58-674: The Stony Creek Branch is a railway line in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania . It runs 9.9 miles (15.9 km) from Lansdale, Pennsylvania , to Norristown, Pennsylvania , connecting the Bethlehem and Doylestown Branches with the Norristown Branch . Although SEPTA owns the line, it is freight-only. CSX Transportation , Norfolk Southern Railway , and the Pennsylvania Northeastern Railroad have trackage rights on
116-520: A humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ) exists. The hardiness zone is 7a for the majority of the county and 7b in most areas south of Interstate 276. 6b only continues to exist in some very small higher areas in the north. [1] As of March 4, 2024, there are 606,385 registered voters in Montgomery County. Montgomery County historically was a stronghold for the Republican Party. The county was
174-739: A government. Even though the county no longer has a government structure by law, in both the Unconsolidated Pennsylvania Statutes and The Philadelphia Code and Charter, the County of Philadelphia is still an entity within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is thus subject to the provisions and laws of the Commonwealth concerning counties. Exceptions include restrictions stated in the Home Rule Charter of Philadelphia, Act of Consolidation, 1854, and subsequent legislation. The county also
232-467: A number of other outlying townships , villages and settlements throughout the county. Over time, as the population expanded out from the City of Philadelphia, those closer to the City of Philadelphia became absorbed into Philadelphia. During this period, the city government of Philadelphia and the county government of Philadelphia acted separately. By the mid-19th century, a more structured government bureaucracy
290-620: A total area of 143 square miles (370 km ), of which 134 square miles (350 km ) is land and 8.6 square miles (22 km ) (6.0%) is water. It is the second-smallest county in Pennsylvania by area. Bodies of water include the Delaware River , Schuylkill River , Cobbs Creek , Wissahickon Creek , and Pennypack Creek . The lowest point in the county is 10 feet above sea level near Fort Mifflin in Southwest Philadelphia , at
348-737: Is Norristown . The county is part of the Philadelphia – Camden – Wilmington PA- NJ – DE – MD metropolitan statistical area , known as the Delaware Valley , and marks the Delaware Valley's northern border with the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. The county borders Philadelphia, the nation's sixth-largest city , to its southeast, Bucks County to its east, Berks and Lehigh counties to its north, Delaware County to its south, and Chester County to its southwest. The county
406-524: Is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania . As of the 2020 census , the population of the county was 856,553, making it the third-most populous county in Pennsylvania after Philadelphia and Allegheny counties, also the most populous county in Pennsylvania without a major city. The county is part of the Southeast Pennsylvania region of the state. The county seat and largest city
464-470: Is not specifically partisan. In the 2004 United States Senate election, Republican Arlen Specter won the county over Montco resident Joe Hoeffel , but Democrat Bob Casey, Jr. out-polled Rick Santorum in the 2006 Senate election. In 2006, Democrat Rick Taylor unseated incumbent Republican Eugene McGill in the 151st , although Taylor lost in 2010 to Republican Todd Stephens and, in 2008, Democrat Matthew Bradford unseated incumbent Republican Jay Moyer in
522-453: Is the only First Class County, meaning it had a population of 1.5 million or more at the last census, in the Commonwealth. Philadelphia has become racially and ethnically diverse over the years, and this process continues. Since 1990, (the year that immigration began increasing), thousands of immigrants from Latin America, Asia and Europe have arrived in the county. Presently, the city has some of
580-439: The 70th . Six of the county's 12 state house seats and four of the county's eight senate seats are now held by Democrats. All four statewide Democratic candidates carried Montgomery in 2008, with Barack Obama receiving 60% of the county's vote. Barack Obama won Montgomery County in 2008 and 2012. Montgomery County is governed by a three-person county commission . The current composition is two Democrats and one Republican. By law,
638-871: The Pennsylvania Constitution and the United States Constitution . The Republican administration of Governor Tom Corbett filed suit in the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania in an attempt to block Hanes from licensing same-sex marriage. Commonwealth Court Judge Dan Pellegrini ordered Hanes in September 2013 to stop issuing same-sex marriage licenses. After Federal Judge John Jones threw out Pennsylvania's ban on same-sex marriage in May 2014, calling it unconstitutional, offices in other counties were able to issue these licenses, while Hanes had to wait for
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#1732852256172696-539: The United States Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here, as well. Even though the historic village of Valley Forge, as well as the park, are partially located within Montgomery County, the modern village is in Chester County, PA The population ranking of
754-489: The 2007 election, when Democrats picked up control of five row offices. Democrats have also won several elections in the Pennsylvania General Assembly in recent years, including two GOP-leaning State House districts in 2004, the 148th with Mike Gerber and the 153rd with current Governor Josh Shapiro . Today, although the county is very Democratic at the national level, at the state and local level, it
812-418: The 590,071 households, 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.1% were married couples living together, 22.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.3% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% 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 3.22. 25.3% of
870-592: The Board of County Assessors and left its functions with the Commissioners alone, who continued to appoint the assessors and collectors of each of the county's boroughs, townships and districts. Further legislation in 1799 and 1805 formally established the Commissioners' functions of furnishing lists of voters to election officers and aiding the Sheriff in the selection of jurors , as both were based upon lists of taxpayers. During
928-578: The City Commissioners were considered County officers, they were still regulated by state laws concerning County Commissioners. The City Commissioners should not be confused with the City Council , as these are two separate entities. Even though the governments of both the City and County were effectively consolidated by the Act of Consolidation, not all offices and agencies, such as the Board of Inspectors of
986-537: The City Commissioners' Office. The 1965 City-County Consolidation Ordinance of City Council further enabled these enactments. Philadelphia County is overwhelmingly Democratic , having given the Democratic presidential candidate their largest percentage of any county in Pennsylvania in every election since 1968 . The county has voted for the Democrat in every presidential election since 1936. However, between 1860 and 1932,
1044-484: The City of Philadelphia, such as Southwark and Moyamensing in the south, the Northern Liberties District , Kensington , Spring Garden and Penn District to the north, and West Philadelphia and Blockley to the west — which combined with the City of Philadelphia formed practically one continuously urban area, the whole group being known abroad simply as Philadelphia. Besides these, there were
1102-509: The Conqueror 's main counselors, Roger de Montgomerie , since it was part of the Welsh Tract , an area of Pennsylvania settled by Quakers from Wales . According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 487 square miles (1,260 km ), 483 square miles (1,250 km ) of which was land and 4.2 square miles (11 km ) (0.9%) of which was water. As of the 2020 census,
1160-590: The County Prison (Philadelphia Prison System), Coroner , Recorder of Deeds, and Sheriff, that were controlled by the county prior to the consolidation were transferred to the city, though their oversight and regulation were now managed by the City Commissioners. Other offices and agencies, like that of Offices of City Tax Collector and County Tax Collector were reduced to that of clerk in the new office of Receiver of Taxes. Both Commissioners' (City and County) powers in regard to streets and City property were transferred to
1218-401: The Democratic presidential candidates' direction with Hillary Clinton winning Montgomery County with 58.87% of the vote, an improvement from Barack Obama 's 56.6% vote share in 2012. In the 2016 U.S. Senate and Pennsylvania Attorney General elections, Montgomery County voted for Katie McGinty and Josh Shapiro , both Democrats. Most county-level offices were held by Republicans until after
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#17328522561721276-407: The Democratic presidential nominee since 1992, with the margins progressively increasing between every election, except in 2012. In the 2020 election, Joe Biden became the first Democrat to obtain over 60% of the county's vote. Despite Donald Trump 's victory in the state of Pennsylvania in the 2016 presidential election , Montgomery County was one of the few counties in Pennsylvania that swung in
1334-626: The Last Judgment . When established, Philadelphia County consisted mainly of the area from the Delaware River west between the Schuylkill River to the south and the border with Bucks County to the north; the western boundary was undefined. Two counties would be formed out of Philadelphia County, Berks County which was formed in 1752 (from parts of Chester, Lancaster , and Philadelphia counties), and Montgomery County established in 1784. From these separations, as well as other border changes,
