Souderton, Pennsylvania

Souderton is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The population was 6,618 at the 2010 census.

Borough of Souderton
Borough
Souderton Historic District
Seal
Location of Souderton in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
Souderton
Location of Souderton in Pennsylvania
Souderton
Souderton (the United States)
Coordinates: 40°18′37″N 75°19′18″W
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountyMontgomery
Incorporated1887
Government
 • TypeCouncil-manager
 • MayorJohn Reynolds
Area
 • Total1.12 sq mi (2.90 km2)
 • Land1.12 sq mi (2.90 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
400 ft (100 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total6,618
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
7,082
 • Density6,317.57/sq mi (2,438.39/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
18964
Area code(s)215, 267 and 445 Exchange: 723
FIPS code42-71856
Websitewww.soudertonborough.org

Souderton formerly hosted the end of the annual Bucks County Classic, a professional bicycle race.

History

The town was originally named Welshtown, because it was settled by the Welsh. Souderton is prefigured in a map of 1847 as Souder's Lumberyard, and the new name was certainly in place by the railroad era in the second half of the 19th century.

The Souderton Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.

Geography

Souderton is located at 40°18′37″N 75°19′18″W (40.310215, -75.321682).[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.9 km2), of which, 1.1 square miles (2.9 km2) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water. The terrain is mildly rolling hills, with some steeper hills in the downtown area, and flat terrain throughout.

Neighboring municipalities

Souderton is bordered by:

Some adjacent areas in Hilltown Township, Bucks County, including Calvary Church, have a Souderton postal address.

Climate

Souderton has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) and average monthly temperatures range from 29.5 °F in January to 74.1 °F in July. The local hardiness zone is 6b.

Politics and government

Souderton has a city manager form of government with a mayor and a nine-member borough council. Souderton's current borough councilors are:

  • Richard L. Godshall-Ward 1
  • Ned D. Leight-Ward 1
  • Dan Yocum-Ward 1
  • Julie Munden-Ward 2 Vice President
  • Daryl Littlefield-Ward 2
  • Matt Mscichowski-Ward 2
  • Brian K. Goshow-Ward 3- President
  • Donna Rogers-Ward 3
  • Ed Huber-Ward 3

The Mayor is John Reynolds. Souderton also has an appointed Junior Councilor who is appointed when under 18 of age and serves a 1-year term, without voting privileges. The current Junior Councilor is Margaret Cross.[4] The Borough Manager is P. Michael Coll.[5]

The borough is represented by the following officials:

Presidential elections results[6]
Year Republican Democratic
2020 49.1% 1,767 49.3% 1,773
2016 48.7% 1,529 43.1% 1,354
2012 52.4% 1,508 45.1% 1,297
2008 48.2% 1,446 50.6% 1,520
2004 56.5% 1,259 42.8% 1,663
2000 61.6% 1,451 35.2% 830

Arts

Souderton is home to Montgomery Theater, one of only three professional theaters in Montgomery County. Sitting in the historic firehouse on Main Street (Rte 113), the Theater produces five subscription-series shows each year, and offers education programs for students ages 8–18. Montgomery Theater draws people to Souderton from around the five-county area. Souderton also hosts an annual Art Jam every September, bringing artists and artisans to the borough park, and offering craft beer and wine tastings. This event is hosted by Souderton-Telford Main Streets, the non-profit organization that supports revitalization in Souderton.

Sports
Some international and domestic professional cyclists coming through the Start/Finish for another lap of the finishing circuit in the Univest Grand Prix

Souderton was host to the Univest Grand Prix, a one-day road bicycle racing event that is part of the USA Cycling Professional Tour. It took place in early September and publicized its association with Floyd Landis. This event was part of a weekend of longer bike races in surrounding towns. Participants were from varying areas in the United States, and foreign countries, mainly European. Italian, French and Flemish teams often returned to the race annually. Although the race went professional, there were amateur races earlier in the morning for kids and adults. In 2012 the race was officially discontinued in the Souderton Borough.

Souderton is also known for its strong involvement in the baseball community having 2 former players Jamie Moyer, and Erik Kratz make the MLB. The American legion baseball team in Souderton is nationally ranked, with a 2018 rank of #18 in the country. They placed 2nd in the State in 2018 under coach Meara. Their rival is Doylestown in nearby Bucks County.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1890679—
19001,07758.6%
19101,87574.1%
19203,12566.7%
19303,85723.4%
19404,0364.6%
19504,52112.0%
19605,38119.0%
19706,36618.3%
19806,6574.6%
19905,957−10.5%
20006,73013.0%
20106,618−1.7%
2019 (est.)7,082[2]7.0%
Sources:[7][8][9]

As of the 2010 census, the borough was 85.6% White, 2.5% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 4.7% Asian, and 2.6% were two or more races; 11.5% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.[10]

As of the census[8] of 2000, 6,730 people, 2,635 households, and 1,765 families resided in the borough. The population density was 6,015.7 people per square mile (2,320.1/km2). The 2,720 housing units averaged 2,431.3 per square mile (937.7/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 91.69% White, 1.00% African American, 0.19% Native American, 3.98% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.86% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 4.29% of the population.

