Drexel Hill is a Census-designated place in Upper Darby Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. Drexel Hill is located about 20 minutes from Center City, Philadelphia. The population was 30,036 at the 2007 census.[1]
Geography
Drexel Hill is located at 39°57′00″N 75°18′7″W / 39.95°N 75.30194°W / 39.95; -75.30194 (39.949962, -75.301841)[2].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²), all of it land.
Historic Sites
The Swedish Log Cabin on Creek Road alongside Darby Creek is possibly the oldest log house in North America. Drexel Hill is located within the area claimed by the Swedish colony of New Sweden. The cabin is believed to have been built by early Swedish settlers who were part of New Sweden colony. The cabin was most likely built between 1638 and 1655, but the exact year is not known.. Log Cabin architecture was a major contribution of the colonial Swedes. European settlers from other countries copied this style of housing and the log cabin became popular all across America.[3]
Thornfield, the house of Thomas Garrett a famed abolitionist, lies on Garrett Road (named for his family, who were among the earliest settlers of that part of the Township) and Maple Avenue in Drexel Hill. Garrett resided here before 1822 and would later work as a station master in Wilmington, Delaware, the last stop on the Underground Railroad.
Demographics
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 29,364 people, 11,896 households, and 7,506 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 9,113.9 people per square mile (3,521.0/km²). There were 12,328 housing units at an average density of 3,826.3/sq mi (1,478.2/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 93.05% White, 1.98% African American, 0.10% Native American, 3.85% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.97% of the population.
The largest ethnic groups in Drexel Hill are: Irish (34.0%), Italian (25.6%), German (13.7%), English (9.9%) and Polish (4.4%).
There were 11,896 households out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% 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 3.19.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $48,765, and the median income for a family was $65,862 (these figures had risen to $63,337 and $80,947 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[5]. Males had a median income of $42,841 versus $31,904 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $25,471. About 3.5% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.
Drexelbrook
Drexelbrook is a community within Drexel Hill that encompasses 1,223 homes in 90 federal style buildings, a small business center and over 2,600 parking spaces, including 520 private garages. The community provides recreational areas for all ages. There are playgrounds and walking paths throughout.
Television personality Dick Clark, resided here from 1954 to 1956 at the Drexelbrook Apartment complex before moving to Wallingford, Pennsylvania, while hosting Barr’s Diamond Theater and a radio show on WFIL, prior to being selected to host American Bandstand. Another television personality, Ed McMahon, also resided at the Drexelbrook, as Dick Clark's neighbor, prior to teaming up with Johnny Carson on Do You Trust Your Wife?, then The Tonight Show. Well-known children's author Lloyd Alexander also lived in Drexel Hill with his wife and several cats.
Transportation
SEPTA
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority runs two Trolley Lines through Drexel Hill, Route 101 Media and Route 102 Sharon Hill. SEPTA also runs buses through Drexel Hill, the Bus Routes 107, 110, 111, 115 and 122 all run through Drexel Hill.
Major Roads
The major roads running through Drexel Hill are Township Line Road (Route One), State Road, Burmont Road, Garrett Road, Lansdowne Avenue, Marshall Road, Drexel Avenue, Edmonds Avenue and Shadeland Avenue.
Public Schools
Parochial Schools
Private Schools
Popular Culture
The characters known as "The Plastics" in the movie Mean Girls, which was written by Upper Darby High School alumna Tina Fey, are said to have been based upon female high school classmates from Drexel Hill.[6] According to census data, Drexel Hill is the most affluent section of Upper Darby Township, with a median family income approximately twenty-five percent higher than that of the township as a whole.
References
- ^ Drexel Hill CDP, Pennsylvania
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Found in Delaware County: A Swedish Cabin
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Drexel Hill CDP, Pennsylvania
- ^ [1]
External links