1392-834: The North Pennsylvania on May 14, 1879. The Reading, through the Norristown Junction Railroad , built a connection between Norristown Branch and the Stony Creek Railroad in 1880. Under the Reading, the division point between the two lines shifted north, with the Norristown Branch moving north to include the Norristown–Main Street and Norristown–Elm Street stations. The truncated Stony Creek Branch stood at 9.9 miles (15.9 km). The Stony Creek Railroad
1450-535: The Philadelphia- Camden - Wilmington Combined Statistical Area (PA- NJ - DE - MD , located along the lower Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, within the Northeast megalopolis . Philadelphia County is the Delaware Valley's economic and cultural anchor and the ninth-largest combined statistical area in the nation with an estimated population of 7,381,18 as of 2022. Native American tribes of Lenape were
1508-751: The United States with such a rating. In 2012, Moody's downgraded the general obligation rating to Aa1, and in 2018 the rating was revised back to Aaa. Major employers include: School districts: Under Pennsylvania law, five types of incorporated municipalities are listed: cities , boroughs , townships , home rule municipalities (which can include communities that bear the name "Borough" or "Township") and, in at most two cases, towns . These boroughs, townships, and home rule municipalities are located in Montgomery County: Census-designated places are geographical areas designated by
1566-586: The branch. The Stony Creek Railroad was incorporated on April 14, 1868, to build south from the North Pennsylvania Railroad main line at Lansdale along Stony Creek to Norristown, Pennsylvania . The line, 10.3 miles (16.6 km) long, opened on December 30, 1873, under the control of the North Pennsylvania. Its Norristown station was located at Main and Markley, the present site of Norristown–Main Street . The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad leased
1624-456: The brand of Republicanism practiced in Montgomery County for much of the 20th century was moderate. As the national parties have polarized, the county's voters have increasingly supported Democrats at the national level. The county voted for the Republican presidential nominee in all but two elections from 1880 to 1988, that being in 1892 and 1964. However, Montgomery County residents have voted for
1682-571: The city's Departments of Highways and City Property. From 1854 until 1867, the Commissioners also served as members of the Board of Revision of Taxes. In 1867, the City Assessors were made appointees of that Board. The powers left to the Commissioners were chiefly accounting ones concerning county institutions, regulatory duties regarding weights and measures (given them by an Act of 1895) and administrative functions in association with elections, which culminated in complete control of their conduct with
1740-407: The city, with their boundaries roughly matching their historic boundaries. In 1951, a new law known as the Home Rule Charter merged city and county offices completely. This new charter provided the city with a common structure and outlined the "strong mayor" form of government that is still used. The county offices were merged with the city government in 1952, effectively eliminating the county as
1798-533: The convergence of the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. The highest point is in Chestnut Hill , at 432 feet above sea level, near Evergreen Place, just north and west of Evergreen Avenue. Philadelphia County is Pennsylvania's second smallest county by land area, after Montour County . At the 2000 census , there were 1,517,550 people, 590,071 households and 352,272 families residing in the county. The population density
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1856-454: The county always voted Republican. In 1972 , it was the only county in the state to vote for George McGovern over Richard Nixon . Even Republican Senator Arlen Specter , a Philadelphia resident, did not receive more than one-third of the Philadelphia vote in the 2004 U.S. Senate election , which he won easily. In his first senate election, in 1980 , he did win the county, which was
1914-467: The county commission must have one member of a minority party represented. As of the November 2019 election: On July 24, 2013, Montgomery County Register of Wills D. Bruce Hanes , a Democrat , announced he would begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples , flouting Pennsylvania law banning such unions. Hanes called the commonwealth's ban "arbitrary and suspect", saying he believes it violates
1972-476: The county was $ 16,509. About 18.4% of families and 22.9% of the population were below the poverty line , including 31.3% of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over. Philadelphia County has no government structure. Prior to the Act of Consolidation in 1854, a Board of Commissioners governed the county in accordance with the law of Pennsylvania at the time. The origins of the Board of Commissioners are found in
2030-401: The county was 73.27% White (72.18% White, non-Hispanic), 9.55% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American or Alaskan Native, 7.94% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, and 2.87% some other race; 6.13% were two or more races. 6.36% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The largest townships/boroughs in Montgomery County include: Montgomery County is a suburb of Philadelphia ,
