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Cheltenham Township | |
|---|---|
Home rule municipality First Class Township | |
 | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Nickname: Cheltenhood | |
| Motto(s): "Salubritas et Eruditio" (Health and Education) | |
 Location of Cheltenham Township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania | |
| Coordinates: 40°04′00″N 75°06′59″W / 40.06667°N 75.11639°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County |
|
| Founded First Class Township Home Rule Municipality |
|
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.03 sq mi (23.4 km2) |
| • Land | 9.03 sq mi (23.4 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 157 ft (48 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 37,452 |
| • Density | 4,100/sq mi (1,600/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern Standard Time) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern Daylight Time) |
| Area code(s) | 215, 267 and 445 |
| FIPS code | 42-091-12968 |
| Sister city | Cheltenham, United Kingdom |
| Commissioners |
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| Website | www |
Cheltenham Township is a Home Rule Municipality and Township of the First Class located in the southeast corner of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It borders the City of Philadelphia to the south and east, Abington Township and the borough of Jenkintown to the north, and Springfield Township to the west.
Cheltenham was founded in 1682, and its early history was defined by mills; using Tookany Creek to power gristmills, manufacture shovels, hammers, and spades, and later carpentry products such as doors, window frames, and shutters. The coming of the railroad in the 1800's helped power the industrial revolution, connecting the heavy-industry factories in Philadelphia with the steel mills of the Lehigh Valley. Cheltenham then transitioned to a community of wealthy industrial and merchant Philadelphians who built their large estates in what was still rural land. The 20th century and great depression established Cheltenham as one of Philadelphia's inner ring and streetcar suburbs, and brought in higher density housing construction that continued into the postwar years and the 21st century. The Reading Railroad tracks in Cheltenham were electrified in 1931 for faster passenger service, and following Conrail acquisition, became part of the heavily-traveled SEPTA Main Line in 1983.
Today, Cheltenham is home to a high diversity of residents, housing stock, and neighborhoods. Historic homes and buildings designed by Frank Furness, Horace Trumbauer, and Frank Lloyd Wright coexist with split level, twin, row, and other forms of high-density housing, along with parks, arboretums, recreational and educational facilities, tree-lined streets, and commercial corridors.
History
Early history
Cheltenham was established in 1682 as part of Philadelphia County by 15 Quakers from Cheltenham, England, including Richard Wall and Tobias Leech, who purchased 4,070 acres (1,650 ha) of land from William Penn.[3][4] Upon creation of Montgomery County in 1784, Cheltenham became the smallest township in the new county.
The following is the list of the 15 original founders of Cheltenham Township[5]
| Name | Land Size | Date given |
|---|---|---|
| John West | 200 acres (81 ha) | June 29, 1682 |
| Nehemiah Mitchell | 210 acres (85 ha) | July 1, 1682 |
| John Day | 210 acres (85 ha) | August 5, 1682 |
| William Brown | 500 acres (200 ha) | September 10, 1683 |
| Everard Bolton | 100 acres (40 ha) | September 10, 1683 |
| John Ashmead | 250 acres (100 ha) | September 10, 1683 |
| Tobias Leech | 150 acres (61 ha) 200 acres (81 ha) |
September 10, 1683 September 10, 1683 |
| Richard Wall Sr. | 100 acres (40 ha) 200 acres (81 ha) |
May 2, 1683 September 10, 1683 |
| Richard Wall Jr. | 100 acres (40 ha) | September 10, 1683 |
| Patrick Robinson | 200 acres (81 ha) | November 5, 1683 |
| John Russell | 300 acres (120 ha) | November 5, 1683 |
| William Frampton | 500 acres (200 ha) | January 13, 1683 |
| Mary Jefferson | 300 acres (120 ha) | January 13, 1683 |
| Thomas Phillips | 300 acres (120 ha) | June 13, 1683 |
| Humphrey Morrey | 260 acres (110 ha) | May 23, 1683 |
| Total area | 4,070 acres (1,650 ha) |
From early in its history, Cheltenham was fueled by the development of various mills along Tookany Creek. Communities and villages grew around these mills and formed what is now modern Cheltenham neighborhoods. The first gristmill was built by Richard Dungworth in 1690. After changing ownership several times, the Rowland family eventually made the mill the second largest producer of shovels in the United States. The site was demolished in 1929.[6]
The U.S. Colored Troops 3rd Regiment were the first to be trained at Camp William Penn. It is tradition that soldiers have a grand parade before leaving for war, but Philadelphia was partially a racist community at that time and the government believed that a parade might cause a riot, so it was cancelled. The leader of the Camp (Colonel Louis Wagner) was furious and made sure the next regiment to come through would have a parade.[7]
Incorporated boroughs and unincorporated districts
Cheltenham Township contains no incorporated areas. Its districts include the communities of Glenside, Laverock, Edge Hill, Wyncote, Cedarbrook, Chelten Hills, La Mott, Elkins Park, Melrose Park, and Cheltenham Village.
