Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania

Bensalem redirects here. For Francis Bacon's utopia see New Atlantis.

Template:Geobox Bensalem Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States which borders the northeast section of Philadelphia. The township is composed of many communities, including Bensalem, Trevose, Oakford, Cornwells Heights, Eddington, and Andalusia. As of the 2000 census, the township had a total population of 58,434, which makes it the largest municipality in Bucks County, and the tenth largest in Pennsylvania. The township, which was founded in 1692, is almost as old as the state of Pennsylvania itself, which was founded in 1682.

Geography

Bensalem is the southernmost township in Bucks County and is bordered by Philadelphia to the west and south, Croydon and the rest of Bristol Township to the east and northeast, Hulmeville and Middletown Township to the north, and Feasterville, Trevose, and Oakford in Lower Southampton Township to the northwest. Across the Delaware River in Burlington County, New Jersey to the southeast, there are Beverly, Delanco Township, and Edgewater Park Township.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 21.0 square miles (54.3 km²), of which, 20.0 square miles (51.7 km²) of it is land and 1.0 square miles (2.6 km²) of it (4.77%) is water.

The Fall line, which separates the Atlantic Coastal Plain region from the Piedmont region, runs through Bensalem, and is visible around the Neshaminy Mall area. [2] [3]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1930	5,645		—
1940	7,276		28.9%
1950	11,365		56.2%
1960	23,478		106.6%
1970	33,042		40.7%
1980	52,368		58.5%
1990	56,788		8.4%
2000	58,434		2.9%
www.dvrpc.org/data/databull/rdb/db82/appedixa.xls.</ref>

Bensalem has a large and fast-growing foreign-born population, which includes large concentrations of Mexicans (Bensalem has the highest percentage of Mexicans of any municipality in Pennsylvania), Guatemalans, Koreans, and Indians.

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 58,434 people, 22,627 households, and 15,114 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,926.7 people per square mile (1,129.8/km²). There were 23,535 housing units at an average density of 1,178.8/sq mi (455.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 82.90% White, 6.93% African American, 0.22% Native American, 6.61% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.64% from other races, and 1.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.29% of the population. 2008 estimates have shown that the Hispanic population of Bensalem has further increased.

There are 22,627 households of which 30.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the township the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $49,737, and the median income for a family was $58,771. Males had a median income of $39,914 versus $30,926 for females. The per capita income for the township was $22,517. 7.4% of the population and 6.0% of families were below the poverty line. Of the total population, 6.8% of those under the age of 18 and 10.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Landmarks and attractions

Bensalem is home to Philadelphia Park Racetrack, a 1-mile (1.6 km) thoroughbred horse racing track. This facility opened in November 1974 as Keystone Racetrack. The name was changed to Philadelphia Park in 1984. The track became notable as the original home of 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes champion Smarty Jones.In 2006, a slots parlor casino opened at Philadelphia Park and the facility was renamed to Philadelphia Park Racetrack and Casino. A permanent standalone casino structure opened in December 2009 and was renamed PARX Casino. The facility boasts 250,000 square feet (23,000 m²) including gaming, entertainment and banquet space.

The Mission Center and National Shrine of St. Katharine Drexel Katharine Drexel#Saint Katherine Drexel Mission Center and Shrine is located on Bristol Pike in Bensalem. The Shrine houses the remains of St. Katharine Drexel, born in 1858 to a wealthy Philadelphia family. As a young woman St. Katharine turned her back on a life of privilege to serve the poor, focusing on Native Americans and African Americans. She founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in 1891. The next year she and thirteen other Sisters moved into St. Elizabeth Convent in Bensalem. St. Katharine died in 1955 and was canonized in 2000. The Shrine welcomes visitors daily. [4]

Bensalem is also home to the Mongkoltepmunee Buddhist Temple[5], or Wat Mongkoltepmunee, on Knights Road. This shrine is an exact replica of a temple in Bangkok and is the only one of its kind in the United States. It serves as a place of high ceremonies and meditation for a community of Buddhist monks who came to Bensalem from Thailand in the 1980s.[6]

The township is the site of the Cornwells Heights SEPTA station, which is the largest park and ride in the state of Pennsylvania [7] and serves as a commuter Amtrak station to New York City. Two SEPTA regional rail lines, a freight line, and multiple SEPTA buses pass through the township.[8]

For the M. Night Shyamalan movie Signs, starring Mel Gibson, a stage set was built inside a warehouse on State Road for many of the interior shots.[9][10]

The NBC pilot episode for Outlaw, starring Jimmy Smits filmed in Andalusia March 22-23, 2010.[11][12] [13]

Neshaminy Mall is located within Bensalem. It was one of the first malls to be constructed in the country in 1968. It has four main anchors (three department stores and one movie theatre) and over 120 smaller shops and eateries. The AMC Neshaminy 24 Theater is the largest and highest sales-producing theater in Pennsylvania. [14] In addition, it has on many occasions been a top 10 for theater engagements in the United States (including the opening of Signs where it was #1). [15]

Rita's Franchise Company, LLC has its headquarters in the Trevose section of the township.[16]

Fortune 1000 company Charming Shoppes has its headquarters in Bensalem, and is ranked #810 on the 2010 list.[17]

It's reported that Ben Franklin flew his famous kite in Bensalem, at the Growden Mansion. At the time, the Galloway family owned the mansion and all of present day Bensalem Township. Franklin would travel through Bucks County dozens of times to visit his daughter living on the Delaware River in Bensalem.

The township is readily accessible with Interstate 95, U.S. Route 1, Pennsylvania Turnpike, U.S. Route 13, Woodhaven Road (PA 63) and Street Road all passing through. The Bensalem (formerly Philadelphia) Interchange of the Pennsylvania Turnpike (exit 351, at U.S. Route 1) is in the Trevose section of the township.[18] In addition, the eastbound Street Road interchange of the Pennsylvania Turnpike (exit 352), which is E-ZPass only, has recently opened in Bensalem.[19]

Government

In 1987, the people of Bensalem voted to become a second-class township with a five-member council and a mayor. The township has its own nine-member school board.

The current Republican mayor, Joseph DiGirolamo, is in his fifth consecutive term. He was elected mayor in 1994. His fifth term expires December 31, 2013.

External links

• Bensalem Township Home Page
• Bensalem Township School District