2088-488: The first half of the nineteenth century, the Commissioners' duties were further increased to include the leasing of polling places, the provision of ballot boxes, and related duties. The consolidation of the City and County of Philadelphia in 1854 abolished the Board of County Commissioners, with most of its functions transferred to the popularly elected City Commissioners who, although retaining their original title and duties, were thenceforth considered County officers. Because
2146-419: The first known occupants in the area that became Philadelphia County. The first European settlers were Swedes and Finns who arrived in 1638. The Netherlands seized the area in 1655, but lost control to England in 1674. William Penn received his charter for Pennsylvania from Charles II of England in 1681, and in November 1682 he divided Pennsylvania into three counties. During the same year, Philadelphia
2204-524: The following table is based on the 2010 census of Montgomery County. † county seat The county is served by the SEPTA , which include bus, commuter rail, and interurban rail services. Pottstown Area Rapid Transit (PART) also provides bus services around the Pottstown area in the western portion of the county. Commercial airline service is provided primarily by Philadelphia International Airport , one of
2262-689: The formation of the County Board of Elections under their direction in 1937. Although not mentioned in the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, the City Commissioners' Office became part of the City government by way of the 1951 City-County Amendment to the State Constitution. Additionally, the 1963 amendment to the First Class Cities Home Rule Act gave City Council the power to pass legislation with regard to operations of
2320-465: The largest Irish , Italian , German , Polish , Puerto Rican , Korean , Vietnamese , Russian , Ukrainian , Jamaican , Chinese , Arab , Thai , and Cambodian populations in America. The county has the fourth largest concentration of African Americans in North America , including large numbers of Liberians , Nigerians , and Sudanese . The Northeast section of the city, and more significantly
2378-681: The last time any Republican won the county in a statewide election; however, Specter switched to the Democratic Party in 2009 and was defeated in the 2010 Democratic Primary. The following districts, townships, and boroughs existed in Philadelphia County before the Act of Consolidation of 1854: According to the Köppen climate classification system, Philadelphia County has a humid subtropical climate . The average January temperature in Center City
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2436-453: The nation's sixth-largest city . The county is part of the Southeast Pennsylvania region of the state. Philadelphia County is one of the three original counties, along with Chester and Bucks counties, founded by William Penn in November 1682. Since 1854 , the county has been coextensive with the City of Philadelphia , which is also its county seat. Philadelphia County is the core county in
2494-591: The nation's largest commercial airports, located in Philadelphia and Delaware counties. Other public use airports include Heritage Field in Limerick Township , Wings Field in Blue Bell , and Pottstown Municipal Airport in Pottstown . The majority of the county has a hot-summer humid continental climate ( Dfa ). In most southern areas of the county and along the Schuylkill River including Pottstown
2552-488: The nation's sixth most populous city. Many Montco residents work in the city, but the county is also a major employment center with large business parks in Blue Bell , Lansdale , Fort Washington , Horsham , and King of Prussia attracting thousands of workers from all over the region. The strong job base and taxes generated by those jobs have resulted in Montgomery County receiving the highest credit rating of 'AAA' from Standard & Poor's , one of fewer than 30 counties in
2610-416: The needs of a growing city for new public services, for example, better streets, police, transportation, sanitation, and schools. The newly integrated districts had marked characteristics between them, but over time, after the consolidation, these characteristics were generally integrated into the City of Philadelphia. Presently, the names of some of these old districts survive as the names of neighborhoods in
2668-562: The office of Tax Assessor of Philadelphia County, established by an Act of the Pennsylvania General Assembly on November 27, 1700. Tax Assessor was an office of six persons, elected annually to estimate the county's fiscal needs, to make an assessment and levy a tax to meet them, and to appoint its collectors and the County Treasurer. On March 28, 1710, the Assembly approved an act that created an appointed Board of County Commissioners, which
