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Ridley Township, Pennsylvania

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Ridley Township, Pennsylvania
Township
Township municipal building and library
Township municipal building and library
Location in Delaware County and the state of Pennsylvania.
Location in Delaware County and the state of Pennsylvania.
Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
Coordinates: 39°53′30″N 75°19′59″W / 39.89167°N 75.33306°W / 39.89167; -75.33306
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountyDelaware
Incorporation1687
Area
[1]
 • Total
5.31 sq mi (13.74 km2)
 • Land5.12 sq mi (13.25 km2)
 • Water0.19 sq mi (0.49 km2)
Elevation
102 ft (31 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total
30,768
 • Estimate 
(2016)[2]
31,038
 • Density6,065.0/sq mi (2,341.71/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code610
FIPS code42-045-64800
GNIS feature ID1216390
Websitewww.ridleytwp.org

Ridley Township is a township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 30,768 at the 2010 census.[3] Ridley Township contains the (CDPs) of Folsom and Woodlyn, along with the unincorporated communities of Crum Lynne and Holmes and a portion of Morton and Secane.

History

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Ridley Township derives its name from Ridley, Cheshire, England, from where John Simcock, one of the original settlers, emigrated.[4] The first mention of Ridley in court records is from 1684 when tax collectors were appointed for the township.[5]

During the Revolutionary War, Ridley was traversed by both the Continental Army and the British Army. George Washington moved his troops through Ridley Township on his way to Wilmington, Delaware to oppose General Howe. After the Battle of Brandywine, Continental Army soldiers camped along the road in Ridley and George Washington spent the night in the home of John McIlvain. On November 19, 1777, General Cornwallis marched 3,000 men from Philadelphia through Ridley township. It was reported that the "men robbed the inoffensive people on the route without mercy, taking food from the indigent widow as remorselessly from the wealthy husbandman." On December 22, 1777, General Howe and troops passed through Ridley on their raid to and beyond Darby.[6]

Geography

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Ridley Township is in southeastern Delaware County, northeast of Chester and southeast of Media, the county seat. The borough of Rutledge is in the northern part of the township but is a separate municipality. The unincorporated communities of Folsom, Secane and Woodlyn occupy the central and western parts of the township, respectively.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 5.3 square miles (13.8 km2), of which 5.1 square miles (13.3 km2) is land and 0.19 square miles (0.5 km2), or 3.61%, is water.[3] Most of the water area is in the Delaware River in the southernmost part of the township.

Ridley Township has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa.) Its hardiness zone is 7b except close enough to the Delaware River where it is 8a.[7] This is the northernmost occurrence of 8a on the eastern North American mainland.

Adjacent municipalities

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19308,326—
19408,6413.8%
195017,21299.2%
196035,738107.6%
197039,0859.4%
198033,771−13.6%
199031,169−7.7%
200030,791−1.2%
201030,768−0.1%
202031,0530.9%
[8][9]

As of 2010 census, the racial makeup of the township was 90.0% White, 5.7% African American, 0.1% Native American, 2.2% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9% of the population.[10]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 30,791 people, 12,121 households, and 8,218 families residing in the township. The population density was 6,075.9 inhabitants per square mile (2,345.9/km2). There were 12,544 housing units at an average density of 2,475.3 units per square mile (955.7 units/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 96.97%