Morrisville, Bucks County, Pennsylvania

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. 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. 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.

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

Geography

Morrisville is located at 40°12′27″N 74°46′48″W (40.207458, -74.779918). 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

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 [1].

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. [2]

As of the census 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.

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: