Prospect Park, Pennsylvania

For other places with the same name, see Prospect Park (disambiguation).
Prospect Park, Pennsylvania
Borough
The Morton Homestead, built 1698
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Delaware
Elevation 75 ft (22.9 m)
Coordinates 39°53′09″N 75°18′26″W / 39.88583°N 75.30722°W / 39.88583; -75.30722Coordinates: 39°53′09″N 75°18′26″W / 39.88583°N 75.30722°W / 39.88583; -75.30722
Area 0.8 sq mi (2.1 km2)
 - land 0.8 sq mi (2 km2)
 - water 0.0 sq mi (0 km2), 0%
Population 6,454 (2010)
Density 8,853.2 / sq mi (3,418.2 / km2)
Timezone EST (UTC-5)
 - summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 19076
Area code 610 and 484
FIPS code 42-62792
GNIS feature ID 1184455
Location of Prospect Park in Delaware County
Location of Prospect Park in Pennsylvania
Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
Website: prospectparkboro.com

Prospect Park is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,454 at the 2010 census,[1] down from 6,594 at the 2000 census. It originated as a bedroom community of Philadelphia. It is located within 10 miles (16 km) of Center City, Philadelphia, with convenient rail access (SEPTA, and connection to Amtrak).

Geography

Prospect Park is located in southeastern Delaware County at 39°53′9″N 75°18′26″W / 39.88583°N 75.30722°W / 39.88583; -75.30722 (39.885712, -75.307166).[2] It is bordered to the east by Norwood, to the south by Tinicum Township, to the west by Ridley Park, and to the west and north by Ridley Township.

U.S. Route 13 crosses the borough, leading northeast to Philadelphia and southwest 4 miles (6 km) to Chester. Pennsylvania Route 420 (Lincoln Avenue) crosses US 13 and leads north 2 miles (3 km) to Morton and south 1 mile (1.6 km) to Interstate 95 at Exit 9.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough of Prospect Park has a total area of 0.73 square miles (1.9 km2), of which 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2), or 1.57%, is water.[1]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880197
19001,059
19101,65556.3%
19202,53653.2%
19304,62382.3%
19405,10010.3%
19505,83414.4%
19606,59613.1%
19707,2509.9%
19806,593−9.1%
19906,7642.6%
20006,594−2.5%
20106,454−2.1%
Est. 20146,484[3]0.5%
Sources:[4][5][6]

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 6,594 people, 2,577 households, and 1,600 families residing in the borough. The population density was 8,859.7 people per square mile (3,440.5/km²). There were 2,683 housing units at an average density of 3,604.9 per square mile (1,399.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 95.44% White, 1.38% African American, 0.12% Native American, 1.74% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.91% of the population.

There were 2,577 households, out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $45,244, and the median income for a family was $51,966. Males had a median income of $38,914 versus $30,717 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $19,801. There are 3.6% of families living below the poverty line and 4.3% of the population, including 2.6% of under eighteens and 12.1% of those over 64.

Education

Students living in Prospect Park attend classes within the Interboro School District, which consists of Prospect Park and its neighboring regions Glenolden, Norwood, and Tinicum Township.

The school district's administration offices are located within the borough, as is Interboro High School.

History

Prospect Hill Baptist Church in Prospect Park claims a prominent role in instituting the phrase "In God we trust" on United States coins and currency. A former pastor, Mark R. Watkinson, felt that the Civil War was going to leave the country with a bad name, "brother fighting brother in a civil war", and wrote a letter to Salmon P. Chase, Secretary of the Treasury, suggesting "God, Liberty, Law," be put on the coins. Chase referred the matter to James B. Longacre, Mint Engraver. A committee later settled on "In God we trust", and the words first appeared on a 2-cent coin. A plaque on the outside of the church announces the birthplace of the phrase.

The Morton Homestead, one of the oldest buildings in Pennsylvania, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.[7]

References

External links

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