Jump to content

Bristol, Pennsylvania

Coordinates:40°06′12″N74°51′05″W/ 40.10333°N 74.85139°W/40.10333; -74.85139
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. For Bristol Township, the township in Bucks County, seeBristol Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Bristol, Pennsylvania
Borough
Lions Park on the Delaware River in Bristol
Lions Park on theDelaware Riverin Bristol
Official seal of Bristol, Pennsylvania
Seal
Location of Bristol Borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Location of Bristol Borough inBucks County, Pennsylvania
Bristol is located in Pennsylvania
Bristol
Bristol
Location of Bristol Borough inPennsylvania
Bristol is located in the United States
Bristol
Bristol
Bristol (the United States)
Coordinates:40°06′12″N74°51′05″W/ 40.10333°N 74.85139°W/40.10333; -74.85139
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountyBucks
Settled1681
Government
• MayorJoseph A. Saxton
Area
[1]
• Total1.96 sq mi (5.07 km2)
• Land1.70 sq mi (4.40 km2)
• Water0.26 sq mi (0.67 km2)
Elevation
20 ft (6 m)
Population
(2020)[2]
• Total9,861
• Density5,807.42/sq mi (2,242.41/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5(Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)UTC-4(EDT)
ZIP Code
19007
Area codes215, 267, and 445
FIPS code42-08760
Websitewww.bristolborough.com
DesignatedJanuary 13, 1949[3]

Bristolis aboroughinBucks County, Pennsylvania,United States. It is located 23 miles (37 km) northeast ofCenter City Philadelphia,oppositeBurlington, New Jerseyon theDelaware River.

Bristol was settled in 1681 and first incorporated in 1720. After 1834, it became very important to the development of theAmerican Industrial Revolutionas the terminus city of theDelaware Canal,providinggreater Philadelphiawith the day's high qualityanthracitecoal from theLehigh CanalviaEaston.The canal and a short trip on the Delaware River also gave the town access to themineralresources available inConnecticut,New Jersey,andNew Yorkvia each of theMorris Canal,theDelaware and Hudson Canal,and theDelaware and Raritan Canal,and connected the community to those markets and trade fromNew York City.

Although its charter was revised in 1905, the original charter remains in effect, making it the third-oldest borough inPennsylvaniaafterChesterandGermantown.It had 7,104 residents in 1900; 9,256 in 1910; 10,273 in 1920; and 11,895 in 1940. The most recent2010 censusshowed its population at 9,726. Its currentmayoris Joseph A. Saxton. It is served bySEPTA'sTrenton Line.

Bristol is located 70.9 miles (114.1 km) southeast ofAllentownand 22.4 miles (36.0 km) northeast ofPhiladelphia.

History[edit]

The historicKing George II Inn,founded in 1681 in downtown Bristol, the oldest United States-based inn
House on Mill Street, constructed in 1781
Grundy Mills Complex, a former textile mill in Bristol
Bristol Borough'sHarriman Historic District

Samuel Cliftfounded the Borough of Bristol, having received a land grant fromEdmund Andros,who was thengovernor of New York.The grant became effective on March 14, 1681 (new style) or March 4, 1681 (old style) at the same time asWilliam Penn's Charter fromCharles IIbecame effective. Clift was required by the grant to maintain ferry service across theDelaware RivertoBurlington, New Jersey,and to run a public house or inn. The inn later became known as theGeorge II.[4]

Bristol Borough was settled in 1681, and named afterBristol,England.[5]It was originally used as a port and dock. It is rich in history, with many historic and restored houses along the streets of Radcliffe and Mill.

In 1697, thePennsylvania Provincial Councilordered that a town be laid out in the location. A petition was submitted by Joseph Bond, Anthony Burton, John Hall and William Wharton to the Council for incorporation, and was granted in 1702.[6]

Until 1725, Bristol Borough served as county seat ofBucks County.[7]

From its earliest days, it was a center of textile mills,[8]foundries,milling, and miscellaneous manufacturing. With the building of the 60 miles (96.6 km) long, forty feet wide, and five feet deep[9]Delaware Canal,it became a transshipment gateway[notes 1]connecting theanthracitebarges floating down theLehigh Canal's end terminal at Easton to Philadelphia. Bristol Borough was chosen to terminate the Delaware Canal because it already had regular shipping connections to other parts of Philadelphia and Delaware River ports by both the era's typicalanimal poweredbarges and coastal/inland shipping vessels. Its docks also had regular ferry services to New Jersey and other points east from as early as 1681[8]until 1931. Developed byJohn Fitch,Bristol was the home of the first steamboat ferry service taking up to 30 passengers bound forPhiladelphiaand other ports on theDelaware[notes 2][6]

