BRISTOL TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA

'Bristol Township' is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 55,521 at the 2000 census, making it the 10th largest municipality in the state. Bristol Township, along with Bristol Borough, continue to be a cultural hub for Lower Bucks County, hosting celebrations of African and Latino heritage. Many parts of the township are comprised of sections of Levittown, Pennsylvania.

Contents

History

Geography

Demographics

Education

External links

History

Bristol Township was originally settled by the Lenni Lenape Indians. It was formed as Buckingham Township in 1692 and was renamed Bristol Township in 1702. The springs at Bath, in Bristol Township, were popular amoung wealthy Philadelphians for a while, but lost popularity to the ones in Saratoga, New York. The Delaware Canal was built in 1831 and connected Bristol to Easton, 60 miles north of here. Still, until the 1950s Bristol Township was largely agricultural. In 1952 William Levitt began construction of his Levittown, which was located partly in Bristol Township.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 44.6 km² (17.2 mi²). 41.8 km² (16.1 mi²) of it is land and 2.8 km² (1.1 mi²) of it (6.33%) is water.
Bristol Townsip is located at a crossroads of U.S. Route 13, Pennsylvania Route 413, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and Interstate 95. Most of these roads mentioned originated as Lenni Lenape river trails along the Delaware River. This has made Bristol Township an ideal location.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 55,521 people, 19,733 households, and 14,503 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,328.2/km² (3,439.4/mi²). There were 20,486 housing units at an average density of 490.1/km² (1,269.1/mi²). 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% from other races, and 1.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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% were married 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. The per capita income for the township was $19,090. About 5.4% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Bristol Township students attend schools in the Bristol Township School District.

External links

★ Bristol Township