Solebury Township, Pennsylvania
Solebury Township | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Location of Solebury Township in Bucks County | |
  Solebury Township Location in Pennsylvania and the United States  Solebury Township Solebury Township (the United States) | |
| Coordinates: 40°23′00″N 74°59′49″W / 40.38333°N 74.99694°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Bucks |
| Incorporated | ≈1702[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 27.15 sq mi (70.3 km2) |
| • Land | 26.57 sq mi (68.8 km2) |
| • Water | 0.58 sq mi (1.5 km2) |
| Elevation | 279 ft (85 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 8,709 |
• Estimate (2021)[4] | 8,693 |
| • Density | 320.8/sq mi (123.9/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code | 18963[5] |
| Area code(s) | 215, 267 and 445 |
| FIPS code | 42-017-71752 |
| Website | www |
Solebury Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,709 at the 2020 census.[3]
History
Migrating English Quakers began to settle down in an area of Buckingham Township. Around 1702, this area was incorporated into a new township known as Solebury—being carved out of lands deeded to William Penn. Records indicate that sometime in 1703, Solebury had 24 landowners and farmers owning 28 tracts of land, each tract averaging out to about 414 acres. Solebury Township once included the area of present-day New Hope, until the incorporation of The Borough of New Hope in 1837.
Hearing about the township's fertile soils and location on the Delaware River, settlers began to move to Solebury. At first, moderately-sized log homes were constructed, followed by more traditional fieldstone houses. These fieldhouses can still be found in the township today.
Solebury's resources were put to use and industries began to spring up. While farming continued as a major industry, mills meant to cut wood, ground grain, pulverize paper, produce silk, and ground limestone, were constructed along streams through the township. When villages started to form in the township, they contained a church, store, post office, and blacksmith shop, making the villages self-sustaining.[1]
Solebury was soon discovered by the artist community. In the 1900s, New Hope and the surrounding area in Solebury hosted landscapes used in the Pennsylvania Impressionism movement.[6] Impressionists William Lathrop, Edward Redfield, Daniel Garber, Fern Coppedge, Morgan Colt, and Mary Elizabeth Price all resided in Solebury, as well as illustrator Charles Hargens, a resident of Carversville, a village in Solebury.[7] Today, Solebury remains an enclave to artists.
American woodworker George Nakashima's home and studio are located in Solebury. The studio is still in operation today through his daughter Mira. The George Nakashima Woodworker Complex is a National Historic Landmark.[8]
Solebury Township contains four National Historic Landmarks, six National Historic Districts, and more than 400 homes built in the 18th or 19th century. More than 30% of its land is preserved. Solebury continues to have an active farming community.
The Atkinson Road Bridge, Center Bridge Historic District, Cuttalossa Valley Historic District, George Nakashima House, Studio and Workshop, Isaiah Paxson Farm, Phillips Mill Historic District, Upper Aquetong Valley Historic District, and Van Sant Covered Bridge are places in Solebury that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[9]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 27.2 square miles (70.6 km2), of which 26.6 square miles (69.0 km2) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2) (2.20%) is water. It is drained by the Delaware River, which separates it from New Jersey. Past and present villages include Aquetong, Bowman Hill (also in Upper Makefield Township,) Carversville (also in Plumstead Township,) Center Bridge, Clayton, Cottageville, Fleecyville, Glendale, Highton (also in Buckingham Township,) Lahaska, Limeport, Lumberton, Lumberville, Naylors Corner, Peters Corners, Phillips Mill, Rosenthal, Ruckmans, Solebury, Stony Hill, Tooqueminsey, and Winnahawchunick.[10]