In 1740, William Davis established a shipyard in Bristol, building small vessels such as schooners and sloops. One such vessel was theMorning Glory,noted as the fastest sailing craft on the Delaware. In 1800, John Reed acquired the shipyard.[6]

The expense of digging the canal was justifiable as the banks of the Delaware southerly from Easton were less suitable, there was insufficient real estate for extensive additional docks, so the legislature figured the Delaware Canal avoided the need to transship barge loads of coal to boats, drastically saving costs and time. Since Bristol Borough's long established docks were accessible to the Delaware River, the town also became the Delaware Canal's southern (main distribution) terminal end.[notes 3]Consequently, later, thePennsylvania Railroadwould also connect to the anthracite flowing through the canals, to the riverine barge and boat traffic, and to provide rail depots servicing the manufacturies. Even before the canal, Bristol Borough was located along a main land route to New York City,[8]Trenton, and New England so with construction of the canal and railroads, it became a major center of transportation and an even more attractive location for industry.[8]

By the 1880s, Bristol Borough was home to many factories, including companies manufacturing wall paper and carpet.[8]In World War I, the Bristol Borough docks had sufficient space for a shipyard to construct twelve building slips for the construction of merchant vessels.[8][10]In 1917Averell Harrimanorganized the Bristol Borough shipyards founding the Merchant Shipbuilding Corporation (later called Merchant-Sterling)[10]and given the U-boat menace, would land a contract to build 40 identical cargo ships for the war.[10]The residential area that developed around the shipyards was soon namedHarriman, Pennsylvania,and most of the housing built therein is still in use today.[10]In 1922 Harriman was annexed by Bristol Borough.[10]Most of the shipping was finished too late to enter World War I, but some of the shipyard's output was used post-war in relief and troop support missions.[10]The majority of the contracts were canceled in 1919,[10]and the ship yards rapidly became excess real estate.[10]Between the world wars, the eighty-acres of the shipyard were let out to various concerns, including one area[10]converted to building amphibious planes—theflying boatstechnology which was the heart and soul of long distance air travel until the technological advances theretofore the middle years ofWorld War II.During World War II the old shipyards were used to build those[8]and other airplanes,[11]but most of the manufacturing in WW-II was not directly war related.[10]

In 1961, Bristol Borough gained national attention when the song "Bristol Stomp",byThe Dovellshit #2 on theBillboardpop chart. The song remains a local favorite, and it is often played at ceremonies, parades, and sporting events. The Merchant Shipbuilding site returned to the news in the 1990s when theBucks County Redevelopment Authorityusing state and federal funding[10]targeted the area as a priority for urban redevelopment.

Given its riverfront location, the old shipbuilding site was ranked highest in priority,[10]and on 20 October 2000 various legislators and officials held a press conference at the former shipyard heralding the construction of the residential development already under way, known as the'Riverfront North Project',[10]and publicizing how derelict portions of the slipways were being removed.[10]The project also established a park with four monuments celebrating the town's past in the redevelopment.[8]

Today the preserved elements of the shipyard, and other buildings once important in Bristol Borough's past service are enshrined and celebrated in theBristol Historic District,Bristol Industrial Historic District,[8]and tourism sites celebrating the town's history and rich ethnic diversity. Various annual festivals, in particular keep a multi-ethnic cultural identity alive and well.[8]

Historic sites in the town such as theDelaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal,Dorrance Mansion,General Stores and Mold Loft Building-Harriman Yard of the Merchant Shipbuilding Corporation,Grundy Mill Complex,Harriman Historic District,Jefferson Avenue SchoolandJefferson Land Association Historic Districtare listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal is also designated aNational Historic Landmark District.[12]

In March 2023, there was achemical spill in the Delaware River,caused by an equipment failure at theTrinseochemical plant in Bristol.[13]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1800511—
181062822.9%
182090844.6%
18301,26239.0%
18401,43813.9%
18502,57078.7%
18603,31428.9%
18703,269−1.4%
18805,27361.3%
18906,55324.3%
19007,1048.4%
19109,25630.3%
192010,27311.0%
193011,79914.9%
194011,8950.8%
195012,7106.9%
196012,364−2.7%
197012,085−2.3%
198010,867−10.1%
199010,405−4.3%
20009,923−4.6%
20109,726−2.0%
20209,8611.4%
Sources:[14][15][16][17][2]

As of a 2014 estimate, the borough was 69.2% Non-Hispanic White, 16.4% Black or African American, 1.5% Native American and Alaskan Native, 0.2% Asian, 3.5% Some other race, and 3.4% were Two or more races. 15.0% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry[18]

As of the 2010 census, the borough was 81.1 White, 9.5% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.6% Asian, and 3.5% were two or more races. 14.2% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.[19]There are 661 veterans living in Bristol Borough. There were 9,726 people, 4,237 households, and 3,926 families residing in the borough. The population density was 6,016.5 inhabitants per square mile (2,323.0/km2). There were 4,207 housing units at an average density of 2,550.8 per square mile (984.9/km2).