2726-513: The only one carried by Barbara Hafer in the 1990 gubernatorial election over the incumbent governor, Bob Casey . However, the Democratic Party has made substantial gains in the county over the last quarter-century and gained the registration edge early in 2008. Like neighboring Bucks County , the county voted Democratic during the Civil War era, voting Democratic between 1856 and 1876, except in 1860 and 1872. Like most of Philadelphia's suburbs,
2784-468: The population were under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 25, 29.3% from 25 to 45, 20.3% from 45 to 65, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males. The median household income was $ 30,746 and the median family income was $ 37,036. Males had a median income of $ 34,199 compared with $ 28,477 for females. The per capita income for
2842-424: The ruling against him to be removed. 40°13′N 75°22′W / 40.21°N 75.37°W / 40.21; -75.37 Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania Philadelphia County is the most populous of the 67 counties of Pennsylvania and the 24th-most populous county in the nation . As of the 2020 census , the county had a population of 1,603,797. It is coextensive with Philadelphia ,
2900-413: The suburbs of Philadelphia, contain large numbers of Indian Americans and Mexicans . At the 2010 census , the city was 41.0% White, 43.4% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian or Alaskan Native, 6.3% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 2.8% two or more race, and 5.9% were some other race. 12.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , Philadelphia County has
2958-432: The various county projects, to participate in the appointment of the County Treasurer, and to issue warrants and levy fines against delinquent taxpayers and collectors. Other Acts passed during the eighteenth century gave the Commissioners regulatory powers and maintenance functions in regard to county lands, roads, bridges, wharves and landings, courts and the county prison. In 1780, the Assembly passed an Act that abolished
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#17328522561723016-546: Was 11,233.6 per square mile (4,337.3/km ). There were 661,958 housing units, with an average density of 4,900.1 per square mile (1,891.9/km ). and the racial composition of the county was 45.0% White , 43.2% African American , 5.5% Asian , 0.3% Native American , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 5.8% from other races , and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.5% of the population. The five largest ancestries include Irish (13.6%), Italian (9.2%), German (8.1%), Polish (4.3%), and English (2.9%). Of
3074-475: Was changed to a notable elected board in 1725. The Commissioners were empowered to demand accountings of the Assessors and Collectors and to appoint new collectors if necessary. Subsequent acts passed by the Assembly in 1715, 1718 and 1722 increased the power and the scope of the Board, granting the Commissioners authority to share with the assessors in the assessment process and in the allocation of tax receipts among
3132-505: Was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part of Philadelphia County . The first courthouse was housed in the Barley Sheaf Inn . It is believed to have been named either for Richard Montgomery , an American Revolutionary War general killed in 1775 while attempting to capture Quebec City , or for the Welsh county of Montgomeryshire , which was named after one of William
3190-501: Was created the present-day boundaries of the county. Philadelphia, as planned by Penn, comprised only that portion of the present-day city situated between South and Vine Streets and the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers . Other settlements were made beyond the boundaries of the city, and in the course of time they became incorporated separately and had separate governments. Several of these settlements were situated immediately contiguous to
3248-414: Was needed. A reform charter, on February 2, 1854, defined all the boroughs, townships and districts of the County of Philadelphia as being within the City of Philadelphia, thus abolishing the patchwork of cities, boroughs, and townships that had comprised Philadelphia County since its founding. The city-county consolidation was a result of the inability of a colonial-type government by committees to adapt to
3306-511: Was one of twelve railroads merged into the Reading Company effective December 31, 1945. On the Reading's final bankruptcy in 1976 the branch was conveyed to SEPTA , with Conrail retaining trackage rights. Today, CSX Transportation , Norfolk Southern Railway , and the Pennsylvania Northeastern Railroad have trackage rights on the branch. Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Montgomery County , colloquially referred to as Montco ,
3364-597: Was planned and was made the county seat and the capital of the Province of Pennsylvania . Penn wanted Philadelphia, meaning "love brotherly", to be a place where religious tolerance and the freedom to worship were ensured. Philadelphia's name is shared with an ancient city in Asia Minor mentioned by the Bible 's Book of Revelation . It was William Penn's desire, as a Quaker , that his "Holy Experiment" would be found blameless at
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