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Upper Darby Township, often shortened to Upper Darby, is a
home rule Home rule is government of a colony, dependent country, or region by its own citizens. It is thus the power of a part (administrative division) of a state or an external dependent country to exercise such of the state's powers of governance wit ...
township A township is a kind of human settlement or administrative subdivision, with its meaning varying in different countries. Although the term is occasionally associated with an urban area, that tends to be an exception to the rule. In Australia, C ...
in
Delaware County, Pennsylvania Delaware County, colloquially referred to as Delco, is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. With a population of 576,830 as of the 2020 census, it is the fifth-most populous county in Pennsylvania and the third=smallest in area. De ...
. The township borders
Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Since ...
, the nation's sixth most populous city as of 2020 with 1.6 million residents. As of the 2020 census, the township had a total population of 85,681, making it the sixth most populated city or borough in Pennsylvania, after
Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Since ...
,
Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania, the second-most populous city in Pennsylv ...
,
Allentown Allentown may refer to several places in the United States and topics related to them: * Allentown, California, now called Toadtown, California * Allentown, Georgia, a town in Wilkinson County * Allentown, Illinois, an unincorporated community in T ...
,
Reading Reading is the process of taking in the sense or meaning of letters, symbols, etc., especially by sight or touch. For educators and researchers, reading is a multifaceted process involving such areas as word recognition, orthography (spelling) ...
, and
Erie Erie (; ) is a city on the south shore of Lake Erie and the county seat of Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States. Erie is the fifth largest city in Pennsylvania and the largest city in Northwestern Pennsylvania with a population of 94,831 a ...
. Upper Darby is 65% residential, 25% commercial, and 8% other. Upper Darby is home to the Tower Theater, a historic music venue on 69th Street built in the 1920s, and is also home to several
Underground Railroad The Underground Railroad was a network of clandestine routes and safe houses established in the United States during the early- to mid-19th century. It was used by enslaved African Americans primarily to escape into free states and Canada. T ...
sites. Upper Darby's population is diverse, representing over 100 ethnic cultures. The township hosts a range of housing types including densely populated rowhouse sections similar to houses in neighboring
West Philadelphia West Philadelphia, nicknamed West Philly, is a section of the city of Philadelphia. Alhough there are no officially defined boundaries, it is generally considered to reach from the western shore of the Schuylkill River, to City Avenue to the nort ...
, tree-lined neighborhoods of turn-of-the-century single-family houses and mid-century developments. Because of a home-rule charter adopted in 1974 and effective in 1976, Upper Darby utilizes a mayor-council form of management, unlike communities that are still under the Pennsylvania Township Code. First Class townships in Pennsylvania have a board of commissioners and are divided into wards, and Second Class townships have a board of supervisors, which are usually elected at-large.


History


Earliest settlement

In 1650, the area that eventually became Upper Darby had been inhabited by the
Lenape The Lenape (, , or Lenape , del, Lënapeyok) also called the Leni Lenape, Lenni Lenape and Delaware people, are an indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands, who live in the United States and Canada. Their historical territory includ ...
tribe of Native Americans for thousands of years. The Lenape were part of the larger late
Woodland A woodland () is, in the broad sense, land covered with trees, or in a narrow sense, synonymous with wood (or in the U.S., the ''plurale tantum'' woods), a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade (see ...
culture, living in
longhouse A longhouse or long house is a type of long, proportionately narrow, single-room building for communal dwelling. It has been built in various parts of the world including Asia, Europe, and North America. Many were built from timber and often rep ...
s and birch bark homes, and engaging in the type of agriculture featuring
companion planting Companion planting in gardening and agriculture is the planting of different crops in proximity for any of a number of different reasons, including pest control, pollination, providing habitat for beneficial insects, maximizing use of space, an ...
of the Three Sisters (winter squash, maize, and beans). The first permanent Europeans settlers arrived in late 1653 with a group from
New Sweden New Sweden ( sv, Nya Sverige) was a Swedish colony along the lower reaches of the Delaware River in what is now the United States from 1638 to 1655, established during the Thirty Years' War when Sweden was a great military power. New Sweden form ...
. Soon after, in 1655, New Sweden was taken over by the Dutch, and then came under English rule in October 1664 as part of England's overall conquest of
New Amsterdam New Amsterdam ( nl, Nieuw Amsterdam, or ) was a 17th-century Dutch settlement established at the southern tip of Manhattan Island that served as the seat of the colonial government in New Netherland. The initial trading ''factory'' gave rise ...
. The region was controlled as a possession of the English king until it was included in a large land grant to
William Penn William Penn ( – ) was an English writer and religious thinker belonging to the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, a North American colony of England. He was an early advocate of democracy a ...
in 1681. Upon Penn's founding of the
colony of Pennsylvania The Province of Pennsylvania, also known as the Pennsylvania Colony, was a British North American colony founded by William Penn after receiving a land grant from Charles II of England in 1681. The name Pennsylvania ("Penn's Woods") refers to Wi ...
the next year, the area was designated as part of the municipality of Darby Township, in Chester County. It was subsequently part of the eastern section of that county which was split off on September 26, 1789, to form Delaware County. The Lower Swedish Cabin, thought to have been built in 1654, is located on Creek Road along the Darby Creek and is believed by many to be a remnant of the early Swedes, who introduced the
log cabin A log cabin is a small log house, especially a less finished or less architecturally sophisticated structure. Log cabins have an ancient history in Europe, and in America are often associated with first generation home building by settlers. Eur ...
to this area. Today the "Swedish Cabin" is designated with a Pennsylvania Historical Marker. The Cabin is also on the National Register of Historic Places.


