Morrisville, Bucks County, Pennsylvania

Morrisville
Borough
Etymology: Robert Morris

Location of Morrisville in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Morrisville
Location of Morrisville in Pennsylvania
Morrisville
Morrisville (the US)
Coordinates: 40°12′27″N 74°46′48″W / 40.20750°N 74.78000°W / 40.20750; -74.78000Coordinates: 40°12′27″N 74°46′48″W / 40.20750°N 74.78000°W / 40.20750; -74.78000
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Bucks
Settled 1624
Government
  Mayor David T. Rivella
Area[1]
  Total 1.95 sq mi (5.05 km2)
  Land 1.75 sq mi (4.53 km2)
  Water 0.20 sq mi (0.52 km2)
Elevation 56 ft (17 m)
Population (2010)
  Total 8,728
  Estimate (2016)[2] 8,552
  Density 4,895.25/sq mi (1,889.63/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
  Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code 19067
Area code(s) 215 Exchanges: 295,337,428,736
FIPS code 42-51144
GNIS feature ID 1214970
Website morrisvillepagov.com

Morrisville (/ˈmɒrɪsvɪl/, locally: [ˈmɑɹz-]) is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located just below the falls of the Delaware River opposite Trenton, New Jersey. The population was 8,728 at the 2010 census.

History

The earliest known settlement in what is now Morrisville, was a trading post of the Dutch West India Company operating from 1624 to 1627 on an island in the Delaware River. In its early days, the area was known as Crewcorne. Later, one of the first ferries to cross the Delaware was established at the site. By the late 18th century, a settlement was forming at the ferry crossing then known as Colvin's Ferry. The settlement incorporated into a borough in 1804, taking the name of Morrisville, after Founding Father Robert Morris. In that same year, the first bridge built across the Delaware connected Morrisville to Trenton.

The Gershom Craft House, Summerseat, and Trenton City/Calhoun Street Bridge are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Summerseat is also designated a National Historic Landmark.[3]

Morrisville is also home to Graystones, the historic site marking William Penn's first Pennsylvania land purchase from the Lenni Lenape Indians.

Morrisville was once considered for the Nations Capital.[4] Robert Morris campaigned behind the scenes to establish the new capital at the “Falls of the Delaware,” preferably on the Pennsylvania side. Today that is seen from Park Avenue in Morrisville, just atop of the 30-foot tall flood control dike. The Delaware River is viewed from here and just below is the famous Falls of the Delaware, for which Falls Township was named.

Geography

Morrisville is located at 40°12′27″N 74°46′48″W / 40.20750°N 74.78000°W / 40.20750; -74.78000 (40.207458, -74.779918).[5] It is part of a geographical salient that is mostly surrounded by New Jersey.

Originally a village located in Falls Township, until it was partitoned as a borough by the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1804, Morrisville is bordered by Falls Township to the south, Lower Makefield Township to the north and the Delaware River to the east.

Its name is the default city name in the 19067 ZIP code, which covers an area that includes Yardley, Lower Makefield, Morrisville, and part of Falls Township.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.1 km²), of which 1.8 square miles (4.6 km²) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.5 km²) (10.15%) is water. U.S. 1 traverses Morrisville and crosses into New Jersey via the Trenton-Morrisville Toll Bridge.

There are several parks within Morrisville's borders, and the Delaware Canal State Park runs near the eastern border of both the town and Pennsylvania. Located between the Calhoun Street Bridge and the Lower Trenton Bridge (Trenton Makes) is Williamson Park, home to Morrisville Little League and many community events. Adjacent to Graystones is Graystones woods, a tract of woodland that extends from the Delaware Canal to Crown Street in the town's far north. Just south of Trenton–Morrisville Toll Bridge and the Morrisville–Trenton Railroad Bridge lie two smaller parks, the Morrisville Riverfront Preserve, an 8.8 acre tract preserving some of the last bits of the Delaware River's tidal basin, and the Morrisville Dog Park, a two pen playground for dogs big and small.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.
1810266
182039147.0%
183053135.8%
1840405−23.7%
185056539.5%
186078438.8%
18708133.7%
188096819.1%
18901,20824.8%
19001,37113.5%
19102,00246.0%
19203,63981.8%
19305,36847.5%
19405,4932.3%
19506,78723.6%
19607,79014.8%
197011,30945.2%
19809,845−12.9%
19909,765−0.8%
200010,0232.6%
20108,728−12.9%
Est. 20178,578[2]−1.7%
Sources:[6][7][8]

