Bristol Township | |
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 Phineas Pemberton House, built starting 1687 | |
 Flag  Coat of arms  Logo | |
 Location of Bristol Township in Bucks County | |
  Bristol Township Location in Pennsylvania and the United States Show map of Pennsylvania Bristol Township Bristol Township (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:40°07′00″N74°51′59″W / 40.11667°N 74.86639°W /40.11667; -74.86639 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Bucks |
| Formed | 1692 |
| Area | |
• Total | 17.11 sq mi (44.3 km2) |
| • Land | 15.84 sq mi (41.0 km2) |
| • Water | 1.27 sq mi (3.3 km2) |
| Elevation | 16 ft (4.9 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 54,291 |
| • Density | 3,427/sq mi (1,323/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area codes | 215, 267, and 445 |
| FIPS code | 42-017-08768 |
| Website | https://www.bristoltwppa.gov/ |
Bristol Township is atownship inBucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 54,291 at the2020 census, making it the13th largest municipality in the state. Bristol Township, along withBristol Borough, is a cultural hub for Lower Bucks County, hosting celebrations of African and Latino heritage. Parts of the township consist of the neighborhoods ofFairless Hills andLevittown. It is located within theDelaware Valley (i.e. thePhiladelphia metropolitan area).
Before Bristol Township was settled, it was populated by theLenape Indian tribe. It was formed as Buckingham Township in 1692 and was renamed Bristol Township in 1702. The springs at Bath, in Bristol Township, were popular among wealthy Philadelphians for a time, but lost popularity to those inSaratoga Springs, New York. TheDelaware Canal was built in 1831 and connected Bristol toEaston, 60 miles to the north. Still, until the 1950s, Bristol Township was largely agricultural. In 1952,William Levitt began construction of hisLevittown, which was located partly in Bristol Township.
ThePhineas Pemberton House was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 1971.[3]
TheWar Dog Memorial, located in front of the Bristol Township Municipal Building, was dedicated in 2006.[4]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 17.1 square miles (44 km2), of which 15.8 square miles (41 km2) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2) (7.42%) is water.[1]
Named places, past and present, in Bristol Township include Bath,Croydon, Edgely, Emilie, part of Levittown, Midway, Newportville, Pickpocket, and Pine Grove.[5]
Natural features includeMill Creek,Neshaminy Creek, andQueen Anne Creek.[5]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 1,591 | — | |
| 1900 | 1,397 | −12.2% | |
| 1910 | 1,992 | 42.6% | |
| 1920 | 5,027 | 152.4% | |
| 1930 | 4,381 | −12.9% | |
| 1940 | 5,857 | 33.7% | |
| 1950 | 12,184 | 108.0% | |
| 1960 | 59,298 | 386.7% | |
| 1970 | 67,498 | 13.8% | |
| 1980 | 58,733 | −13.0% | |
| 1990 | 57,129 | −2.7% | |
| 2000 | 55,521 | −2.8% | |
| 2010 | 54,582 | −1.7% | |
| 2020 | 54,291 | −0.5% | |
| [6][7] | |||
As of the 2010 census, the township was 77.3% Non-Hispanic White, 10.2% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 2.8% Asian, and 2.8% were two or more races. 7.4% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.[8]
As of thecensus[9] of 2000, there were 55,521 people, 19,733 households, and 14,503 families residing in the township. Thepopulation density was 3,439.4 people per square mile (1,328.0 people/km2). There were 20,486 housing units at an average density of 1,269.1 per square mile (490.0/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 86.13%White, 8.45%African American, 0.21%Native American, 2.14%Asian, 0.04%Pacific Islander, 1.55% fromother races, and 1.49% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 3.85% of the population.
There were 19,733 households, out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% weremarried couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.26.
In the township the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $48,090, and the median income for a family was $54,308. Males had a median income of $38,112 versus $28,797 for females. Theper capita income for the township was $19,090. About 5.4% of families and 7.6% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.
Bristol Township students attend schools in theBristol Township School District, and the notable public high school isHarry S. Truman High School.
Until 1990, for a period of over 12 years, theLower Bucks Christian Academy leased the Benjamin Franklin Junior High School facility. That year, the school district denied renewal of the lease since it wished to repurpose the building as an elementary school.[10]
According to theKöppen climate classification system, Bristol Twp has aHumid subtropical climate (Cfa).Cfa climates are characterized by all months 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. Although most summer days are slightly humid in Bristol Twp, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur withheat index values > 108 °F (42 °C). Since 1981, the highest air temperature was 103.1 °F (39.5 °C) on June 7, 2010, and the highest daily average meandew point was 75.4 °F (24.1 °C) on August 13, 2016. The average wettest month is July which corresponds with the annual peak inthunderstorm activity. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was 6.42 inches (163 mm) on August 27, 2011. During the winter months, the average annual extreme minimum air temperature is 2.0 °F (−16.7 °C).[11] Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was −9.4 °F (−23.0 °C) on January 22, 1984. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur withwind chill values < −8 °F (−22 °C). The average annual snowfall (Nov-Apr) is between 24 and 30 inches (61 and 76 cm).Ice storms and large snowstorms depositing ≥ 12 inches (30 cm) occur once every few years, particularly duringnor’easters from December through February.