Of the 2,635 households, 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were not families. About 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the borough, the population was distributed as 25.1% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $47,437, and for a family was $57,200. Males had a median income of $36,280 versus $28,580 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $21,758. About 3.2% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

Infrastructure

Highways and roads
Pennsylvania Route 113 In Souderton

Pennsylvania Route 113 passes through Souderton along Main Street and Broad Street, heading southwest to Harleysville and northeast to Silverdale. PA 113 has an interchange with the Pennsylvania Route 309 freeway to the northeast of Souderton; PA 309 heads north to Quakertown and south to Montgomeryville.[11]

Railroads past and present

A rail line dating from the early 1900s (the Reading Company's former Bethlehem Branch) runs through Souderton connecting to Telford, Perkasie, Quakertown, and Bethlehem to the north and Hatfield and Lansdale to the south. This line was taken over for passenger operation from the Reading until 1981. Still active for freight, the Pennsylvania Northeastern Railroad operates through Souderton on these former SEPTA tracks.[12] Every August, Pennsylvania Northeastern Railroad partners with New Hope and Ivyland Railroad to provide excursions to Souderton Station. Trains only use the station as a turnaround point and do not use its platform for passengers.

Interurban trolley

From 1901 until 1951, an interurban electric trolley, the Lehigh Valley Transit, operated hourly service from Souderton north to Allentown and south to Philadelphia. Its Souderton station was at the northwest corner of Broad and Main streets opposite the steam railroad Reading's Souderton station. The LVT ran north i the middle of Main Street, turned onto Summit Street and crossed the Reading on the Summ bridge, then angled toward Telford, its next stop. LVT had a large maintenance facility with car storage tracks reached by a track that branched from Summit Street. That building is now the local fire station. The LVT carried heavy passenger loads during World War 2 when gas rationing reduced automobile use, but when the war ended, passenger count collapsed and the line abandoned and began running busses.[13][14]

Bus

SEPTA Suburban Bus Route 132 serves Souderton, heading north to Telford and south to Hatfield, Lansdale, and the Montgomery Mall in Montgomeryville.[15]

Utilities

PPL Electric Utilities provides electricity to Souderton.[16][17] Natural gas in Souderton is provided by PECO Energy Company, a subsidiary of Exelon.[18][19] The North Penn Water Authority provides water to Souderton and surrounding areas in the North Penn Valley.[20] The borough's Sewer Department provides sewer service to Souderton.[21] Trash and recycling collection in Souderton is provided under contract by J.P. Mascaro & Sons.[22]

See also
  • Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on the meat industry in the United States

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  4. "Administration". Borough of Souderton. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
  5. "Contact us". Borough of Souderton. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
  6. "Montgomery County Election Results". Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  7. "Census of Population and Housing". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  8. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  9. "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.
  11. Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Highway Map (PDF) (Map). PennDOT. 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  12. "Federal Register Volume 76, Number 142". Federal Register. July 25, 2011. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
  13. "Lehigh Valley Transit Company's Liberty Bell Route," A Photographic History with Chronology, Historical Recollections and Bibliography: William J. McKelvey Jr
  14. Keenan, Jack (1974). Cincinnati & Lake Erie Railroad: Ohio's Great Interurban System. Corona Del Mar, CA: Golden West Books. ISBN 0-8709-5055-X. Book has a photograph of LVT coach 1004loading passengers at the Souderton terminal around 1948.
  15. "Route 132 bus map" (PDF). SEPTA. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
  16. "Service Area". PPL Electric Utilities. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
  17. "General Tariff" (PDF). PPL Electric Utilities. June 20, 2017. p. 4. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
  18. "PECO: Company Information". PECO Energy Company. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
  19. "Gas Service Tariff" (PDF). PECO Energy Company. August 30, 2017. p. 2. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  20. "Service Area". North Penn Water Authority. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
  21. "Amenities offered to Borough Residents". Borough of Souderton. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  22. "Trash/Recycling". Borough of Souderton. Retrieved February 22, 2018.

Media related to Souderton, Pennsylvania at Wikimedia Commons

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.