There were 4,004 households, out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.7% weremarried couplesliving together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 24.5% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.

The median income for a household in the borough in 2016 was $42,962. Males had a median income of $28,653 versus $19,278 for females. About 8.2% of families and 16% of the population were below thepoverty line.

Geography[edit]

Bristol Borough is located at40°6′12″N74°51′5″W/ 40.10333°N 74.85139°W/40.10333; -74.85139(40.103382, -74.851448).[20]According to theU.S. Census Bureau,the borough has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2), of which 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (10.81%) is water.

Education[edit]

TheBristol Borough School Districtcomprises two public schools: Warren Snyder-John Girotti Elementary School (K-6) and Bristol High School (7-12). Other schooling opportunities in Bristol are offered through the Roman Catholic parish school of St. Mark Church (K-8), located in the borough. Conwell-Egan Roman Catholic School inFairless Hills, Pennsylvaniaprovides private/parochial schooling for children in grades 9-12. Higher education in Bristol Borough includesPennco Tech.

Climate[edit]

According to theKöppen climate classificationsystem, Bristol has ahumid subtropical climate(Cfa).Cfaclimates are characterized by all months having an average mean temperature > 32.0 °F (0.0 °C), at least four months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F (10.0 °C), at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ 71.6 °F (22.0 °C) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. Although most summer days are slightly humid in Bristol, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur withheat indexvalues > 110 °F (43 °C). Since 1981, the highest air temperature was 103.1 °F (39.5 °C) on 07/06/2010, and the highest daily average meandew pointwas 75.5 °F (24.2 °C) on 08/13/2016. The average wettest month is July which corresponds with the annual peak inthunderstormactivity. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was 6.15 inches (156 mm) on 08/27/2011.

During the winter months, the average annual extreme minimum air temperature is 5.1 °F (−14.9 °C).[21]Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was −5.8 °F (−21.0 °C) on 01/22/1984. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur withwind chillvalues < −5 °F (−21 °C). The average annual snowfall (Nov-Apr) is between 24 inches (61 cm) and 30 inches (76 cm).Ice stormsand large snowstorms depositing ≥ 12 inches (30 cm) occur once every few years, particularly duringnor’eastersfrom December through February.

Climate data for Bristol. Elevation: 20 feet (6 m). 1981-2010 Averages (1981-2018 Records).
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 71.9
(22.2) 		77.9
(25.5) 		87.8
(31.0) 		94.9
(34.9) 		96.1
(35.6) 		97.3
(36.3) 		103.1
(39.5) 		101.1
(38.4) 		99.0
(37.2) 		89.1
(31.7) 		81.7
(27.6) 		76.1
(24.5) 		103.1
(39.5)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 40.8
(4.9) 		44.0
(6.7) 		52.0
(11.1) 		64.0
(17.8) 		73.5
(23.1) 		82.7
(28.2) 		86.8
(30.4) 		85.2
(29.6) 		78.5
(25.8) 		67.2
(19.6) 		56.4
(13.6) 		45.2
(7.3) 		64.8
(18.2)
Daily mean °F (°C) 32.6
(0.3) 		35.0
(1.7) 		42.2
(5.7) 		52.9
(11.6) 		62.1
(16.7) 		71.6
(22.0) 		76.2
(24.6) 		74.8
(23.8) 		67.7
(19.8) 		56.3
(13.5) 		46.7
(8.2) 		36.9
(2.7) 		54.7
(12.6)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 24.3
(−4.3) 		26.0
(−3.3) 		32.5
(0.3) 		41.7
(5.4) 		50.8
(10.4) 		60.6
(15.9) 		65.6
(18.7) 		64.3
(17.9) 		57.0
(13.9) 		45.3
(7.4) 		37.0
(2.8) 		28.6
(−1.9) 		44.6
(7.0)
Record low °F (°C) −9.1
(−22.8) 		−2.4
(−19.1) 		4.4
(−15.3) 		18.1
(−7.7) 		32.8
(0.4) 		42.1
(5.6) 		48.3
(9.1) 		43.1
(6.2) 		36.7
(2.6) 		25.6
(−3.6) 		12.6
(−10.8) 		0.5
(−17.5) 		−9.1
(−22.8)
Averageprecipitationinches (mm) 3.60
(91) 		2.71
(69) 		4.29
(109) 		3.83
(97) 		4.18
(106) 		4.18
(106) 		4.97
(126) 		4.37
(111) 		3.99
(101) 		3.70
(94) 		3.40
(86) 		3.90
(99) 		47.12
(1,197)
Averagerelative humidity(%) 65.2 61.8 58.1 57.3 62.2 65.7 66.4 68.4 69.3 68.3 66.7 66.8 64.7
Averagedew point°F (°C) 22.2
(−5.4) 		23.2
(−4.9) 		28.5
(−1.9) 		38.2
(3.4) 		49.0
(9.4) 		59.5
(15.3) 		64.2
(17.9) 		63.7
(17.6) 		57.3
(14.1) 		46.0
(7.8) 		36.2
(2.3) 		26.9
(−2.8) 		43.0
(6.1)
Source: PRISM Climate Group[22]