Division of Upper and Lower Darby

Darby Township originally occupied the area between the current border of Upper Darby to the north, Cobbs Creek and then Darby Creek to the east and south, and Ridley and Springfield townships to the west. This continued until 1736, when, for the convenience of the inhabitants, it was decided at a town meeting to separate the upper part from the lower "in all matters save the levies made for the support of the poor," with the northern part thereafter to be called Upper Darby Township. The exact boundary was not established until 1787, when a petition was presented to the court. The following is an excerpt from this petition:


Industrialization and population growth

The abundance of creeks and streams in the area favored the development of mills, and it was in Upper Darby that some of the first mills in Delaware County could be found. Some notable examples were the Cardington Mills in the Cardington section of the township and the Kent Mills in the Kellyville section. The site of the former Kent Mills is now a recreation area and dog park known as Kent Park. One notable local mill owner was the Garrett family, who owned mills along the Darby Creek. In addition to mills, the township was part of a region that was home to rock quarries, factories, and other various industrial concerns. Not only did this industrialization greatly increase the population of the township (from just over 800 in 1800 to almost 5,000 by 1890), it also spurred residential and commercial development and attracted an influx of European immigrants. To serve this influx, churches were founded across the township. One notable example of these is Saint Charles Boromeo, founded by local mill owner Charles Kelly to serve his largely Catholic workforce. The township's population explosion turned out to be a double-edged sword as beginning in 1885, the township lost large sections of territory as the citizens of more populated neighborhoods petitioned the state to be recognized as separate municipalities. The first of these was the borough of Clifton Heights (incorporated on June 1, 1885), followed by the boroughs of Lansdowne (July 6, 1893),
Aldan Aldan may refer to: ;People *Gille Aldan, the first bishop of Galloway, Scotland *Andrey Aldan-Semenov (1908–1985), Russian writer *Duke Aldan, a fictional character in ''Langrisser IV'' video game ;Places *Aldan, Russia, a town in the Sakha Rep ...
(September 22, 1893), Millbourne (October 12, 1909), and East Lansdowne (June 3, 1911). Part of the territory of Aldan was also taken from Darby Township.


Underground Railroad and the Civil War

Reflecting the
Quaker Quakers are people who belong to a historically Protestant Christian set of denominations known formally as the Religious Society of Friends. Members of these movements ("theFriends") are generally united by a belief in each human's abili ...
background of its earliest English settlers, Upper Darby was active in the antislavery movement. At least one abolition society existed prior to 1830, and sent a committee of twelve prominent citizens to the 1830 meeting of the
Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society The Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society was established in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1838. Founders included James Mott, Lucretia Mott, Robert Purvis, and John C. Bowers. In August 1850, William Still while working as a clerk for the Socie ...
in Philadelphia. Many homes in the area were stops on the
Underground Railroad The Underground Railroad was a network of clandestine routes and safe houses established in the United States during the early- to mid-19th century. It was used by enslaved African Americans primarily to escape into free states and Canada. T ...
, including Hoodland, the home of abolitionist Abraham L. Pennock and Thomas Pennock, which was eventually bequeathed to the township's public library and which currently houses the children's library, connected to a much larger modern annex which houses the Main Branch. Another prominent abolitionist,
Thomas Garrett Thomas may refer to: People * List of people with given name Thomas * Thomas (name) * Thomas (surname) * Saint Thomas (disambiguation) * Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church * Thomas the A ...
, grew up in Upper Darby and Thornfield, his home until the age of 32, still stands at Garrett Road and Maple Avenue in the
Drexel Hill Drexel Hill is a neighborhood and census-designated place (CDP) located in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. The population was 29,181 at the 2020 census, up from 28,043 at the 2010 census, and accounting for over a third of Upper Darby's population. ...
neighborhood. The influx of immigrants drawn to the township by industrialization caused the township's population to explode, and also gave Upper Darby a role in the
Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policie ...
. Two regiments from Upper Darby took part in the Civil War, including the 106th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, which was involved in the
Battle of Antietam The Battle of Antietam (), or Battle of Sharpsburg particularly in the Southern United States, was a battle of the American Civil War fought on September 17, 1862, between Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia and Union ...
and
Battle of Gettysburg The Battle of Gettysburg () was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, by Union Army, Union and Confederate States Army, Confederate forces during the American Civil War. In t ...
.


