Edgmont Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania

History and socioeconomics

Edgmont Township, otherwise known by the post office name of "Edgemont" (ZIP code 19028) is a semi-rural suburban area in western Delaware County. It was one of the first townships in Pennsylvania, founded in the late 1680s. Today, Edgmont is home to a rather wide socioeconomic range. Along the rural area along Valley Road are many high-income neighborhoods such as Allee, Okehocking Hills, and Fiveormore. On Delchester Road is the rather posh new neighborhood known as Somerhill. On the major north-south thoroughfare through Edgmont, Providence Road, several upscale single family homes on large lots predominate as well as other high-income neighborhoods such as Springton Chase and Runnymeade Farms. There is also a retirement home known as White Horse Village. Within Edgmont lies a very tiny village that is not incorporated known as Gradyville (19039). It consists mainly of a post office, a gas station, a flower shop, an antique shop, one or two houses, and an English-language Orthodox church. Though Edgmont has its own post office as mentioned previously, most of the area is served by the Newtown Square post office (19073), the Media post office (19063), or the Glen Mills post office as it delivers mail directly to residences.

Geography

Edgmont Township lies northwest of the center of Delaware County, with its northern border forming the Chester County line. According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 9.73 square miles (25.20 km²), of which 9.71 square miles (25.14 km²) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.06 km²), or 0.24%, is water. Crum Creek forms the eastern border of the township, and Ridley Creek flows roughly parallel to it 1 mile (1.6 km) to the west.

Major routes through and around Edgmont include Pennsylvania Route 3 (West Chester Pike) and Pennsylvania Route 352 (Middletown Road). Edgmont Township is bordered by the townships of Middletown, Upper Providence, Newtown, and Thornbury in Delaware County, and Willistown in Chester County. The single largest geographic feature of the township is Ridley Creek State Park, comprising 2,600 acres (11 km²) in the eastern part of the township. It is a popular destination for a full range of recreational activities, and it is home to the Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation, a colonial farm park staffed from late spring through early fall.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,918 people, 1,447 households, and 988 families residing in the township. The population density was 401.7 people per square mile (155.2/km²). There were 1,515 housing units at an average density of 155.3/sq mi (60.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 90.58% White, 4.90% African American, 2.73% Asian, 0.13% Native American, 0.38% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.35% of the population.

There were 1,447 households, out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.4% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the township the population was spread out, with 27.9% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 20.1% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $88,303, and the median income for a family was $105,311. Males had a median income of $76,438 versus $42,371 for females. The per capita income for the township was $46,848. About 0.5% of families and 1.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.4% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Notable residents