Transportation[edit]

US Route 13north in Bristol

As of 2017 there were 27.31 miles (43.95 km) of public roads in Bristol, of which 6.17 miles (9.93 km) were maintained by thePennsylvania Department of Transportation(PennDOT) and 21.14 miles (34.02 km) were maintained by the borough.[23]

U.S. Route 13passes southwest-northeast through Bristol on Bristol Pike, heading southwest towardBensalemandPhiladelphiaand northeast towardLevittownandTrenton, New Jersey.US 13 connects to thePennsylvania Turnpike(Interstate 95) at the Delaware Valley interchange north of Bristol, just west of theDelaware River–Turnpike Toll Bridgeover theDelaware Riverthat connects the Pennsylvania Turnpike to theNew Jersey Turnpike.Pennsylvania Route 413passes north-south along the western edge of Bristol, heading north on Veterans Highway towardLanghorneand south to theBurlington-Bristol Bridgeover the Delaware River that leads toBurlington, New Jersey.PA 413 connects toInterstate 95at an interchange north of Bristol.[24]

TheBristol stationis served bySEPTA Regional Rail'sTrenton Linethat provides service betweenCenter City Philadelphiaand theTrenton Transit Center.Trains alongAmtrak'sNortheast Corridorpass through Bristol but do not stop; the nearest Amtrak station is in Trenton.SEPTAprovidesSuburban Busservice to Bristol alongRoute 128,which runs between theNeshaminy Malland theOxford Valley Mall,andRoute 129,which runs between the Frankford and Knights Bus Loop inNortheast Philadelphiaand the Oxford Valley Mall.[25]TMA Bucksoperates theBristol Rushbus,which offers peak-hour shuttles between a connection with the Trenton Line train at the Bristol station and certain businesses in Bristol.[26][27]

Ecology[edit]

According to theA. W. Kuchler,among U.S.potential natural vegetationtypes, Bristol would have a dominant vegetation type of AppalachianOak(104) with a dominant vegetation form of EasternHardwoodForest (25).[28]Theplant hardiness zoneis 7b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 5.1 °F (−14.9 °C).[21]The spring bloom typically begins by April 7 and fall color usually peaks by November 4.

Notable people[edit]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^Delaware Canal was later organized and known as thePennsylvania Canal (Delaware Division).
  2. ^Steam boat service between Trenton, New Jersey and Philadelphia also played a key role in community development, since many lines had historic sailing ship ferry stops in Bristol.
  3. ^Both the Delaware and the Lehigh canals operated over 100 years, into the 1930s, and Bristol Borough saw most of that traffic once the canal was online; though some coal shipped from Easton. Canal traffic diminished as the Railroad age matured, but shipping bulk goods by water transport has decided economic advantages, so the canals lasted until the economic crash in theGreat Depression.