Commercial and residential development

In 1907, the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company recognized the potential for growth in the township and extended the Market-Frankford elevated train line (or "El") from just west of the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia to 69th and Market Streets in Upper Darby. The El terminus at 69th Street Station became a busy terminal serving several trolley and light rail lines into the suburbs, as well as numerous city and suburban bus routes. Commuter traffic spurred the development of the 69th St. shopping district in the 1920s by John McClatchy, and made Upper Darby the second busiest shopping area in the region, second only to Center City Philadelphia. The business district is noted for many fine examples of
Art Deco Art Deco, short for the French ''Arts Décoratifs'', and sometimes just called Deco, is a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design, that first appeared in France in the 1910s (just before World War I), and flourished in the Unite ...
style buildings. A population explosion in the township followed; by the 1960s, Upper Darby was the seventh most populous municipality in Pennsylvania.


Community


Community activism

In the early 1970s, students from Highland Park Elementary School began a campaign to have the Pennsylvania Firefly declared the official
state insect State insects are designated by 48 individual states of the fifty United States. Some states have more than one designated insect, or have multiple categories (e.g., state insect and state butterfly, etc.). Iowa and Michigan are the two states with ...
of Pennsylvania. With advice and support from state
legislator A legislator (also known as a deputy or lawmaker) is a person who writes and passes laws, especially someone who is a member of a legislature. Legislators are often elected by the people of the state. Legislatures may be supra-national (for ex ...
s, the students began a campaign that included letter writing, the circulation of petitions, and the distribution of
bumper sticker A bumper sticker is an adhesive label or sticker with a message, intended to be attached to the bumper of an automobile and to be read by the occupants of other vehicles—although they are often stuck onto other objects. Most bumper stickers ar ...
s. On April 10, 1974,
Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political r ...
Milton J. Shapp signed their bill making the Pennsylvania Firefly their state's official insect. A couple of years later, Highland Park Elementary School was presented with a
bronze Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper, commonly with about 12–12.5% tin and often with the addition of other metals (including aluminium, manganese, nickel, or zinc) and sometimes non-metals, such as phosphorus, or metalloids such ...
plaque Plaque may refer to: Commemorations or awards * Commemorative plaque, a plate or tablet fixed to a wall to mark an event, person, etc. * Memorial Plaque (medallion), issued to next-of-kin of dead British military personnel after World War I * Pla ...
in honor of the students' achievement. In the wake of the 2020 racial uprising in response to the
murder of George Floyd On , George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was murdered in the U.S. city of Minneapolis by Derek Chauvin, a 44-year-old white police officer. Floyd had been arrested on suspicion of using a counterfeit $20 bill. Chauvin knelt on Floyd's ne ...
, several protests and actions took place in Upper Darby, including a
die-in A die-in, sometimes known as a lie-in, is a form of protest in which participants simulate being dead. Die-ins are actions that have been used by a variety of protest groups on topics such as animal rights, anti-war, against traffic violence, hum ...
at 69th and Market Streets. Upper Darby has seen a rise in LGBTQ activism of late, and Upper Darby Pride, a non-profit organization planned the first Upper Darby Pride Fest for June 2020. It was cancelled due to the pandemic but held a year later by U.D.T.J. on the grounds of Upper Darby High School and accompanied by other Pride events in the township.


Notable incidents involving police

In 1991, five Upper Darby policemen were convicted in federal court and sentenced to prison for violating the civil rights of two residents, a father and son. Each was found guilty on several counts involving assault, false arrest, and prosecution. On January 30, 2002, Upper Darby police officer Dennis McNamara was shot and killed in the line of duty by Thomas Campbell. McNamara was investigating a suspicious parked vehicle around 9:30 PM when Campbell came up behind him and shot him in the side of the head with a .32 caliber revolver. McNamara had a section of Lansdowne Avenue renamed in his honor; Campbell pled guilty to his murder in 2003 and was sentenced to life in prison plus ten years. He died in Graterford Prison in 2015.


Arts and culture

The Tower Theater, located in Terminal Square at the intersection of 69th and Ludlow Streets, opened as a movie and vaudeville theater in 1927. After closing briefly, the Tower reopened as a concert venue in 1972, and has hosted acts including the first American tours of
David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...
and
Genesis Genesis may refer to: Bible * Book of Genesis, the first book of the biblical scriptures of both Judaism and Christianity, describing the creation of the Earth and of mankind * Genesis creation narrative, the first several chapters of the Book of ...
. In addition to musical acts, the Tower has hosted comedians such as
Trevor Noah Trevor Noah (born 20 February 1984) is a South African-born comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, and former television host. He was the host of ''The Daily Show'', an American late-night talk show and satirical news progra ...
and Jim Norton. In 2018, Rolling Stone listed the Tower as one of the 10 best live music venues in the United States. Upper Darby Summer Stage is one of the nation's oldest youth theater programs. The annual Music Man Festival is held at Greenhorn Gardens in Arlington Cemetery and features live music, food, beer gardens, and a 5k fundraiser for arts programs. The Upper Darby International Festival is an annual event held in September on 69th Street. The festival features performances, artwork, and food reflecting the diverse cultural backgrounds of the Upper Darby community. Opened in 2018, the Upper Darby Art Gallery in the Highland Park neighborhood features local, national and international artists and works, as well as art classes. Centered in Terminal Square and the West Chester Pike business districts, Upper Darby restaurants feature a diverse range of cuisines including Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Liberian, Indian, Italian, Korean, Mexican, and Colombian. The community is also known for its Irish pubs, and the Llanerch Diner was the setting for a pivotal scene in the film
Silver Linings Playbook ''Silver Linings Playbook'' is a 2012 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by David O. Russell. The film was based on Matthew Quick’s 2008 novel '' The Silver Linings Playbook''. It stars Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Law ...
. The
Philadelphia Museum of Art The Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMoA) is an art museum originally chartered in 1876 for the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. The main museum building was completed in 1928 on Fairmount, a hill located at the northwest end of the Benjamin ...
opened the first branch museum in the United States, modeled on the Carnegie Library branch system, on 69th Street. The 69th Street Branch of the PMA operated from 1930 to 1933. The
University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn or UPenn) is a Private university, private research university in Philadelphia. It is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and is ranked among the highest- ...
operated the Flower and Clark Observatory in the Highland Park neighborhood from 1897 to 1956, the site is now known as Observatory Park.