Natural features include Aquetong Creek, Aquetong Spring, Brun Bridle Hill and Forest, Canada Hill, Coppernose (hill), Cuttalossa Creek, Dark Hollow Run, Honey Hollow (valley), Kitchens Hill, Lahaska Creek, Little Buckingham Mountain, Paunacussing Creek, Phillips Creek, Pidcock Creek, Rabbit Run, and Solebury Mountain.[10]
Neighboring municipalities
- Upper Makefield Township (southeast)
- Buckingham Township (southwest)
- Plumstead Township (northwest)
- Kingwood Township, New Jersey (north)
- Delaware Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey (northeast)
- Stockton, New Jersey (northeast)
- Lambertville, New Jersey (east)
- New Hope (east)
- West Amwell Township, New Jersey (east)
- Hopewell Township, Mercer County, New Jersey (east)
Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Solebury Township, Pennsylvania has a hot-summer, wet all year, humid continental climate (Dfa). Dfa climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature ≤ 32.0 °F (≤ 0.0 °C), at least four months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F (≥ 10.0 °C), at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ 71.6 °F (≥ 22.0 °C), and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. During the summer months, episodes of extreme heat and humidity can occur with heat index values ≥ 100 °F (≥ 38 °C). On average, the wettest month of the year is July which corresponds with the annual peak in thunderstorm activity. During the winter months, episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values < 0 °F (< -18 °C). The plant hardiness zone is 6b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of -1.3 °F (-18.5 °C).[11] The average seasonal (Nov-Apr) snowfall total is between 30 and 36 inches (76 and 91 cm), and the average snowiest month is February which corresponds with the annual peak in nor'easter activity.
| Climate data for Solebury Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania (1981 – 2010 averages) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 38.9 (3.8) |
42.4 (5.8) |
50.7 (10.4) |
62.7 (17.1) |
72.7 (22.6) |
81.6 (27.6) |
85.9 (29.9) |
84.0 (28.9) |
77.1 (25.1) |
65.7 (18.7) |
54.7 (12.6) |
43.3 (6.3) |
63.4 (17.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 30.2 (−1.0) |
33.1 (0.6) |
40.6 (4.8) |
51.4 (10.8) |
61.2 (16.2) |
70.4 (21.3) |
75.0 (23.9) |
73.4 (23.0) |
66.1 (18.9) |
54.4 (12.4) |
44.8 (7.1) |
34.9 (1.6) |
53.1 (11.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 21.5 (−5.8) |
23.9 (−4.5) |
30.6 (−0.8) |
40.2 (4.6) |
49.6 (9.8) |
59.3 (15.2) |
64.2 (17.9) |
62.7 (17.1) |
55.1 (12.8) |
43.1 (6.2) |
34.9 (1.6) |
26.4 (−3.1) |
42.7 (5.9) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.46 (88) |
2.75 (70) |
4.08 (104) |
4.07 (103) |
4.28 (109) |
4.50 (114) |
5.13 (130) |
4.01 (102) |
4.43 (113) |
4.08 (104) |
3.75 (95) |
4.12 (105) |
48.66 (1,236) |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 66.8 | 63.1 | 59.0 | 58.0 | 62.3 | 67.2 | 67.2 | 69.7 | 70.9 | 69.9 | 68.6 | 68.3 | 65.9 |
| Average dew point °F (°C) | 20.5 (−6.4) |
21.9 (−5.6) |
27.4 (−2.6) |
37.1 (2.8) |
48.2 (9.0) |
59.0 (15.0) |
63.4 (17.4) |
62.9 (17.2) |
56.4 (13.6) |
44.8 (7.1) |
35.1 (1.7) |
25.5 (−3.6) |
41.9 (5.5) |
| Source: PRISM Climate Group[12] | |||||||||||||
Ecology
According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Solebury Township, Pennsylvania would have an Appalachian Oak (104) vegetation type with an Eastern Hardwood Forest (25) vegetation form.[13]
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | 1,564 | — | |
| 1940 | 1,689 | 8.0% | |
| 1950 | 2,208 | 30.7% | |
| 1960 | 2,972 | 34.6% | |
| 1970 | 3,547 | 19.3% | |
| 1980 | 4,827 | 36.1% | |
| 1990 | 5,998 | 24.3% | |
| 2000 | 7,743 | 29.1% | |
| 2010 | 8,692 | 12.3% | |
| 2020 | 8,709 | 0.2% | |
| [3][14] | |||
As of the 2020 census[3], there were 8,709 people and 3,633 households residing in the township. The population density was 320.8 people per square mile (123.9/km2). There were 3,747 housing units at an average density of 138.0/sq mi (53.3/km2).[15]
Ethnically, Solebury Township was approximately:
- 88.3% White alone
- 1.0% African American
- 0.1% Native American or Alaskan Native
- 4.2% Asian
- 0.01% Pacific Islander
- 5.2% from two or more races
- 1.3% of some other race
Of the population, 3.4% were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry. Of the 3,498 occupied housing units (not households):
