Abington

Abington Township is one of Montgomery County's oldest communities, dating back before 1700 and being incorporated in 1704. The land that comprises Abington today was purchased from the native Lenape by William Penn during the 1680s. It is home to some of the county's oldest transportation routes, industries and churches. Abington contains the Willow Grove Park Mall, several small businesses, and a few ofgomery County's largest employers. The township comprises fifteen "communities" as follow alphabetically: Ardsley, Elkins Park, Hollywood, North Hills, Willow Grove, Roslynchester, Noblechester, Rydal-Meadowbrook, Schenectady, and Tannersville. Some portions of these subdivisions, including Glenside, Huntingdon Valley, and North Hills are actually in neighboring townships. The railroad reached the township in 1855, with the first station building erected in 1873 on the site of today's Noble Station. The town's name is likely taken from parishes in England formed over 900 years ago in Northamptonshire or Cambridgeshire. A local 1734 census counted 42 resident landowners. During the American Revolutionary War, there was a small battle that took place at Edge Hill. The cornerstone of the original Abington Friends School, in operation since before Abington's incorporation, is used in today's school building. The first Abington Presbyterian Church opened in the early years of the township, and while the original building is gone, its graveyard is still used today.

History

Abington is the primary city name, but also Ogontz Campus, Roslyn are acceptable city names or spellings. The land that comprises Abington today was purchased from the native Lenape by William Penn during the 1680s. A handful of European settlers built and lived in Hill Township, at the crossroads of Susquehanna Street Road and Old York Road. After brief times under other names, the township incorporated as Abington in 1704. The railroad reached the township in 1855, with the first station building erected in 1873 on the site of today's Noble Station. During the American Revolutionary War, there was a small battle that took place at Edge Hill. The cornerstone of the original Abington Friends School, in operation since before Abington's incorporation, is used in today's school building. The Abington Presbyterian Church opened in the early years of the township, and while the original building is gone, its graveyard is still used today. The town's name is likely taken from parishes in England formed over 900 years ago in Northamptonshire or Cambridgeshire. A local 1734 census counted 42 resident landowners. The township's high school and Fox Chase Farm are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Abington Township High School and fox Chase Farm were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The high school is located in the historic district of Abington, New Jersey, and the farm is located on the New Jersey Turnpike in the town's northern section. The township is home to the Abington High School, which was founded in the mid-19th century.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 15.5 square miles (40 km²) of which 15.4 square miles is land. The township is located in New Jersey's New Jersey Bay Area. It is located on the New Jersey Turnpike, which connects to New Jersey and New York City by the Susquehanna River. The town has a population of 1,788. It has an area of 15.5 square miles  (40 km²), of which 15 square miles (40km²) is land and 15.3 square miles (40 km1) is water. The population of the township is 1,872. It was the site of the first recorded European settlement in 17th century. The first recorded human settlement in the township was in 18th century, when the first European settlers arrived. The last European settlement was in the 19th Century, when they arrived in the 18th century. The area was first recorded as a township in 1836. It became a city in 1838. It's located in the state of New Jersey, and was once known as New Jersey City. It also has a small section of New York state, which was once part of the Delaware River Valley. The state's first post-secondary school was founded in 1837, and it is now known as the Collegeville School. The school's name comes from the town's name, "Collegeville".

Communities

Abington Township comprises fifteen "communities" The communities are unofficial, unincorporated subdivisions of the township, corresponding roughly to voting districts and elementary school placement. Their primary importance, aside from community identity, is the postal system. Some portions of some of these subdivisions, including Glenside, Huntingdon Valley, North Hills, Willow Grove, and Elkins Park, are actually in neighboring townships. The civic associations work together on Traffic Summits in even years (2012, 2014, 2016, etc.) and Economic Summits in odd years (2013, 2015, 2017, etc.). These Summits focus on eliminating traffic congestion that interferes with the growth of businesses in the Township. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's Traffic Calming Handbook recommends the formation of a Local Traffic Advisory Committee to work with officials to identify ways to improve safety of the community. The Civic Association of Abington Township is made up of the following members: Crestmont Civic Association, Glensid Gardens Civic Association and Hollywood Civic Association. The association also includes the Rydal-Meadowbrook Civic Association as well as the Tall Trees Association, which works to improve the appearance of the trees in the area. The Township is governed by a Board of Trustees, which was established by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 1903. The current board of trustees is composed of seven members, including the current mayor of Abington. The board was formed in 1903 by the then-mayor of Abbington.

Demographics

As of 2008, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated there were 55,234 people, 21,252 occupied households, and 14,819 families residing in the township. The racial makeup of the township was 80% White, 12% Black, 3% Asian, a fraction of a percent Pacific Islander, 1% from other races, and 3% from two or more races. 3.2% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry. In the township, the population was spread out, with 22% under the age of 18, 9% from 18 to 24, 25% from 25 to 44, 29% from 45 to 64, and 16% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. The population was 47% male, and 53% female. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.11. In 2010, the median income for a household in the Township was $77,363, and the median family income was $94,473. The per capita income for the township is $38,737. About 1% of those under age 18 and 5% ofThose age 65 or over. were below the poverty line, including 1%. of those over age 18. The township is located on the New Jersey Turnpike, which runs from New Jersey to New Jersey. It is one of the most densely populated townships in New Jersey, with a population of about 55,000.