Estate development
From the late 19th to early 20th century, Cheltenham established itself as one of the most prominent communities in the Philadelphia area. Railroad tycoon Jay Cooke was one of the first to build his mansion in Cheltenham. His 200-acre estate was eventually converted to a school in 1883 and was later demolished. John Wanamaker built his mansion Lindenhurst, which was destroyed by a fire in 1907. His second Lindenhurst was destroyed by another fire in 1944. Henry Breyer Jr. eventually bought the land from Wanamaker. Other famous mansions built include Abraham Barker's "Lyndon," Cyrus H. K. Curtis's "Curtis Hall," George Horace Lorimer's "Belgrame," and John B. Stetson's "Idro." Perhaps the most famous mansions that still stand to this day are the prominent Widener family mansion Lynnewood Hall, the Elkins Estate which was home to William Elkins, and Grey Towers Castle which was home to William Welsh Harrison. The latter is a National Historic Landmark and was designed by famed architect Horace Trumbauer, who designed many buildings and homes in Cheltenham.[8]
Present
As the Gilded Age ended and the depression hit the country, many of the estates and mansions were destroyed and made way for the building of houses in their place. Many of the communities that were formed in the early stages of Cheltenham remained, and still exist to this day. As the 20th century progressed, many people moved out of the city and into the first community over the city line, Cheltenham. With the population increase, the township's identity evolved from being largely a community of prominent Philadelphians and their mansions to several distinct communities. One of the major groups to come to Cheltenham was Koreans. The original Koreatown was located in the Olney section of Philadelphia, but eventually was moved north to Logan. Large pockets of Koreans were eventually established in Cheltenham, and also in Upper Darby Township and West Philadelphia.[9] Many other races and ethnicities migrated to Cheltenham to make it one of the most diverse municipalities in the Delaware Valley. By the 2000 Census, Cheltenham was one of only two (the other being Norristown) municipalities in Montgomery County that was considered "diverse" (20–60% of the population is non-white).[10]
Cheltenham, along with the other earliest communities in the Philadelphia area such as Upper Darby Township, Haverford, Lower Merion, and Jenkintown have retained their distinct identities while being surrounded by suburbia over the middle to late part of the twentieth century. Cheltenham and Lower Merion are of the few townships in Montgomery County who had a large population prior to the postwar population boom and thus whose majority of houses, communities, and streets have remained virtually unchanged since the early 20th century. Cheltenham has 13 listings on the National Register of Historic Places, the most of any municipality in Montgomery County. Cheltenham became a township of the first class in 1900. In 1976, it passed a home rule charter that took effect in 1977.
There are many books about Cheltenham Township's history.
- A History of Cheltenham Township by Elaine Rothschild
- Images of America Cheltenham Township by Old York Road Historical Society
- Remembering Cheltenham Township by Donald Scott Sr.
- Making Marathon: A History of Early Wyncote by Thomas J. Wieckowski
Cheltenham was the former home of Cradle of Liberty Council Breyer Training Area. Henry W. Breyer Jr. used property formerly owned by Cheltenham resident John Wanamaker. It closed in 1990 and is now the home of Salus University.
Cheltenham has been honored with many distinctions over its long history. It was named a Preserve America community, a US Government program established to preserve historic communities throughout the United States.[11] It is also a Tree City USA member, a program dedicated to forestry management. Most recently in 2013, Cheltenham was named a "Classic Town of Greater Philadelphia," for being "one of the most diverse, unique, and livable communities in our region" and "truly at the center of it all."[12]
Township seal
The seal of Cheltenham was adopted from the seal of the namesake and sister city, Cheltenham, England. It appears on all formal documents, resolutions, proclamations, and all legal records or documents. The pigeon on top of a blue sphere represents the founding of the fountain spa which made Cheltenham famous. They are placed above a wreath of Oak leaves. The two books represent Education, in particular, the Pates Grammar School and the Cheltenham College. The silver cross in the middle represents religion. The two pigeons represent the flock that would gather at the spas. Finally, the Oak tree represents the many Oak trees that line the streets of Cheltenham and promenades.[13]
Geography
Cheltenham is a residential township in the southeasternmost part of Montgomery County, which is in Southeastern Pennsylvania (locally known as the Delaware Valley). It is one of seven municipalities in Montgomery County that borders Philadelphia and is 5 miles (8.0 km) northeast of the Center City. It also borders Abington Township and Jenkintown on the north side and Springfield Township on the west side.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 9.0 square miles (23 km2), all land. The area consists of rolling hills and also features a few streams flowing through it, most notably the Tookany Creek. The highest elevation is 411 feet (125 m), at the intersection of Sunset and Lindley Roads. The lowest elevation is 63 feet (19 m), in the southeasternmost part of the township, where Tookany Creek flows into Philadelphia. It includes the census-designated places of Arcadia University, Glenside, and Wyncote. Other communities include Cheltenham, Elkins Park, Melrose Park, La Mott and Laverock, Edge Hill, and Cedarbrook. All of the communities form a border with Philadelphia along Cheltenham Avenue.
