Yardley, Pennsylvania

Yardley
Borough
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Bucks
Elevation 46 ft (14.0 m)
Coordinates 40°14′29″N 74°50′11″W / 40.24139°N 74.83639°W / 40.24139; -74.83639Coordinates: 40°14′29″N 74°50′11″W / 40.24139°N 74.83639°W / 40.24139; -74.83639
Area 1.0 sq mi (2.6 km2)
 - land 0.9 sq mi (2 km2)
 - water 0.1 sq mi (0 km2), 10%
Population 2,434 (2010)
Density 2,729.0/sq mi (1,053.7/km2)
Incorporated March 4, 1895
Timezone EST (UTC-5)
 - summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP Code 19067
Area code 215 Exchanges: 321,369,493
Location of Yardley in Bucks County
Location of Yardley in Pennsylvania
Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
Website: http://www.yardleyboro.com/

Yardley is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The small community of Yardley is bordered by the Delaware River and Ewing, New Jersey on the east, and by Lower Makefield Township on the north, west, and south. The population was 2,434 at the 2010 census.

Geography

Yardley is located at 40°14′29″N 74°50′11″W / 40.24139°N 74.83639°W / 40.24139; -74.83639 (40.241508, -74.836325).[1]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2), of which, 0.9 square miles (2.3 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (9.90%) is water.

The Delaware Canal and its towpath bisect the borough from northwest to southeast. Access points to the canal are located at Edgewater Avenue, Afton Avenue, Fuld Avenue, College Avenue and South Canal Street.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1880820—
1890813−0.9%
1900714−12.2%
191089425.2%
19201,26241.2%
19301,3083.6%
19401,45911.5%
19501,91631.3%
19602,27118.5%
19702,61615.2%
19802,533−3.2%
19902,288−9.7%
20002,4989.2%
20102,434−2.6%
Est. 20152,441[2]0.3%
Sources:[3][4][5]

As of the 2010 census, the borough was 89.7% Non-Hispanic White, 3.5% Black or African American, 2.6% Asian, and 1.9% were two or more races. 2.5% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry .

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 2,498 people, 1,170 households, and 649 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,729.0 people per square mile (1,048.4/km²). There were 1,209 housing units at an average density of 1,320.8 per square mile (507.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 93.63% White, 3.44% African American, 0.08% Native American, 1.20% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. 1.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.76% of the population.

There were 1,170 households, out of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.9% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.5% were non-families. 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 20.4% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 35.3% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $58,221, and the median income for a family was $70,938. Males had a median income of $50,816 versus $41,893 for females. The per capita income for the township was $32,802. About 1.7% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

History

Yardley was founded by William Yardley, who emigrated to America in July, 1682 with his family. He made an agreement with William Penn, before leaving England, to buy 500 acres (2.0 km2) for ten pounds. A survey was completed in October 1682, and the area William Yardley settled was called "Prospect Farm." It was located just outside the present Yardley Borough. William Yardley died in 1693, and his family in 1702-1703, possibly of smallpox. The family's burial plots are located in Slate Hill Cemetery, one of the oldest Quaker burial grounds in the state. Video

A nephew, Thomas Yardley, came to America in 1704 to settle the estate and never returned to England. He opened a ferry line which started operating in 1710 from Letchworth Avenue, the lower boundary of the village, and landed in New Jersey further downstream. This was an important link between West Jersey and the three roads leading to Philadelphia by way of Falls, Langhorne and Newtown. The Yardley family occupied the land for more than 150 years.

When Yardley was founded there were already small settlements at nearby Burlington, Bristol, and Falls Ferry.

Yardley began to develop into a village about 1807, and by 1880 had a population of 820. Early industries included a spoke and handle factory, sawmill, felloe factory, plate and plaster mill, and two flour mills. The first post office, established in 1828, used the name "Yardleyville." The name became "Yardley" again at the time the Reading Railroad came through the area in 1876.

During the American Civil War, Yardley was a station for the Underground Railroad, an escape route for slaves. Known hiding places were under the eaves of the Continental Hotel (now the Continental Tavern), in bins of warehouses on the Delaware Canal (completed in 1862), and at the General Store (now Worthington Insurance). At Lakeside, the yellow house facing Lake Afton on N. Main St., one brick-walled cellar room is also thought to have been a hiding place.

Yardley Borough was incorporated on March 4, 1895.

The Train Collectors Association, which now boasts worldwide membership of 30,000 individuals, was founded in Yardley in 1954.[6]

The former Bridge in Yardley Borough, Washington Crossing State Park, and Yardley Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[7]

The Yardley Wolf

On June 6, 1866, reports of a wolf-like creature attacking a group of canal boat travelers were filed with the local authorities (these documents are preserved today at Yardley Borough Hall). Sightings of the wolf have increased over the years, although the stories remain questionable. The only known photo was taken in 1978 by local Yardley resident Theodore Sheffield. The photo shows what appears to be a large wolf-like creature. Today, most of the residents reject such claims and attribute the wolf to myth and folklore.

Historic timeline

Yardley Historic District

25 Main St., Yardley
Location Roughly bounded by Main St., Afton Ave., Letchworth Ave., Canal St., S. Edgewater Ave., and Delaware Canal, Yardley, Pennsylvania
NRHP Reference # 05000417[8]

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  2. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  4. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. ↑ "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  6. ↑ TCA Members: About the TCA
  7. ↑ National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  8. ↑ National Park Service (2007-01-23). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
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