References[edit]

  1. ^"ArcGIS REST Services Directory".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedOctober 12,2022.
  2. ^ab"Census Population API".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedOct 12,2022.
  3. ^"PHMC Historical Markers Search".Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Archived fromthe original(Searchable database)on 2016-03-21.Retrieved2014-01-25.
  4. ^Ferguson, Paul."Founding to Revolution 1681-1780".Bristol History.Bristol Cultural & Historic Society.RetrievedJune 22,2016.
  5. ^Espenshade, A. Howry (1925).Pennsylvania Place Names.Pennsylvania state college studies in history and political science,no. 1College series. Harrisburg, PA: The Evangelical Press. p. 37.
  6. ^abcPlace Names in Bucks County, Pennsylvania; George MacReynolds; 1955; Bristol
  7. ^Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911)."Bristol (Pennsylvania)".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 4 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 582.
  8. ^abcdefghijofficial town website, unattributed."The History of Bristol Borough".Archived fromthe originalon 16 April 2016.Retrieved28 April2016.
  9. ^official town website, unattributed."The History of Bristol Borough".Archived fromthe originalon 2016-04-16.Retrieved2016-04-29.(Between Bristol Borough's docks and Easton), quote: `the (Delaware) canal was sixty miles long, forty feet wide, and five feet deep'.
  10. ^abcdefghijklmn"Bristol Yard".www.globalsecurity.org.Global Security. 7 May 2011.Retrieved2016-04-28.
  11. ^"Bristol Borough, PA: History, Destinations and Activities".Archived fromthe originalon 2008-06-12.Retrieved2008-07-08.
  12. ^"National Register Information System".National Register of Historic Places.National Park Service.July 9, 2010.
  13. ^Sandoval, Polo; Tebor, Celina; Cullinane, Susannah (2023-03-27)."Philadelphia officials closely monitor drinking water after a chemical spill in the Delaware River".CNN.Retrieved2023-03-27.
  14. ^"Number of Inhabitants: Pennsylvania"(PDF).18th Census of the United States.U.S. Census Bureau.Retrieved22 November2013.
  15. ^"Pennsylvania: Population and Housing Unit Counts"(PDF).U.S. Census Bureau.Retrieved22 November2013.
  16. ^"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.Retrieved2008-01-31.
  17. ^"Census 2020".
  18. ^"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.Retrieved2015-11-18.
  19. ^"Census 2010: Pennsylvania".Usatoday.Com.Retrieved2013-07-22.
  20. ^"US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990".United States Census Bureau.2011-02-12.Retrieved2011-04-23.
  21. ^ab"USDA Interactive Plant Hardiness Map".United States Department of Agriculture.Archived fromthe originalon July 4, 2019.RetrievedSeptember 30,2019.
  22. ^"PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State U".www.prism.oregonstate.edu.RetrievedAugust 29,2019.
  23. ^"Bristol Borough map"(PDF).PennDOT.RetrievedMarch 11,2023.
  24. ^Bucks County, Pennsylvania Highway Map(PDF)(Map).PennDOT.2015. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on March 4, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 10,2016.
  25. ^SEPTA Official Transit & Street Map Suburban(PDF)(Map). SEPTA.RetrievedMay 2,2016.
  26. ^"Need a Lift?".TMA Bucks.RetrievedFebruary 12,2018.
  27. ^"Bristol Rushbus schedule"(PDF).TMA Bucks.RetrievedFebruary 12,2018.
  28. ^"U.S. Potential Natural Vegetation, Original Kuchler Types, v2.0 (Spatially Adjusted to Correct Geometric Distortions)".RetrievedSeptember 30,2019.
  29. ^"Poul Anderson".www.britannica.com.RetrievedAugust 13,2023.
  30. ^"The Official Website of Astronaut Dan Bursch".RetrievedNovember 2,2016.
  31. ^Quann, Peg (April 29, 2022)."Chair of Bucks County Democrats won't seek another term. 'You know when it's time'".phillyburbs.com.RetrievedAugust 13,2023.
  32. ^"Tony DiStefano".motorcyclemuseum.org.RetrievedAugust 13,2023.
  33. ^"Dorrance, Arthur Calbraith".MIT Museum.RetrievedAugust 13,2023.
  34. ^"Ileen Getz".Variety.August 9, 2005.RetrievedAugust 13,2023.
  35. ^LaVO, Carl (April 2, 2018)."Bristol's King-maker".RetrievedAugust 13,2023.
  36. ^Nark, Jason (May 12, 2016)."Father of Scientology's leader: 'I lost my family'".The Philadelphia Inquirer.Archived fromthe originalon September 21, 2019.RetrievedSeptember 21,2019.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Harold Mitchener & Carol Houser-Mitchener,Images of America: Bristol;Arcadia Publishing, 2000; 128 pages;ISBN978-0-7385-0427-8

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toBristol, Pennsylvania.
Wikisourcehas the text of the1911Encyclopædia Britannicaarticle "Bristol (Pennsylvania)".
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bristol,_Pennsylvania&oldid=1231666910"