Norristown, borough (1990 pop. 30,749), seat of Montgomery co., SE Pa., on the Schuylkill River; settled c.1712, laid out 1784, inc. 1812. Among its manufactures are textiles, medical equipment, machinery, metal and petroleum products, explosives, furniture, foods, consumer goods, and windows and doors. The borough is named for Isaac Norris (1671-1735), a Quaker merchant and a mayor of Philadelphia, who in 1704 bought a large tract of land there from his friend William Penn. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock, a commander during the Civil War and Democratic candidate for president in 1880, was born in Norristown and is buried there. The County Historical Society is noted for its collection of local folk art. Nearby is Valley Forge.
Norristown
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| Wikipedia: Norristown, Pennsylvania |
| Municipality of Norristown | |
| Home Rule Municipality | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Montgomery |
| Elevation | 135 ft (41.1 m) |
| Coordinates | 40°07′12″N 75°20′30″W / 40.12°N 75.34167°W |
| Area | 3.5 sq mi (9.1 km2) |
| - land | 3.5 sq mi (9 km2) |
| - water | 0.0 sq mi (0 km2), 0% |
| Population | 31,282 (2000) |
| Density | 8,871.6 /sq mi (3,425.3 /km2) |
| Incorporated | 1812 |
| Government | Council-manager |
| Timezone | EST (UTC-5) |
| - summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP Codes | 19401, 19403-19409, 19487-19489 |
| Area code | 610 |
 Location of Norristown in Montgomery County
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  Location of Norristown in Pennsylvania
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 Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
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| Website: http://www.norristown.org | |
Norristown is a municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 6 miles (10 km) northwest of the city limits of Philadelphia, on the Schuylkill River. It is the county seat of Montgomery County.[1] Norristown is in a rich agricultural region; in the past, it had extensive manufactures of cigars, tacks, wire, screws, boilers, bolts, silos, tanks, iron, hosiery, knitting machines, underwear, shirts, lumber and milling machinery, paper boxes, rugs, carpets, etc.
Its official name is Municipality of Norristown, though it was formerly a borough operating under Pennsylvania's Borough Code and is frequently referred to as "the borough" even in statements by its officials. However, since 1986, Norristown has been governed under home rule charters, not under Pennsylvania's Borough Code. The 1986 charter was properly forwarded to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for inclusion in the Pennsylvania Code.[2] The succeeding 2004 home rule charter has not been so published, but may be read at the municipal website.[3] Some areas outside the municipality, in the surrounding townships, also have "Norristown, PA" mailing addresses. The entire Municipality of Norristown is within the 19401 ZIP code.
Norristown was incorporated as a borough in 1812, its population then being about 500. It was enlarged in 1853. In 1900, 22,265 people lived here; in 1910, 27,875; in 1920, 32,319; and in 1940, 38,181, making Norristown the most populous borough in Pennsylvania. As of 2004, Norristown population was 30,873.
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History
Norristown was one of the largest communities under Pennsylvania's borough form of government. The borough form of government permitted the city to be protected by volunteer fire departments,as does a Home Rule Charter, for example. Located on the Schuylkill River, it was established as a mill town and as a seat of county government.
At one time Norristown was a retail center for the rural areas outside of Philadelphia. With the growth of suburban communities and large shopping malls including the King of Prussia Mall and the Plymouth Meeting Mall in the outlying townships, Norristown's retail sector steadily declined and eventually collapsed.
Today the city's economy is powered by Montgomery County government jobs, the legal profession, and health care. Montgomery Hospital and Norristown State Hospital are located there. While the downtown has suffered in recent years, the residential areas of Norristown remain largely well-maintained. The housing stock in Norristown is unique and remains affordable. Row homes and twin homes are more numerous than single family residences.
The city is a transit center and the Norristown Transportation Center is the terminus of the Norristown High Speed rail line and a stop on the former Reading Railroad Norristown train to Center City Philadelphia (both now are part of the regional transit system called the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority).
The Norristown Times Herald is the city's daily newspaper, printing Monday through Saturday and serving most of Montgomery County. A Sunday edition is also published. Norristown is steeped in and surrounded by history. Valley Forge National Historical Park is nearby. The city is named for Isaac Norris, a member of the colonial Pennsylvania legislature who ordered the casting of the state house bell that became known as the Liberty Bell. Norris was given a grant of land, then called Williamstadt (William's Town), in honor of one of its founders William Trent who sold the land and went on to help found Trenton, NJ. The Municipality of Norristown and the adjacent Townships of East and West Norriton now occupy this former estate.
Norristown has a rich musical tradition as it was the home to several famous jazz musicians. Bass virtuoso Jaco Pastorius and keyboard legend Jimmy Smith were both born in Norristown.
Geography
Norristown is located at 40°7′12″N 75°20′30″W / 40.12°N 75.34167°W (40.119884, -75.341701)[4].
Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 35,853 |
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| 1940 | 38,181 | 6.5% | |
| 1950 | 38,126 | −0.1% | |
| 1960 | 38,925 | 2.1% | |
| 1970 | 38,169 | −1.9% | |
| 1980 | 34,684 | −9.1% | |
| 1990 | 30,749 | −11.3% | |
| 2000 | 31,282 | 1.7% | |
| www.dvrpc.org/data/databull/rdb/db82/appedixa.xls.</ref> | |||
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 31,282 people, 12,028 households, and 7,144 families residing in the municipality. The population density was 8,871.6 people per square mile (3,421.5/km²). There were 13,531 housing units at an average density of 3,837.4/sq mi (1,480.0/km²). The racial makeup was 54.32% White, 34.80% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 2.96% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.61% from other races, and 3.07% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 10.49% of the population.
There were 12,028 households out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.7% were married couples living together, 19.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.6% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was age 65 or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.22.
The age distribution was 25.1% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.
The median household income was $35,714, and the median family income was $42,357. Males had a median income of $32,113 versus $26,746 for females. The per capita income was $17,977. About 13.5% of families and 17.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.6% of those under the age of 18 and 13.8% of those 65 and older.
Politics and government
Norristown has been a home rule municipality since 1986 when a Home Rule Charter with a manager/council form of government and a seven-member municipal council went into effect. The office of mayor was abolished in July 2004 after a public referendum amended the municipal charter.
The municipality is part of the Sixth Congressional District (represented by Rep. Jim Gerlach), the 70th and 150th State House Districts (represented by Rep. Jay Moyer and Rep. Mike Vereb) and the 17th State Senate District (represented by Sen. Constance Williams).
Ethnic communities
The census count of Hispanics in Norristown is thought to be an understatement because of the increasing number of illegal immigrants, many of whom are fearful of deportation should they participate in government surveys. Mexican workers from the state of Puebla have found residence in the borough for its affordable housing stock and proximity to construction, service sector, and landscaping jobs in the wealthy suburbs that surround it. Norristown enjoys a mix of many cultures along with African Americans, Mexican Americans, Irish Americans, Italian Americans, and Dominican Americans that can be seen in its ethnic neighborhoods. There is also a visible Jamaican-American community. Norristown had been in population decline for much of the second half of the 20th century; many look to immigrants as vital to the borough's revitalization. The local government accepts Mexican Matrícula Consular cards as valid identification, in an effort to prevent immigrants from being marginalized in the community or becoming the victim of criminals who know that the undocumented have no legal recourses.
Points of interest
Notable individuals from Norristown
- Geno Auriemma, Hall of Fame women's basketball coach at UConn
- Maria Bello, actress
- Andrew J. Beshenich, Drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2006
- Charles Leroy Blockson, historian, author and curator of the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection at Temple University
- Steve Bono, former NFL quarterback
- Peter Boyle, actor (Everybody Loves Raymond, Young Frankenstein)
- Josh Culbreath, athlete (1957 400m hurdles world record), actor ("Tail-wind Turner", The Cosby Show)
- Werner Erhard, founder of Erhard Seminars Training
- Jules Fisher, lighting designer
- Winfield Scott Hancock, field commander at Gettysburg, presidential candidate
- John F. Hartranft, Governor of Pennsylvania 1873-1879
- Jimmy Gorecki, professional skateboarder
- Tommy Lasorda, Hall of Fame Major League Baseball manager
- Drew Lewis, CEO Union Pacific, U.S. Secretary of Transportation
- Thaddeus Lowe, Civil War-era aeronaut, scientist, and inventor
- William Moore, U.S. Congressman representing New Jersey 1869-1871
- Jaco Pastorius, musician
- Mike Piazza, professional baseball player
- Martha Settle Putney, educator and historian
- Brothers Quay (Stephen and Timothy), stop-motion animators
- Lisa Raymond, WTA tennis player
- Bill Schonely, broadcaster
- Richard Schweiker, U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania 1969-1981
- Jerry Spinelli, author
- Jimmy Smith, jazz musician
- Kellee Stewart, actress
- Ralph B. Strassburger, newspaper publisher, thoroughbred racehorse owner
- John F. Street, Mayor of Philadelphia 2000-2008
- Roy Waldspurger, film editor
- Wade Conlan, ASHRAE President
Books with references to Norristown
- Maniac Magee: Author Jerry Spinelli based the fictional town of Two Mills on Norristown, where he was born.[6]
- Chains to Roses
- The Lovely Bones
- Final Shot
- Dump Days
- Knots in My Yo Yo String
See also
- Battle of Matson's Ford
- Riverside Cemetery
- East Norriton Township, Pennsylvania
- West Norriton Township, Pennsylvania
References
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/usamap.cfm. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/346/chapter41/chap41toc.html
- ^ 2004 Home Rule Charter
- ^ "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.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Long Bostrom, Kathleen (June, 2003). Winning Authors: Profiles of the Newbery Medalists. Libraries Unlimited. pp. 247-251. ISBN 1563088770.
Sources
- "Mexican immigrants boost a growing Latino population" by Patrick Kerkstra, Philadelphia Inquirer, November 25, 2003.
- "Norristown ready to recognize Mexican IDs" by Stephen O'Toole, Norristown Times Herald, December 30, 2002.
Publications
- Theodore Heysham, Norristown, 1812-1912 (Norristown, 1913)
External links
- Official website
- Norristown Area School District
- Montgomery Hospital
- Elmwood Park Zoo
- Living Places - Norristown
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- Cliff Nobles (Rhythm & Blues Artist, '60s)
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- Charles L. Blockson
- John Freedley
- Norristown State Hospital
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