Geography

According to the
U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the township has a total area of 7.9 square miles (20.4 km). The township lies on the edge of the Piedmont slightly above the City of Philadelphia ( above sea level). The area is crossed by several small creeks. The borough of East Lansdowne, Pennsylvania is an
enclave An enclave is a territory (or a small territory apart of a larger one) that is entirely surrounded by the territory of one other state or entity. Enclaves may also exist within territorial waters. ''Enclave'' is sometimes used improperly to deno ...
completely surrounded by Upper Darby Township; additionally, an
exclave An enclave is a territory (or a small territory apart of a larger one) that is entirely surrounded by the territory of one other state or entity. Enclaves may also exist within territorial waters. ''Enclave'' is sometimes used improperly to deno ...
of Upper Darby Township is separated from the rest of the township. Upper Darby neighborhoods include Aronimink, Beverly Hills, Bywood,
Drexel Hill Drexel Hill is a neighborhood and census-designated place (CDP) located in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. The population was 29,181 at the 2020 census, up from 28,043 at the 2010 census, and accounting for over a third of Upper Darby's population. ...
, Drexel Park, Highland Park, Llanerch Hills, Kellyville, Kirklyn, Oakview, Primos, Secane, Stonehurst, Terminal Square, and Westbrook Park.
Cobbs Creek Cobbs Creek is an U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed April 1, 2011 tributary of Darby Creek in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It forms an approximat ...
runs along the border of Upper Darby and connects with Darby Creek. Cobbs Creek Park and the Philadelphia public golf course abut the Highland Park Neighborhood of Upper Darby along the border of Philadelphia's Overbrook Park neighborhood.


Transportation

SEPTA's
69th Street Transportation Center The 69th Street Transportation Center is a SEPTA terminal in the Terminal Square section of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, just west of the city limits of Philadelphia. The terminal serves the Market–Frankford Line, Norristown High Speed Line, and t ...
is located in Terminal Square on 69th Street. It serves as the western terminal stop of the Market-Frankford Line, the eastern terminal stop of the
Norristown High Speed Line The Norristown High Speed Line (NHSL), also called the Purple Line, the P&W, or Route 100,) is a interurban light rapid transit line operated by SEPTA, running between the 69th Street Transportation Center in Upper Darby and the Norristown Tr ...
(formerly Route 100) and SEPTA trolley routes 101 and 102, as well as
SEPTA The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is a regional public transportation authority that operates bus, rapid transit, commuter rail, light rail, and electric trolleybus services for nearly 4 million people in five cou ...
Bus Routes 21, 30, 65, 68, 103,
104 104 may refer to: *104 (number), a natural number *AD 104, a year in the 2nd century AD * 104 BC, a year in the 2nd century BC * 104 (MBTA bus), Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority bus route * Hundred and Four (or Council of 104), a Carthagin ...
, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109,
110 110 may refer to: *110 (number), natural number *AD 110, a year *110 BC, a year * 110 film, a cartridge-based film format used in still photography *110 (MBTA bus), Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority bus route *110 (song), 2019 song by Cap ...
, 111, 112, 113,
120 120 may refer to: *120 (number), the number * AD 120, a year in the 2nd century AD *120 BC, a year in the 2nd century BC *120 film, a film format for still photography * ''120'' (film), a 2008 film * 120 (MBTA bus) * 120 (New Jersey bus) * 120 (Ken ...
, 123, and 126. The Norristown High Speed Line has stops in Upper Darby at 69th Street and Parkview Station.
Pennsylvania Route 3 Pennsylvania Route 3 (PA 3) is a state highway located in the southeastern portion of Pennsylvania. The route runs from U.S. Route 322 Business (US 322 Bus.) in West Chester east to PA 611 in Philadelphia. The route begins in downtown West C ...
, which links
Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Since ...
and West Chester passes through Upper Darby as Market Street and the West Chester Pike.