| Climate data for Bristol Twp, Elevation 33 ft (10 m), 1981-2010 normals, extremes 1981-2018 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 71.8 (22.1) | 78.0 (25.6) | 87.8 (31.0) | 95.0 (35.0) | 96.0 (35.6) | 97.1 (36.2) | 103.1 (39.5) | 101.1 (38.4) | 98.9 (37.2) | 89.1 (31.7) | 81.6 (27.6) | 76.3 (24.6) | 103.1 (39.5) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 41.2 (5.1) | 44.0 (6.7) | 52.0 (11.1) | 64.1 (17.8) | 73.5 (23.1) | 82.7 (28.2) | 86.9 (30.5) | 85.3 (29.6) | 78.5 (25.8) | 67.2 (19.6) | 56.3 (13.5) | 45.2 (7.3) | 64.8 (18.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 33.2 (0.7) | 35.0 (1.7) | 42.2 (5.7) | 52.9 (11.6) | 62.1 (16.7) | 71.6 (22.0) | 76.2 (24.6) | 74.7 (23.7) | 67.7 (19.8) | 56.2 (13.4) | 46.6 (8.1) | 36.9 (2.7) | 54.6 (12.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 25.1 (−3.8) | 25.9 (−3.4) | 32.4 (0.2) | 41.6 (5.3) | 50.7 (10.4) | 60.5 (15.8) | 65.6 (18.7) | 64.2 (17.9) | 56.9 (13.8) | 45.2 (7.3) | 36.9 (2.7) | 28.5 (−1.9) | 44.5 (6.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −9.4 (−23.0) | −2.4 (−19.1) | 4.4 (−15.3) | 18.0 (−7.8) | 33.0 (0.6) | 42.1 (5.6) | 48.3 (9.1) | 43.0 (6.1) | 36.6 (2.6) | 25.5 (−3.6) | 12.4 (−10.9) | 0.3 (−17.6) | −9.4 (−23.0) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.59 (91) | 2.72 (69) | 4.27 (108) | 3.85 (98) | 4.20 (107) | 4.21 (107) | 5.02 (128) | 4.34 (110) | 4.05 (103) | 3.71 (94) | 3.43 (87) | 3.93 (100) | 47.32 (1,202) |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 64.9 | 61.2 | 57.8 | 56.8 | 61.9 | 65.4 | 66.2 | 68.4 | 68.8 | 68.1 | 66.4 | 66.5 | 64.4 |
| Averagedew point °F (°C) | 22.0 (−5.6) | 23.0 (−5.0) | 28.4 (−2.0) | 38.0 (3.3) | 48.9 (9.4) | 59.4 (15.2) | 64.1 (17.8) | 63.6 (17.6) | 57.1 (13.9) | 45.8 (7.7) | 36.0 (2.2) | 26.8 (−2.9) | 42.9 (6.1) |
| Source: PRISM[12] | |||||||||||||
According to theA. W. Kuchler U.S.potential natural vegetation types, Bristol Twp would have a dominant vegetation type of AppalachianOak (104) with a dominant vegetation form of EasternHardwood Forest (25).[13] Theplant hardiness zone is 7a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 2.0 °F (−16.7 °C).[11] The spring bloom typically begins by April 7 and fall color usually peaks by November 4.
_from_the_overpass_for_Ford_Road_in_Bristol_Township%2c_Bucks_County%2c_Pennsylvania.jpg)
As of 2022 there were 203.47 miles (327.45 km) of public roads in Bristol Township, of which 3.80 miles (6.12 km) were maintained by thePennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC), 27.45 miles (44.18 km) were maintained by thePennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and 172.22 miles (277.16 km) were maintained by the township.[14]
Bristol Township is the location of a major highway junction betweenInterstate 95, thePennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 276), andInterstate 295. This interchange is still partially under construction, with theproject to build it ongoing. Interstate 95 follows the Pennsylvania Turnpike between the interchange and theDelaware River–Turnpike Toll Bridge over theDelaware River. Other highways serving Bristol Township includeU.S. Route 13, which runs southwest–northeast through the township along Bristol Pike, andPennsylvania Route 413, which runs north–south through the township along Veterans Highway and leads to theBurlington–Bristol Bridge over the Delaware River.[15]SEPTA provides bus service to Bristol Township alongSuburban Bus routes127,128, and129.SEPTA Regional Rail'sTrenton Line serves theCroydon section of the township atCroydon station, with other nearby stations includingBristol station in the borough ofBristol andLevittown station in the borough ofTullytown.[16]
Places adjacent to Bristol Township, Pennsylvania | |
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| Counties |  | |
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| Major cities | ||
| Cities and towns 50k–99k | ||
| Cities and towns 30k–50k | ||
| See also | ||
