Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
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Montgomery County is a county located in the state of Pennsylvania. As of 2000, the population is 750,097, and predicted to reach 860,000 by 2010. The county seat is Norristown.
The county was created in 1784, out of land originally part of Philadelphia County. It is believed to have been named in honor of Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general killed in 1775 while attempting to capture Quebec City, Canada, but it is not certain that this is the origin of the name.
Montgomery County is a suburban county northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and part of the Delaware Valley area. It is the 44th richest county in the country.
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Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,262 km2 (487 mi2). 1,251 km2 (483 mi2) of it is land and 11 km2 (4 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 0.89% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 750,097 people, 286,098 households, and 197,693 families residing in the county. The population density is 599/km2 (1,553/mi2). There are 297,434 housing units at an average density of 238 units/km2 (616 units/mi2). The racial makeup of the county is 86.46% White, 7.46% African American, 0.11% Native American, 4.02% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. 2.04% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 286,098 households out of which 32.00% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.20% are married couples living together, 8.80% have a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% are non-families. 25.60% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.90% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.54 and the average family size is 3.09.
In the county, the population is spread out with 24.10% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 93.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county is $60,829, and the median income for a family is $72,183. Males have a median income of $48,698 versus $35,089 for females. The per capita income for the county is $30,898. 4.40% of the population and 2.80% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 4.60% of those under the age of 18 and 5.10% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Population Growth
Montgomery County's population is accelerating due to the prescence of expressways such as the Schuylkill Expressway, Pennsylvania Turnpike, US 202 a.k.a the Dekalb Pike, and countless of others. All of these roads carry about 1.4 million commuters through Montgomery County everday, and allow easy commute time to Philadelphia, New Jersey, and just about anywhere else. Also immigrants, legal and illegal, are drawn to the county for jobs, housing, and closeness to Philadelphia, New York City, and Washington D.C. The county has millions of square feet of retail and office space, especially due to the prescense of the King of Prussia Mall. Malls, skyrises, corporate centers, shopping complexes, and freeways dot the landscape of the county.
Culture
Montgomery County has always been a melting pot and continues to be. The county has always been home to large numbers of African Americans, Koreans, Puerto Ricans and Indians. Also there are many Europeans residing in the county from numerous European countries. Immigration is skyrocketing. The county has the second largest foreign born population in the region, as thousands of people from all over the world continue to settle here. Like the rest of the Delaware Valley, Montgomery County's non-white population is growing 90 times faster then the white population is.
Politics
| Year | GOP | Dems |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 44.0% 174,741 | 55.6% 222,048 |
| 2000 | 43.8% 145,623 | 53.5% 177,990 |
| 1996 | 41.2% 121,047 | 48.9% 143,664 |
| 1992 | 39.5% 125,704 | 42.9% 136,572 |
| 1988 | 60.2% 170,294 | 38.8% 109,834 |
| 1984 | 64.2% 181,426 | 35.3% 99,741 |
| 1980 | 57.8% 156,996 | 31.0% 84,289 |
| 1976 | 56.9% 155,480 | 41.2% 112,644 |
| 1972 | 64.3% 173,662 | 34.1% 91,959 |
| 1968 | 54.3% 141,621 | 39.3% 102,464 |
| 1964 | 43.0% 102,714 | 56.7% 135,657 |
| 1960 | 60.7% 142,796 | 39.2% 92,212 |
As of November 2004, 47.6% of registered voters in Montgomery County are Republicans, 37.9% are Democrats and 14.5% are other or unaffiliated.
Cities and towns
- Abington Township
- Ambler
- Audubon
- Bala Cynwyd
- Blue Bell
- Bridgeport
- Bryn Athyn
- Bryn Mawr
- Cheltenham Township
- Collegeville
- Conshohocken
- Douglass Township
- Dresher
- Eagleville
- East Greenville
- East Norriton Township
- Evansburg
- Flourtown
- Fort Washington
- Franconia Township
- Gilbertsville
- Gladwyne
- Glenside
- Green Lane
- Halfway House
- Harleysville
- Hatboro
- Hatfield
- Hatfield Township
- Horsham
- Horsham Township
- Jenkintown
- King of Prussia
- Kulpsville
- Lafayette Hill
- Lansdale
- Limerick Township
- Lower Frederick Township
- Lower Gwynedd Township
- Lower Merion Township
- Lower Moreland Township
- Lower Pottsgrove Township
- Lower Providence Township
- Lower Salford Township
- Maple Glen
- Marlborough Township
- Montgomery Township
- Montgomeryville
- Narberth
- New Hanover Township
- Norristown
- North Wales
- Oreland
- Penn Wynne
- Pennsburg
- Perkiomen Township
- Plymouth Township
- Plymouth Meeting
- Pottsgrove
- Pottstown
- Red Hill
- Rockledge
- Royersford
- Salford Township
- Sanatoga
- Schwenksville
- Skippack
- Skippack Township
- Souderton
- Spring House
- Spring Mount
- Springfield Township
- Stowe
- Towamencin Township
- Trappe
- Trooper
- Upper Dublin Township
- Upper Frederick Township
- Upper Gwynedd Township
- Upper Hanover Township
- Upper Merion Township
- Upper Moreland Township
- Upper Pottsgrove Township
- Upper Providence Township
- Villanova
- Upper Salford Township
- West Conshohocken
- West Norriton Township
- West Pottsgrove Township
- Whitemarsh Township
- Whitpain Township
- Willow Grove
- Worcester Township
- Wyncote
- Wyndmoor
Education
Colleges and universities
Private schools
External link