Emergency services

Upper Darby Township is served by the 133-member Upper Darby Police Department, the Crozer-Keystone North Division
Paramedic A paramedic is a registered healthcare professional who works autonomously across a range of health and care settings and may specialise in clinical practice, as well as in education, leadership, and research. Not all ambulance personnel are p ...
s (based out of Delaware County Memorial Hospital), and the Upper Darby Township Fire Department, a combination paid/volunteer department which consists of a headquarters building and 5 stations: * Company 20 – Garrettford-
Drexel Hill Drexel Hill is a neighborhood and census-designated place (CDP) located in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. The population was 29,181 at the 2020 census, up from 28,043 at the 2010 census, and accounting for over a third of Upper Darby's population. ...
(which is the only full-time volunteer station), housing 2 pumpers (engines), one ladder truck, and one rescue truck. * Company 26 – Highland Park, housing one Squad Co, and one rescue truck. * Company 36 – Cardington-Stonehurst, housing one pumper, one squirt, and one mask service unit * Company 37 – Upper Darby, housing one ladder truck and one utility truck. * Company 74 – Primos- Secane-Westbrook Park, one Quint, one pumper and one tower ladder truck.


Libraries

Upper Darby Township has three public library branches as part of the Delaware County Library System: * Sellers Memorial Free Library * Free Library Municipal Branch * Free Library Primos Branch


Religious organizations

Upper Darby houses of worship include Protestant Christian, Catholic, Greek Orthodox churches, Sikhism and their Gurdwara, and an Islamic center.


Cemeteries

*Friends Southwestern Burial Ground, a Quaker cemetery founded in 1860. *Arlington Cemetery, a non-denominational burial ground founded in 1895. *Har Jehuda Cemetery, a Jewish burial ground founded in 1896. *Montrose Cemetery, privately owned founded 1896


Neighborhoods

*Addingham *Aronimink *Bywood *
Drexel Hill Drexel Hill is a neighborhood and census-designated place (CDP) located in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. The population was 29,181 at the 2020 census, up from 28,043 at the 2010 census, and accounting for over a third of Upper Darby's population. ...
*Highland Park *Kirklyn *Primos * Secane *Terminal Square *Walnut Park *Stonehurst Hills *Cardington *Beverly Hills *Westbrook Park *Penn Pines


Adjacent municipalities and communities

* Cobbs Creek, Philadelphia County – east * Millbourne Borough, Delaware County – northeast * Overbrook Park, Philadelphia County – north * East Lansdowne Borough, Delaware County – southeast * Yeadon Borough, Delaware County – southeast * Lansdowne Borough, Delaware County – south * Darby Borough, Delaware County – south * Clifton Heights, Delaware County – south * Aldan Borough, Delaware County – south * Darby Township, Delaware County – south * Ridley Township, Delaware County – southwest * Springfield Township, Delaware County – west * Haverford Township, Delaware County – west


Climate

Upper Darby has a
humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a zone of climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° ...
(''Cfa'') and the
hardiness zone A hardiness zone is a geographic area defined as having a certain average annual minimum temperature, a factor relevant to the survival of many plants. In some systems other statistics are included in the calculations. The original and most wide ...
is 7a bordering 7b. Average monthly temperatures in the vicinity of Garrett Road and Lansdowne Avenue range from 32.9 °F in January to 77.7 °F in July.


Demographics

Upper Darby is one of Pennsylvania's most diverse communities. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, the racial makeup of the township was 46.8%
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...
, 34.5%
African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of enslav ...
, 0.2% Native American, 13.2% Asian, 1.9% from
other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 3.4% from two or more races.
Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties form ...
or Latino of any race were 5.5% of the population. In 2019, three out members of the
LGBTQ ' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity. The LGBT term is a ...
community were elected to the Upper Darby School Board. As of the census of 2000, there were 85,038 people, 32,551 households, and 20,474 families residing in the township. The population density was 14,658.7 people per square mile. There were 34,322 housing units at an average density of 4,361.6 per square mile (1,683.8/km). The racial makeup of Upper Darby was 59.1%
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...
; 20.5% African American; 15.3% Asian; 0.1% Native American; <0.1%
Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/ racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of Oce ...
; 0.5% from
other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 2.4% of the population There were 32,551 households, out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.23. 25.2% of the population was under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64 and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males. The median income for a household in the township was $41,489, and median income for a family was $52,500. Males had a median income of $38,090 versus $30,416 for females. The per capita income for the township was $20,770. About 7.3% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.1% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.


Historic sites

*
Arlington Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...
is on the former site of Riverview Farm, a stop on the
Underground Railroad The Underground Railroad was a network of clandestine routes and safe houses established in the United States during the early- to mid-19th century. It was used by enslaved African Americans primarily to escape into free states and Canada. T ...
. A small museum is located in the Mt. Vernon building at the cemetery. * Collen Brook Farm was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
in 1988. It was the home of political leader George Smith. * Lower Swedish Cabin was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It is believed to be the oldest building in Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest log cabins in the United States. * Sellers Hall is one of the oldest buildings in Pennsylvania, and was the ancestral home to one of Upper Darby's earliest settling families, the Sellers. The oldest part of the building was built in 1684 by Samuel Sellers. Sellers Hall served as a station on the Underground Railroad in the 1800s. *
Thornfield Thornfield (foaled 1994 in Ontario) is a Canadian Thoroughbred Champion racehorse. Background Thornfield was bred by Steve Stavro's Knob Hill Farm, he was sired by Eclipse and Sovereign Award and Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Sky ...
– Abolitionist Thomas Garrett's home, built around 1800. * Upper Darby's downtown Terminal Square area contains several
Art Deco Art Deco, short for the French ''Arts Décoratifs'', and sometimes just called Deco, is a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design, that first appeared in France in the 1910s (just before World War I), and flourished in the Unite ...
buildings centered around the McClatchy Building on the corner of 69th and Market.


