Folcroft, Pennsylvania

Folcroftis aboroughinDelaware County, Pennsylvania,United States. The population was 6,606 at the2010 census,down from 6,978 at the 2000 census.

Folcroft, Pennsylvania
Borough
Folcroft Station
Location inDelaware Countyand the U.S. state ofPennsylvania.
Folcroft Location of Folcroft in Pennsylvania Folcroft Folcroft (the United States)
Coordinates:39°53′36″N75°16′51″W
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Delaware
Area
• Total	1.42 sq mi (3.68 km2)
• Land	1.25 sq mi (3.23 km2)
• Water	0.18 sq mi (0.46 km2)
Elevation	33 ft (10 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	6,792
• Density	5,455.42/sq mi (2,105.89/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5(EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4(EDT)
ZIP code	19032
Area codes	610 and 484
FIPS code	42-26408
Website	www.folcroftborough

History

The origin of Folcroft can be traced back to the mid 1600s and early settlements ofNew Sweden.Delmar Drive was once part of Calcon Hook Road.Calconis theSwedishword for "turkey", andHookis the Swedish word for "road". The original road was aLeni Lenapetrail called "Turkey's Neck Trail" by the settlers, and was no more than 4 feet (1.2 m) wide.

Originally productive farmlands, it became a residential suburb ofPhiladelphiawith the construction of thePennsylvania Railroadthrough the area in 1874. A passenger stop was built and named Folcroft, or "leafy fields". Originally part ofDarby Township,Folcroft was incorporated as a borough in 1922.

In August 1963, the Baker family became the first African-American family to purchase a house in Folcroft in the Delmar village complex. When local white residents learned of the purchase, the house was vandalized and a crowd of over a thousand people prevented the Baker family from entering their home. 100 Pennsylvania State Troopers were required to control the crowd and allow the Bakers to enter their home. The harassment and vandalism continued and forced the Bakers to sell the home and move in 1966.

In July 2020 during theCOVID-19 pandemic,Folcroft became the first municipality in Delaware County to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.

On January 3, 2022, Franny DiCicco was sworn in as the first female Mayor of Folcroft in its 100 year history.The incoming Mayor won election along with Democratic candidates in a clean sweep of the open seats of the borough on Election Day 2021.

Geography

Folcroft Public Library

Folcroft is located in southeastern Delaware County at39°53′36″N75°16′51″W(39.893212, -75.280881).It is bordered to the south byDarby Creekand to the west by its tributary,Muckinipattis Creek.To the south across Darby Creek isTinicum Township.Neighboring boroughs areNorwoodto the west,Glenoldento the northwest,Collingdaleto the north, andSharon Hillto the northeast.Darby Townshipis also to the northeast, and the city ofPhiladelphiais to the east, across Darby Creek.

According to theUnited States Census Bureau,Folcroft has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.7 km²), of which 1.2 square miles (3.2 km²) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²), or 12.38%, is water.

Folcroft Stationis a stop on theWilmington/Newark Lineof theSEPTA Regional Railcommuter railroad system.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to theKöppen Climate Classificationsystem, Folcroft has ahumid subtropical climate,abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.The borough straddles the boundary betweenhardiness zones7a and 7b.Interactive Map | USDA Plant Hardiness Zone MapArchived2021-06-18 at theWayback Machine

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1930	1,432		—
1940	1,592		11.2%
1950	1,909		19.9%
1960	7,013		267.4%
1970	9,610		37.0%
1980	8,231		−14.3%
1990	7,506		−8.8%
2000	6,978		−7.0%
2010	6,606		−5.3%
2020	6,792		2.8%
Sources:

According to the most recent 2019 ACS, the racial makeup composition of Folcroft was 55.21% White, 39.32% Black or African American, 1.90% Asian, and 2.76% two or more races. Folcroft has a growing Hispanic and African population in recent years. Origin of naturalized citizens are 61% African, 12% Asian and 6.6% Latin American.

As of Census 2010, the racial makeup of the borough was 67.1%White,26.0%African American,0.3%Native American,2.9%Asian,1.4% fromother races,and 2.4% from two or more races.HispanicorLatinoof any race were 4.6% of the population.

As of thecensusof 2000, there were 6,978 people, 2,530 households, and 1,862 families residing in the borough. The population density was 5,151.6 inhabitants per square mile (1,989.0/km²). There were 2,629 housing units at an average density of 1,940.9 per square mile (749.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 93.1%White,4.0%African American,0.09%Native American,0.95%Asian,0.03%Pacific Islander,0.29% fromother races,and 0.80% from two or more races.HispanicorLatinoof any race were 1.10% of the population.

There were 2,530 households, out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% weremarried couplesliving together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $44,443, and the median income for a family was $50,791. Males had a median income of $38,105 versus $27,098 for females. Theper capita incomefor the borough was $17,727. About 7.8% of families and 8.4% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

US 13 northbound in Folcroft

As of 2008, there were 10.76 miles (17.32 km) of public roads in Folcroft, of which 1.19 miles (1.92 km) were maintained by thePennsylvania Department of Transportation(PennDOT) and 9.57 miles (15.40 km) were maintained by the borough.

U.S. Route 13is the only numbered highway serving Folcroft. It follows Chester Pike along a southwest-to-northeast alignment across the northwest corner of the borough.

Folcroft Stationis aSEPTAtrain station on theWilmington/Newark Line.

Environmental issues

Through the grassroots support of local citizens, organizations and politicians, Congress declared Tinicum Marsh along Darby Creek aNational Wildlife Refugein 1972. TheJohn Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicumis just one of over 530 national wildlife refuges managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. In the shadow of Philadelphia, visitors can watchpintail ducksfeeding,red-bellied turtlesbasking, butterflies flitting, and foxes play. With just 1,200 acres (490 ha) of marshes, fields, streams and forests, the refuge is small in area but significant biologically. Tinicum's Marshes, along with other wetlands in the Delaware estuary, are the nursery for commercial and sport fisheries along the Delaware River,Delaware Bay,and the Atlantic Ocean.

TheU.S. Environmental Protection Agencyplaced the Lower Darby Creek Area on theNational Priorities Listin June 2001. The site consists of twolandfills:the Clearview Landfill and the Folcroft Landfill and Annex. EPA held a meeting in September 2001 to inform the community that the Lower Darby Creek Area is now aSuperfund site.

The Lower Darby Creek Area site consists of two landfills, the Clearview Landfill and the Folcroft Landfill and Annex, along Darby Creek in Philadelphia and Delaware counties. Clearview Landfill is on the east side of Darby Creek, and about 2 miles (3 km) downstream is the Folcroft Landfill/Annex on the west side of Darby Creek. The Folcroft Landfill/Annex is part of the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge and managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The two landfills operated from the 1950s to the 1970s and were eventually closed in the mid-1970s. During operation they disposed of a variety of waste including municipal, demolition, and hospital waste.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service owns the Folcroft Landfill/Annex and, accordingly, they will have the lead on cleaning it up. Presently, EPA is in discussions with potentially responsible parties to form a group to perform the RI/FS at the Folcroft Landfill/Annex.

Media

Trinity Broadcasting Network's Delaware Valley area station,WGTW-TV(Channel 48), broadcasts from studios on Columbia Avenue.

Education

Southeast Delco School Districtoperates public schools for the municipality. MostK-8 schoolresidents in Folcroft are zoned to Delcroft School, while some are zoned toSharon HillSchool.All residents of the school district are zoned toAcademy Park High School.

External links

• Video - Library of Congress "White Backlash in the North"