Willow Grove, Pennsylvania

Geobox Settlement
name = Willow Grove
native_name =
other_name =
other_name1 =
category = Census-designated place


image_size =
image_caption = Easton Road in center of Willow Grove


flag_size =
symbol =
symbol_size =
nickname =
motto =
country = United States
state = Pennsylvania
region_type = County
region = Montgomery
district_type = Townships
district = Abington
district1 = Upper Moreland
area_imperial = 3.6
area_land_imperial = 3.6
area_water_imperial = 0.0
area_water_percentage = auto
area_percentage_round = 2
area_round = 1
location =
lat_d = 40
lat_m = 8
lat_s = 46
lat_NS = N
long_d = 75
long_m = 7
long_s = 0
long_EW = W
elevation_imperial = 269
elevation_round = 1
population_as_of = 2000
population = 16234
population_density_imperial = 4485.7
population_density_round = 1
established_type =
established =
mayor =
timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
postal_code =
postal_code_type =
area_code = 215
area_code_type =
code2_type =
code2 =
free_type =
free =
free1_type =
free1 =


map_size =
map_caption = Location of Willow Grove in Pennsylvania
map_locator = Pennsylvania
map1 = Map of USA PA.svg
map1_caption = Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
website =

Willow Grove is a census-designated place (CDP) in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, about 10 miles north of Philadelphia. The population was 16,234 at the 2000 census.

Willow Grove was once best known for Willow Grove Park, a popular amusement park that was open from 1896 to 1976 that is now the site of the Willow Grove Park Mall.

Naval Air Station - Joint Reserve Base, Willow Grove is located 3 miles north in Horsham, Pennsylvania.

Geography

Willow Grove is located at coor dms|40|8|46|N|75|6|60|W|city (40.146109, -75.116641)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.4 km²), of which, 3.6 square miles (9.4 km²) of it is land and 0.28% is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 16,234 people, 6,389 households, and 4,255 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 4,485.7 people per square mile (1,731.5/km²). There were 6,582 housing units at an average density of 1,818.7/sq mi (702.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 88.57% White, 6.58% African American, 0.09% Native American, 3.06% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.57% of the population.

There were 6,389 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $50,378, and the median income for a family was $62,163. Males had a median income of $40,393 versus $32,451 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $24,740. About 2.8% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.

History

Willow Grove has a history that spans nearly three centuries. Following a land grant established by William Penn, known as the Manor of Moreland, the first home was built in 1719. The colonial farmstead slowly grew into a small rural community. By the mid-1800s, Willow Grove served as a summer vacation retreat for Philadelphia residents.

On Memorial Day, 1896 the Willow Grove Amusement Park was opened. At around the same time a trolley line was built along Old York Road, connecting the area to Philadelphia's numerous neighborhoods. Willow Grove became a popular destination spot. Many visitors were attracted to the sounds of John Phillip Sousa, who played at the amusement park. By the 1920s, a downtown area took shape at the crossroads of Old York Road, Easton Road, and Davisville Road. The original town center included a lumberyard, clothing store, bank, and post office. The amusement park was one of the country's biggest until 1976, when it closed down in favor of the Willow Grove Park Mall, which opened in 1982.

Trolley service was discontinued in the 1950s. By the mid-20th century, downtown Willow Grove began to evolve into an automobile dominated suburban center. Willow Grove is a place that has evolved many times over three centuries, from a colonial farmstead, to a small rural community, to a world-renowned entertainment destination, to a regional suburban shopping center that it is today.

A band arrangement named Willow Grove has been composed, apparently named after the town.

Notable people from Willow Grove

* Jill Biden - an educator and the wife of U.S. senator Joe Biden, the Democratic U.S. vice-presidential nominee in 2008.
* Edwin Hallowell - Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives was born in Willow Grove.
* Dan Heisman - a United States Chess Federation National Master was born in Willow Grove.
* Enolia McMillan - first female national president of the NAACP was born in Willow Grove.
* Chris Raab- better known as Raab Himself, he is a member of the CKY Crew and one of the stars of Jackass and Viva la Bam.
* Dan Trachtenberg - Filmmaker and host of popular video podcast The Totally Rad Show

Trivia

* In the Television show 'Til Death, the outside of the Willow Grove Park Mall is shown in the episode "The Ring" (first aired: September 21, 2006)

References

External links

* [http://www.uppermoreland.org/tinfo/redevelopment.asp Willow Grove Redevelopment] from the Township of Upper Moreland Website