As of a 2014 estimate, the borough was 58.5% Non-Hispanic White, 25.9% Black or African American, 2.4% Native American or Alaskan Native, 2.2% Asian, 4.4% Some other race, and 6.5% were two or more races. 16.4% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.[9]

As of the 2010 census, the borough was 70.6% Non-Hispanic White, 15.4% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 2.0% Asian, and 2.7% were two or more races. 10.2% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry. 13.5% of the population were foreign-born.[10]

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 10,023 people, 4,154 households, and 2,612 families residing in the borough. The population density was 5,659.0 people per square mile (2,186.4/km²). There were 4,313 housing units at an average density of 2,435.1/sq mi (940.8/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 75.98% White, 19.14% African American, 0.18% Native American, 1.20% Asian, 2.08% from other races, and 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.82% of the population.

There were 4,154 households, out of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 34.3% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $43,095, and the median income for a family was $53,316. Males had a median income of $40,204 versus $30,110 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $21,404. About 8.9% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

Climate

During the summer months, frequent episodes of high humidity occur. Occasionally, heat index values exceed 100 °F (38 °C). On average, the wettest month of the year is July which corresponds with the annual peak for thunderstorm activity. During the winter months, wind chill values occasionally fall below 0 °F (-18 °C). On average, the snowiest month of the year is February which corresponds with the annual peak for nor'easter activity.

Climate data for Morrisville Borough, Pennsylvania (1981 – 2010 averages). Elevation 65 ft (20 m).
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 40.3
(4.6)
43.5
(6.4)
51.6
(10.9)
63.7
(17.6)
73.1
(22.8)
82.4
(28)
86.7
(30.4)
84.9
(29.4)
78.0
(25.6)
66.8
(19.3)
55.9
(13.3)
44.8
(7.1)
64.3
(17.9)
Average low °F (°C) 23.7
(−4.6)
25.7
(−3.5)
32.1
(0.1)
41.4
(5.2)
50.6
(10.3)
60.4
(15.8)
65.3
(18.5)
64.0
(17.8)
56.6
(13.7)
44.8
(7.1)
36.7
(2.6)
28.3
(−2.1)
44.1
(6.7)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.54
(89.9)
2.81
(71.4)
4.33
(110)
3.97
(100.8)
4.09
(103.9)
4.39
(111.5)
5.30
(134.6)
4.20
(106.7)
4.38
(111.3)
3.68
(93.5)
3.54
(89.9)
4.05
(102.9)
48.28
(1,226.4)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 7.7
(19.6)
8.6
(21.8)
3.7
(9.4)
0.7
(1.8)
0.0
(0)
0.0
(0)
0.0
(0)
0.0
(0)
0.0
(0)
0.0
(0)
0.5
(1.3)
3.8
(9.7)
25
(63.6)
Source: PRISM[11]

Etymology

The borough is named for American Founding Father, Pennsylvania merchant, and banker Robert Morris, the main financier of the American Revolution. His home Summerseat still stands in town.

Sports

In 1955 the Morrisville Little League baseball team defeated Merchantville, NJ to claim the Little League World Series title. It is one of four Pennsylvania teams to have won the tournament since its inception in 1947.

Notable people

Morrisville is the birthplace or home to a number of well-known Americans, including:

See also

References

  1. "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Jul 4, 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  3. National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  4. "How Morrisville almost became the nation's capital". Bucks County Courier Times. Retrieved 2017-10-31.
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. "Census of Population and Housing". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  7. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  8. "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 17 June 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  9. Bureau, U.S. Census. "American FactFinder - Results". factfinder.census.gov.
  10. "Census 2010: Pennsylvania - USATODAY.com".
  11. "Data Explorer: Time Series Values for Individual Locations". PRISM. Oregon State University. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  12. http://explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=1-A-E2
  13. "CLYMER, George - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov.
  14. "Oil Town "Aero Views" - American Oil & Gas Historical Society". 18 December 2017.
  15. "Dick Hart Stats - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  16. http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/bucks/bios/battle1887/falls.txt
  17. http://www.napoleon.org/en/reading_room/biographies/files/Moreau_Jean_Victor.asp
  18. "Archives - Philly.com". articles.philly.com.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.