The Continental Stove Works was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.^[2]

Geography

Royersford is located at 40°11′7″N 75°32′16″W / 40.18528°N 75.53778°W / 40.18528; -75.53778 (40.185239, -75.537648).^[3] The borough lies on the northern banks of the Schuylkill River, and is considered a suburb of Philadelphia.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), of which 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²) (4.88%) is water.

Transportation

As of 2019 there were 12.99 miles (20.91 km) of public roads in Royersford, of which 1.79 miles (2.88 km) were maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and 11.20 miles (18.02 km) were maintained by the borough.^[4]

No numbered highways traverse the borough directly. Main streets through the town include Main Street, Lewis Road and Second Avenue. The nearest major highway is

.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	558		—
1890	1,815		225.3%
1900	2,607		43.6%
1910	3,073		17.9%
1920	3,278		6.7%
1930	3,719		13.5%
1940	3,605		−3.1%
1950	3,862		7.1%
1960	3,969		2.8%
1970	4,235		6.7%
1980	4,243		0.2%
1990	4,458		5.1%
2000	4,246		−4.8%
2010	4,752		11.9%
2020	4,940		4.0%
[6]

As of the 2010 census, the borough was 89.7% White, 5.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.7% Asian, and 2.4% were two or more races. 4.2% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry [1].

As of the

of any race were 1.18% of the population.

There were 1,928 households, out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.7% were non-families. 38.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 22.8% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $39,442, and the median income for a family was $55,579. Males had a median income of $36,189 versus $28,689 for females. The

, including no under eighteens and 6.1% of those over 64.

Politics and government

Presidential elections results^[8]

Year	Republican	Democratic
2020	40.1% 1,029	58.1% 1,492
2016	43.0% 953	51.1% 1,133
2012	39.8% 793	58.0% 1,157
2008	37.6% 722	61.4% 1,181
2004	46.7% 806	52.9% 914
2000	49.6% 703	47.4% 672

Royersford has a city manager form of government with a mayor and a seven-member borough council. The mayor is Jenna Antoniewicz. Royersford was founded by David Royer.

The borough is part of the Fourth Congressional District (represented by Rep. Madeleine Dean), the 146th State House District (represented by Rep. Joe Ciresi) and the 44th State Senate District (represented by Sen. Katie Muth).

Education

Spring-Ford Area School District operates public schools.

The area Catholic school is Holy Cross Regional Catholic School in Collegeville. Holy Cross was formed in 2012 by the merger of Sacred Heart in Royersford and St. Eleanor in Collegeville.^[9]

Entertainment

Parts of the classic 1958 horror film

, were filmed in Royersford.

The film The Lovely Bones, starring Mark Wahlberg, directed by Peter Jackson, was filmed in the borough in late November 2007.^[10]

The Bloodhound Gang's most famous album, Hooray for Boobies

, was recorded at Dome Studios on Main Street.

A scene in

Spring-Ford

Eighth Grade Center, was used as the backdrop.

Director Matt Smyntek's first short film, The Garbage Boy, was filmed on Main Street during the summer of 2022.

• 
  Main Street
• 
  Humane Fire Company
• 
  Continental Stove Works

Notable person

• Bob Shoudt, aka Notorious B.O.B., competitive eater and YouTuber

References

1. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
2. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
3. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
4. ^ "Royersford Borough map" (PDF). PennDOT. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
5. ^ SEPTA Official Transit & Street Map Suburban (PDF) (Map). SEPTA. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
6. ^ "Census 2020".
7. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
8. ^ "Montgomery County Election Results". Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
9. ^ "2012 Catholic grade school consolidations/closings". Catholicphilly.com. 2012-07-15. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
10. ^ Sarah V. Cocchimiglio, Valley Item News, 12/6/2007

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Royersford, Pennsylvania.

• Borough of Royersford