Education


Public schools

Upper Darby Township's public education is provided by the Upper Darby School District. In all, the 12 public schools plus the Kindergarten Center serve nearly 12,000 students. The district has one high school,
Upper Darby High School Upper Darby High School (UDHS) is a four-year public high school located in Upper Darby Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, as part of the Upper Darby School District. UDHS is also the oldest high school in Delaware County, ...
, two middle schools, Beverly Hills Middle School and Drexel Hill Middle School, and 10 public elementary schools. In addition to Upper Darby, Secane, Clifton Heights, and Millbourne students attend the Upper Darby School District. Established in 1895, Upper Darby High School is one of the largest
brick and mortar Brick and mortar (also bricks and mortar or B&M) refers to a physical presence of an organization or business in a building or other structure. The term ''brick-and-mortar business'' is often used to refer to a company that possesses or leases ...
high schools in Pennsylvania with almost 4,000 students.


Private schools

In addition to the public school district, Upper Darby is home to several parochial and private schools.
Monsignor Bonner High School Monsignor Bonner High School was an all-male Augustinian Catholic High School in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It was located in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. Bonner was created in 1953 as Archbishop Prendergast High School for B ...
(for boys) and Archbishop Prendergast High School (for girls), both Roman Catholic, are the largest private schools in the Township. Both schools offer grades 9–12 with a combined enrollment close to 5,500 students. In addition to the two high schools, there are nine parochial primary and middle schools located in the Township, with a combined enrollment of 2,867. Catholic
K-8 schools K8 or K-8 may refer to: * K-8 (Kansas highway), two highways in Kansas, one in northern Kansas, one in southern Kansas * K-8 school, a type of school that includes kindergarten and grades one through eight * AMD K8, the internal designation for the ...
include: * Saint Andrew School (
Drexel Hill Drexel Hill is a neighborhood and census-designated place (CDP) located in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. The population was 29,181 at the 2020 census, up from 28,043 at the 2010 census, and accounting for over a third of Upper Darby's population. ...
) * St. Bernadette of Lourdes School (Drexel Hill) * St. Dorothy School (Drexel Hill) * St. Eugene School (Primos) * St. Laurence School (Highland Park) Almost all of the private academic schools in the Township are administered by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia except for the Holy Child Academy, which is a Catholic academy run by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus. Former schools; * St. Alice School – Closed in 2006 * St. Charles Borromeo School – Closed in 2007


Tertiary and adult education

Also available to residents of Upper Darby and surrounding areas is the Upper Darby Adult Evening Program (UDAEP). UDAEP offers professional development and general education classes to township residents. UDAEP is an independent non-profit entity separate from the Upper Darby School District. Delaware County Community College's Upper Darby Center holds day and evening classes serving 600 students.


Politics

In the 2020 Presidential Election, Democrat Joseph R. Biden received 71.1% of the vote in Upper Darby with Republican
Donald J. Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pe ...
receiving 28.9%. In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat
Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton ( Rodham; born October 26, 1947) is an American politician, diplomat, and former lawyer who served as the 67th United States Secretary of State for President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, as a United States senat ...
received 25,475 votes (66.3%), Republican
Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of P ...
received 11,967 (31.1%) votes, with independent candidates receiving just over 1,000 votes in Upper Darby. In the 2016 U.S. Senate race, Democrat
Katie McGinty Kathleen Alana McGinty (born May 11, 1963) is a retired American politician and former state and federal environmental policy official. She served as an environmental advisor to Vice President Al Gore and President Bill Clinton. Later, she serve ...
received 23,294 votes over Republican
Pat Toomey Patrick Joseph Toomey Jr. (born November 17, 1961) is an American businessman and politician serving as the junior United States senator for Pennsylvania since 2011. A member of the Republican Party, he served three terms as the U.S. representa ...
, who received 13,539 votes in Upper Darby. Upper Darby is in
Pennsylvania's 5th Congressional district Pennsylvania's fifth congressional district encompasses all of Delaware County, an exclave of Chester County, a small portion of southern Montgomery County and a section of southern Philadelphia. Democrat Mary Gay Scanlon represents the distri ...
, currently represented by Democrat
Mary Gay Scanlon Mary may refer to: People * Mary (name), a feminine given name (includes a list of people with the name) Religious contexts * New Testament people named Mary, overview article linking to many of those below * Mary, mother of Jesus, also calle ...
. In the Pennsylvania legislature, Upper Darby is represented by Democrat Gina Curry in the 164th District and Democrat Mike Zabel is in the 163rd House District. Upper Darby is in the 26th Pennsylvania Senate District, represented by Democrat Tim Kearney. In local politics, Democrats hold an 8-3 majority of the town council seats as well as the mayor's office, and all nine seats on the school board are held by Democrats.