Communities in Cheltenham
| Place | Type | Area | Population | Density | Zip Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arcadia University | CDP | 0.057 square miles (0.15 km2) | 595 | 10,438.6 | 19038 |
| Cheltenham (Cheltenham Village) | CDP | 0.43 square miles (1.1 km2) | 4,810 | 5,705 | 19012 |
| Elkins Park | CDP | 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2) | 9,260 | 4,630 | 19027 |
| Glenside | CDP | 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2) | 8,384 | 6,449.2 | 19038 |
| La Mott | Unincorporated community | 0.261 square miles (0.68 km2) | 3554 | 13,616.7 | 19027 |
| Melrose Park | Unincorporated community | 0.660 square miles (1.71 km2) | 3,006 | 4,554.5 | 19027 |
| Wyncote | CDP | 0.8 square miles (2.1 km2) | 3,044 | 3,805 | 19095 |
Edge Hill, Laverock, and Cedarbrook's exact populations and land area are uncertain.
Demographics
As of the 2010 census, Cheltenham Township was 56.6% White, 32.8% Black or African-American, 0.2% Native American, 7.7% Asian, and 2.5% were two or more races. 3.9% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry. The median income for a family in Cheltenham in the 2010 Census was $72,584.[14]
In 2020, the median income for a family in Cheltenham was $129,338 and for a married couple family it was $146,884[15] vs $123,768 and $139,871 respectively for Montgomery County as a whole.[16]
According to the 2010 Census, 30.4% of the townships households had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were headed by married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.05. The age distribution was 22.8% under 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males.
In 2020 the median income for a household in the township was $96,136,[17] up from $61,713 in 2010.
In 2010, males had a median income of $50,564 versus $36,439 for females. The per capita income for the township in 2010 was $31,424 (~$42,170 in 2022). About 3.0% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.5% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.
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Weather
Cheltenham is located on the borderline of the humid subtropical climate (Cfa) and the hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) zones. As with most Northeast townships, Cheltenham has four distinct seasons. Summers are warm and have occasional heat waves. Autumn is cool and comfortable. Winters are cold, most days hovering around the freezing mark with nights dipping to the teens. Spring is pleasant with often not too much precipitation. The hardiness zone is 7a.
The largest snowstorm as of late was in 2010, when the first storm came on February 5–6 and nearly 30 inches (76 cm) of snow fell. Just two days later, a second storm came and dropped another 20 inches (51 cm).
| Climate data for Elkins Park, Cheltenham Township | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °F (°C) | 38 (3) |
42 (6) |
50 (10) |
62 (17) |
72 (22) |
81 (27) |
85 (29) |
84 (29) |
77 (25) |
65 (18) |
54 (12) |
43 (6) |
63 (17) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 21 (−6) |
24 (−4) |
32 (0) |
41 (5) |
51 (11) |
62 (17) |
67 (19) |
65 (18) |
56 (13) |
43 (6) |
34 (1) |
23 (−5) |
43 (6) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.44 (87) |
3.01 (76) |
4.32 (110) |
4.12 (105) |
4.37 (111) |
4.60 (117) |
5.05 (128) |
3.98 (101) |
4.58 (116) |
3.82 (97) |
3.92 (100) |
4.23 (107) |
49.44 (1,255) |
| Source: The Weather Channel[20] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Cheltenham (Elevation: 125 ft (38 m)) 1981 - 2010 Averages | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °F (°C) | 40.6 (4.8) |
43.9 (6.6) |
52.0 (11.1) |
63.3 (17.4) |
73.0 (22.8) |
82.3 (27.9) |
86.3 (30.2) |
84.9 (29.4) |
78.0 (25.6) |
66.7 (19.3) |
55.9 (13.3) |
44.9 (7.2) |
64.4 (18.0) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 33.2 (0.7) |
35.9 (2.2) |
43.2 (6.2) |
53.7 (12.1) |
63.2 (17.3) |
72.8 (22.7) |
77.3 (25.2) |
76.0 (24.4) |
68.8 (20.4) |
57.3 (14.1) |
47.5 (8.6) |
37.7 (3.2) |
55.6 (13.1) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 25.8 (−3.4) |
27.8 (−2.3) |
34.3 (1.3) |
44.0 (6.7) |
53.4 (11.9) |
63.2 (17.3) |
68.4 (20.2) |
67.1 (19.5) |
59.6 (15.3) |
48.0 (8.9) |
39.2 (4.0) |
30.4 (−0.9) |
46.9 (8.3) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.46 (88) |
2.77 (70) |
4.10 (104) |
3.92 (100) |
4.15 (105) |
4.12 (105) |
4.96 (126) |
4.24 (108) |
4.29 (109) |
3.71 (94) |
3.52 (89) |
3.92 (100) |
47.16 (1,198) |