Government

Abington Township does not have a mayor. Rather it is governed by a Board of Commissioners who are elected one from each of the township's fifteen wards. A President of the Board is elected from among these commissioners, and serves as the head of government for Abington Township. In 2004, Pennsylvanian political scientists Dr. G. Terry Madonna and Dr. Michael Young identified Abington township as an especially interesting political bellwether a local area "looked to for early readings of how national elections will turn out" The township is in the Fourth Congressional District and is represented by Rep. Madeleine Dean (D). It is also in the 4th Senatorial District in the Pennsylvania Senate and is Represented by Art Haywood (D) All of the Township falls within the 153rd Legislative District in the PA House of Representatives and isrepresented by Ben Sanchez (D), who is the current Commission President. The township has a population of about 2,000. It is located in the eastern part of the state and is located on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which runs through the town of Abington, Pennsylvania. The town's population is about 1,200. It has one of the lowest crime rates in the state, with the highest rate being in the town's northern areas. It also has the lowest unemployment rate, at 0.7%. It has a high school graduation rate of 1.8%. The town has a low crime rate of 0.6%. It is the only town in Pennsylvania with a high unemployment rate.

Economy

The economy of the township includes manufacturing of pressed steel, chemicals, and metal and plastic products. Abington Township's 2012 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report is available at www.abingtontownship.org. The township's top employers in the township are: Abington Steel, Abington Chemical, and Abington Sheet and Tube, according to the report. The top employers for the township in 2011 were Abington Electric, Abington Sheet and Tubing, Abbington Sheet & Tubing and Abingham Sheet & Tube, as well as Abington Machine and Tool, which makes metal, plastic, and other products. In 2011, the township's largest employer was Abington Iron and Steel, which made pressed steel and chemicals. In 2012, the top employer for Abington iron and plastic was Abingston Machine and Tools, making plastic, metal and other metal products, such as sheet metal, sheet metal and sheet aluminum, and plastic sheeting. In 2013, Abingham Iron and Plastic was the largest employer in Abington, followed by Abington Metal and Plastics, with a total of 11 employers. In 2014, the number of employers in Abingstone was 11, with the top employers being Abington Paper and Sheet and Plaster, which also made plastic, sheeting, and sheet metal. In 2015, there were 11 employers, including Abington Plastic, which was the top manufacturer of plastic and sheeting products in the state. In 2016, there was one employer for the first time in the history of Abington. The number of jobs was 11.

Infrastructure

Numbered routes serving Abington Township include Pennsylvania Route 611, Pennsylvania Route 63, and Pennsylvania Route 73. SEPTA provides bus service to the township along City Bus Routes 22, 24, 28, 55, 77, 80, 88, 310, and 311 and Suburban Bus Route 95. Abington is one of twelve municipalities in Pennsylvania to have red light cameras, which are aimed at improving safety at dangerous intersections. Jefferson Abington Hospital, located along Old York Road in the Abington section of the township, has 665 beds and over 5,500 employees, including more than 1,100 physicians. Holy Redeemer Hospital is located along Huntingdon Pike in the Meadowbrook section of Abington and has 242 beds and employs over 500 physicians. The Glenside station serving the Lansdale/Doylestown Line and Warminster Line is located just outside the township's borders in Cheltenham Township. The West Trenton Line stops at Meadowbrook, Rydal, and Noble stations. Cable, telephone, and internet service is provided by Xfinity and Verizon. Water in Abington Township is provided by Aqua Pennsylvania, a subsidiary of Aqua America. The township is served by area codes 215, 267, and 445, and is in the Philadelphia Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which includes Philadelphia, Reading, and Reading-Allegheny counties. The MSA also includes the Philadelphia suburb of Kensington, which is the largest MSA in Pennsylvania.

Education

Abington is served by the Abington School District. Penn State's Abington campus is located in the Rydal section of the township. The school district received some notoriety in the 1960s when it became one of the key parties in the school prayer controversy. The Supreme Court case resulted in a declaration of the unconstitutionality of school-sanctioned Bible reading. The Elementary Schools, Junior High School, and Senior High school have recently undergone a series of renovations and rebuilding, resulting in more up-to-date and sophisticated structures. There are seven elementary schools in this township, which include: Copper Beech (1,156 students),McKinley (754),Rydal (636),Highland (500),Overlook (587),Roslyn (511) and Willow Hill (425) There are several private schools located inside the township, such as Meadowbrook and Abington Friends School. There is also an area Catholic school, Saint Luke Catholic School in Glenside. Queen of Angels Regional Catholic School was formed in 2012 by the merger of Our Lady Help of Christians in Abington and St. David in Willow Grove. The township is home to the Pennsylvania State University Ogontz Campus, which was renamed to Penn State Abington in 1950. The campus opened in 1950, and is located on the former site of the Ogontz School of Agriculture. It is located near the intersection of Interstate 80 and I-81. It has a campus that opened in the early 1960s.