Religion

The
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Philadelphia is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in southeastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. It covers the City and County of Philadelphia as well ...
operates several Catholic churches in Upper Darby: * St. Andrew Church (Drexel Hill) * St. Bernadette Church (Drexel Hill) * St. Charles Borromeo Church (Drexel Hill) * St. Dorothy Church (Drexel Hill) * St. Laurence Church (Highland Park) Soji Zen Center is a Buddhist Temple in the Drexel Hill section of Upper Darby. Masjid Al-Madinah Islamic Center is a mosque and cultural center located on 69th Street. Masjid Omar and AL-Quran Center are in the Stonehurst and Bywood neighborhoods. Sree Sree Sanatan Shangho and Sree Narayana Guru Deva Temple are Hindu Temples located in Bywood. St Demetrios
Greek Orthodox The term Greek Orthodox Church (Greek: Ἑλληνορθόδοξη Ἐκκλησία, ''Ellinorthódoxi Ekklisía'', ) has two meanings. The broader meaning designates "the entire body of Orthodox (Chalcedonian) Christianity, sometimes also call ...
Church is located in the Stonehurst neighborhood.
Protestant Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century against what its followers perceived to ...
denominations in Upper Darby include Presbyterian, Baptist, United Methodist, Lutheran, and non-denominational.


In popular culture

*The fictional Philadelphia neighborhood Darby Heights in the 2021 IFC film '' Last Call'' is based on Upper Darby and the film features shots from the Terminal Square and Highland Park neighborhoods. *Singer-songwriter Steve Gunn's 2018 release "Stonehurst Cowboy" is about his father's childhood in Upper Darby's Stonehurst neighborhood. *The 2012 David O. Russell film ''
Silver Linings Playbook ''Silver Linings Playbook'' is a 2012 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by David O. Russell. The film was based on Matthew Quick’s 2008 novel '' The Silver Linings Playbook''. It stars Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Law ...
'' is set in Upper Darby.