- 63.7% were married couples living together
- 2.8% had a male householder with no spouse present
- 5.1% had a female householder with no spouse present
The remaining are either family groups (families without a householder), or people living alone. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.65. Of the 3,633 households, 31.6% had one or more children under 18 years old, and 52.7% had one or more adults who were at least 60 years old. Solebury is approximately:
- 20.6% under the age of 18
- 2.7% from 18 to 24
- 12.7% from 25 to 44
- 38.6% from 45 to 64
- 25.3% who were 65 years of age or older.
The median age was estimated to be 52.7 years. The estimated male to female ratio was 1.061 to 1.
The approximate median income for a household in the township was $139,879, and the approximate median income for a family was $160,739.
Of the 8,513 whose poverty status could be determined, approximately 2.9% were below the poverty level. This includes 1.6% of males and 4.4% of females. Approximately 3.6% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or older were below the poverty level.
Education
The Solebury School, a private co-educational day and boarding school, is located in the township.
Attractions
The New Hope-Lambertville Winter Festival takes place in Solebury yearly. Solebury contains a portion of the Washington Crossing Historic Park across the river from the larger Washington Crossing State Park.
The Bucks County Audubon Society at Honey Hollow maintains a nature preserve with six miles of hiking trails that are open to the public dawn to dusk every day for hiking and birdwatching.
Bowman's Hill Wild Flower Preserve contains over 700 of Pennsylvania's 2,000 native plant species grow naturally on 134 acres.
Notable people
- Peter H. Kostmayer, Congressman who lived in Solebury Township while in office[16]
- Jay Schulberg, advertising executive
- Dean Ween and Gene Ween of the American rock band Ween resided at an apartment on Van Sant Road in Solebury Township during the early 1990s, where they recorded their albums The Pod and Pure Guava.[17]
- Abbie Hoffman, one of the Chicago 7, had an apartment there, where he committed suicide in 1989.
References
- ^ a b "History of Solebury Township | Solebury Township Historical Society". 25 July 2013.
- ^ "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Aug 13, 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Solebury township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau. 2022-06-17. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "QuickFacts - Solebury township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania". United States Census Bureau. 2022-06-17. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "ZIP Code 5: 18963 - SOLEBURY, PA". ZIP Code Query - PA Post Code Base. 2022-06-17. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ http://www.phillipsmillfoundation.org
- ^ artist.aspx; philadelphiaencyclopedia.org
- ^ "History & Team". George Nakashima Woodworkers. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ a b MacReynolds, George, Place Names in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Doylestown, Bucks County Historical Society, Doylestown, PA, 1942, P1.
- ^ "USDA Interactive Plant Hardiness Map". United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2019-06-27.
- ^ "PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State U". www.prism.oregonstate.edu. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- ^ "U.S. Potential Natural Vegetation, Original Kuchler Types, v2.0 (Spatially Adjusted to Correct Geometric Distortions)". Data Basin. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
- ^ (DVRPC), Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. "DVRPC > Site Search". www.dvrpc.org. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ "Statistics & Demographics | Solebury PA". www.soleburytwp.org. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
- ^ Barone, Michael; Ujifusa, Grant (1987). The Almanac of American Politics. p. 1027.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^ The Pod in New Hope
External links
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