Notable people

*
Lloyd Alexander Lloyd Chudley Alexander (January 30, 1924 – May 17, 2007) was an American author of more than 40 books, primarily fantasy novels for children and young adults. Over his seven-decade career, Alexander wrote 48 books, and his work has been tra ...
(1924-2007), author * Keith Andes (1920–2005), Broadway actor * Patrice Banks (born 1982), engineer and mechanic, founder of Girls Auto Clinic *
Anthony Becht Anthony G. Becht (born August 8, 1977) is a former American football tight end who played in the National Football League (NFL). He is currently the head coach of the St. Louis BattleHawks of the XFL. He was drafted by the New York Jets 27th ov ...
(born 1977), NFL football player * Joe Burke (1884–1950), composer, pianist and actor *
John Cappelletti John Cappelletti (born August 9, 1952) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) with the Los Angeles Rams and the San Diego Chargers. Prior to his professional career, he att ...
(born 1952), NFL football player *
Dick Clark Richard Wagstaff Clark (November 30, 1929April 18, 2012) was an American radio and television personality, television producer and film actor, as well as a cultural icon who remains best known for hosting '' American Bandstand'' from 1956 to 19 ...
(1929–2012), entertainer *
Robert J. Clendening Robert J. Clendening (April 24, 1914 – July 28, 1982) was an American politician from Pennsylvania who served as a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for Delaware County from 1949 to 1952. Early life Clendening wa ...
(1914–1982), Pennsylvania State Representative for Delaware County from 1949 to 1952 *
Jim Croce James Joseph Croce (; January 10, 1943 – September 20, 1973) was an American folk and rock singer-songwriter. Between 1966 and 1973, he released five studio albums and numerous singles. During this period, Croce took a series of odd jobs to pa ...
(1943–1973), singer songwriter *
Mark Cronin Mark Cronin is an American television producer and writer. Biography Cronin grew up in the Philadelphia suburb of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Upper Darby High School and the University of Pennsylvania. At the former, he earned ...
, television producer *
Robert Crumb Robert Dennis Crumb (; born August 30, 1943) is an American cartoonist and musician who often signs his work R. Crumb. His work displays a nostalgia for Folklore of the United States, American folk culture of the late 19th and early 20th c ...
(born 1943), cartoonist * Gina Curry (born 1972), educator, member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives * Margo L. Davidson (born 1964), broadcaster, former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives * George Delahunty (born 1952), physiologist, endocrinologist, and professor at
Goucher College Goucher College ( ') is a private liberal arts college in Towson, Maryland. It was chartered in 1885 by a conference in Baltimore led by namesake John F. Goucher and local leaders of the Methodist Episcopal Church.https://archive.org/details/h ...
*
Heather Donahue Rei Hance (born Heather Donahue; December 22, 1974) is an American writer, businesswoman, and retired actress. She is known for her roles as Heather in the 1999 film ''The Blair Witch Project'' and Mary Crawford in the miniseries '' Taken.'' Hanc ...
(born 1974), writer, actress *
H.D. Hilda Doolittle (September 10, 1886 – September 27, 1961) was an American modernist poet, novelist, and memoirist who wrote under the name H.D. throughout her life. Her career began in 1911 after she moved to London and co-founded the ...
(1886–1961), poet and novelist *
Masoumeh Ebtekar Masoumeh Ebtekar ( fa, معصومه ابتکار; born 21 September 1960) was the former Vice President of Iran for Women and Family Affairs, from August 9, 2017, to September 1, 2021. She previously headed Department of Environment from 1997 t ...
(born 1960), Vice President of Iran for Women and Family Affairs *
Tina Fey Elizabeth Stamatina "Tina" Fey (; born May 18, 1970) is an American actress, comedian, writer, producer, and playwright. She is best known for her work on the NBC sketch comedy series ''Saturday Night Live'' (1997–2006) and for creating the ...
(born 1970), comedian, writer, actress *
D'or Fischer D'or Anthony Naheem Fischer (born October 12, 1981) is an American-Israeli professional basketball player for Elitzur Eito Ashkelon of the Israeli National League. He has also represented the senior Israeli national team. Standing at , he plays ...
(born 1981), American-Israeli basketball player * Derek Frey (born 1973), film producer and director *
Thomas Garrett Thomas may refer to: People * List of people with given name Thomas * Thomas (name) * Thomas (surname) * Saint Thomas (disambiguation) * Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church * Thomas the A ...
(1789–1871), abolitionist * Monica Horan (born 1963), actress *
Jamie Kennedy James Harvey Kennedy (born May 25, 1970) is an American actor and comedian. He has played Randy Meeks in the '' Scream'' franchise (1996–2000) and a multitude of characters in '' The Jamie Kennedy Experiment'' (2002–2004) on The WB. His o ...
(born 1970), comedian *
Jeff LaBar Jeffrey Philip LaBar (March 18, 1963 – July 14, 2021) was an American guitarist in the glam metal band Cinderella, in which he replaced original guitarist Michael Schermick. During Cinderella's temporary break-up in the mid-1990s, LaBar suppor ...
(1963–2021) American guitarist in the
glam metal Glam metal (also known as hair metal or pop metal) is a subgenre of heavy metal that features pop-influenced hooks and guitar riffs, upbeat rock anthems, and slow power ballads. It borrows heavily from the fashion and image of 1970s glam ro ...
band
Cinderella "Cinderella",; french: link=no, Cendrillon; german: link=no, Aschenputtel) or "The Little Glass Slipper", is a folk tale with thousands of variants throughout the world.Dundes, Alan. Cinderella, a Casebook. Madison, Wis: University of Wisconsi ...
*
Simoni Lawrence Simoni Lawrence (born February 1, 1989) is an American-born Canadian football linebacker for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Minnesota. Professional career St. Louis Rams Lawrence was s ...
(born 1989), football player * F. Joseph "Joe" Loeper (born 1944), American politician (resigned) who represented the 26th senatorial district from 1979 through 2000 in the Pennsylvania State Senate, including over 10 years as Republican Majority Leader *
David MacAdam David Lewis MacAdam (July 1, 1910 – March 9, 1998) was an American physicist and color scientist who made important contributions to color science and technology in the fields of colorimetry, color discrimination, color photography and televisi ...
(1910–1998), Physicist and color scientist * Mike Manley (born 1961) Cartoonist *
Ed McMahon Edward Leo Peter McMahon Jr. (March 6, 1923 – June 23, 2009) was an American announcer, game show host, comedian, actor, singer, and combat aviator. McMahon and Johnny Carson began their association in their first TV series, the ABC game sh ...
(1923–2009), co-host, ''Tonight Show'' with Johnny Carson *Pat Meehan (born 1955), U.S. Representative Pennsylvania 7th District (2010–2018) *Shannon Meehan, author and veteran's activist *Nicholas Micozzie (1930–2020), Pennsylvania State Representative for the 163rd district (1979–2014) *Terrence J. Nolen (born 1963), theater director, co-founder of the Arden Theatre Company (Philadelphia), Arden Theater Company *Cheri Oteri (born 1962), comedian, actress *Sophonisba Angusciola Peale (1786–1859), ornithologist and artist * Abraham L. Pennock (1786–1868), abolitionist and inventor *Dorothy Germain Porter, golfer *Jack Ramsay (1925–2014), NBA head coach *Todd Rucci (born 1970), football player *Todd Rundgren (born 1948), singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer *Alvin Sargent (1927–2019), screenwriter *Herb Sargent (1923–2005), screenwriter *Mike Scioscia (born 1958) baseball player, manager Los Angeles Angels *Coleman Sellers II (1827–1907), engineer, former president of the Franklin Institute *John Sellers (scientist), John Sellers (1728–1804), scientist. *William Sellers (1824–1905), engineer and inventor. *Jerome Socolovsky (born 1964), journalist for NPR, and Voice of America *Ed Stefanski, former NBA player, executive *Marty Stern (born 1936), women's track coach *Tim (singer), Tim (born 1981), singer *George Wackenhut (1919–2004), founder of the Wackenhut private security firm. *Paul Westhead (born 1939), NBA basketball coach *William Wharton (author), William Wharton (1925–2008), author *Michael Zabel (born 1978), politician representing Pennsylvania's 163rd District


References


External links


Upper Darby Township
{{authority control 1653 establishments in North America 1653 establishments in the Swedish colonial empire 17th-century establishments in New Sweden Home Rule Municipalities in Pennsylvania Populated places established in 1653 Populated places on the Underground Railroad Townships in Delaware County, Pennsylvania Townships in Pennsylvania